The Rare, Rapturous Moments of an Evening Spent With Dasettan
(Part 2)
Hari Kochat
Like the grandeur of the setting sun's
luster at dusk, like any other time, the radiance was glowing on his
face. I felt my heart was like the devout who would be standing in front
of the sanctum sanctorum with a throbbing heart for the doors to open, before
the evening worship. My heart was full of questions carefully kept from
overflowing and for which I was eager to know the answers. Whether the
questions I chose to ask would be of interest to him, was my fear at
first. But slowly I felt his heart opening towards me. I thought of
the only divine name I utter when I get perplexed and looked at his face.
When the fingers caressing the beard moved away from his face, I could see a
smile gleam over there. I felt as if the doors of the sanctum sanctorum
opened amidst the jingling sound of thousand bells!
With all humbleness I asked,
"Dasettan from the time when the curtain of the musical stage is raised
and till you take leave from the podium I feel that you strictly follow certain
rituals (disciplines). More than the rapturous melody of the music, I
have always witnessed on the stage, an inexplicable brilliance (Tejus), which
is not seen within any one else. Why is it so?"
I did think for a minute if
there was enough ground for my question. But his mind was composed and it
seemed he could read my mind. I felt he was transforming himself as a
teacher. He explained what is the bliss of music. With a smile, the cool
soothing answer came this way; " Music is spiritual".
"The music that is
accumulated within in me through n'number of births, is not created by me. That
is God given. That is my life and my living. If the source of my music is from
God, the listeners in front of me who are God's creation, are the precious
treasures I receive as flowers of adoration. In my lawn if there are no
listeners the rhythm, the melody in my music will be like the cactus in a
desert. I adore my admirers with my heart. I concentrate my soul in front of my
admirers. I even request them to clap. It's not to encourage me. The sound od
clapping is like the jingling of bells. I t helps them to get engrossed along
with me. It is the concentration of my mind, which encourages me to sing
forgetting myself. I remember a story to explain this. 'Once a young man went
to a saint and requested that he would like to adopt sainthood. As an answer to
his pleading the saint advised him to sit under a Banian Tree nearby.
Though he did not understand
the reason behind this, the youngster readily agreed. He thought it was to test
him- to ensure that he can sit and meditate- so as told, he sat cross-legged
under the tree. After a while he saw a young beautiful girl passing through
that way. Some crazy thoughts flashed in his mind. To ensure that such an
incident does not repeat, he tied his eyes with a piece of cloth. Next day
again the girl came that way with the rhythmic sound of her anklets. His mind
was again drifting to wild thoughts. To make sure that such sound does not
disturb him again; he blocked his ears with cotton and continued to meditate.
But next day his mind was getting restless as the time approached- he was
wondering whether she would come again that day to see him!'
So that was the matter. In
whichever way one may try to cover up outwardly if the inner mind can not be
controlled and concentrated all the rituals will fail. Similarly there is one
more important thing that I follow very carefully. I told you that my listeners
sitting in front of me are very much adorable to me. I never sow my back
towards them. There is a reason behind this practice. You see we never sit or
stand turning our faces while praying in a temple or church. Like that one
should never show one's back to the deity while walking out of the worship
place, is one of my principles. I always tell these to my children also.
Because music devoid of discipline is incomplete.
If one is proud that one can
sing anything, God will give back that person to day or tomorrow. Whatever big
position or wealth I have today, was not brought, with me to this world, when I
was born? The person who bestowed on me has every right to take them away any
time. We should always remember that. The humbleness in the start should
continue till end. By understanding others, not becoming a victim to
selfishness, if you treat others properly, you will have good experiences.
Their blessings will be always be with us".
Such valuable advises....! I
shall always remember. Even today the sound is echoing in my ears.
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