Bombay Jayshri sang full-throated, without a mike, to a rain-drenched audience on Buddha Purnima. Shailaja Khanna attended a rare show at IGNCA
Seher founder Sanjeev Bhargava may have opened the doors in the Capital some 15 years ago to Carnatic vocalists singing devotional pieces in a Hindustani idiom; but the concert on Buddha Purnima night by Bombay Jayashri was definitely unique. In her words, “When I was invited by IGNCA to sing on Buddha Purnima, I had no idea of how the concert would be, and I was thinking how I would compile the appropriate compositions. I then realised that all the Saints, not just The Buddha, say the same things, that Truth is universal.”
Flanked by four of her trusted disciples, the doyenne was definitely in an elevated mood starting with the very moving lyrics of Sant Gyaneshwari — Om Namoji Aadhya. “I pray to the Primeval Being described in the Vedas; the one that can only be experienced by merging the Self with the Supreme Being.” The accompanying singers, Shweta Sriram, Chaitrra Sairam, Vijayshri Vittal and Abhinaya Shenbagaraj, with their beautiful matching cream saris, set the mood of the totally harmonious music they presented.
The concert was held in the open, so one was blessed by the light from the radiant full moon, filtering through the peepul tree beneath which the concert took place. It was under a peepul tree that The Blessed One had enunciated his teaching some 2,500 years ago. A large screen with the lyrics of the compositions kept the audience rivetted; the lighting was soft and muted and a beautiful intimate atmosphere was created by the artistes, aided by the responsive listeners who spontaneously sang along. Bombay Jayashri, as the recently appointed Ambassador to Earth Day Network, removed inhibitions by inviting her audience, “I urge you to indulge and join us in the singing, so we all feel as one under the beautiful cover of nature.”
The Kalabhairav Ashtakam, based on Raga Aiman/ Yaman (Kalyani) by Sri Adi Shankara written in honour of the guardian deity of Kashi, Kala Bhairava, was an appropriate second choice, as the Buddha had delivered his first teaching after Enlighenment at Sarnath, near Kashi. The third piece was in Raga Kedar, (Hamir Kalyani) Jagadeesha Sudhisha Bhave; a prayer to the lord of the world, lord of all living Beings. A piece to lord Krishna, Madhurashtakam by Shri Vallabhacharya was sung gustily by the listeners. Nirvana Shatakam by Shri Adi Shankara — the lyrics again were very appropriate for that day, when The Buddha attained Enlightenment and Nirvana. As the lyrics said, “There’s no intellect, I am neither the observer nor the observed.”
What was amazing in the concert was the inclusive participation, not linked with sectarian or religious differences. The hypnotic chants of Buddham Sharanam Gatchami resulted in a few drops of rain, but this did not deter either the singers or the listeners. The next piece in Mishra Pahari Gayati Vanamali changed the mood somewhat. Being lighter in feel, it lauded lord Krishna on the banks of the river Yamuna, with the mountains in the background, with the rishis worshipping Him with the gently blowing breeze. This piece was composed by Shri Sadashiva Brahmendra.
When the rain came down in torrents, most of the audience did not leave but simply moved in, closer to the stage, under the cover of the benign peepul tree. It was indeed a moment of spontaneous bonding, with everyone present being linked by the heartfelt music and uplifting lyrics. The microphones being switched off due to the rain also did not deter the artistes who continued the concert, caught up in the ecstasy of the moment. Kali Maheshwari, in praise of the Goddess, in the traditional concluding Bhairavi, was sung with as much feeling despite the cascading rain wetting everyone. Bombay Jayashri shared “that it was a great experience, a wonderful sense of togetherness was created that was not usual at all for me.”
On the violin was l Ramakrishna, who kept his interventions wonderfully restrained given the sanctity of the lyrics. On the mridangam was N C Bharadwaj and on the khanjira was G Harihara Sharma. Truly this was a memorable concert in more ways than one.
Photo: Bharat Tiwari