Latest news with #AshadaEkadasi
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Ramana Maharishi
It is universally acknowledged that one is blessed to view the sight of devotees streaming into Pandharpur on Ashada Ekadasi. It is a clear, crystalline display of deep devotion. Sage Narada, widely held to be the guru of bhakti, was once asked what is bhakti and he said, 'The nature of bhakti is indefinable, one that cannot be described.' It is that love of God, that premam, which one cannot understand, unless it is manifested through a devotee, said Ramanacharana Tirtha Swami (Nochur). In his Saundarya Lahiri, Adi Sankara, speaking on how to see Siva through the heart of a devotee, says He is seen as the fruit of all the spiritual practices in, of and by a devotee. One cannot see the electricity that powers a bulb to burn, but can experience the light; similarly, one cannot see, but none can miss the devotee whose heart is in inundation (Lahiri); this ecstasy can only be experienced, something that countless devotees felt when in the presence of Ramana Maharishi. One can read tomes of articles on the life and teachings of Ramana Maharishi, but that would only be like the tip of the proverbial iceberg. His devotees maintain to this day that the saint who made Tiruvannamalai his home was not something you experienced with mere eyes. It is something that comes from the heart. People who saw him, simply absorbed him. Those who came to question him fell silent in his presence, doubts forgotten, experiencing a never before calmness. Seeing him seated in his abode, like burnished gold, he seemed like Arunchaleswara to his devotees. Unlike Buddha, Ramana Maharishi's life did not have a riveting arc, making it one for the greatest renunciation stories; on the contrary, Ramana Maharishi, sitting in a small room in Madurai, thought he was going to die. That led to the question, Who is going to die, what happens when my body is burnt. He felt the full force of consciousness (I am atma); it happened in a few minutes: this is gnana made very simple. He let go of desire and with the alignment of bhakti, vairagya and gnanam, he experienced God. He was not a scholar, but the call of Arunachala drew him to Tiruvannamalai, where he experienced a tsunami of love: the deity kept him on his lap, so to speak.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Saketharaman's concert, titled ‘007-Ragas-Bond with Bhavam', truly hit the mark
Thirty minutes before the show, Narada Gana Sabha was abuzz with the sounds of jalras, excited chatter and last-minute rehearsals. Children in vibrant silk outfits ran across the stage, while proud parents and grandparents settled into their seats. This wasn't yet another annual day celebration, it was a thematic presentation titled '007 Ragas – Bond with Bhavam' by Kala Shiksha, an online music school, led by Carnatic vocalist Saketharaman. Known for presenting innovative concepts aligning with the term 'Carnatify', transforming film music and themes into swara-laden, bhakti-rich compositions, Saketharaman's vision came alive with 200 students performing with passion and poise. Each teacher, from Kala Shiksha, picked a theme, curating one or two pieces per group, well-executed and accompanied by Sarvesh Karthik on the mridangam, C.S. Chinmayi on the violin, Sunil Kumar on the kanjira, and Jeno Martin on the keys. The show opened with swaras of an instrumental piece in Pantuvarali from the film Rajaparvai, complete with tisra gathi korvais and ending with 'Om shivoham'. Since the event took place on Ashada Ekadasi, it celebrated Vittala through bhajans, 'Rangamma Majhi', Nama Deva keertana and a soulful rendering of Haridas Giri's 'Brindhavaname'. A palpable wave of devotion swept through the auditorium, as some audience members broke into spontaneous claps and even danced. Two little children hopped on to the stage in an impromptu bliss to the delight of all. Adding a touch of whimsy, one segment transformed English nursery rhymes into bhakti-infused adaptations — 'Jack and Jill' became 'Gajamukha bhol', a bhajan, while 'There Was a Farmer' unfolded with swaras and a Shiva namavali. A particularly thoughtful moment came when the students commemorated the 250th birth anniversary of Muthuswami Dikshitar. a teacher at Kala Shiksha, composed the Tamil nottuswarams in Dikshitar's style, one in Kiravani and another in Suddha Dhanyasi. Next came the most-awaited segment of the evening, 'Bond with Bhavam'. Representing 007 as Saptaswaras, the team chose the first Melakarta, Kanakangi, a vivadi raga to render the iconic James Bond theme in swaras. From there, they proceeded to 'Varaha Roopam' from the film, Kantara, reworded into a Shiva stuti, and followed it up with 'Mogam ennum theeyil' from the film Sindhu Bhairavi, again refashioned into a devotional ode. The audience cheered and demanded an encore. In a moment of reverent recognition, the title Samuditha Bhajana Thilakam was conferred upon Briga Balu Bhagavathar for his contribution to the tradition of namasankeerthanam. Prior to the curtain call, the audience was treated to 'Gopika mohanam', a Dikshitar kriti in Mohanam. The younger students of Kala Shiksha then brought the evening to a close with 'Vara leelagana lola' by Tyagaraja. Their enthusiasm drew affectionate smiles from the audience.
