Saturday, March 01, 2008
Panchatattva Raga Sagara, Banglore, India – 1st March, 2008
Music for Meditation & Healing
His Holiness Pujya Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji’s musical waves swept the audience in Gayana Samaja auditorium on KR Road in Bangalore on 1st March 2008. Gayana Samaja is the one of the oldest Music institutions in the country. For 103 years, the association has been doing great service to the musicians and music lovers alike.
The President of the Gayana Samaja, Mr. H. Kamalanath had visited Mysore in November last year to request Sri Swamiji to come and give “Music for Meditation and Healing” program in Gayana Samaja auditorium. Sri Swamiji had agreed and the concert took place on 1st March 2008.
The Swamiji of Sri Kailash Ashrama, His Holiness Pujya Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji, inaugurated the concert. After the inauguration, Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji lauded the musical efforts of Sri Swamiji and his earnest interest in Indian tradition and arts. He recalled his visit to Mysore couple of months ago and admired the positive energy at the Ashrama environs. He also remembered the Love and affection, His Guru “Tiruchi Maha Swamiji” had for Pujya Sri Swamiji. Sri Kamalanath, in his welcome address spoke in detail about the musical legacy and the in-depth efforts of Sri Swamiji in making it as a health betterment tool. An Audio CD “Namarchane” containing Kannada Bhajans composed and sung by Sri Swamiji was released on this occasion.
Sri Swamiji in the music concert played Rushyaketu Priya, Kapi and the Pancha Tattva Ragas Latanta Priya, Hamsanadam, Shuddha Dhanyasi, Naga Swaravali, Suravarali, Dance tune (new tune based on the Navaratri Devi Bhajan “Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Jayee Bhava”) and Sama Raga Mangala. The 120 minutes of musical ecstasy lifted the audience to musical stratospheres.
After the concert, Sri R. K. Padmanabha, one of India’s best-known Carnatic classical vocalists spoke and showered encomiums on the musical mastery of Sri Swamiji. He said, One of Carnatic Classical Music’s cornerstones was the person ‘Venkata Makhi’, who lived 300 years ago. But Sri Swamiji is today’s Venkata Makhi, not only is Sri Swamiji from the same family and heritage, Sri Swamiji also shows the musical prowess of Venkata Makhi. Sri Swamiji is also a Vaggeyakara in its truest sense. A Vaggeyakara is a person who composes a Kriti, tunes it to Music and then sings or plays it. Sri Swamiji has been doing it for over 30 years. And the large volume of Kritis composed by Sri Swamiji stand testimony for this. I have had the opportunity of singing in Nada Mantapa in Mysore Ashrama. What an auditorium! Only a musical force like Sri Swamiji could have built such a feature rich auditorium. Gayana Samaja has proven its mettle in getting Sri Swamiji agree to play here. Gayana Samaja is indeed blessed. His speech received thunderous applause from the audience.
Later, Sri Jayendra Puri Swamiji who sat through the concert honoured Sri Swamiji with a garland and a Peetambara (silk clothe). It was indeed a musical night.
