For the First time ever......

Sachchidananda Keerthana Utsava Saptaha

(Sachchidananda Bhajans Festival for a week - 24 to 29 November 2007)

For the first time ever, Madras Gnana Bodha Sabha arranged a week long concert program dedicated to the singing of Sri Swamiji's Bhajans only. All the participating artists were the best in Carnatic Classical music. To hear the artists reveal the melodious inner beauty of Sri Swamiji's compositions was indeed a rare and delightful experience. Each singer chose one Bhajan as a main stay of the concert and dwelt extensively in Raga Alapana and Swara Kalpana (all the Bhajans were sung in Sri Swamiji's original Raga and melody).

Banner outside the Madras Ashrama gate

Pujya Bala Swamiji inaugurated the concert festival by lighting the lamp. He compassionately allowed the others on dais also to light the other wicks in the lamp. We see Sri Narasimham of Kartick fine arts and Sri OS Thyagarajan jointly lighting a wick while Sri Karaikudi Mani and Madras Ashrama secretary, Sri Ranga Babu watch.

Shri.O.S.Thyagarajan sings the inaugural day concert

The concerts were well attended by the music lovers

Sri Swamiji attended the program on the last day. Here we see Sri Swamiji listening to the Bhajan singing by Malladi Brothers, Shri Malladi Ravi Kumar and Malladi Ram Prasad

Group photo with Sri Swamiji after the concert. Nada Nidhi Lalgudi Jayaraman attended the program.

Sri Swamiji speaks to Sri Jayaraman, trustee of Madras who arranged the programs with Sri Pashupathy

PARAMA PUJYA SRI SRI SWAMIJI arrived at Chennai Ashram to a grand reception at 12.30 pm on 30th November specifically to give the Blessings and Benediction address for the weeklong SRI SACHCHIDANANDA KEERTHANOTSAVAM which started on the 24th Nov and concluded on the 30th Nov.

The concluding day function of the Keerthanotsavam started at 1800hrs in the fully packed Sachchidananda hall of Chennai Ashram. Artists of the day, Malladi brothers, Embar Kannan(violin), Nada Nidi Umayalpuram Sri Sivaraman(mridangam),and Sri T.V.Vasan(ghatam) and some of the artists who participated during the previous 6 days of Keerthanotsavam took the blessings of Sri Swamiji before Sri Swamiji’s benedictory address.

Sri Swamiji spoke on Nada and its origin. He mentioned that Chennai Gnana Bodha Sabha has arranged a unique Keerthanotsavam which itself is a Nada Yagam and the programmes were arranged with dedication and Bhakti with the support of all. He is happy that many companies have come forward to sponsor the programmes. He wanted all devotees to contribute for this important programme.
Sri Swamiji said "Breathing is Nadam, which itself is Srishti, Sthithi and Laya. Nada is in Triguna Roopa. So, Nada Brahma Upasana is important. Nada is the first medicine for any disease. Therefore, Sri Swamiji has been doing reaearch on various Ragas for more than 10 years. Every human being has a specific Ragam and Nada as the individual DNA is vibrating in specific frequency. That is the reason why we like some Ragas and tunes more than the others. I wanted to come here to attend this programme for all the seven days but there was a fantastic Bonsai coference at Mysore Ashram, attended by 500 delegates and visited by more than 10,000 people. My mind was here only".

Malladi brothers’ concert started at 1845 hrs. Sri Swamiji enjoyed the concert so much that He gave wonderful glimpses of why and when He composed the particular Sahityam at end of each Krithi sung by Malladi brothers. The Krithi “GANPATHI DEVUDU MAAKU” was sung by Sri Swamiji on the day of His Upanayanam when Lord Ganapathi gave Darshan to Him and Sri Swamiji got into the Agni Kundam for the first time. “Trinayana” a Navavarna Krithi was composed and sung by Sri Swamiji when the eyes of Shila of Sri Rajarajeswari Ambal did not come out properly. After this the Shilpi made the eyes beautifully.

“Jyothirakhya Linga Roopa” has a wonderful history. Years ago, when Sri Swamiji was doing the Agni Puja during one Maha Sivarathri, a beautiful Shiva Lingam materialized in His hand and Lord Siva from Agni Kunda told Him “you are visiting many places but you have not visited the Jyothir Lingas and so I have come here” At that time Sri Swamiji composed this Kriti (composition) keeping the Linga in his hands. Likewise, Sri Swamiji gave the details of the circumstances under which the different Krithis were composed and sung. It was very moving. Nada Nidh Umayalpurami Sivaraman gave a Thani Avarthanam which was thrilling to say the least, with T.V. Vasan on Ghatam. Sri Swamiji made a pointed reference that He was happy that this Keerthanotsavam was arranged in His life time as great past Vaggeyakaras’ (composer) Krithis were popularized after they departed from this world. It was moving when He siad this.

The Keerthanotsavam programme concluded with a mangalam sung by Malladi brothers.

On 1st Dec, Sri Swamiji after performing the Purnahuti for Navagraha Homam, performed Sri Chakra Puja. During that time, Chennai Ashram Bhajan Mandali gave Bhajan concert to mark the 100th Bhajan session and after which 6 prize winning schools of the recently concluded inter school bhajan competition sang Sri Swamiji’s Bhajans . Sri Swamiji told that never forget the school children as that is very important. By arranging the major Keerthanotsava programme inter school bhajan competition cannot be ignored.

In the evening, Sri Swamiji inaugurated the annual music festival of Karthik fine arts. Sri Swamiji was received with Poorna Kumbham and escorted to the stage. It was memorable evening with Sri Swamiji’s inaugural Anugraha Bhashan. Sri Swamiji said that Nada is His religion and how music pacifies and soothes the listeners. He asked Chennai Ashram to arrange the Keerthanotsavam every year as a regular feature. He further said that along with Nada people must know how to take things light. He also said that people are worried about what had happened the previous day and worried about the next day forgetting the present. This will not help anybody. One must enjoy the present by looking at things in a humorous way. Laughter is the best medicine along with music.

Sri Swamiji returned to Ashram at around 2030hrs. He left for Hyderabad on 2nd December morning.

Sri Swamiji’s visit was unforgettable in more ways than one.

Sri Guru Datta.

Report by : Thiru. Jayaraman, Trustee, SGS Ashrama, Chennai