Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – May 21, 2016 – Mysore
Compiled by Archana Penukonda
Jaya Guru Datta
Today, we saw the Kuchipudi dance performance titled “Bhama Kalapam” – you may have seen this story in the movies as well. A lot of disciples that learned from Siddheshwara have performed in the movies too. I deem the golden jubilee celebrations started with this performance. We can of course have this dance performance sometime during the celebrations when there are 10k-12k people in attendance, but even though those audience may enjoy the program then, Swamiji will not. Because, there’ll too much disturbance, with different dignitaries visiting. They keep whispering in my ear about the arrival of such dignitaries. That is why, if I have to enjoy in leisure, this performance needed to take place early. So, the celebrations have kicked off with this performance.
This has been a wonderful offering during the golden jubilee celebration. Swamiji and Jayalakshmi Mata like Lord Krishna a lot. I was transported to Dwapara Yuga. Siddheshwara’s dance creation has been nurtured very well by his disciples. His entire family is dedicated to this dance form. This dance form seems to have fallen behind a little. But, it’s slowly gaining prominence again. Both his children are supporting this effort. The entire family has taken up the vow to teach this dance form to whoever seeks it. Whether they have enough money or not, they are dedicated to this dance. Sadguru’s grace is so amazing.
I’ve been wanting to watch them dance for a long time. Gaganananda who used to earlier work in Japan, brought them to Chennai. Having learned the dance, he also danced along with them. I was very happy that at that age, he learned that dance form. Imagine the stamina the teachers had to teach such students. Sometimes, I think if I had the leisure, I would learn too. I used to dance as a kid when I was with mother. I used to run on the mountains like a little deer. Now, I’ve turned into Ganapathy. But I feel like I should become like a deer again to learn this dance. You can say whatever you want, but that’s how I feel. Every nerve in my body feels like dancing.
Swamiji gives a special place to music and dance. As much as he likes mantras, Yajnas and Vedas, he likes Natya/dance . Nada is from Samaveda. Related to Samaveda is dance. Shiva likes Natya a lot. Siddheshwara has dedicated Kuchipudi to Lord Krishna. Like that, Nada and Natya are one. I wanted to see it in leisure, which is why we had it today. During the program I felt for a moment that perhaps we could’ve had this performance during the main celebrations, but Bala Swamiji also felt that it was good to have this program now instead because Swamiji would not be able to sit in leisure for even 10 minutes during the main programs. I was very happy to hear that.
I stayed a night in Kuchipudi. I wasn’t very well then. They wanted to even cancel the program to Kuchipudi since I wasn’t very well. I insisted on going. I stayed at a devotee’s place that night. That devotee was struggling for 40 years. That 40 years of struggle got resolved in 4 hours. He got a big job, got married, went to London, it was all miraculous.
Everybody in Kuchipudi seems to know the dance. Go to Kuchipudi sometime. Teach your kids this dance, it’s good for health. You don’t need to give performances, although you can if the occasion arises. It’s a good art form and it promotes good health. Second to Yoga is Natya, remember. Yoga fills us with Prana. Natya fills us up with Pranayama filled with knowledge. Secondly, the dance is always based on a story. The dance exercises all parts of the body.
I should not tell you this secret, because you might get lax about your Yoga exercise – with Yoga, you can only address some diseases, but with Natya, you can address all diseases. We eat in moderation, we get more intelligent with Natya. Look at people who learn dance. They don’t have that many ailments. Of course, it’s common to have ailments if you are human, it’s not possible to not have any. Even Krishna, they say, used to have stomach ache. Once you have a human birth, it’s inevitable that you have some ailments.
Dance improves the intellect. It improves our practice of Pranayama too. Second, it improves our memory. In the ancient times, they never used to write down the Vedas. It used to be handed down from one to another through listening. Now, we have books, but still there’s no use. There are CDs, there are big TVs, yet, our memory is not very good. That’s because we are not exercising enough. We go for a walk, that’s alright, but it’ll be even better if you learn dance. Don’t be shy. If you learn dance, it’ll give you so much health, every part of your body from head to toe will be exercised. When you walk, only your legs get exercised. Science now says that running on the treadmill is bad for your knees. So, people are now afraid of working out on a treadmill. They worry they’ll damage their knees and will need surgery to replace knee caps.
We can climb up a mountain, but how long can we do that? We may have a heart problem. There’s always an obstacle. But, even the doctors agree that dance exercises all parts of the body.
Swimming is also recommended. Kuchipudi exercises all parts of the body just like swimming does. Bharatanatyam or Kuchipudi are both well known. I like Kuchipudi a lot, second comes Bharatanatyam. Lyrics are key in Kuchipudi and expressions are presented with the entire body. Bharatanatyam uses only eyes and neck and a little bit of the waist. Kuchipudi needs all parts of the body. The entire body is used to present the expression. Bharatanatyam primarily uses the eyes to communicate, feels like it’s a little lazy. They don’t flex very much. Kuchipudi gives good health to the entire body. Therefore, I tell everyone to learn Kuchipudi for dance and to learn the flute for good Pranayama. Both are related. There’s so much art in this dance. Siddeshwara saw the Lord (Krishna) and the Lord’s plays. That is why he is able to present it with beautiful lyrics. When you watch the performance, don’t see them as ordinary humans, see them as the actual characters they portray – Satyabhama, Krishna etc. Feel like you are seeing them in Dwaraka. Don’t think of them as humans or the dancer Radhe Shyam and wonder how old they are. His children also portrayed the roles of Krishna and Madhavi. The entire family is dedicated to the art. So, I told them to marry only someone that’s also dedicated to Kuchipudi. I bless them to continue their dedication. I am happy that I saw this program early on. Today, we even inaugurated the program in Shuka Vana. Many people took photos in Shuka Vana. If you take photos of Hyacinth Macaw, that’ll be good for you since Saturn is tormenting us a lot this year. To get relief from the malefic effects of Saturn, get photos with the Hyacinth Macaws. I will be at Shuka Vana tomorrow too. Get photos with the Hyacinth Macaws. Come to Puja tomorrow. Also go to Shuka Vana and get photos with Hyacinth Macaws tomorrow afternoon. Since tomorrow is Sunday, it’ll be quite crowded. Saturdays and Sundays are very crowded. This aviary is now so well known.
This dance was a feast to eyes. The singers sang very well.
Sri Guru Datta