MRDANGA

MANUAL:
BASICS
A Quick Guide to
Learn the Basics
of Mrdanga

Mrdanga
Mrdanga
Mrdanga
Mrdanga
Mrdanga
2

Content

How This Manual Came About

Key

Pranam Mantra

Anatomy

Service Attitude

Slow Beat

10

Congregational Chanting

11

Medium Beat

12

Give to Receive

13

Fast Beat

14

Maintenance Tips

15

Dedication

16

Please Chant Hare Krishna

17

Contact for Questions

Follow along with YouTube videos

Channel name: School of Kirtan

HOW THIS MANUAL

CAME ABOUT
WHY THIS BOOKLET?
Many devotees have the desire to learn Mrdanga but they do not know where to begin. In
addition, sometimes it is not possible to learn from the leading Kirtaniyas due to their busy
schedules. For this reason, we have decided to compile this small Mrdanga Manual to give
an insight into the basics of playing Mrdanga in a simple and easy way. This is not the most
ideal way to learn Mrdanga by any means! The best way is to learn from a teacher, starting
from finger practice and then moving onto more complex mantras. But for those who dont
have the money or the time and wish to pick up the basic strokes on the Mrdanga so they can
play to a adequate level in Kirtan, we hope this helps you.

WHAT IS THE MRDANGA?

In Kali-Yuga, the most important and effective means of attaining love of God is through
Harinama Sankirtana. This was inaugurated by Krishna himself when he appeared 500 years
ago as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the Mrdanga drum to
be used in kirtan. We respect the Mrdanga as an expansion of Lord Balarama. The Mrdanga
drum is essential in kirtan. It brings the sweetness and attracts the heart of the devotees to the
Holy Name.
y.s. School of Kirtan Team
4

KEY

1 Finger on Treble:
Open Sound

4 Fingers on Treble:
Closed Sound

3 Fingers on Treble:
Closed Sound, used for alternating
between open and closed fast.

Open Sound on Bass

Closed Sound on Bass

Beat
Marks where the beat is in the
mantra.
5

PRANAM
MANTRA
Mrdanga Pranam Mantra
namo jagannatha sutaya namo mridangaya namah
lavanya rasa madhury sahasra guna samyuktam
namo mridangaya namo namoh
namo baladevaya namo namah
I offer my respectful obeisances unto the son of Sri Jagannatha misra
(Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu). I offer obeisances unto the Mrdanga, from which
sweet and nectar sound emanates. I offer my obeisances again and again unto the
Mrdanga which has thousands of good qualities. And I offer my obeisances unto
lord Baladeva who assumes the from of the Mrdanga to serve Lord Caitanya.
mridanga brahma rupaya lavannam rasa madhuri
sahasra gunam samyuktam mridangaya namo namah
Unto the Mrdanga, that supreme Brahman formed as a clay drum which is infused
with the sweet mellows of graceful enchantment, and endowed with thousands of
transcendental qualities, I bow down again and again.
6

ANATOMY

This page just gives a small insight into the anatomy of the Mrdanga.
By using this diagram it can help you to choose a good Mrdanga.

Body:
The clay centre of the drum is represented by Lord
Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself. The Mrdanga is made
out of clay so that the sound can resonate more.
Large Head:
Known as the Dayan.
Is represented by
Gadadhara Prabhu.
The sound should be
clear, resonate and
deep. It should not be
too high, or too low.

Small Head:
Known as the Bayan.
Is represented by
Nityananda Prabhu.
The sound should be
clear and resonate like
when you hit glass.

Straps:
In order for the Mrdanga to make
the best possible sound, ideally it
should come with 32 straps around
the body. Each strap represents 32
syllables of the Maha Mantra.


Madhava Prabhu

Service Attitude.

THE MRDANGA
PLAYER SHOULD
ASSIST THE
KIRTAN LEADER,
NOT LEAD THE
KIRTAN LEADER.

It can be very easy to think of oneself as the best Mrdanga player

or the one who made the kirtan amazing. Our eternal constitutional
position is that we are the servants of the Lord and our only business
to serve and please Krishna. In a kirtan, a Mrdanga player should
be playing in the mood of glorifying and pleasing Krishna and his
devotees,
not raising his/her own ego. The key is to perform service in
Follow
along with
YouTube
videos
a selfless way to just please Krishna and if this is done then you will see
Channel name:
how amazing kirtan really is.
School of Kirtan

SLOW
BEAT

DHEI

TA

TA

TE

TE

TE

TE

TA

KHI

KHI

NI

DHA

GHE

DHA

Where can it be used:

This mantra is used when a Kirtan
is just beginning. Its important at
this point not to speed up until the
Kirtan leader is ready to speed up.
This mantra has a slightly different
tempo to other mantras, so follow
the beat symbols carefully.

Follow along with

YouTube videos
Channel name:
School of Kirtan

GHE DHA