Speech of HH Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji – Inauguration of 48th music conference of Ganakala Parishat at Datta Peetham – October 4, 2017 – Mysore
Compiled by: Hira Duvvuri
Sri Maha Ganapataye Namaha
Sri Saraswatyai Namaha
Sripada Vallabha Narasimha Saraswati
Sri Guru Dattatreyaya Namaha
Those who serve the cause of Carnatic music as part of the Karnataka Gana Kala Parishat, have all assembled here today in the Nada Mantapa.
Karnataka state is lucky. Its name is famous. Carnatic music which is famous has the same name Karnataka. Karnataka means, that which pleases the ears. Sri Krishnadevaraya when he ruled the empire of Vijayanagara in Hampi, made Carnatic music popular. In India, we have North Indian (Hindustani) and Carnatic music, which are the two classical music systems. But for music, there is no differentiation as north and south.
From Nada (divine sound), Creation began. Parabrahma, as Nada, expressed four shlokas (verses in Sanskrit) from the mouth of the parrot, Shuka. From those verses, Creation began. It shows the greatness of Nada. Science also accepts the profundity of Sound. In the galaxies, the planets and stars make their own sounds which are transmitted to us. In NASA, there is research going on.
Cosmic music gives us bliss and takes us to divinity. Those who listen to, sing, or play a musical instrument, are all very lucky. Music is Mother. She is most intimately related to us. She cleanses and purifies four generations before and four generations after, of those who are closely associated with music.
Not everyone gets this good fortune. It requires past life merit to be able to listen to music with relish, to sing, or to play any musical instrument. Each talent gives a different kind of blessing and merit.
Every cell of a listener of music absorbs the musical vibrations. Music affects all the nerves in the body, those which are healthy and active, those which have become inactive, sick, or atrophied. Many people appear to be healthy. But imperfections exist within, either in their mental processes or their behavior.
Only those who are adept at all the 64 Vidyas (fields of knowledge) are happy, the Skanda Purana says. They are the real human beings. The 64 Vidyas include Chora Vidya (knowledge of stealing) also. Here we are not talking about robbing a house or plundering. To learn from another by imitation, and reproduce exactly, without any originality is also considered stealing. It is also a difficult art to master. Simply appearing healthy is not sufficient. One must be pure at heart and in behavior, the Skanda Purana says. 72,000 nerves in the body are cleansed by the musical vibrations.
Once, a king asked for an assembly of good, sincere listeners for a concert where he was going to sing. There was one condition to be met, for eligibility for entry. If the person shook his head in appreciation, applauded, or made any expressions of enjoyment or praise, his head would be cut off. Many listeners gathered.
The king and his accompanist began singing beautifully, like Gandharvas (celestial musicians). All the listeners sat like stones, without moving. The guards went around with swords ready to chop off heads if they moved. Only one listener could not contain his happiness at the singing and loudly applauded and sang praises. The king was surprised. The man said, life is worthless if enjoyment of music is not expressed. He wished to show his happiness and then die. One must listen like that, without even caring about one’s life. The king declared that only this individual deserved to listen to music. All the others were not real listeners.
We have stories in history where people have left wives and children in preference to music. They did not leave them in the streets. They just gave priority to music. Nada is life energy. It is even higher than life itself.
Music even melts stones. Once, Narada and Tumburu, who were both arrogant of their musical prowess, argued about who was the greater singer amidst the two. The only one who could judge was Lord Hanuman. They approached him for a decision. Hanuman said, he first had to listen to them sing, but without the use of the Tambura. They still had to sing in tune and pitch without the aid of the instrument. So, the musicians laid their drone instrument on a rock. Hanuman said he would first sing a short prayer addressed to Rama, before the contest began. Lord Hanuman sang the Gundakriya Raga.
When Hanuman sang, the rock melted and the Tamburas got fixed in the stone. When they saw this, both Narada and Tumburu dropped their jaws in astonishment and shame about their own misplaced arrogance. For them to retrieve the instruments which were stuck, they had to beg for Hanuman’s help. Hanuman said, only Sama Raga would melt the rock now. The two musicians sang the Sama endlessly, and yet, the rock did not melt. When Hanuman sang, it melted. Narada and Tumburu, who had considered themselves to be the best singers in the world, bowed their heads in shame and left, acknowledging the supreme musical knowledge of Lord Hanuman.
For ten days, during the Devi Navaratri Festivities, Nada Mantapa reverberated with worship by Nada, in the form of excellent music concerts daily.
R.K. Padmanabha has put in great effort to arrange this five-day program here. I wish the program great success. Learn to listen. Proper listening is more important than learning. There are 12 shrutis. All are good. Encourage the budding artists. Do not discourage them with criticism.
You have maintained this organization for 48 years, which is very commendable. Do not feel bad that you have no site, building or financial assets. What is important is that you have the enthusiasm and dedication to carry on. Attract youngsters to music. Even the elders have to be lured into music these days. Add spice to the programs with fusion music and jugalbandis, it is like adding some extra flavor to a meal to attract newcomers and the younger generation. Do not reject innovation. Use different strategies to get more people interested in music.
R.K. Padmanabha is qualified to do this job. He is daring in trying new concepts, techniques, and genres. He has a knack for attracting youngsters. I don’t praise him. Thyagaraja has blessed him. I am also like him. So, we are on the same wavelength. Don’t slow down your efforts.
I donate through the Raga Ragini Trust, ten lakh rupees to your organization today, wishing you success.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta