| Musical Medications - Sri S. Sankaranarayanan |
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A Nada-Bhakti Yoga a practitioner invokes the latent power of ragas to heal. Stop medicines and start music- that is the message you get on visiting the newly built, gigantic amphitheatre in the attractive and flourishing Datta Ashram in Mysore. "Healing ailments through meditation and music, or Raga Ragini Vidya, is an ancient one. I did not invent it," said its practitioner Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji in all modesty. 'My mother initiated me into it. She was my guru in all my upasanas, including music. I have not other guru. She is believed to have received upadesa in that vidya from Lord Dattatreya himself.’ The Swamiji clarified that what his mother had initiated him into was not nada yoga but nada-bhakti yoga. He said: "I was ordained by my mother and Guru Dattatreya to propagate bhakti yoga, particularly namasankirtanam, as it is easier to practice in this Kali Yuga." Nada-Bhakti yoga is one of the most important aspects of the Swamiji's mission. "I use devotional music as a means of spiritual energy transmission," the Swamiji said. "Some higher force takes care of my process, one I decide to heal through music." Sapta Svara Devatas True to the fulfillment of his ideal, the inauguration in May 1998 of the Nada Mandapam, called Raga Ragini Samudaya Bhavan, is one of the most important events in the development of the Datta Peetham. Representing the deities of the godheads of the seven musical notes, the temple of music s adorned by icons of the Sapta Svara Devatas. This is where music concerts by eminent performers are held from time to time. Avadhoota Datta Peetham Starting from himble beginnings in 1966, the ashram has now grown physically and spiritually into the well-known Avadhoota Datta Peetham. It is a charitable and spiritual organization that works to help people and promote dharma. Located at the foot of the Chamundi hill on the Ooty-Mysore road, the ashram's beautiful arch with three small domes and a sculpted murti of Lord Dattatreya in the central dome, attracts the visitor. On any given day, hundreds of people visit the ashram seeking the Swamiji's help in solving the problems they confront in their mundance existence, or in getting his blessings for pursuing spiritual sadhana. Lord Dattatreya is the presiding deity of the Peetham, and a temple has been consecrated for him in the ashram. Reminiscing on his early days, the Swamiji said: "I come of a family that practices music as a means of worship. Even as a child I was able to distinguish and appreciate the subtle nuances of ragas and rhythm, as also sruti and its variations. My competence in vocal and instrumental music is a God-given gift. I was singing, or Even while practicing sangita upasana, the Swamiji started composing devotional songs (bhajans) and sang and played them on musical instruments, too. Siddhis of Raga Devata According to the Swamiji, if a genuine aspirant, with faith and purity of mind, and under the guidance of a guru, steadfastly practices a raga, he will, in due course, have the vision of the raga devata. The raga devata would bestow on him the siddhis pertaining to that raga. He can use the siddhis for his own benefit or for the benefit of others. "For several years, I had been giving discourses and upanyasas lasting two or three hours. But those discourses could not sustain audience attention for long. But when I did divyanama sankirtanam and bhajan, people forgot themselves and joined me in the singing. More Powerful than Philosophy "My musical discourses and bhajans proved more powerful than the philosophical discourses in gaining the undivided attention of the audience. That is the power of music when used as a medium to remember God. “When I achieved a measure of success in holding the attention and concentration of the audience, I started using the sessions for healing ailments of the devotees who sought my help in that regard." The Swamiji said he used narna-sankirtana sessions to calm the listeners' minds, make them concentrate on his thoughts and make their minds fit to receive his blessings. When he is playing the musical instruments, only his fingers are busy; his mind is in a state of bliss, and he uses such moments to identify the people's afflictions and command his yogic power to alleviate their sufferings. Sapta Svara Devata Nada Mandapam The world's only such Mandapam, it has deities of the godheads representing the Sapta Svaras (seven musical notes) representing Sa-Agni, Ri-Brahma, Ga-Sarasvati, Ma- Paramesvara, Pa-Maha Vishnu, Da-Maha Ganapati and Ni-Suryanarayana. (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La and Ti in the Western music system). Sculpted and positioned against the auditorium pillars are 22 huge tamburas (stringed droning instrument), denoting the Dwa Vimsat Sruti mentioned in the Sangeetha Sastra of Carnatic music. The entrace porce has sculpted deities of Narada Muni, Garuda, Vishvaksena, Anjaneya, Tumburu, Hayagreeva, Nandi, Bhrungi, Ganapati, and Chaitanya Maha Prabhu who are well known for their music. The staggered seating system in this 2,150 sq. ft amphitheatre holds about 5,000 people, making it one of the largest of its kind in India. The hall is equipped with the state of the art sound, lighting and theatrical system, designed, supplied and installed by the Bose Corporation, USA. Set in a beautifully landscaped 1.5-acre land, the Nada Mandapam, was inaugurated in May 1998 on the eve of Swamiji's 56th Birthday. Vehicles of Healing In his music sessions, the Swamiji makes the bhajans as well as the music emanating from his synthesizer and the accompanying instruments (violin, flute, veena), effective vehicles to carry his powers of healing. His own compositions are not just ordinary bhajans, but the lyrics carry the appropriate bijaksharas, rendering them into potent mantras. Under the guidance of the Swamiji, the Datta Peetham has brought out audio cassettes of music for meditation and healing. These contain renditions of Swamiji's compositions of bhajans in various ragas. Individual-Specific But the prescription is individual specific. Thus if the Swamiji asks a devotee to listen to his devotional music, for example, in Mohana raga for relief from, say, stomach ache, it does not mean that everyone suffering from stomach ache would get relief by listening to that raga.The Swamiji might suggest for another person suffering from chronic headache the same Mohana raga and he would get relief. Thus, one would not find any correspondence or correlation between the ragas suggested by Swamiji and the diseases. The Swamiji said that many well-known practitioners of music and medical doctors have confessed to him that with all their knowledge in their fields, they could not identify the characteristics of any raga which could heal different diseases in different people. Meditation and prayer Halls The Peetham is blessed with various facilities for one's spiritual endeavours. Besides the Nada Mandapam, there are Sumeru Dhyana Mandapam for meditation; the Universal Prayer Hall where congregational prayers are held everyday; and the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha complex where pujas are conducted for various deities. The ashram runs a Veda Pathasala as well. Besides Veda classes, the Pathasala conducts an annual all-India examination in Vedic studies for which a large number of candidates appear. Kriya Yoga Camps The Swamiji organizes Kriya Yoga camps from time to time at the ashram. The program seeks to help the aspirants practice pranayama and learn to activate and control their senses effectively to channel the flow of life force. It promotes health, helps in meditation and reduces tension in the day-to-day life. Considering that rituals and worship are characteristic features of our religion and that their continuance require properly-trained priests, the Swamiji started the Sri Venkatesvara Agama Vidya Kendra at the ashram to train professional priests. A notable service rendered by the ashram is the daily annadana (free feeding) for hundreds of visitors, facilitating spiritual activities. In addition, the ashram renders many social and community welfare services. It has taken over two local schools that were to be closed down by the government for lack of funds. These schools now provide proper education for nearly 3,000 poor children. The ashram has established Ayurvedic and homoeopathic hospitals, clinics, a herbarium,and homes for the aged. Traditional Approach The Swamiji comes in a line of traditional Vedic scholars; his ancestors were followers of vaidika sampradaya who had performed yagas and yajnas. They had also practiced Ayurveda, particularly herbal medicine. For healing a devotee's illness, the Swamiji combines his knowledge of Ayurveda, jyotisha, psychology, precious stones, mantra and tantra, and even vaastu sastra, with his power of Nada-bhakti Yoga. Over the years, the Swamiji has built 22 Datta temples in India and five temples abroad. The number of Datta Yoga Centers spreading his teachings has already surpassed 50. S. Sankaranarayanan, a music critic living in Chennai, wrote this article after visiting the
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