Gauracandra Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 The other day I was thinking about what a great innovation the Balaram Mrdangas are. What is so brilliant about them is that they are a perfect fusion of western technology and thinking with Eastern design. I believe it was Ishan Prabhu who originally developed these fiberglass mrdangas. Has anyone heard from Ishan lately? Anyways I just wanted to note this great innovation. Gauracandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valaya Posted October 21, 2001 Report Share Posted October 21, 2001 Originally posted by Gauracandra: The other day I was thinking about what a great innovation the Balaram Mrdangas are. What is so brilliant about them is that they are a perfect fusion of western technology and thinking with Eastern design. I believe it was Ishan Prabhu who originally developed these fiberglass mrdangas. Has anyone heard from Ishan lately? Anyways I just wanted to note this great innovation. Gauracandra I remember one time being in a crowded elevator behind Ishan prabhu. It was dead silent in that kind of nervous elevator-type atmosphere, except for Ishan chanting his japa rapidly non-stop, glancing up at each of us now and then with this strangely furtive wild-eyed look. Just before the doors opened onto the ground floor, after a long ride down with many stops and still no one saying a word except for Ishan and his non-too-soft staccato japa, he suddenly turned towards the packed elevator and, fidgeting about, mumbled apologetically, "I'm sorry, but if I don't keep doing this I'll go crazy!" That was back in the very early seventies, I guess, and the look in his eyes told us he meant it! valaya RR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahnava Nitai Das Posted October 22, 2001 Report Share Posted October 22, 2001 For those who don't know what a "Balarama Mridanga" is, it's a fiber glass and rubber version of the Bengali mridanga used in ISKCON temples. It really is a great idea. The sound is identical with the clay mridanga (but louder), and they are nearly indestructable. A few weeks back I went to Sri Sacchidananda Ganapathi's Ashram here in Mysore, and even they have a few "Balarama Mridangas" imported from the Los Angeles ISKCON temple where they are made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitanyachandra Posted October 22, 2001 Report Share Posted October 22, 2001 a [This message has been edited by Caitanyachandra (edited 10-23-2001).] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRdd Posted October 23, 2001 Report Share Posted October 23, 2001 Amazing to think of how widespread the Balaram mrdanga has become. I think the greatest innovation was the Simply Wonderful. Take a cup of powdered milk (sorry Darwin, but this one is most transcendental! and surely must benefit the cow when its product is being offered to the Lord), a cup of powdered sugar (this is so transcendental that one must surely not suffer the ill effects of white sugar when it is offered to Kanea), and a stick of butter. Add things like walnuts or raisins and roll into balls. Don't forget to say your prayers. Distribute prefusely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauracandra Posted October 23, 2001 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2001 Valaya, Great story about Ishan. As for the Balaram Mrdanga, I think its a great form of ingenuity. Are their any other instruments that could be modified? I have heard there are electric pumped Harmoniums. This way one hand is untied. Does this produce a nice quality sound? I figure with two hands one could create very nice music. Gauracandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valaya Posted October 24, 2001 Report Share Posted October 24, 2001 Originally posted by JRdd: Amazing to think of how widespread the Balaram mrdanga has become. I think the greatest innovation was the Simply Wonderful. Take a cup of powdered milk (sorry Darwin, but this one is most transcendental! and surely must benefit the cow when its product is being offered to the Lord), a cup of powdered sugar (this is so transcendental that one must surely not suffer the ill effects of white sugar when it is offered to Kanea), and a stick of butter. Add things like walnuts or raisins and roll into balls. Don't forget to say your prayers. Distribute prefusely. I'm never sure whether powdered milk means regular or instant, and I guess whole would be better than skim...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRdd Posted October 24, 2001 Report Share Posted October 24, 2001 Instant milk makes better, lighter ones. (sorry GC--back to the drums and things) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stonehearted Posted October 24, 2001 Report Share Posted October 24, 2001 A further innovation is the mridangas made by Pavamana das in San Diego. He has worked out a way of stringing leather heads on fiberglass shells, so you have durability and the (I believe) superior sound of the leather drum heads. As much as I appreviate the Balarama drums, I still prefer clay khols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2003 Report Share Posted July 13, 2003 Hare Krishna! Please forgive my ignorance, but does anyone know how/where to purchase the Balaram mrdanga heads and metal plates etc.? I've a mrdangs body that needs them (they've disappear (unmanifested). Thanks! Gauranga! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guruvani Posted July 13, 2003 Report Share Posted July 13, 2003 http://www.vedicresource.com/cgi-bin/miva?Merchant2/merchant.mv+Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=VR&Category_Code=INSTRPARTS this link should do the job great store for devotee supplies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 yes i have found a site with spare balaram mrdanga parts the site is http://krishna.tv/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MRD-PARTS&Category_Code=B copy and paste on the url haribol!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 Does anyone who plays these drums have feedback on how the sound of the balaram mridanga at www.vedicresource.com compares to the other drum there called "fiberglass mridanga drum (regular)" with the more traditional appearance? thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.