Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Miscellaneous topics on Carnatic music
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arvind.brahmakal
Posts: 113
Joined: 16 Mar 2012, 15:43

Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by arvind.brahmakal »

How important is Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha ? What distinguishes classical music from light classical / film music ? Secularism, current concert dynamics, organisation's role, et al...explored in this article.

http://arvindbrahmakal.blogspot.in/2016 ... re-we.html

Feel free to like / dislike, comment, discuss and debate

kvchellappa
Posts: 3597
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by kvchellappa »

This was discussed in this thread also before:
Is CM drifting away from Bhakthi?

munirao2001
Posts: 1334
Joined: 28 Feb 2009, 11:35

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by munirao2001 »

Arvind Sir, You are an expert event manager. Please organize event of Experts debate & discussions and Open House discussions on this critical aspect.
Let us have the clarity and understanding on the art form of music. Art form of music is not devotional-bhajan/namasankeertanam,light, popular forms of music. Lakshya and lakshana aspects are the core principles for the practice of art form of music. It is form of music with primacy for classical music. How it is classical? It is cerebral. It meets the needs of the Chitta, intellect, while other forms meet the needs of the budhi, discursive and analytic; aham, individuation, ego, 'I'; manas, sense of mind in imagination, creativity, emotions and aesthetics. Karnataka Sangeetham is greatest of classical art form meeting all the needs with primacy for the chitta. Its edifice is manodharma- sense of mind engulfed in manas and dharma, righteousness. Righteousness is for excellence in the modes of raga alapana-original creativity;kruthi-re creativity with mind in unity with the vaggeyakara's original creativity and its values;niraval-creativity with equality for sahithya and sangeeta bhavams; pallavi-judicious mix of re creativity of kalpita, premeditated and kalpana, original creativity and optimization of sahithya and sangeeta bhavams in exploring with the rhythmic possibilities;tana-raga encapsuled in kaalapramana; Svara kalpana/prastara with primacy for kalpana over unavoidable kalpita for laya.
Bhakthi, devotion in art form serves two purposes. Firstly, devotion to the art form in creativity and excellence in subjective abstract aesthetic. Second, devotion in objectification of aesthetics in nava vidha bhakthi marga of bhagavata inferred and reflected in sahitha bhavam enhanced and ennobled in sangeeta bhavam.
In public performances, there are two kinds-sadas and sabha. Sadas is the present simplified chamber concert but retaining the challenge for the performer to show case the vidwath and celebration of the art form in pure and pristine form. Sadas music is for the discerning and elite rasikas. Sabha music is for pure entertainment of popular music to the critical masses. High on values of excitement and surprises.
Practitioners and rasikas should totally avoid confusion and conflict by mixing up the forms, intent-content-delivery aspects of the art form. Rasikas must avoid conditioning of the mind, sense of mind in the past, awaiting past experiences in the present happening time. Rasikas, becoming discerning in more numbers; event managers with integrity to support excellence, meritocracy unmindful of popularity;patrons not expecting and demanding 'mileage'-crowd while offering support to classical art form events but supporting the excellence;institutional support for the research, study, archives, music appreciation programs, thematic and paper/talks presentations are the need, at any point of time in the history. Serving and achieving excellence by all the stakeholders of the art form is truly devotional but not in the sentimental.
Truth is in art and artists living and practice is with materialism;realism;idealism and highest values in pandita ranjakatvam;pamara ranjakatvam;pandita-pamara ranjakatvam. Being the truth by all the stakeholders is Bhakthi, not any other.

arvind.brahmakal
Posts: 113
Joined: 16 Mar 2012, 15:43

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by arvind.brahmakal »

Thanks Sir for your take on this topic. My belief is that we have created too many formats of Bharatiya Sangeetha - it is crowded and complicated. There is a need to re-define our music based on basics. Such a reorganisation creates space for "art music" - whether Karnataka Sageetha or Hindustani Sangeetha or folk music or film music.

As for the event, will certainly give this a thought

VK RAMAN
Posts: 5009
Joined: 03 Feb 2010, 00:29

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by VK RAMAN »

breathing, living and sleeping in music is bhakti, it does not matter what sect man made music belong IMHO.

munirao2001
Posts: 1334
Joined: 28 Feb 2009, 11:35

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by munirao2001 »

Arvind Sir, Classical music is evolution of spirit yearning for the enrichment in experience. Evolution is from folk and devotional music. Film music is situational compositions and music/sounds arrangement using optimally all the forms of music in creating the experience with ease and comfort. Each form of music has created space and are distinct. Need for popularity and mass appreciation to win the patronage has resulted in fusion of popular choice elements. Fusion music has also created its own space. Aim of art form of music for excellence and merits has suffered in practice and patronage only in India.
In the new centres of classical music appreciation-USA, Europe and Australia the values are appreciated and being supported e.g.Cleveland Aradhana of Classical Music and Dance. The success in these regions must awaken in India. Spirited efforts and actions are required for music education,appreciation and outreach initiatives and programs with total commitment, dedication, action and service by all the stakeholders of Indian Classical music. The success is in reaching ICM to critical mass in experience and deep appreciation. The present generation of practitioners will lead the change. Simply ensure support to them.

munirao2001

kvchellappa
Posts: 3597
Joined: 04 Aug 2011, 13:54

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by kvchellappa »

If this is bhakthi, which I believe in, what is wrong if singers bring it out in performance?
"Bhakti is nothing but the devotion we show to the divinity that resides within us. Once we regard the divinity within us with devotional fervour, we are bound to develop the same affection towards everything outside. The reason is that the same divine truth runs through all things. When the devotee has attained this state, service to the world becomes his creed." MS in her address in Music Academy.
It was this firm conviction that shone through the music of MS and made her part with her earning for pubic causes. We do look for something beyond the grandeur of the play of swaras in Carnatic music and when we find it, we feel a supreme sense of fulfilment.

munirao2001
Posts: 1334
Joined: 28 Feb 2009, 11:35

Re: Bhakti in Bharatiya Sangeetha

Post by munirao2001 »

KVC Sir,
[quote]"Bhakthi, devotion in art form serves two purposes. Firstly, devotion to the art form in creativity and excellence in subjective abstract aesthetic. Second, devotion in objectification of aesthetics in nava vidha bhakthi marga of bhagavata inferred and reflected in sahitha bhavam enhanced and ennobled in sangeeta bhavam."[unquote]

Majority of the practitioners, including MSSAmma chose the second path and purpose. They realized and strongly believed that practice has to be in relation with devotion in objectification of aesthetics. Only few practitioners chose the first path and purpose, very confident of success and support to their practice. In Vedanta, there are two paths, krama mukti marga-gradual process of liberation and mukti marga, occurrence of liberation (jeevan mukta). Second purpose is related to krama mukti marga, with fear and desire and the first purpose is related to jeevan mukti, in freedom.

Seeking clarity and understanding for deep appreciation and support of all the stakeholders, I have posted my comments and end having shared the truth.

munirao2001

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