Play the Mridanga Drum - Mridanga 1

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Develop your mridanga skills with Visvambhar Sheth
Enhance your learning by interacting with teachers and students through the discussion forum.
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ABOUT THIS COURSE
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In Mridanga 1 you'll learn the primary beats of kirtan and develop a strong foundation for further development. You will learn the traditional mridanga mantras and hand practices to give you speed, flexibility, and clarity in your playing.
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Mridanga 1
     Frequently asked questions

GENERAL

Is Mridanga 1 suitable for complete beginners?

Yes. No experience is required. The course includes how to sit with and hold the drum, strike the drum, play the basic sounds (bols), hand practices (hasta sadhana) and kirtan mantras. 

Who is the instructor for this course?

Your teacher is Visvambhar Sheth, a renowned kirtaniya and lifelong mridanga student and teacher. 

How do I communicate with my teacher?

Within the course is a discussion forum where you can write to your teacher. You also have access to the Q&A from other students and your teacher. 

Do I need a mridanga?

Yes, you will need a drum to practice with. Both fiberglass and clay mridangas work well. 

How long does it take to complete the course?

Most students take 3-6 months, practicing 15 – 30 minutes per day. 

How long should I practice per day?

15–30 minutes is recommended. More is great.
COURSE DETAILS

What are the course materials?

This course includes a booklet and individual pdfs for each section, that contain notation for each of the bols, hasta sadhanas, kirtan mantras and tihais.

Should I use a metronome?

Optional but helpful.

What is a bol?

A bol is a syllable (dha, ge, te, etc.) that represents a specific stroke on the drum.

Do I need to memorize bols?

Over time yes—but memorization happens naturally through practice. 

What is Hastha Sadhana?

It is repetitive hand training to develop precision, clarity, speed, and endurance.

What is the Seed Mantra ‘Te-Re-Khe-Ta’?

It is the foundational 4-stroke mantra used in many bols, tihais, and kirtan grooves.

Why does Hastha Sadhana start slow?

Slow repetition builds proper muscle memory and steady rhythm.

What is a tihai?

A phrase repeated 3 times, landing on beat 1 (sum). It acts as a transition from one phrase to the next. 

What is Keherwa Taal?

The most common 8-beat cycle used in kirtans.

Why learn Keherwa first?

It is simple, versatile, and foundational.

What does Basic Keherwa teach?

Pulse, groove, bols, and beginner transitions.

What is a Hatuti?

A short rhythmic introduction before kirtan. 

What is Das Pahira Taal - the Prabhupada Beat?

A 16-beat Gaudiya kirtan rhythm.

What are ghost hits?

Light strokes that add subtle rhythmic texture.

What is Lopha Taal? 

A 3-beat cycle used in mellow, meditative kirtans.
COMPLETING THE COURSE

How do I receive the course completion certificate?

Complete all lessons and mark each as finished.

Is there a final test?

No exam—your progress through the course is your demonstration of completion.
Testimonials

What our learners say

"Hare Krishna! Thank you for amazing Mridanga course! :) I wanted to know if it is bonafideto play Basic Kaharwa (level 2) as a double speed mantra? I noticed it goes nicely with tihaidhin-a-ke-dhin-a-ke-dhin. :)."
Kunjarani dasi, Finland Kirtan-club
"The mridanga course is thorough and challenging. It’s awesome!"
Narada, Yogaville teacher, Virginia
"My first and most influential mridanga teacher is Vish. His knowledge and application of that knowledge is so incredibly deep and heart felt. To have a teacher like Vish, who is patient as well as kind, is invaluable."
MILLARD ROPER, FOUNDER OF FUNKY OM YOGA
"Visvambhar was my first mrdanga teacher. Until that point, I just knew enough to play in kirtans, but I hadn't learned properly. It was always fun, challenging, and exciting to learn from Vish, My brother and I always looked forward to learning the next beat. Vish was a catalyst in setting us up for success in playing mridanga and I'm always proud to say he's my teacher."
KISHOR GOPAL DAS, TRAVELING KIRTANIYA

Course Preview

meet your instructor

Visvambhar Sheth

Kirtan, bhajan, mridanga, and kartal teacher
An internationally recognized Kirtan singer, recording artist, and inspirational speaker, Visvambhar (Vish) has a lifelong connection to India and its culture. Being brought up in a Kirtan family and community, he began leading Kirtan from the age of five. Vish is a multi-instrumentalist and a master of the Mridanga drum. From childhood to the present day, he has studied with Bablu Mahasaya, a recognized master in the lineage of Narottam das Thakura.

BUNDLE TWO OR MORE COURSES AND SAVE!

Our teachers have created these courses to give you everything you need to become an expert kirtaniya yourself. 

The Language of Music course provides a musical foundation that is important. 
You'll have a more enjoyable time with the harmonium, mridanga and kartal courses if you take the Language of Music course too.
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Mridanga 1 and Mridanga 2

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Mridanga 1, Mridanga 2, & Kartal Course

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Mridanga 1, Harmonium 1, The Language of Music and Kartals

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Mridanga 1 & Kartal Course

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Mridanga 1 & The Language of Music

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Mridanga 1, Kirtan Sequence & Flow, & Kartal Course

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Mridanga 1, Festival Kirtan Melodies, & Kartal Course

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TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Learn how to play mridanga in any Kirtan! Vish Sheth is the perfect guide to build your mridanga expertise and confidence.

Create your account and submit payment for instant access to the course.