Kanth Kirtan

 The Following is an edited and translated version of Bhai Kaur Singh's small article on Kanth Kirtan. Kanth Kirtan means to do Kirtan from memory. This is the Maryada and it must be followed. In today's Akhand Kirtani Jatha there remain very few Kirtanis who do Kanth Kirtan. Many place a Pothi on the harmonium, not only is this against Maryada, but it is disrespectful towards the Pothi. Many times as the Kirtani plays the harmonium the Pothi moves around, many times it has fallen off the harmonium. As the Kirtani sings they may accidentally spit on the Pothi, this is not acceptable. As this article will show, getting Bani Kanth will improve our Jeevan and thus improve our Kirtan. Kirtan should be done Kanth, placing a Pothi or phone on Vaja is not acceptable.

 "Will our Sangat make an effort to make Jatha strong or will we just try increasing our numbers? The trend of doing Kirtan with Pothi has caused the number of Kirtanis to increase but the Power of Kirtan has decreased.Bhai Randhir Singh Ji did Kanth Kirtan and at that time all Kirtanis were Kanth Kirtanis, they did not do Kirtan from a Pothi. These days Kirtanis do not even need to write their Shabads out, instead they can just use the Amrit Kirtan Pothi. This Pothi is conveniently shaped to fit on top of a harmonium. There is no doubt that if Amrit Kirtan Pothi is not allowed to be used (as is the Maryada at Gurdwara Sahibs) then all Kirtanis would do Kanth Kirtan.The Pothi is to help get Shabads Kanth, not to be placed on the Vaja. The Kirtani should have a high Jeevan. If a Kirtani does not have a high Avastha his/her Kirtan will not have a positive effect on the Sangat. The Kirtani will not reap the full effects of doing Kirtan if it is not Kanth. We can make our Jeevan better by following Guru Sahib’s Hukams. We must follow all Hukams contained within Gurbani as well as those that the Panj Pyare give to us. These Hukams have been passed down from Kalgidhar Ji’s time, of which Sarbloh Bibek plays a very large role.

ਸੇਵਕ ਸਿਖ ਪੂਜਣ ਸਭਿ ਆਵਹਿ ਸਭਿ ਗਾਵਹਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਊਤਮ ਬਾਨੀ ॥ਗਾਵਿਆ ਸੁਣਿਆ ਤਿਨ ਕਾ ਹਰਿ ਥਾਇ ਪਾਵੈ ਜਿਨ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਆਗਿਆ ਸਤਿ ਸਤਿ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨੀ ॥੧॥

Meaning: Guru Sahib’s Seva is manifold. Coming to the Gurdwara Sahib, cleaning Sangat’s Jorre (shoes), cleaning the carpet, Langar Seva, reciting Paat, doing and listening to Kirtan. Listeners are also included within the definition of Kirtani.

In this Gurbani line Guru Sahib states that their singing and listening of Kirtan is only accepted, if they fully accept Guru Sahib’s Hukam. Wearing a Tegh (Large Kipran) is part of that Hukam, keeping Sarbloh Bibek is within that Hukam, getting as much Bani Kanth is also within that Hukam.

 ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੩ ॥ਕਲਉ ਮਸਾਜਨੀ ਕਿਆ ਸਦਾਈਐ ਹਿਰਦੈ ਹੀ ਲਿਖਿ ਲੇਹੁ ॥ਸਦਾ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕੈ ਰੰਗਿ ਰਹੈ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਤੂਟਸਿ ਨੇਹੁ ॥ਕਲਉ ਮਸਾਜਨੀ ਜਾਇਸੀ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਭੀ ਨਾਲੇ ਜਾਇ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਸਹ ਪ੍ਰੀਤਿ ਨ ਜਾਇਸੀ ਜੋ ਧੁਰਿ ਛੋਡੀ ਸਚੈ ਪਾਇ ॥੧॥ਮਃ ੩ ॥ਹੋਰੁ ਕੂੜੁ ਪੜਣਾ ਕੂੜੁ ਬੋਲਣਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਨਾਲਿ ਪਿਆਰੁ ॥ਨਾਨਕ ਵਿਣੁ ਨਾਵੈ ਕੋ ਥਿਰੁ ਨਹੀ ਪੜਿ ਪੜਿ ਹੋਇ ਖੁਆਰੁ ॥੨॥ਹਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਜੀਉ ਵਾਰੀ ਗੁਰ ਕੀ ਬਾਣੀ ਮੰਨਿ ਵਸਾਵਣਿਆ ॥ਅੰਜਨ ਮਾਹਿ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਜੋਤੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਮਿਲਾਵਣਿਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਬਾਣੀ ਤਤੁ ਵਖਾਣੀ ਗਿਆਨ ਧਿਆਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਆਈ ॥ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਆਖੀ ਗੁਰਮੁਖਿ ਜਾਤੀ ਸੁਰਤੀਂ ਕਰਮਿ ਧਿਆਈ ॥

 By getting Bani Kanth, by instilling it within yourself, makes ones Jeevan, it creates an Avastha. Without getting Bani Kanth and instilling it within you, doing Kirtan from Pothi or book will not have the same effect on the Sangat as Kanth Kirtan will. Secondly, the Maryada of doing Kirtan from memory has been in the Panth from the start. To accept this is extremely important. To do Kirtan from Pothi is wrong and needs to be stopped."

- Bhai Kaur Singh Ji

Bhai Sahib Randhir Singh Ji doing Kanth Kirtan