Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Sri Venkatamakhi Samsmarana and Sri Tyagaraja Swami Aradhana – evening – March 6, 2016 – Mysore
Compiled by Smt Hira Duvvuri
We have now stepped back from our visit to the land of Gandharvas (celestial musicians). In the 14 worlds or planes of existence, which include Atala, Vitala, Patala, etc. which follow a step-wise gradation, Gandharva Loka is one.
Sri Swamiji constantly renders service to Lord Vishnu in the form of the sweetness of music which is inherent in Omkara. In the sky this sweetness travels all the way to Goloka (the ultimate and highest level). Only those who have in them the aspect of a Gandharva, will dedicate their hearts to music. They learn and practice music. The great composers of music have taken the essence of the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the epics like the Ramayana and Bhagavatam and have instilled their compositions with it. They have handed down to us the treasures of devotion, spiritual wisdom, and dispassion through the medium of keertanas (devotional songs) either in the classical or the semi-classical styles. It is difficult to take up a serious study of Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the Bhagavatam. The limited time we have at our disposal may not permit it. Therefore, through the channel of Nada or sacred music, all the saint-composers, including Sri Venkatamakhi, Sri Tyagaraja, Sri Purandara Dasa, and all other classical composers and the singing minstrels of God have propagated Devotion throughout the world through their compositions. They have shown us the easy way, helping us to give up the much tougher path towards salvation. Using a variety of musical styles, they have paved the path for us. We all have to return to our source, to the place where we have come from. All those who either sing or listen to music, are helped by these Gandharvas in human form to achieve the purpose of their birth on earth. Many musicians are born on earth as a result of suffering from a curse. They are forced to live a worldly life. To maintain the practice of music while struggling to survive in this ocean called the world, is very difficult. Both for men and women, the worldly obligations and family pressures pull them in one direction, and the yearning to immerse themselves in music pulls them in a different direction. They are caught in this tough circumstance.
Following the spiritual path, daily, either in the morning or in the evening, we all must revive and keep alive all the good Keertanas (devotional songs) which we have learned, by practicing them. We should pass on this knowledge to our next generation also. Knowledge and practice of music develops a strong memory. It improves intellectual retention. It gives the ability to face the challenges in life successfully. It gives radiance, longevity, and good health to a person. The path of music is remarkably beneficial.
Lord Hanuman is Music itself, manifested in tangible forms, as Narada, Tumburu, Nandi, Bhringi, and others. They have all handed to us this divine music, the way the name of Lord Narayana has been perpetuated in this world by Sage Narada. They have filled our hearts with Nada through devotional music. This seed which they have sown, we must nurture and develop. We must pass it on to the future generations.
Today we are aping the western culture. We have given up using our mother tongue. We speak only in English. We must never forget or neglect our own mother tongue, be it Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Hindi, Sanskrit, or whatever else. We must preserve and continue the use of our mother tongue. It is very important. At home, we must only speak in our mother tongue. To help the children to maintain their familiarity with the language, we must teach them this traditional music with the lyrics in our language. For exercise, we must introduce them to dance lessons. It will strengthen their physiques. It will improve their memory. Training in music certainly helps you to retain in memory all that you have learned. This also helps us to remember our musical heritage and ancestry. I was born into a musical lineage. Generations ago, my ancestors were great musicians. That is why I have inherited this interest in music. It is very remarkable.
Sri R.K. Srikanthan I remember fondly today. Sri R.K. Padmanabhan has come here today accompanied by all his students from Bengaluru to render musical service here today. I am very happy. Every year I wish that he would repeat this service here.
We present at least one Prabandha composed by Sri Venkatamakhi on this auspicious occasion every year. Such a presentation will enhance our control over our diction. Singing such Prabandhas is very tough. But do not worry. Learn from your teacher and master it. At least learn one.
Sri Venkatamakhi, the extraordinary musicologist has separated and distinguished each Melakarta Raga by its primary musical notes. He has established the system of proper rhythms. He has smoothened our path in the presentation of music. He is indeed a great soul. We remember him today. We also render the most popular Pancharatna Kritis of Sri Tyagaraja Swami (the five gems of Tyagaraja) on this day. We recognize his greatness. Each of the songs is a tribute to devotion. Rama is said to have accused Sri Tyagaraja of forgetting the devotees of Sri Rama, in his total preoccupation with Rama Himself. Therefore, to please his Lord, the song Endaro Mahanubhavulu, acknowledging the greatness of the Self-realized souls who have attained Liberation, was composed by Saint Tyagaraja. Thyagaraja faced many severe tests in his life. The idols of Sri Rama were stolen from his altar deliberately to give him pain. The Lord gave pain to his devotee to see that through that pain all the nine types of feelings and emotions will find succinct expression in his compositions.
Where did the theft occur? It occurred in his own heart. The possessive attachment to the idols was stealthily removed by God, who granted the highest dispassion to Saint Thyagaraja, who finally learned to experience God as Light itself. He sang expressing that final realization in a song (Paramaatmudu velige mucchata baaga telusukore). His attention shifted from the limited perception of God as Rama to the boundless perception of God who is formless and all-pervasive.
When you sing the songs, learn to understand the meaning of the lyrics. Many scholars have given detailed meaning and commentaries on these compositions. Obtain those writings and study them. Reduce your TV watching and spend more time in grasping the meaning of these profound lyrics. Explain the meaning to the children also. When you explain the meaning to others in your own mother tongue, is there any further need to study the Upanishads? Is there a further need to attend discourses? Does one have a better way to have a Satsang (association of noble souls) than this? There is no need.
In a simple style, these compositions light our spiritual path. You are all very fortunate. You are highly blessed. You have come to the Nada Mantapam. Padmanabhan resides in the world of music. Wherever he is, he is absorbed in music. Today we have all lost ourselves in music. We have not only drunk the nectar of music, we have been drenched in music thoroughly. We offer our respects to Saint Thyagaraja and to Sri Venkatamakhi.
I am very happy that Sri Mahadevappa and Smt. Padma Murthy have attended this program despite their advanced age and circumstance. I am blessed with such wonderful children.
Jaya Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.