Vatapi Ganapathim Bhaje - Hamsadhwani : Sudha Raghunathan - M Balamuralikrishna - N Ravikiran (2010)

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One of the most distinctive features of ancient Indian wisdom is the universal approach which they had towards faiths of different people, periods, and places. The great seers spoke of the earth that bears people speaking various languages and following various religious practices and seeking all those things of material benefits or otherwise. They believed the worlds to have ONE PRIME EXISTENCE, which the sages fashioned in various manners, and PATHS to reach PERFORMANCE are varied, each being as valued as the other.

This offering features an excerpt of a video recording of Vātāpi Gañapatim Bhajé, praising the Lord of communities (Gañapati), the ONE PRIME EXISTENCE with an exquisite setting in a confluence of variety, resonating the spirit of unity upheld in the Indian culture.

The variety is represented by Dr Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (BMK), at 80 years of age, Smt Sudha Rahgunathan, and Chitravina Ravikiran. The trio are supported by Sri. R K Sriramkumar (Violin), Sri. T Vaidyanathan (mridangam), Dr. S Kathick (Ghatam) and Sri. Narayanan on the Tanbura.

It is the confluence of voices, melody of stringed instruments, and rhythmic patterns of percussions - all singing in the praise of the ONE in Hamsadhwani, an anadrome for “I am That,” (Só Hum).

This concert piece is a testimony to the spirit that is most vital -- unity amidst and beyond diversity and is being offered on the day of the festival of Ganesha, the indwelling Self and the unalloyed pure Consciousness.

The theme that best represents what this visual treat offers, among many others that each of you can discern for yourself, is the spontaneous emergence of dynamics on the stage as the three of them individually and collectively render the composition seeking the grace of Sri Ganesha.

It is a delight to watch and listen to the three sharing time, forging ideas, presenting them, and melding them all for the music to stand out than the artistes behind it.

With the collective approach through their music, the artistes seem to signal the need to recognise the universality of the ONE principle behind all the multitudes of names and forms of this phenomenal world.

Please watch, listen, and savour this visual treat.

May the grace of Sri Ganesha envelop you and your family on this auspicious festival day.

Acknowledgements:
1. Thankfully acknowledge that the narration above is inspired by “Ganésha Atharva Shīrsha,” an English translation by Nagesh D Sonde.
2. My sincere thanks and appreciation to Sri. T K Ramkumar for his support in this project.