Magical evening of music and devotion - Report of sri Vidyabhushana concert in Washington DC

June 28, 1999

Magical evening of music and devotion:

===========================

Lovers of devotional and Haridasa music in the Washington DC area were

in for a real treat on 20th June 99. Sri Vidybhushana's devara nama

concert took place in Washington DC that day. Concert was organized by

Kaveri Kannada sangha of Washington DC metropolitan area. Concert was

well attended by about 350 - 400 people.

They were treated to a fabulous concert of devara namas that was filled

with devotion.

Sri vidyabhushana started the concert with sri jagannatha dasa

composition on vinayaka, " Lambodara raktambaradhara " in raga Nata.

Kriti was exquisitely done in a deliberate slow pace. sri jagannatha

dasa's sanskritized kannada lyrics were brought to life. The first hour

of the concert was done in the traditional carnatic style exposition

with the prominent kritis being " EnTha cheluvage magaLanu kottano " in

raga Charukeshi and " hariye sri hariye ninhorathu porevaranu naanariye "

in raga Gowrimanohari. Both these songs were sung very well with

traditional alapana and swara prasthara. Then he switched to a less

formal devara nama exposition style. . He sung many traditional

favorites like " madhukara vritti " , " baaro manege govinda " , " pillangoviya

chelva krishnanana " , " bAro krishnayya " and " Adisideleshoda " . This was

interlaced with songs like " ishTu dina I vaikuntha " by sri kanaka dasa

which was sung in a very sprightly style and " idu bhaagya idu bhaagya.. "

by sri purandara dasa. Special mention must be made of the song

" kanninolage nodo " by sri purandara dasa. This is a song about Raja yoga

and Kundalini yoga by sri Purandara dasa. This shows that sri purandara

dasa was not only a supreme bhakti, but was well versed in mystical

yogic techniques as well. This song was enhanced by a special raga,

tana style exposition in raga Revathi and with special OM chantings in

the middle. (Detailed meaning of the song can be found on the Dvaita

list at http://www.dvaita.org/list/list_20/msg00062.html )

Sri vidyabhushana sung one song by sri Bendre on meditation. Last

hour was filled with more devotional songs. He sang many songs through

listner requests, even though clearly there was not time to sing all of

them. He ended the concert with the traditional " bhagyada lakshmi

baaramma " .

Sri vidyabhushana was felicitated by sri Hirannayya, the chief guest

for the evening and Kaveri officials. Sri vidyabhushana's short

acceptance speech was memorable and represented a complete philosophy of

life in itself. He said that titles given and obtained are not

important. The love and the appreciation behind the titles are

important. In another view, even the appreciation is less important than

the chance to chant Lord's names, chance to sing and remember the

Haridasa compositions that guide us in the right path.

Sri vidyabhushana brings out the devotion in every song as no other

singer can. The listners were transported to magical land of music and

devotion for couple of hours. This concert will be talked about for a

long time in Washington.

--- Vasudeva Murthy

--

=================================

Vasu Murthy

Bell Atlantic Global Networks

web page: members.xoom.com/vmurthy

vmurthy

W:703-247-7314 Fax:703-247-7359

==================================

June 28, 1999

Dear Haribhakthas,

I would like to know if recordings of Sri. VidyaBhushana's concerts in US

are available, and if so, the means to obtain them.

Sankeerthaneya maadi nenevabhakthara maneya

binkhadi baagila kaava bada daasa naanayya

Sridhar

At 12:43 PM 6/28/99 -0400, Vasu Murthy wrote:

>Vasu Murthy <vmurthy

>

>Magical evening of music and devotion:

>===========================

>

>Lovers of devotional and Haridasa music in the Washington DC area were

>in for a real treat on 20th June 99. Sri Vidybhushana's devara nama

>concert took place in Washington DC that day. Concert was organized by

>Kaveri Kannada sangha of Washington DC metropolitan area. Concert was

>well attended by about 350 - 400 people.

>They were treated to a fabulous concert of devara namas that was filled

>with devotion.

>

> Sri vidyabhushana started the concert with sri jagannatha dasa

>composition on vinayaka, " Lambodara raktambaradhara " in raga Nata.

>Kriti was exquisitely done in a deliberate slow pace. sri jagannatha

>dasa's sanskritized kannada lyrics were brought to life. The first hour

>of the concert was done in the traditional carnatic style exposition

>with the prominent kritis being " EnTha cheluvage magaLanu kottano " in

>raga Charukeshi and " hariye sri hariye ninhorathu porevaranu naanariye "

>in raga Gowrimanohari. Both these songs were sung very well with

>traditional alapana and swara prasthara. Then he switched to a less

>formal devara nama exposition style. . He sung many traditional

>favorites like " madhukara vritti " , " baaro manege govinda " , " pillangoviya

>chelva krishnanana " , " bAro krishnayya " and " Adisideleshoda " . This was

>interlaced with songs like " ishTu dina I vaikuntha " by sri kanaka dasa

>which was sung in a very sprightly style and " idu bhaagya idu bhaagya.. "

>by sri purandara dasa. Special mention must be made of the song

> " kanninolage nodo " by sri purandara dasa. This is a song about Raja yoga

>and Kundalini yoga by sri Purandara dasa. This shows that sri purandara

>dasa was not only a supreme bhakti, but was well versed in mystical

>yogic techniques as well. This song was enhanced by a special raga,

>tana style exposition in raga Revathi and with special OM chantings in

>the middle. (Detailed meaning of the song can be found on the Dvaita

>list at http://www.dvaita.org/list/list_20/msg00062.html )

>

> Sri vidyabhushana sung one song by sri Bendre on meditation. Last

>hour was filled with more devotional songs. He sang many songs through

>listner requests, even though clearly there was not time to sing all of

>them. He ended the concert with the traditional " bhagyada lakshmi

>baaramma " .

>

> Sri vidyabhushana was felicitated by sri Hirannayya, the chief guest

>for the evening and Kaveri officials. Sri vidyabhushana's short

>acceptance speech was memorable and represented a complete philosophy of

>life in itself. He said that titles given and obtained are not

>important. The love and the appreciation behind the titles are

>important. In another view, even the appreciation is less important than

>the chance to chant Lord's names, chance to sing and remember the

>Haridasa compositions that guide us in the right path.

>

> Sri vidyabhushana brings out the devotion in every song as no other

>singer can. The listners were transported to magical land of music and

>devotion for couple of hours. This concert will be talked about for a

>long time in Washington.

>

> --- Vasudeva Murthy

>

>--

>=================================

>Vasu Murthy

>Bell Atlantic Global Networks

>web page: members.xoom.com/vmurthy

>vmurthy

>W:703-247-7314 Fax:703-247-7359

>==================================

>

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>nAham kartA hariH kartA tatpUjA karmachaakhilam.h|

>taThaapi matkR^itaa pUja tatprasaadhEna naanyaThaa|

>tadbhakti tadphalam.h mahyam.h tatprasaadaat.h punaH punaH |

>karmanyaasO harAvevam.h vishNOsthR^iptikaraH sadhA ||

>

> " I am not the doer, shri Hari is the doer, all the actions that I do are

His worship. Even then, the worship I do is through His grace and not

otherwise. That devotion and the fruits of the actions that come to me are

due to His recurring grace "

>If one always practices to do actions with a dedicated spirit to Hari, in

this way, it pleases Vishnu.

> --- Quoted by Sri madhvAchArya in GitA tAtparya

>

July 6, 1999

sridhar hari <sridharh