In my Foreword in Sri Robert Butler’s recent book titled ‘A Concert of Songs by Avudai Akkal’, I had written:
“Bhagawan Shri Ramana Maharishi said that whatever is to happen will happen however much we try to prevent it from happening and that even if we try as we may to make certain things happen, they will not happen. Such is the universal divine will that takes it’s natural course. As to what this is we do not know but must only accept it while not giving up our efforts.”
Precisely in the spirit of what was written, we were blessed this year with having a live program, albeit with very restricted number of people in the audience. The program featured our traditional music- a Carnatic Vocal Concert of Vidushi Smt Nisha Rajagopalan and a Harikatha of Kalaimamani Vidushi Smt Vishaka Hari.
Sri Avudai Akkal Songs by Vidushi Smt Nisha Rajagopalan
We thank Vidushi Smt Nisha Rajagopalan, Vidvan Sri RK Shriramkumar (Violin) and Vidvan Sri K Arunprakash (Mridangam) for a very memorable concert. We owe a special thank you to Sri Shriramkumar for setting the Tamil lyrics of Sri Avudai Akkal to melodious music.
It is only in recent months that I got to know Smt Nisha and could discern her commitment to sing the exquisite Advaitic songs of Sri Avudai Akkal. I knew it was going to be special and that her concert surely would be an endearing one of both head and heart. When she advised me of her fellow Vidvans, I said that it was my dream team. I have known them for over twenty-five years from our time in Adelaide when they toured with a then strapping cricket-mad singing Accountant- Sanjay Subramaniam!
Sri Avudai Akkal Harikatha by Kalaimamani Vidushi Smt Vishaka Hari
We extend our gratitude and thanks for the Sri Avudai Akkal Harikatha to Kalaimamani Smt Vishaka Hari and her fellow artistes, Vidvan Sri B Ananthakrishnan (Violin) and Vidvan Sri SJ Arjun Ganesh (Mridangam). The idea of a Harikatha on Sri Avudai Akkal was mooted some two years ago as Vishaka Ji recalled in her discourse. This seedling of a mere idea then planted needed time to germinate as an Akkal Harikatha, and germinate it did splendidly as we now know.
Divine will plays out, period. Vishaka Ji had lost her dear father a month ago and I was not sure how to approach her and suggest that we postpone the Sri Akkal Harikatha. When I called her, she simply replied that she is absorbed in Sri Akkal’s Atmabodha and the program should go ahead with or without a live audience, be recorded and premiered on YouTube. Hence it should come as no surprise that her Harikatha was one polished by deep reflection and as we say, ‘living the script’.
Live audience and virtual attendance!
Given Covid constraints that kept us and others here confined to Sydney, my wife Soumya and I could not attend the two programs. Thanks to technology, we were ‘virtually’ there but missed being part of the live audience. We would have loved to thank in person the artistes and all those who have made this possible.
I have had innumerable calls and messages- in a word or two they all said what I have conveyed to both Smt Nisha and Smt Vishaka that the program was, Wonderful, Brilliant!
To get a feel for what it felt being in the audience, see below feedback from Usha and Gopal:
“I had the good fortune of attending the programme on Avudai Akkal arranged by you @ RR Sabha on 17th instant. For one thing, it was the first real time performance attended by me since the pandemic set in. Secondly, it turned out to be a celebration of a less known but a greatly divine woman sage of yester years.
The music concert by Smt. Nisha Rajagopalan was very mellifluous. She sang chosen songs of Avudai akkal, set to tune by Violinist Sriram Kumar. Sri Kumar deserves full credit for the manner in which he has composed the ragas, and Smt Nisha for the rendering of the songs because they complimented nicely in bringing out the richness of the content of the compositions. It was on the whole an enriching experience thanks to the devine music by Smt Nisha and her accompanying artists.”
“Kalaimamani Smt Vishaka Hari, true to her innate style brought alive Akkal of the 17th century. Her striking drawing of parallels and apt associations brought out details in not only stories we have heard but not Known, it also gave a deep insight into spirituality in its true sense.
The Harikatha exponent with her expertise wove the spiritual journey of Akkal beautifully inspite of the fact that not so many details were available.
Pranams to the efforts of all in bringing Akkal and her works to the community at large at a time when most of us feel lost in this physical plane.”
The Hindu has a glowing review, ‘Tracing Avudai Akkal’s Journey’, of the program. We are grateful to Dr Renuka Suryanarayan for her attendance and coverage.
Now that you may watched these videos, we may well ask: How was the program and what does it mean for you? I encourage you to provide constructive feedback here as well as subscribe to the YouTube channels of both Smt Nisha Rajagopalan and Smt Vishaka Hari to post your comments.
Towards a larger purpose ….
I want us all to also think for a moment of the artistes who had to address Covid issues in their communities, research, learn from scratch entirely new songs, practice and perform with uncertainty as their constant companion. Anchoring on their passion with unrelenting commitment for music, story-telling and innovation, they are in their own ways leading us all towards a higher cause and our inner spiritual growth.
With the grace of Sri Bhagawan and Sri Avudai Akkal, we have had two consecutive years of programs dedicated to the Advaitic teachings and songs of Sri Avudai Akkal. In 2020 we had the Pravachanam of Sri Nochur Venketraman and Carnatic Vocal Concert of Vidushi Smt Gayathri Venkataraghavan, links to which are in my earlier blog.
Let us look ahead to continue this as best we can into the future with the continued support of Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Mylapore- Chennai.
And finally …
Our thanks to Smt Aruna Ranganathan for working closely with us over the past two years on these programs, Sri R Nagarajan and Sri Ramachandran from the Sabha for their help, Dr Renuka Suryanarayan from The Hindu, Sri K Sriram from Sri Achalam Ramana Satsang for his brief address and Sri Chella for the photos, streaming and video recording of the two concerts.
Thank you all for your support and we look forward to the future with prayers and hope for peace in all.
PS: Our next program for Friday 23 Sep 2022 (6 to 8 PM): Kum Sivasri Skandaprasad presenting ‘Akkal and Abhangs: Gnana and Bhakti are ONE’
Turtledge 