Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – February 19, 2012 – Mysore
Jaya Guru Datta
There are more Telugu devotees in the audience. So I will speak in Telugu. It has been an ashrama tradition for decades to have this celebration honoring Sri Venkata Makhi and Sri Thyagaraja Swami on the day before Shivaratri. Since the Nada Mantapam is under renovation now, we are having this program at this Paundareeka Rangasthala for the first time. The musicians of Mysore and elsewhere come of their own accord without waiting for an invitation, to render these compositions here. They consider it a privilege and an honor. The program began with a Ganapati prayer composed by Swamiji. Then a composition of Sri Venkata Makhi was rendered by the group. This was followed by the group singing of the five gems of Thyagaraja, the Pancharatna Kritis in the Ghana ragas.
Venkata Makhi, as you all know is the father of Carnatic Music who has given us the definition and the description of all the Melakarta Ragas. He is my forefather in my family’s distant lineage. My great ancestors had studied Vedanta and had also pursued music in depth. One such ancestor, Gandluru Paundarika Yaji was a great performing artist on stage. This Paundarika Rangasthala was named after him, in his honor, for use as a stage for music, drama, and all performing arts, in addition to other activities. This afternoon the musical ballet Girija Kalyanam took place on this stage.
Initially I was listening to this program from far away from the Guru Nilayam. The sound was divine and most attractive and soothing. By the time the sound travels some distance all the inevitable discrepancies and flaws in pitch and tone get adjusted and become perfect. But when I sit in close proximity, these minor flaws will become noticeable.
No great composition comes out by itself without some inspiration behind it. Some background story is always there. We just now heard the beautiful concluding piece, Endaro Mahanubhavulu of Saint Thyagaraja. There is an episode that occurred that triggered this wonderful and ever popular composition. Rama and Hanuman gave darshan to Thyagaraja Swami and Rama asked him, “Why do you always sing only about me? Why don’t you sing about my devotees?” That is when Endaro mahanubhavulu was composed in devout exhuberance. Thyagaraja is an incarnation of Narada.
Pancharatna kritis are gems composed in the five ghana ragas. Even for very popular film songs, the popularity endures for 8-10 years for may be one in a 1000 songs. Others get forgotten. Thyagaraja’s kritis have endured for hundreds of years. They are even more powerful than some of the beejakshara bhajans composed and sung by Swamiji. Thyagaraja has composed in easy Telugu language. In simple words he has conveyed the essence of the Upanishads. If you fully grasp their meaning, then there is no need to study the Upanishads. That is why they have survived. Telugu language is easy and suitable for conveying Vedantic knowledge. These keertanas are very deep, profound, and appealing to all.
Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa, Meerabai, Tulasidas, Jnanadev, and all such great saints have also experienced divinity, and their compositions have burst forth from their personal experience of Truth. They are not deliberate compositions of professional lyricists. They were not composed in air-conditioned rooms, or while drinking coffee sitting under a fan, writing about a flowing river, a sunset or some other beauty of nature.
Dikshitar has composed in Sanskrit. Thyagaraja sang in Telugu. Bharatiyar songs were sung in Tamil. Kannada Devaranamas also became popular. But Telugu keertanas have survived because of their deep appeal and their profound philosophical content. Telugu language is a good medium for explaining Vedanta in simple words.
This program is being webcast for viewers not present here, who live in many different countries, like USA, countries in Europe, Australia, and elsewhere. All are enjoying this vibrant live program.
Please adjust to conditions at this ashrama. This is not a five-star hotel, although it has just given you the five-gems of Thyagaraja. The food, the accommodations and the facilities are limited. Please conserve, share, and adjust. Otherwise, stay in hotels in town and spend your daytime here enjoying all the events. Please take care of children, old people, and your possessions. Bathe only in warm water. Drink only boiled water. Take care of your health.
Shatashloki Ramayana viewing competition concludes today. Tomorrow new details will be given for viewing the Hanuman mantra and other videos. This is my shop. I will not give up talking about it. I am still not satisfied. I need more and more views. Those who cannot personally view may sponsor views on their behalf also. We have set up a counter here for that purpose.
3-4 crores have watched Shatashloki Ramayana. All have participated from many countries. I am very satisfied with Shatashloki Ramayana views but not yet with Hanuman Mantra views. This program will continue till December until the consecration of the new Hanuman Temple in the Mysore ashrama. Tomorrow certificates will be issued for all those who scored in the top 10 viewers list for Shatashloki Ramayana.
Those who sponsor views will get their names written on the sacred cloth that will be submerged by Swamiji in the Sarayu river during the program in Ayodhya on March 2nd, 2012.
Sri Guru Datta