Guest guest Posted May 13, 2002 Report Share Posted May 13, 2002 An excellent atricle describing the power of music for God Realization! ============================================================= This article has been sent to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran ) ============================================================= Source: thThe Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/05/14/stories/2002051400540800.htm) Miscellaneous - Religion Realisation of God through music CHENNAI MAY 14 .. Almost everyone, born in this world and immersed in worldly affairs, cannot escape facing at times grim situations endangering his or her life. The problems confronted will naturally result in his getting totally demoralised. But God, the Merciful, will never allow anyone, who holds on to His Feet and depends on His help, to be distressed and He will undoubtedly guide and protect him. Similar to the familiar episode in the life of a saint-musician of recent decades who politely declined special honour from a local ruler, there was another illustrious musician-composer, who chose to sing only the praise of God and who turned down a request from his king to compose a song about his qualities and achievements for which he was punished, but was later extolled for his devotion to God when the former realised his folly. The saint was Annamacharya (15th century), who sang about Lord Venkatesa's glory in 32,000 compositions in Telugu and Sanskrit. Only 14,000 of them are now avail! able. The chief distinction of such enlightened souls is their detachment and aversion to ostentation and their determination not to yield to the lure of the lucre. In the compositions of Annamacharya, who chose music as the medium to worship and reach his personal deity, the Lord of the Seven Hills, there is a happy blend of emotional and intellectual qualities. The musical empire of this saint contains nothing but devotion and throws light on contemplation of the Almighty through pure music. The songs reflect Vedic truths and reveal the sentiments from various scriptural texts. In one song he mentions about the soul satisfaction through the performance of individual worship offering 16 types of rites to the idol, which for him was none but God Himself. The gospel preached in the compositions of two types, Sringara and Aadyatmika is that God can be realised through the path of music and devotion. He had dived deep into the fathomless system of Indian music. In one song he has brought out the belief that all except the Lord are women. In the episode of King's compulsion to render one song in his honour, Annamacharya says t! hat when the name of "Hari" is in his mind, why worry about threats? Most of the songs reveal the appeal addressed to Lord Venkatesa. The rich philosophy in his songs was explained in a lecture by Sri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma adding that in one, the saint says that God (Parabrahmam) is only one. Copyright: 1995 - 2002 The Hindu Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the consent of The Hindu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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