Programme Highlights

Janmashtami Celebration

21st August 2011 at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai

The Musical Auspiciousness of a Heavenly, Historic Day

Hari Om!! He was born as the eighth and complete Avatar in a Yuga that was worlds apart from today’s. 5000 years or so later, Lord Sri Krishna’s Birthday, Janmashtami, is still one of the most precious, celebrated and significant festivals for Hindus the world over. Testimony to this fact, was the scintillating and soul-deep musical invocation on the night of Sri Krishna Jayanthi, 2011. Indeed, August 21st at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya reverberated for five full hours with rapturous, full-throated, Bhakti-immersed devotees, who, irrespective of their lead, chorus or audience roles, would not have let even a moment pass without personally meditating on the Supreme Lord, while in the midst of a large congregation singing multifarious Bhajans in teams, playing the flute to lively Hindustani tunes, and rendering a refreshing Carnatic vocal performance.

In praise of The Blue-Complexioned Lord’s Perfect Beauty :
Innumerable are the names of His, ineffable is the bliss of knowing Him, imperative is the need to maintain memory of Him. These delightful lessons only a devotee would understand, and formed, among many others, the thematic offerings of chorus-encouraging Bhajans that the Vashi Swaranjali presented in a movingly emotive, well-prepared and co-ordinated way. The narrator and singers virtually transported the listeners to Gokul and Vrindavan as they uniquely and gracefully moved from aspect to aspect, with determined desires of pleasing Sri Govinda a.k.a. Sri Bala Krishna.

In memory of The Blessed Lord’s Divine Tales :
Not only did the Mumbai/Maahim Swaranjali consist of variety in voices (young and energetic feminine ones and deep and balancing masculine ones), there was the quality of rarity in the song selection. Be it during an obeisance to His Heroism, or admiration of Sri Radha’s inseparability from Him, fun-filled vocalizations of Holi antics of His, or a solemn suggestion of the secular sentiment of Religious Unity; the solo-friendly, spirited recital even expressed itself in languages including Malayalam and Marathi. Sri Madhava, or Sri Gopala, for certain, had made His way into the outpouring of these singers.

In reverence for The Bewitching Lord’s Favourite Flute :
Smoothly flowing between various Ragas and Rasas, the lilting and soothing tunes played by Sri Himanshu Nanda were inspired by the chirpy life of nature and the peaceful depth of devotion: traits with which one would perceive the Lord and His Greatness . Only the listener knows how music heals. The audience silently waded through the waters of worship via the brief, effortless performance. It indeed proved a sincere attempt at a fitting tribute to the Ultimate Fascinating Flautist, Sri Muralidhara, or Sri Govardhana Giridhari Himself.

In gratitude for The Benevolent Lord’s Liberating Love :
No Indian Classical Music description or presentation is authentically complete if it misses a South Indian Carnatic Classical account or ensemble. On these lines, the Janmashtami programme was veritably all-inclusive. To wrap up the programme in the characteristically grandeose discipline and structure of a Carnatic Kutcheri or concert was a well-conceived feature. Sri Sridhar and his team mellifluently did justice to the entire mood with their meaning-laden Naamaavalis and Kritis. It was a welcome change from the main Bhajan format. How incomparable is the feeling of surrender to Sri Narayana, a.k.a. Sri Maha Vishnu!!

Special mention should be made of the crucial instrumental backing. The art of accompaniment was made aesthetic with finesse in its true sense. Smt. Pratima Rao, Sri Sachikant, Sri Anupam and Sri Aditya’s Harmoniums and Tablas etc were key contributors to the overall strength of the programme. Signing off with a poem gives creative contentment, and Gokulashtami being an occasion of such a special standing, this writer has attempted to sum up its importance, as did the Chinmaya Mission, Mumbai programme itself:

He is the First, Middle and the Last of everything; His is this whole complex Universe,
He is unfathomable for the volatile mind; yet approachable via prayer, music and verse;
He graces souls with hope and prosperity, He calls for them to simply renounce fruit,
He is the eternal, worship-worthy Hero, the Personification of The Truest of Truth;
He instills faith and light in all pure hearts; He dispels sinners’ egos and ignorance,
Darshan of His Absolute Form and His Lotus Feet are the goals of saints’ penance;
Being flawed mortals, we tend to err despite being inclined towards the Antaryaami,
Yet, chances for deliverance go up, every time we celebrate His Birth on Janmashtami!!

Jai Janmashtami!!!