Kumaoni Jagar (जागर)

Jaagar (Kumaoni-जागर) is a form of spirit or ghost worship practiced in the hills of Uttarakhand, both in Kumaon as well as Garhwal. The word jaagar comes from the Sanskrit root, jag or to wake, jaagar is a medium or way in which gods and local deities are called or waked from their dormant stage and asked for favors or remedies for certain problems plaguing the person.

It is attached to the idea of divine justice and is organised to seek penance for a crime or seek justice from the gods for some injustice. Music is the medium through which the gods are invoked. The singer or Jagariya sings a ballad of the gods with allusions to the great epics like Mahabharat and Ramayana and which describes the adventures and exploits of the god being invoked.

These traditions are the part of a kind of Folk Hinduism prevalent, in fact, all across the Himalayas, which have been there along with the mainstream Hinduism for ages.

The hard life of the Himalayas and constant exposure to the vagaries of nature inspired a strong belief in paranormal phenomena and also in numerous folk gods who were given great reverence and respect. Every village had its own god protecting its boundaries Bhoomial Devta or Khitarpal, each family its Kul Devta and numerous other benevolent demi-gods and malicious spirits which could reward or torment people and had to be appeased. The isolation of the Kumaon and Garhwal Himalayas promoted the emergence of local religious traditions which are still strong in these regions along with mainstream Hinduism-

Jaagar ceremonies are of two types one is the Dev Jaagar, the invocation of a god, usually local gods in the body of the medium and the other is the Bhoot Jaagar the invocation of a deceased person spirit or soul in the medium’s body, although other forms like Masaan Puja also exist.

Today, Jaagars are seen more as cultural and musical heritage in the need of preservation than the religious ceremony itself. But it is still highly revered especially in the rural areas. For years of evolution Jaagar singing has transformed into an art which is greatly cherished and the exponents of which are often heralded as living heritages.

Contents-

Participants-1 Jagariya, 2 Dangaria, 3 Syonkar, 4 Duration, 5 Preparations, 6 Instruments, 7 Rituals, 8 Saanjhvali Geet, 9  Birtvai, 10 Ausan, 11 Guru Aarti, 12 Khaakh ramaan, 13 Daanik Vichaar, 14 Aashirvaad 15 Prasthan, 16 Exponents, 17 Significance

Jagariya-The Jagariya (जगरिया) is the singer of the ballads of the gods who leads the rituals and invokes the gods by calling upon them he is assisted by two or more men who sing along with him in chorus.

Dangaria-The Dangariya (डंगरिया)is the medium, whose body is used by the gods when they incarnate. Dangariya comes from the Kumauni word Dagar or way, he is the one who shows the way.

Syonkar-The Syonkar (स्योंकर)person who has organized the Jaagar to seek divine intervention to his problems. The Jaagar is held at his home.

Duration-The Jaagar can be organised for

three days dhinali (धिनाली)

eleven days

twenty days baisi (बैसी)

Preparations-The room in which the Jaagar is to be performed is purfied by purification processes closely administered by the Jaagar singer or ‘’Jagariya’’.

The Dhuni (धुनी) or sacred fire is lit for the homa.

Instruments-The musical instruments used are the ‘’Hurka’’ (हुड़का), ‘’Dhol’’ (ढोल), ‘’Damau’’ (दमाऊ), ‘’Thali’’ (थाली) all of which are percussion instruments native to Kumaon played by professional musicians.

Rituals-

Saanjhvali Geet- In Saanjhvali Geet (सान्झवाली गीत) all gods are remembered their names repeated and asked for assistance for a successful completion of the jaagar

An excerpt from the Saanjhvali Geet of God Gangnaath, (in Kumaoni)

जै गुरु-जै गुरु

माता पिता गुरु देवत

तब तुमरो नाम छू इजाऽऽऽऽऽऽ

यो रुमनी-झूमनी संध्या का बखत में॥

तै बखत का बीच में,

संध्या जो झुलि रै।

बरम का बरम लोक में, बिष्णु का बिष्णु लोक में,

राम की अजुध्या में, कृष्ण की द्वारिका में,

यो संध्या जो झुलि रै,

शंभु का कैलाश में,

ऊंचा हिमाल, गैला पताल में,

Birtvai-During the Birtvai (बिर्त्वाई) the divine spirit being called upon is praised and ballads related to his or her adventures, and his or her life are sung out loud. An excerpt from the Birtvai of Deity Bala Golia, (in Kumaoni)

गोरियाऽऽऽऽऽऽ दूदाधारी छै, कृष्ण अबतारी छै।

मामू को अगवानी छै, पंचनाम द्याप्तोंक भांणिज छै,

तै बखत का बीच में गढी़ चंपावती में हालराई राज जो छन,

अहाऽऽऽऽ! रजा हालराई घर में संतान न्हेंतिन,

के धान करन कूनी राजा हालराई.......!

तै बखत में राजा हालराई सात ब्या करनी.....संताना नाम पर ढुंग लै पैद नि भै,

तै बखत में रजा हालराई अठुं ब्या जो करनु कुनी,

राजैल गंगा नाम पर गध्यार नै हाली, द्याप्ता नाम पर ढुंग जो पुजिहाली,......

अहा क्वे राणि बटिक लै पुत्र पैद नि भै.......

राज कै पुत्रक शोकै रैगो

Ausan-During the Ausan (औसाण) beats of the ‘’Hudka’’ and the other instruments are slowly increased. Here the ‘’Dangariya’’ starts going into a state of a trance with frenzied movement.

An excerpt from the Ausan of Deity Gangnath ji, (in Kumaoni)

एऽऽऽऽऽ राजौ- क रौताण छिये......!

एऽऽऽऽऽ डोटी गढ़ो क राज कुंवर जो छिये,

अहाऽऽऽऽऽ घटै की क्वेलारी, घटै की क्वेलारी।

आबा लागी गौछौ गांगू, डोटी की हुलारी॥

डोटी की हुलारी, म्यारा नाथा रे......मांडता फकीर।

रमता रंगीला जोगी, मांडता फकीर,

ओहोऽऽऽऽ मांडता फकीर......

Guru Aarti-All gods, demi-gods in the local pantheon of Kumaun are believed top be disciples of Guru Gorakhnath and therefore he too is remembered and asked for protection.

This ritual is known as the Guru Aarti ( गुरु आरती).

An excerpt of Guru Aarti of Deity Gangnath ji, (in Kumaoni)

ए.......तै बखत का बीच में, हरिद्वार में बार बर्षक कुम्भ जो लागि रौ।

ए...... गांगू.....! हरिद्वार जै बेर गुरु की सेवा टहल जो करि दिनु कूंछे......!

अहा.... तै बखत का बीच में, कनखल में गुरु गोरखीनाथ जो भै रईं......!

ए...... गुरु कें सिरां ढोक जो दिना, पयां लोट जो लिना.....!

ए...... तै बखत में गुरु की आरती जो करण फैगो, म्यरा ठाकुर बाबा.....!

अहा.... गुरु धें कुना, गुरु......, म्यारा कान फाडि़ दियो, मून-मूनि दियो,

भगैलि चादर दि दियौ, मैं कें विद्या भार दी दियो,

मैं कें गुरुमुखी ज बणा दियो।

ओ... दो तारी को तार-ओ दो तारी को तार,

गुरु मैंकें दियो कूंछो, विद्या को भार,

बिद्या को भार जोगी, मांगता फकीर,

रमता रंगीला जोगी,मांगता फकीर।

Khaakh ramaan-The ash known as bibhuti (बिभूति) from ‘’homa’’ the fire sacrifice made to the Gods is applied on the foreheads of those present This is known as Khaak Ramaan (खाख रामाण)

Daanik Vichaar-Daanik Vichaar (दाणीक विचार) means thinking about the provider, the people present contemplate about God and the way he provides for us.

Aashirvaad-The people present are ritually blessed by the priests who pray for their prosperity, this is known as Aashirvaad (आशीर्वाद).

Prasthan-The Gods are said to return or Prasthan (प्रस्थान), to their heavenly abode at this stage of the Jaagar.

Exponents-The exponents of the professional Jaagar singing are highly respected. They have preserved these ballads of local gods through oral traditions which today are being recorded today.

Some famous Jaagar Singers-Ram Singh, Mohan Singh, Harda 'Surdas', Jogaram, Nain Nath Rawal, Kabootari Devi, Ganga Devi, Pritam Bhartwan.