With a string of selected songs, a compilation of her songs in The Divine Presence over the years, Dana Gillespie of London Blues Band fame took the audience through her memory lane, presenting an electrifying music concert at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet this evening in Prasanthi Nilayam.
The singer, the most popular western voice in Prasanthi Nilayam and undoubtedly one of Bhagawan’s favourite singers took the audience down memory lane, singing mainly hit songs from her earlier concerts in Prasanthi Nilayam.
The underlying theme of her performance was Love and Unity. Recapitulating her glorious times in Bhagawan’s physical presence, the cherubic singer began with the song “we are all one…under the sun”.
Singing with the aid of recorded tracks of music, Gillespie continued for an hour, often inciting the audience to join with rhythmic beats. She presented twelve songs that included two bhajans. Some of her favourite numbers sung during landmark occasions, 70th and 80th birthday, were reproduced explaining the significance in short.
The soul of music is touched only when it is sung with love…Recaping her experience with Bhagawan, the singer stated that to sing in His presence one need to have a ‘large heart’…and the accomplished singer exhibited what she is in possession, a heart full of Love for The Lord, craving for Unity of world.
Interestingly, during the interludes, the singer presented a guided tour, explaining the songs and significance and snippets of her wonderful moments with Beloved Bhagawan.
Presenting a bhajan, “Prem Easwar Hey…Easwar Prem Hey…” she explained how she would often sing her all time favourite bhajan, went missing over the years, and the bhajan was “Allaho Akbar…Allaho Akbar…La ilaha illa allah…” Grabbing the mike when she sung it with her booming voice echoing the spacious hall, the audience accompanied the singer in chorus and the message was clear, Unity Of All Religions, Oneness of Godhood.
Every song was well received and the hall reverberated with rapturous applause at every short-break. She ended the concert chanting the Vibhuti Mantra, “Paramam Pavitram Baba Vibhootim…”
A flashback to the golden days of yore, of Lord Sri Ramachandra, enacting the scenes of ‘Divine Twins’ Lava and Kusha singing glories of The Lord, filled Prasanthi with devotional fervour as Ramayana scenes were enacted by the students from Muddenahalli presenting a most innovative musical drama entitled ‘Sri Rama Nama Amrutham’ on 17th November, as part of the ongoing Birthday Celebrations.
The programme was based on the compositions of Poet Saints and devotees par excellence, Thyagaraja and Badrachala Ramadas. As the shriek voices of two tiny tots, from the higher secondary level, rendered the air, various Ramayana scenes were unraveled taking the audience to the nostalgic days of yore. The first two parts of the programme was based on Saint Thyagaraja compositions and the third and final part, of that of Badrachala Ramadas.
The programme commenced with a scene depicting Thyagaraja singing his famous composition “Endaro Mahanu Bhavulu…” bringing in realistic devotion melting the heart of Lord Sri Ramachandra. Subsequent scenes had many a song, most of them Bhagawan’s special numbers, rendered melodiously by the duo, and enacted with great touch of feeling by the duo of Lava and Kusha. The air was full or Rama Nama…
The final scene had a dance of ecstatic devotion to the tune of Bhadrachala Ramadas composed “Oh Rama Nee Nama…”
The forty minute presentation was an apt offering by the budding students from Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions, Sri Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli. Colourful costumes and beautiful backdrops deserve special mention.
The Lord Of Parthi, Who had recounted the sweet nectarine story of His Avatarhood during Treta Age, by writing Rama Katha Rasa Vahini Himself, had on many occasions encouraged His students to conduct programmes based on the epic, “Ramayana” and over the years Prasanthi witnessed many such illuminating presentations. This evening the beautiful children from Sri Sathya Sai Grama enacted His Own Story, singing His favourite carnatic pieces offering, as an act of gratitude to the Lord of all Lords!
At the end of the 40 minutes programme all the participating students were presented with safari pieces. Special Prasadam was distributed and bhajans continued til Mangala Arathi at 1815 hrs. Being Thursday, the final bhajan was one in Beloved Bhagawan’s golden voice, “Madhura Madhura Muraleeghana Shyama…”
Kabir Das’s composition ‘Moko Kahan Doondey Re Bande…Main to tere paas mein’… meaning, “Where do you search Me? I’m right here with you” echoed serving the right message for the assemblage of devotees reassuring Beloved Bhagawan’s unceasing presence amidst us, on 18th November evening, 3rd day of the ongoing Birthday celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam.
A rare breed and champion proponent of Indian Classical Music around the world, Ms. Sumitra Guha had an ealier stint in Prasanthi Nilayam, singing in Bhagawan’s physical presence in 2005. Her concerts are counted as ‘experiences’ that bear the stamp of exclusive musical devotion.
Ms. Guha began her concert with her own composition on Lord Krishna “Kaise jaaun tumhare paas O Giridhari” in Raag Hamsadhwani, in Teen Taal, a prelude to a scinitillating hour of Hindustani devotional. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh the seasoned artiste chose to sing a Telugu Poem, a composition of Bhakta Kavi Pothana, “Mandara Makaranda Maadhuryamunadelu” that was followed by a Meera Bhajan, a favourite piece of Bhagawan, “Kahan Kahan Jao Therey Saath…”.
The Kabir Vani ‘Moko Kahan Doondey Re Bande…Main to tere paas mein’ followed, sung with elan and great devotional feeling. As her honeyed voice rendered the air, singing the most meaningful lines, audience sat in silence, many immersed in their own mislaid world of nostalgic days with Beloved Mother Sai.
The next piece was one of Annamacharya, ‘Narayana Jaya Namo Namaha’, before the concluding song, a bhajan styled in Hindustani, “Govinda Bolo Gopala Bolo…”.
Ms. Guha, singing in her soothing, piercing voice with facile tonal variations excelled with her devotional approach over professional mode, transmuting the general mood of the evening into devotional ecstasy.
For the audience, it was a totally different experience, with the versatile singer exhibiting precision and clarity, singing with devotional fervour.
Ms. Guha was accomapnied by Sri Nishikant Barodekar on Tabla, Harish on Keyboard and Sridhar on Violin. At the end of the concert, artistes were feliciated by Senior Trust officials. Bhajans by Prasanthi and Anantapur Campuses followed for the next fifteen minutes and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1815 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage of devotees..
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