Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji during the commemorative function of the recording of 384 Ragas – August 28, 2012 – Mysore
An important feature about the recent recordings of music, a dream of Sir Swamiji is going to be announced now. Although it is late today, Sri Swamiji has come to bless us today concerning the music recording. Usually Sri Swamiji only gives darshan from the balcony at this time.
Today, we devotees have earned this special darshan. Last 34 days He has been recording very rare and unknown ragas such as Chandra sekhara priya, Makaranka Priya,Tejaswini, Oshadhi and so on. Even the greatest musicians do not know these. These will be famous and beneficial for the future generations.
From Venkata Makhi to Sri Jayalakshmi Mata and on to Sri Swamiji this knowledge has flowed. Swamiji has educated us about bonsai and now he is introducing us to our musical heritage.
These 384 are very ancient ragas. Even Thyagaraja Swami has not sung in these. Some ragas have two da s two ni s two ma s, two ga s. Very strange. The melody is not immediately apparent. So much melody has been infused into the raga Chandra sekhara Priya. Not by Swamiji but by Lord Narayana Himself. Some force enters Swamiji and performs. Only when I listen to it afterwards, I enjoy and fall asleep. This Chandrasekhara Priya was played while I was asleep. The video recorders are tensed that some wrong note might be played, like a buffalo’s bad sound. But Swamiji will not allow them to edit if something like that happens. Many ragas were played while Swamiji was in a state of sleep. His ailments got cured with this music. I was hiding my swollen feet and giving darshan only from upstairs. I did not wish to upset the devotees. I am using rubber shoes that is why. This is good for those with diabetes, who get boils on the feet. People who has diabetes may use them. They are very nice. You can carry the shoes in a bag. It is not wrong. With leather shoes you cannot do this. Without leather, shoes may be carried in a bag, unseen. I was covering my feet to hide the swelling. The boys tried their best to make me feel comfortable. Day and night they were serving Swamiji. Do not wish for such a seva because that would mean that Swamiji would have to become sick again to give you that chance to serve. Wish for a chance to serve Swamiji while he is well and happy. Similarly, don’t ask for Swamiji to protect you; ask for the intelligence and knowledge to keep yourself safe.
Famous musicians are here. It is their profession. They play so beautifully. Another special feature is, a parrot was practicing with me. I will show you the video later. I was teaching it to sing the musical notes. It is Shuka Brahma. So many birds are there now upstairs. They say Datta Datta, Rama Rama, They keep whistling. They repeat all words, like in Ramadasa’s song. Purandara Dasa also mentioned a parrot. When the akka (elder sister) was not there, a cat took it away. This means that when we lovingly teach a parrot to chant the name of God. When the devotion is absent from the mind, the god of death takes the parrot away. Now this great soul (Swamiji) is living with parrots, the way He lived before with snakes, deers, dogs, and cows. Now he is like Goddess Meenakshi, who holds a parrot in her hand. Swamiji is Pashupati, the Lord of living beings. He even lived with huge oxen. Victory to Swamiji. It is late. Eat and sleep. That is all. There is a lot more to say, endless.
Jaya Guru Datta !