Aikya 2013 - Ra Ga concert

Aikya 2013 - Today's concert by Ra Ga was mindblowing - the theme outlined a music dialogue inspired by the Krishna- Samvada in The Bhagavad Gita.

 

The attention to detail was showcased everywhere - be it the magnificient chariot with Krishna and Arjuna as a backdrop (including a real peacock feather adorning Lord Krishna's crown in the backdrop) and also the choice of songs..

 

Today's theme pointed out the fact that we human beings live in a state of perpetual conflict - be it in simple choice of decisions in our lives or a major decision of how to lead our lives. Our interests, needs and values focus on the material things in life - What is the take away for us humans who crave for intangible things - Identity of our souls, path to Moksha?

 

The solution to these answers come through slokams of Gita and songs of notable composers in carnatic music; 9 gem of songs, in 6 languages!

 

1. Saranam Saranam Endrane in Sourashtram; a song of the famous tamizh trinity, Arunachala Kavirayar in his Raamanaataka kirtanai, depicting the conflicting moment Lord Rama faces when Vibheeshana comes to him seeking refuge.
2. Pag ghungaroo baandh meera nachi re - A famous meera bhajan and the distinct evergreen rendition of MSS (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJQkGn5gf78)  comes to our mind..
3. The third amazing song was - Nidhi chala Sukama? (Kalyani ragam) -  (Does wealth bring happiness?) which was composed by Sri Thyagaraja, when the King of Tanjore offers an invitation with rich gifts to adorn his court as his musician. The conflict of Thyagaraja and his stern decision to do seva only to His Rama was an apt song for this evening..
 
• "nidhi chAla sukhamA? rAmuni sannidhi sEva sukhamA? nijamuga balku manasA !"(Tell the real truth my mind, Is becoming more wealthy pleasurable, Or is it serving Rama in his temple?)
• "Dama samamunu Ganga snanamu sukhama, Kardhama durvishaya  kupa snanamu sukhama? Mamatha bandhana  yutha nara Sthuthi sukhama, Sumathi Thyagaraja  nuthani keerthana sukhama? (Is it more pleasant to take bath in Ganges with a calm mind, Or a turbulent bath in the well with lot of dirt?) ( Is the singing praises of a man which is full of praise and flattery,More pleasant than singing new songs in praise of Lord Thyagaraja? )
4. The thematic slokams from Gita highlighted the confluence of thoughts, music of the chosen theme - Ra Ga showed how they were gifted not only as vocalists, but also as Violinists par excellence. (Pinnitanga!)
5. Then came our evergreen tamizh composer Mahakavi Bharathiar's medley of songs :-
• நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே-அதை
  நலங்கெடப் புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ?
  சொல்லடி, சிவசக்தி;-எனைச்
  சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன் படைத்துவிட்டாய்,
  வல்லமை தாராயோ,-இந்த
  மாநிலம் பயனுற வாழ்வதற்கே?
  சொல்லடி,சிவசக்தி!-நிலச்
  சுமையென வாழ்ந்திடப் புரிகுவையோ?-
• The song roughly translates as " (I)made a noble veena, Would (I) throw it in the garbage?.. Solladi sivasakthi (Answer me Goddess); ennai suDar migum arivudan padaithu vittai (Why create me with a sparkling wisdom?)
• Vallamai thaaraayo - intha maanilam payanura vaazhvatharke? ( Wont you give skill and brilliance to make this society lead a purposeful life?)
• பல கற்றும் பல கேட்டும்... எங்கள் மாரியம்மா - A folk song in ragamalika - kavadi chindu, Punnaga varali..(the first time i am ever listening to this song)
• பகைவனுக்கு அருள்வாய் நன்நெஞ்சே - the famous song in Kannan pattu of Bharathi where he prays "Show kindness to the enemy, Oh good heart" -
• Ra Ga took these stanzas : வாழ்வை நினைத்தபின் தாழ்வை நினைப்பது வாழ்வுக்கு நேராமோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! தாழ்வு பிறர்க்கெண்ணத் தானழிவா னென்ற சாதிரங் கேளாயோ?-நன்னெஞ்சே! (After thinking of life, if we think of low state, Is it proper for life, Oh good heart? If we think of low state for others, Sastras tell, That we would get destroyed, Oh Good heart)..
• தின்ன வரும்புலி தன்னையும அன்பொடு சிந்தையிற் போற்றிடுவாய்-நன்னெஞ்சே!..அன்னை பராசக்தி யவ்வுரு வாயினள் - அவளைக் கும்பிடுவாய்-நன்னெஞ்சே (In your heart think along with loveabout, Even the tiger which comes to eat you, Oh good heart, For our mother the primeval power took that form, Worship and salute her, Oh good heart
6. Je ka ranjale ganjale- Another amazing tukharam abhang, which was translated by Gandhiji in 1930s when he was in Yerwada Central jail:
• "Know him to be a true man who takes to his bosom those who are in distress. Know that God resides in the heart of such a one. His heart is saturated with gentleness through and through. He receives as his only those who are forsaken. He bestows on his man servants and maid servants the same affection he shows to his children. Tukaram says: What need is there to describe him further? He is the very incarnation of divinity"
7. A string of Kulasekara Azhwar’s viruthams & Raskhan’s Krishna poems to set a backdrop for another amazing song of Purandaradasar's "nArAyaNA ninna nAmada smaraNeya sArAmrtavenna nAligege barali" in Suddha Dhanyasi - emphasizing the value of reciting God's nama - Om Namo Narayana - especially during "last moments" - "ento purandara viṭhala rāyana antya kāladalli cintisohāge.."
8. Adi Shankaracharya's sloka summary of Advaita vedantam in "Nirvana shatakam", musically tuned by the sisters.
• Mano-Buddhy-Ahangkaara Cittaani Naaham, Na Ca Shrotra-Jihve Na Ca Ghraanna-Netre |Na Ca Vyoma Bhuumir-Na Tejo Na Vaayuh Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivoham Shivoham  (Neither am I the Mind nor Intelligence or Ego, Neither am I the organs of Hearing (Ears), nor that of Tasting (Tongue), Smelling (Nose) or Seeing (Eyes), Neither am I the Sky, nor the Earth, Neither the Fire nor the Air, I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva, The Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness.)
9. The last gem was another famous abhang of Sant Tukaram - "Bolawa vitthal pahava vitthal" - with the audience chanting vittal vittal along..(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiT7Hqk_uwg)

All in all a great Sunday.. They sang from the heart, everything fell into place - And they have a set a huge benchmark for the future Aikya musicians..