A Historic
Meditation and Healing Concert in Lincoln Center, New York
A historic ‘Meditation
and Healing’, concert was conducted by His Holiness Sri
Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji on July 19, 2008 at the Avery
Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City, where an audience
of around 2000 people was spellbound for over two-hours. This
was Sri Swamiji's first performance at the world famous Lincoln
Center, and he was quite pleased with the entire experience.
“This
is a historic concert and the people who are present here today
are very lucky. The kind of energy and vibrations flowing out
of me are very different and rare and can be experienced only
on special occasions”, Sri Swamiji told the gathering.
Sri Swamiji has conducted hundreds of concerts around the globe
over the years and is famous for His mystical powers to heal
people through music. The concert, attended by devotees and guests
from different parts of the world, was started with K G Praveen
Kumar, Consul, Consulate General of India in New York offering
a garland to Sri Swamiji.
Internationally renowned violinist,
composer and conductor Nada Chakravarty, Dr. L. Subramaniam was
the guest artist in this special music concert. His soulful and
virtuoso playing enriched the musical session.
The musical troupe, accompanying
Sri Swamiji, consisted of Jaitra Varanasi (Violin), Shankar Ramesh
(Mridangam), and Sumitra (Violin). The concert was performed on
the day of Shravana Nakshataram, the ruling astrological star of
the day, the star of Lord Vishnu (god of healing).
Pujya Sri Swamiji began the concert
with Raga Rushyaketupriya, offering prayer to Lord Ganesh, followed
by a vocal recital in Raga Gaanamoorti, "Aghanashana Anaghapriya",
asking Lord Dattatreya to bestow His power to kindle compassion
in everybody. The first two compositions were followed by a series
of five ragas, namely Anagha (new raga composed by Sri Swamiji
with four notes), Vaasanti (ancient raga with five notes), Kokilam
(a very rare raga - with no popularly known composition - with
six notes), Naaganandini (another rare raga composed by Sri Swamiji
on Mother Goddess Sakala Hrudeeshwari Sri Mataha with seven notes)
and Simhendra Madhyamam (popular and powerful healing raga with
seven notes, relating to the five elements of nature such as water,
fire, soil, space and air). Later, Sri Swamiji performed Shankarabharanam,
an ancient dancing and relaxation tune and ended the concert with
the beautiful and soothing Saama Raga.
The gathering enjoyed the concert
immensely and put their hands together to the tune of Sri Swamiji’s
music and gave a grand applause with a number of standing ovations
that witnessed reverberations at Avery Fisher Hall. Yogini Kali
Ray was the Master of Ceremonies for the concert, and introduced
Sri Swamiji and his musical troupe. The vote of thanks was given
by Selvam Dasarathan. Prior to the concert, Sri Swamiji addressed
a press conference at the Lincoln Center and explained to a group
of journalists about the nature of the concert and its effectiveness.
He also stated that “music therapy is powerful because it
is combined with ayurveda, psychology, gemenotherapy, mantra, and
astrology.”
The concert was jointly organized
by Yoga Sangeeta, New Jersey, and Datta Yoga Centre (USA), Chicago
chapter.
Pujya Sri Swamiji playing
the opening song in Raga Rushyaketupriya
Dr. L. Subramaniam was the
guest artist in this concert. Other musicians, Jaitra Varanasi
(Violin), Shankar Ramesh (Mridangam), and Sumitra (Violin) are
also seen.
Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center,
New York was filled to capacity. Here, the audience show the Chin Mudra
to Pujya Sri Swamiji.
Pujya Sri
Swamiji walks around the audience with the crystal during the Tani
Avarthana
"Music
is my language - Music is my expression -Music is my religion
" - says Sri Swamiji
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