Nata Sankirtan Maha Jeigya in the Manipuri societyA passage from the Manipuri book Nata Sankritana by Sanakshya Ibotombi Haorokcham

Yumnam Suren
Contd from previous issue
The knowledge and skill of Taal Vyavastha and Dhruva Pada etc. of Natya Shastra which are considered to have disappeared from the Indian soil are found to be used very well in Nata Sankirtan even at present.
Though not elaborately dealt in this book on the topics of punglon (drum formula), Tal (rhythm) Raga and Ragini (tune and sub-tune) of song  and dance (by man), Sheigonnabi (Nivandhapada i.e. solo), Tangonnabi (singing in rhythm), Tangonna (singing without rhythm) etc., the something which are written in this book briefly intending to give an easy and quick understanding clearly show that Nata Sankirtan is a Mahayagya serving as a way to fulfil full devotion to Krishna and is created in accordance with the rules of music science of Bharat Natya Shastra.
Again, the ritualistic practice of Yantra puja, Dwiptahuti puja and Jargir puja of Adhivas and the performance of five Dhruva items in Purvaranga which are prescribed in Bharat Natya Shastra are considered to be extinct from the Indian music world and are unseen in any parts of India, and as it is known that they are kept preserved in Nata Sankirtan for many long years intact, it can be taken that an avenue for study and research in the matter is opened to aspirant research.
Truly speaking, if India which has become a developing country after getting freedom from British rule wants to show before the world some of its classical music and dance which have close affinity with Indian culture and civilization, which have not been adulterated by other cultures and have been going on in the true vedic form and tradition, Nata Sankirtan is to be placed in the forefront.
Except by knowing it deeply and studying  minutely, the Indian people have no other means to know the Indian classical music and dance coming down in the pure Vedic tradition. To find and see the existence of vedic culture and tradition we may delve and forage through the present large treasure house of Indian music and dance which have been mutated by the influence of other culture and civilizations in the long course of time but we shall see only a glimpse of it, and we could hardly achieve it unless we try to do it through the medium of Nata Sankirtan which is still preserving the chaste vedic tradition of music and dance in it intact.
As all societies in the world undergo changes with the changing time, the Manipuri society also does the same naturally. But, the Meities (Manipuris) have been a people that does not easily abandon the belief, custom, tradition and culture which they have used for a long time. As a simple example, when all the countries in the world have used shoe, trousers, shirt and coat like English as a new global fashion we see many persons in the Meitei (Manipuri) society who are repugnant to the Western dress and cannot get rid of dhoti and kurta. (To be contd)