(31^st May to 7^th June)

The annual Veda Examinations conducted by Datta Peetham concluded on 29-5-98 and on 30-5-98, merit certificates were awarded to the successful students in the divine presence of Poojya Sri Swamiji.

Datta Peetham has published two very rare Vedic text books - Bharadwaja Shikshaa and Jata Darpana - which were available only as manuscripts on palm leaves till now. This combined treatise has been edited by the erudite scholar Dr. V.Subrahmanya Shastry. This book was released on this occasion. In His benedictory address, Sri Swamiji said that those who teach the Vedas should exercise more and more dedication in preserving the Sanatana Dharma.

Guru Katha Gaanam

After Srichakra Pooja on 30-5-98, an audio cassette named ‘Guru Katha Gaanam’ - containing the biography of Poojya Sri Swamiji in sanskrit (written by Sri Kuppa Krishnamurthy), rendered by Sri Rajkumar Bharati was released. Sri Swamiji blessed the singer, Sri Rajkumar Bharati with a golden bracelet.

After this, prizes were distributed to the successful children who had taken part in Bhagavadgeeta recitation competition.

Sri.R.Venkataraman, the former president of India, who was the Chairman of the Nada Mantapa Inauguration Committee arrived in the evening and stayed in Datta Peetham till the end of the celebrations (8 June).

31-5-98

Immediately after the Srichakra Pooja in the morning, a special Datta Vastra was released. The new Datta Vastra is called as ‘Bahu Pushpi’ Datta Vastra, because the colour resembles the colour of the flower of a medicinal plant - Bahu Pushpi. After the release, Sri Swamiji revealed that Bahupushpi constitutes 50% of the powder used in preparing herbal Teertham. Sri Swamiji said that the colour of the flower of this plant also had healing properties and it was to make the benefits of this unique colour that this colour has been used in the new Datta Vastram. Sri Swamiji also said that the colour would fecilitate easy transmission of divine vibrations.

Inauguration of Nada Mantapa by the Hon’ble Vice President of India

Sri Krishan Kant, the honourable Vice President of India and Madam Vice President Smt. Suman Krishna Kant arrived in Datta Peetham at 11 am on 31-5-98 to inaugurate the fabulous Nada Mantapa Auditorium. Sri Madhava Reddy, Minister for home and cinematography, Andhra Pradesh and Sri Roshan Baig, the Home Minister of Karnataka were among the many dignitaries who had come to participate in the inauguration of Nada Mantapa.

Sri Swamiji, the honourable Vice President Sri Krishan Kant, Sri R.Venkataraman, the former president of India and other dignitaries arrived in a procession from the Universal Prayer Hall to the Nada Mantapa. The unique ‘Sapta Svara Devata Mantapa’ was inaugurated first. After this, the inaugural function began on the grand stage of the Nada Mantapa.

The function commenced with the Vedic chants and recitation of the Universal Prayer. Eminent musicians who had come from different parts of India were felicitated on this occasion. After this, three important items were released by the Hon’ble Vice President. They were a) Nada Mantapa - commemorative souvenir, b) Life of a Mystic - a photographic biography of Pujya Sri Swamiji from His early days and c) Inner Light - a compact disc featuring two healing tunes by Sri Swamiji in praise of the lord of light. Dr. L Subramaniam has accompanied Sri Swamiji in this album.

Addressing the huge gathering, Sri R.Venkataraman, the chairman of the inauguration committee said that the Nada Mantapa was like a dream world. He said that Sri Swamiji was the real architect of this magnificent structure because it was Sri Swamiji who had conceived the design of Nada Mantapa.

Sri Madhava Reddy, the honourable home minister of Andhra Pradesh said that the Sapta Swara Devata Mantapa was the only one of its kind in the entire country and added that the name of Sri Swamiji had become synonymous with music today.

Sri Roshan Baig, the honourable home minister of Karnataka offered reverential thanks to Sri Swamiji on behalf of the government of Karnataka and said that music has universal appeal and it does not discriminate between religions.

Inaugural Address by the Hon’ble Vice President of India

It is with great sense of pleasure and satisfaction that I inaugurate this imposing auditorium - "Raga Ragini Nada Mantapa" inspired by His Holiness Jagadguru Datta Peethadhipati Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji. This concert hall - the Mantapa, will long serve the cause of music and remain a monument to Swamiji’s untiring efforts to make the people of the world aware of the grandeur of Indian Music and its many less-known uses. I have had the good fortune of observing Swamiji’s musical genius and power to inspire and command the adherence both of the musically gifted and the lay. The residents of Mysore are exceptionally lucky to receive this gift of love from Swamiji.

To Swamiji goes the singular credit of distilling from music, its therapeutic uses which lay buried in the accumulating sands of time. there are many who have benefited from his blessings and many more are waiting to receive them. Dhyaana Sangeeta is one of the several inherent attributes of music. Only through painstaking research and insightful analysis has Swamiji succeeded in rediscovering the "dhyana" aspect of our music. We all owe to him a great debt of gratitude.

The musical traditions of India are our culture’s enduring legacies. Our music is one of the oldest in the world, going back to the Vedic times. It is essentially melodic and has retained that character till this day. The two great systems of Indian music, Hindustani and Carnatic, have the same basis and common roots. Thsy are melodic and are governed by the rules of Raga and Tala structures. Coming down to the present from the ancienttimes, the common roots of our apparently different systems of music, tell the story of a cultural synthesis which distinguishes our civilisation. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, the people of India, regardless of caste, creed or religion, understand, appreciate and instinctively relate to Indian musical traditions. Whether it is simple folk music or the sophisticated classical form, the music of India unites us all in a subconscious oneness.

In our philosophical traditions music is one of the pathways to the Brahma. It is an aspect of the supreme reality. In Vedic literature, one comes across the concept of Nada Brahma, the absolute sound-principle. The Vedas say:-

"we worship Nada Brahma, that incomparable bliss which is immanent in all the creatures as intelligence and is manifest in the phenomenon of this universe"

"Sangeeta Ratnakara" also uses the Vedic idiom to describe Nada Brahma as the ultimate principle of sound, the source of the delight of music. It is remarkable how the "aesthetic" and the "spiritual" are sunthesized and find a common expression in the ancient music of India.

Given this spiritual origin of our music, it is nothing surprising if this medium was used by Saints to reach ot to the hearts and the minds of the people. Be it Kabir, Meera, Purandaradas, Jaidev, Tyagaraja, Ameer Khusro or Tansen, they all found in music, a powerful means of communication of subtle thoughts and ideas to the people. To many, music became both a medium and an object of worship and benediction. Through simple bhajans, abhangs and kirtans, the most profound mystic truths and socially reformative ideas were conveyed to the society.

Indian life is filled with music. It is a many-hued spectrum ranging from the simple to the sophisticated, encompassing the grunts and the shrieks of the Nagas and the Todas, to the uncommon sophistication of concert music. Indian music has this unique power to elicit, not only physical and the cerebral, but also the spiritual response from the people. There is ecstasy in Sri Chaitanya’s chant of "Hari Hari Bol", and the Sufi’s plaintive cry for his beloved. All reveal the integrity of the spiritual personality of man. Music is the way to spiritual wisdom, beyond faith, belief and religions. The Vedas say :-

"Brahma, although one, owing to the plurality of its powers is meditated upon in more than one ways".

Rumi, the Sufi mystic, echoes the same thought when he says "by loving (spiritual) wisdom doth the soul know life. What has it got to do with the senseless strife of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Arab, Turk?"

The Greek philosopher Plato described music as the "harmony of the soul". Music learning was the highest form of education and enabled the seeker to transcend the limits both of the body and the intellect. In all philosophic traditions, the world over, the transcendental aspect of music has been recognised.

Some of India’s finest music has been very closely linked with religious or spiritual practice or mystic experiences. No other culture in the world so clearly recognises the value, not just of the written word but also of the sound associated with it. Thus, it is the simple process of musical rendering which distinguishes "Samaveda" from "Rigveda". What is known as the Mantra Shakti is not just language and text, but also specificity of sound and rendering. Nada Brahma permeates all. The Indian philosophy does not ignore the body even when dwelling upon the illusory nature of the extant world. Yoga sutra specifically states "The manifest form of Brahma is bliss, and that again has its steady abode in the body".

In the Shiva Sutra, human body is described as the house of the divine.

Hatha Yoga also ordains perfection of body in order to enable the seeker to discover his true self. The body is described as the receptacle of the soul’s experiences.

In the Vaishnava tradition too careful upkeep of the body is ordained.(The body which associated with Dharma must be maintained carefully). The body is the main instrument of music. All sounds and musical instruments are its extensions.

Swamiji’s efforts to make music the instrument of cure for the body is essentially directed at the deeper, metaphysical aspects of human existence. It is his way to establish Dharma by alleviating and removing pain. Khwaja Muinuddin Chisti of Ajmer once said that his mission was - "To redress the misery of those in distress…." Swamiji’s music therapy promises to do just that and even more.

This concert hall which Swamiji has established here is equipped with the most sophisticated instruments. It enhances the reach and the intensity of music and, in that sense, is a very potent demonstration of its power. But we should not forget that Indian music has been created from the simplest of instruments. A little bamboo became a flute, the earthen pot a drum, little ceramic pots with different levels of water became Jaltarang, a dried vegetable became the Been. The examples are infinite. These instruments enhanced the quality and the variety of Indian music, and they also extended its reach to the common men. These instruments could be easily made with locally available materials and played by the local musicians with growing perfection. Vocal music also had a very wide reach in our country. Legend has it that Tansen, whose body was experiencing a burning sensation because he sang the Deepak Raga, was cured by two simple village girls who sang for him the Raga Megh-Malhar. This is one of the many stories of the curative power of music which has come down to us.

I shall be very happy if Swamiji and his disciples use his enormous knowledge of "Raga" and "Raginis" to create standardises treatment for physical and mental ailments. Many among us falter in our spiritual pursuits because of weak and sickly bodies. Perhaps Swamiji can show us the way how to get over those weaknesses in order to find the path-way to the supreme.

I once again thank all those present here and specially Swamiji for this grand effort.

In His benedictory address, Sri Swamiji explained the deep-hidden meaning of the structure of Nada Mantapa and its architectural specialities.

Later in the afternoon, Sri Swamiji, accompanied by eminent musicians gave a wonderful ‘Meditation & Healing’ concert, which was attended by the honourable Vice-President and Madam Vice-President.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji released various publications of Datta Peetham. They are:

After the releases, there was a wonderful instrumental ensemble by Kanyakumari & Party. They played many popular bhajans composed by Sri Swamiji.

Sri Swamiji performed the first Srichakra Pooja in the Nada Mantapa on 1^st June in the morning. Sri Swamiji prepared a Sri Chakra from turmeric powder and worshipped it along with the golden Sri Chakra. After the Pooja, Sri Swamiji specially blessed those who had made handsome contribution for the Nada Mantapa building project.

In the evening, ‘Nada Nidhi’ Sri K.V.Narayana Swami, a renowned vocalist gave a music concert.

During the Srichakra Pooja in the morning, there was a Hindustani vocal recital by Singh Bandhu brothers. After this, Sri Swamiji sang several bhajans relating to the seven musical notes and the related deities. Renowned Mridangam player, Vidvan Karaikudi R.Mani accompanied Sri Swamiji in the Bhajan session. After the Bhajan session, Sri Swamiji released a booklet named ‘Gomata’, containing the method of worshipping the sacred cow. This booklet is in english. In the evening, there was a wonderful dance programme by Smt.Chitra Vishweshwaran & party. This troupe incorporated several compositions of Sri Swamiji in their programme. Sri Swamiji was pleased with their performance especially when they danced to the composition ‘Shuddha Buddha Paripoorna’- a composition about the ten incarnations of Maha Vishnu. Later in His speech, Sri Swamiji clarified that Buddha here should not be taken as the Gouthama Buddha (founder of Buddhism). ‘In this context, the Buddha mentioned in the context of slaying of Tripurasura should be taken’ Sri Swamiji said.

On 3^rd June, there was a conference on Dharma, in which many saints participated and expressed their views about the duties of man. The following saints came to Datta Peetham specially to take part in the conference:

1. Sri Vishwesha Teertha Sripadangalavaru of Udupi
1. Sri Bala Gangadhara Natha Swamiji of Adi Chunchanagiri
2. Sri Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala
3. Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Mutt
4. Dr.Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji of Taralabalu
5. Srimadabhinava Vageesha Parakala Swamiji of Mysore
6. Sri Sushameendra Teertha Swamiji of Mantralaya
7. Sri Vishwam ji of Guntur
8. Sri Mummadi Nirvana Swamiji of Kanakapura
9. Sri Rishi Prabhakar of Bangalore
10. Sri Kadu Siddheshwara Swamiji of Kolhapura.

Here is the gist of the benedictory addresses of the saints.

The devotees are like leaves; Guru is like a tree. Sanatana Dharma is the root of this tree. To the tree called the society, people constitute the stem. Different religious faiths are the leaves.

Leaves fall off and are created again. If the stem is severed, then the tree will not exist anymore. Therefore, there must be harmonious co-existence among men. Preserving humanity and human values must be the ultimate aim of all religious faiths. Everyone should imbibe the virtue of kind-heartedness.

The Almighty may have thousand faces and thousand arms. But he has only one heart. Instead of trying to protect one branch of a tree, everyone should try to protect the tree itself. This will in turn protect the branches and the leaves."

If the people of the society listen to the saints, there will be peace everywhere. Conferences such as this spread the message of peace and harmony in all directions. Let us not attach much importance to the various classifications based on caste and creed."

Dr. Shivamurthy Shivacharya Swamiji recalled the role of music in initiating Him into the spiritual field and said that Nadopasana (worship of sound) was the easiest way to realise God.

If there is moral and spiritual awareness among people, that society does not need police or court of law."

There is tremendous advancement in technology today. All the activities of Sri Swamiji have the unmistakable stamp of scientific validity. Everyone should make use of this great asset.

Sri R.Venkataraman, the chairman of the reception committee proposed vote of thanks. He pointed out that all religious faiths have stressed the importance of Bhakti. ‘Nadopasana is the easiest means to enhance Bhakti’ he added. He praised Sri Swamiji for having arranged such a divine conference of saints.

Srichakra Pooja and Dattatreya Homa were performed in the morning. After this, an audio cassette - ‘Guru Charana Pooja’ was released. This cassette contains the mantras used in performing Guru Pada Pooja and some compositions on Sri Swamiji in Sanskrit. The lyrics have been written by the students of the Sanskrit School of Datta Peetham. Sri Rajkumar Bharati has sung the compositions. ‘Understanding Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji’(vol-3), a booklet in English, written by SriH.V.Krishna Swami was also released.

There was a wonderful Bhajan session by Sri Swamiji from 10 a.m. to 1.p.m.

In the evening, Vidushi Shivaji Bharati and party of Kerala gave a traditional dance performance of Kerala.

Various folk arts teams gave a colourful folk art performance in the newly constructed ‘Poundareeka Rangasthala’ in Datta Peetham.

Today was the birthday of Sri Swamiji according to Hindu calendar. On this sacred occasion, Datta Peetham honoured 24 scholars with the title ‘Asthana Vidvan’. Vidvan Telakapalli Vishwanatha Sharma (Sanskrit Scholar) was felicitated first. Then, 23 other persons were honoured. They were:

Vidvan Mahadevappa (Violin), Vd.Deshikachar (Flute), Vd.Bellary Venkateshachar (Vocal), Vd.P.G.Lakshminarayana (Mridangam), Vd.H.K.Narasimha Murthy (Violin), Vd. M.S.Govinda Swamy (Violin), Vd.M.Krishna Murthy (Mridangam), Vd.K.P.Upadhyaya (Flute), Vd.K.J.Venkatachar (Violin), Vd.R.K.Raghavan (Veena), Vd.M.R.Sainath (Mridangam), Vd.R.Ramdas (Sitar), Vd.D.C.Sadashiva Swamy (Tabala), Vd.V.Raja Gopal (Violin), Vd.Mahadevu (Tabala), Vd.Ranganna (Harmonium), Vd.Nagendrappa (Nagaswara), Ve.Venkatappa (Tavil), Vd.Ramu (Clarinet), Vd.T.S.Murthy (Violin), Vd.Sri Shatrughna Rao (Burra katha), Vd.Subrahmanya Varaprasad(Harikatha) and Vd.Pattabhi Bhagavatar (Harikatha).

Sri R.Venkataraman honoured these scholars with shawl, cash endowments and golden lockets, while Poojya Sri Swamiji gave away the brass plaques.

Earlier in the morning, after Srichakra Pooja, Sri Swamiji cut a huge cake which was presented by the devotees of Vijayawada. The letters -Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji - was written on this cake., which was in the shape of a Lingam. Sri Swamiji pointed out that the name contained the syllables pertaining to the seven notes (S,R,G,M,P,D,N,S) and therefore revealed the inseparable connection between Sri Swamiji and the musical notes. Sri Swamiji also pointed out that the name "Sri Raga Ragini Nada Mantapa" also contains the syllables pertaining to the seven notes. Sri Swamiji had kept this interesting information a secret till the inauguration of the Nada Mantapa. Later, the huge cake was cut and distributed among the devotees.

After the morning Pooja, many devotees performed Abhisheka to the sacred feet of Sri Swamiji with water brought in silver pots.

At 11.15 a.m., Sri Swamiji ascended the silver throne and then the Pratyaksha Pada Pooja began. The devotees of Vijayawada presented a beautiful golden garland decorated with ‘Gowri Shankara’ Rudrakshi to Sri Swamiji. Dilip, a devotee from London presented several ornaments made out of silver to Sri Swamiji.

After the Pratyaksha Pada Pooja, Sri Swamiji blessed Sri R.Venkataraman with a Navaratna Mala. After this, the Tamil translation and Hindi translation of Sri Swamiji’s biography were released. ‘Ganapati’- a booklet in Gujarati was also released.

In the evening, there was a scintillating vocal concert by the internationally reputed Hindustani singer Begum Parvin Sultana. This concert was inaugurated by Sri Krishna Reddy, Hon’ble minister of social welfare, Govt. of Karnataka.

Conference of All India Jnana Bodha Sabhas and International Dattatreya Yoga Centres took place in the morning. Sri Swamiji formulated a 21 point programme to be implemented by all the centres.

In the evening, there was a very rare kind of music concert in which several renowned musicians sang and played together the ‘Pancharatna’ (five gems) compositions of Saint Tyagaraja. The musicians who performed together were :

Dr.N.Ramani (flute), Dr.R.N.Doreswamy (veena), Dr.Nukala Chinna Satyanarayana (vocal), Dr.Prapancham Sitaram (flute), Sri Harishankara Shastry (vocal), Sri Annavarapu Ramaswami (viola), Dr.Padma Murthy (vocal), Sri Gowri Nath (vocal), Sri Mahadevappa (violin), Sri H.K.Narasimha Murthy (violin), Sri T.S.Murthy (violin), Sri Jaitra Varanasi (violin), Sri K.P.Upadhyaya (flute), Dr.T.K.Murthy (mridangam), Sri Shankar Ramesh (mridangam), Sri M.A.Krishna Murhty (ghatam), Sri Manjunath (ghatam) and Sri Ramanujam (morsing).

Today was the last day of the 56^th Birthday Celebration. Sri Swamiji was seated on the silver ‘Oudumbara’ throne. As in previous years, ‘Veda Nidhi’, ‘Shastra Nidhi’ and ‘Nada Nidhi’ titles were conferred on outstanding scholars. The recipients were :

Veda Nidhi: Sri Remilla Suryaprakasha Shastri

Shastra Nidhi: Sri Veereshwara Krishna Dongre Shastri

Nada Nidhi:

1. Pandit V.G.Jog, Calcutta (Hindustani - Violin)
1. Vidvan R.N.Doreswamy Mysore(Carnatic - Veena)
2. Pandit Jasraj, Mumbai (Hindustani - Vocal)
3. Dr.T.K.Murthy, Chennai (Mridangam)
4. Vidvan Nedunuri Krishna Murthy, Vishakhapatnam (Carnatic - Violin)
5. Vidvan Annavarapu Ramaswamy, Vijayawada (Carnatic - Viola)
6. Dr.N.Ramani, Chennai (Carnatic - Flute)
7. Ustad Halim Jaffer Khan, Mumbai (Sitar)
8. Dr.N.Rajam, Mumbai (Carnatic -Violin)
9. Vidvan Nukala Chinna Satyanarayana, Hyderabad (Carnatic - Vocal)

All these scholars were given cash awards and citations on brass plaques by Sri Swamiji Himself. Sri R.Venkataraman honoured them with shawls.

The normal practice is to confer the ‘Nada Nidhi’ title on one artist every year. But, this year keeping in view the inauguration of Nada Mantapa, Sri Swamiji decided that Datta Peetham should use the occasion to honour more musicians.

After this, two cassettes containing songs on Sri Swamiji, composed by the well known Telugu poet Sri Sundara Rama Murthy were released.

The devotees then came in a queue to offer garland to Sri Swamiji. In the evening, in a brief function held before the music concert, a mobile clinic van was donated by Sri Avadhoota Datta Peetham to the Hyderabad branch of Jnana Bodha Sabha for carrying on rural health service. Datta Peetham also donated a ‘propaganda van’ to the Mysore Police. The readers may recall here that the Peetham had donated an ambulance van to the city police for the purpose of shifting the accident victims to hospital.

After this, there was the ‘Global Fusion Music concert for Peace and Harmony’ by the internationally known Violinist - Composer, Dr.L.Subramaniam and a troupe of international artists. They began their concert with Sri Swamiji’s composition ‘Pranava Svarupam’, much to the delight of the devotees.

Earlier in the day, after Srichakra Pooja, an audio cassette ‘Tattva Geetamulu’ was released.

The 56^th Birthday celebration came to an end with colourful fire works arranged by the devotees from Rajamundry.