Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music

Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music

Let’s talk about “Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music” in this article. Before going into the details lets read the below lines:

नादतनुमनिशं शङ्करं नमामि मे मनसा शिरसा

मोदकरनिगमोत्तमसामवेदसारं वारं वारम् ।

सद्योजातादि-पञ्चव १ त्रज-सरिंगमपधनि-वरसप्तस्वर-

विद्यालोल विदलितकालं विमलहृदयत्यागराजपालम् ॥

I bow my head again and again

and surrender my mind continually to Shiva,

the incarnation of Sound,

the delightful essence of Samaveda,

he who triumphs over time,

who is the saviour of the pure in heart,

who is the knower of the seven Swaras – Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni –

which are born from his five mouths.

[ Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music ]

The Actual Position :

Our search has led us to give a new emphasis to certain important aspects of our music-the Swara, the Chilla, the Guru Shishya Parampara, the role of the Tanpura and the journey towards inner transformation. All these have always been an integral part of our inheritance but have now receded into the background. We have examined them again in the context of our times and found in them new meanings suited to our contemporary needs.

To a person not familiar with Indian culture or ethos many of the things we have said might seem strange and he might find them difficult to accept. In fact, in modern times, not even many Indians are aware of these truths. Nor would it be right to say that all musicians in India go through this discipline literally, attain this level, or undergo this transformation. Or that every teacher of music is a Guru and a Yogi, and every piece of music is inspired and a new creation. Far from it.

What would perhaps be more accurate is to say that the great musicians, especially those who have entered deep into the music of India and lived it, are to a large extent aware of these truths, though they might be interpreted and followed in different ways by different musicians. But the number of such musicians is not very large.

Even here it is not often that we find them speaking of these truths. For these truths are to be felt and assimilated rather than spoken or analyzed. But it is this search that has made Indian music what it is.1

[ Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music ]

Music is a Vow :

In music, the effort of inner discovery is so fundamental and the effect on others of such a man, who has reached somewhere in this search, is so transforming that very few are able to resist the magic of our music completely.

“To see divine beauty in the whole world, man, life, nature, to love that which we have seen and to have pure unalloyed bliss in that love and that beauty is the appointed road by which mankind as a race must climb to God.” – Sri Aurobindo

Whether the spiritual level of man is consciously brought into art or not, few will contradict the experience that great works of art, whether sculpture, music, or painting have in them a mysterious dimension that exceeds their outer form. We can call this mystery by any name. It exists everywhere. Here in India, we give it a divine connotation.

We may quote the significant words of Sri Aurobindo: “To see divine beauty in the whole world, man, life, nature, to love that which we have seen and to have pure unalloyed bliss in that love and that beauty is the appointed road by which mankind as a race must climb to God.” For ultimately the seeker of music is also a seeker of the infinite. When he has searched and found the music he loves and experiences the bliss of which the sages have spoken.

Growing into music is a complex process, more demanding and risky than any vocation can ever be. It asks for an entire self-giving. Finally, music is a vow and, like all vows, its purpose is to transform. If music does not transform, then it has not been a vow, and anything less is a mere hobby or a profession.²

We must realize that books and tapes can give us only a far-off glimpse of this fascinating world. It is for us to decide whether we shall undertake this challenging and delightful journey and enter into this wide world of Indian music. Even a Guru can only turn our face towards the promised land and perhaps accompany us for some distance. But the search has to be finally ours, and ours alone.

[ Reaching Out to Indian Classical Music ]

1. Bhimsen Joshi -Vocal-Raga Marubihag

2. Pandit Jasraj-Vocal-Raga Bhimpalasi

Reaching Out : Indian Classical Music
Reaching Out: Indian Classical Music

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