Music for Meditation and Healing at Music Academy - 7th February 2006

Sri Swamiji visited Chennai after a long gap of one year and this visit was keenly and anxiously awaited by devotees. The entire Ashrama, which had suffered little in the recent rain related flooding had been cleaned up and painted fresh.

Sri Swamiji arrived from Nellore to Madras ashrama on 6th morning 11 AM. That evening, Bhajans were held in the Ashrama hall. Because of the recent sound enhancement improvements done to the roof, the audio was crisp and clean. The roaring Bhajan session was enthusiastically enjoyed.

On 7th morning, Sri Chakra Puja was held in the hall. In the evening, Music for meditation and healing was held in the revered "Music Academy" the premier auditorium for classical music. The stalwarts of the classical music field accompanied Pujya Sri Swamiji. Dr. N. Ramani on flute, Mysore Nagaraj on Violin, Dr. Umayalpuram Sivaraman on Mridangam, Suresh on Ghatam and Sri Rangam R Kannan on Morsing. The regular celestial music troupe comprising of Jaitra Varanasi on violin, Mani on Harmonium, Shankar Ramesh on Mridangam and Mahesh Bhat on Tabla and Kum.Veda gave Shruti support.

Sri Swamiji selected Hemavati Raga as the healing Raga of the day . The Alapana and the Kriti were mesmerizing.

The Tani Avartana from the stalwarts on the percussion was nectar to the ears and technically powerful.

The entire concert was relayed live by the Podhigai Doordarshan television channel.

Earlier, Dr. M. Balamurali Krishna lit the inaugural lamp and Sri. Lalgudi Jayaraman offered garland to Sri Swamiji.

After the concert, the artists were honoured by Sri Aiyappan of Singapore and Sri Raman of Chicago.

The 1200 seat auditorium was full of musical connoisseurs.

On 8th February morning, Sri Swamiji offered new Kavachas to the deities in Ashrama. The Trustees of Madras submitted to Pujya Swamiji a proposal to build a Mukha Mantapa in front of the temples in Ashrama.

The Lucky musicians who accompanied Sri Swamiji in Music Academy on 7.2.2006
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The audience in Music Academy during Tani Avartana. Sri Swamiji is standing on the balcony
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After the concert, Sri Silva Rajoo of Malaysia spoke to Sri Swamiji
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Sri Jaitra Varanasi is honored by Sri Aiyappan and Sri Raman
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Arati to Adiguru Dattatreya in Chennai Ashrama. The Kavachas have been newly dedicated to the temple
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Arati to Raja Rajeshwari
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Sri Swamiji in Karya Siddhi Hanuman shrine. This was the first Karya Siddhi Hanuman temple consecrated by Sri Swamiji. Pre curser to the many temples that followed
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In Madras Ashrama, Smt. Charumati & Sri Trichur Ramachandran's daughter Kum. Subhasri, rendered a classical music concert. She sang many of Sri Swamiji's compositions. They are speaking to Pujya Sri Swamiji.
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