Focus on Buddhist monks turned lyricists
Professor Sunanda Mahendra
LYRICS: It is uncommon seeing Buddhist monks writing lyrics
for songs to transpire and emanate sensory pleasure to the laymen monk;
it is either unaccepted or regarded as a taboo, there had been a
long-standing tradition where they have performed this as a mode of
religious communication.
In this direction, several researchers into the field of lyric
writing have shown that the tradition has entered into the electronic
media like radio, television and audio and video cassette, where the
lyrics and its tone of expression on the part of the singer is visible
as the most dominant element than other elements that cover it.
In a new book, a collection of essays in the form of research cum
brief biographies entitled Geetha Liyana Yativaru, or monks writing
songs, an author publication 2006, Lalith Priyankara shows the
development of the writing of songs on the part of the monks over the
years emphasising the contribution of a selected few whose names have
become well known over the past two decades, with the expansion of media
channels and cassette industry.
Religious songwriter
Followed by a brief survey of song writing, as a functional role in
the life of monks over the years from the ancient past to the present
scene, he selects Venerable Valamitiyave Dhammarakkhita Thera, as the
pioneer of this group of contributors, who had been the first radio
opera writer [p32].
Since writing a radio opera titled Anoma, where one song had become
so popular that he had contributed a few other works running to about
eight titles all consisting of Buddhist themes.
Then enters the well known Venerable Rabukana Siddhartha Thera, who
has written the most number of songs, and carved a special place for
himself, as a religious songwriter feeling that this tradition is a
merit-gathering sincere attempt, and should be developed as a pious
action [p36].
The provincial service of the broadcasting corporation has also
produced several songwriters, and one of the significant contributors
from Rajarata Sevaya in Anuraddhapura had been Venerable Pallegama
Hemaratana Thera, whose songs, according to compiler researcher
Priyankara, are mostly interpretations to the teachings of the Buddha,
without distorting tessence [p49-54].
The next is Venerable Mahagama Seelananda Thera, shown as a
songwriter for children, who selects more of the story type of narrative
lyrics appealing to children and youth. These songs, according to
Priyankara, are popular among the students of the Dhamma Schools
[p58-60].
The subject matter that goes into the songs of the next songwriter
Venerable Pathegama Gnanissara Thera is classified as innocence and
kindness that should be shown to beings of all types and the humanism
that should be extended to all deriving inspiration from the Buddhist
literary sources, mainly the Buddhist folklore.
According to Priyankara, Ven. Gnanissara Thera lays emphasis on areas
such as the struggle of the humans and animals in the drought-ridden
areas [p.61-69].
A Buddhist monk who has dedicated his life to the teaching of
students at the school level in the difficult areas of the north central
province, while writing as songs expressing the sensitive observations,
and his experience on the same theme, is Venerable Vattevave Dhammananda
Thera, whose songs are significant contributions to the field of song
writing on account of the fact that they convey a message pertaining to
the agrarian sector.
Through his songs, the Monk makes the listener feel the pulse of the
struggling peasant and how it is being exploited [p71-78].
Greatness of motherhood
The dominant theme of Ven. Katavala Buddhasiri Thera is the depiction
of the glory and the greatness of the motherhood, a subject well known
and popular in the folk poetic tradition, and other literary creations
[p80-84].
Ven. Koonvave Ariyaratana Thera is a songwriter with inspiration
drawn from the Buddhist sutras and some of his songs have been sung by
Pandit Amaradeva, which is a notable factor.
He had started writing songs and plays, as a student at primary level
of education gaining inspiration from folktales and common lore which he
grasped from his adults prior to his priesthood [p86-90].
There are songs which deal with subjects like the tensions in the
life of laymen and the reasons for one to enter a higher state of
spirituality and there are instances when such a state of existence too
becomes questionable and thus creating a mental tug of war.
This is observed as a subject tackled by Ven. Godamune Pagnasiha
Thera.
His songs are not negative expressions, but an attempt to understand
the existence [p93-95]. The last in the list is Ven. Rupaha Sumanajoti
Thera shown as declaring his creative flux include the expression of the
joy of the inner life, when the mind is at rest and peace cut-off from
the material world with turmoil of varying nature and his creative
process is derived basically from nature and tranquillity.
The reader is reminded of the songs of the ancient monks and nuns
during the time of the Buddha as compiled in Thera and Theri Gathas in
Khuddaka Nikaya.
Free verse
From time to time most of these songs have been translated from Pali
into Sinhala and English by scholars [One such recent translation from
Pali to English comes from the author Edmund Jayasuriya] into free verse
and metrical poetic patterns.
Compiler cum researcher Priyankara believes that it is one of the
duties of the Buddhist monks today is to supplement the creative
literature through electronic media, and in this direction, his findings
he feels ought to supply a certain degree of impetus to the subject of
socio-religious lyric writing in our country.
Writing religious songs is one thing and possesses specific meanings
and intentions but deriving inspiration to write creative songs from
religious sources is yet another thing. He places a significant bulk of
findings via interview techniques with these Buddhist Monks.
Some trends in song and lyric writing research on the part of such
scholars as Professor Sunil Ariyaratne and W.A. Abeysinghe have been
traced in order to help the reader to grasp the necessity to delve more
on the subject.
[email protected]
|
