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Posted on : Jul 06, 2014

GOD'S MESSENGER FOR MRIDANGAM

- a Conversation with Guruji Kaaraikkudi Mani

Part-3

BP: Recently, you brought out this new ‘Fusion for Freedom’ – ‘Amrutham’. What is the story behind that album?

GKM: Fusion itself means freedom. But in that freedom, there must be a discipline. That is the main point. There is a discipline that runs through the album. That's why we named it that way.

BP: And then, after the concept of Shrutilaya, you started setting up Shrutilaya Seva schools.

GKM: Yes, now that has become Shrutilaya Kendra, with worldwide centres.

RS: And now, you really want to take this further to more and more countries? What has been your experience so far? Is it getting the response that you expected?

GKM: Well, slowly the westerners have started noticing the mridangam. But we have to admit, the mridangam is not yet as popular as the sitar and tabla there. People must be exposed to mridangam to a greater extent. They must listen and learn to appreciate the nuances. They don't know much about it now.

Once after a concert in Australia, a person from Chile came and told me that he has never seen this instrument. He was astounded. He himself was an instrumentalist and a composer. So it is my endeavour to take this instrument to every nook and corner of the world.

BP: You have to create awareness. Then, they will start loving. And then, there will be more students.

GKM: It is not even about students. People should know that there is such an instrument, shouldn't they? For example, if we go to a small shop, we see limited products. But if we go to a supermarket, we become aware of many more new products. It is just that I want people to become aware about this instrument.

BP: All your students have so much of respect and love for you. They had that Fifty Fest in 2003 when they gifted and honoured you. That must have been a very beautiful moment for you.

GKM: Yes. In fact, I ran a bi-monthly magazine called Layamani Layam. For my 50th year, I wanted to prepare a photo gallery album, with my photos, and bring out that issue of the magazine. That time, a few of my senior students came to know of this. They wanted to do something and thus placed an order for a car.

Just a week before I turned 50, I came to know of this and I objected. But, they just said this – “You're so attached to your Guruji and even after his departure, you continue to visit his place. We're amazed at your Guru Bhakthi (devotion to Guru). Moreover, a cricketer who hits 100 runs is honoured with a car. You've done so much for us… you have produced so many musicians. This is our small tribute to you.”

BP: I think for any teacher, to receive that love from the students is always the most prized possession.

GKM: Definitely!

BP: I want to come to today's performance. You had this 'Shanmukha Band'. So, how did this band come about?

GKM: Shanmukha is another name of Lord Muruga. In everything I do, I always prefer to use names of Gods or something related to music.

An album titled ‘Shakti’ had already come out. So, I didn't want to use the name ‘Shiva’ or something similar, lest people think this is connected to that album. I have a lot of devotion towards Lord Muruga.

Shanmukha denotes the six heads of Lord Muruga, indicating that He has six different facets. Similarly, I conceptualized six different instruments on the stage, played by six people, conveying six different messages. I wanted to bring out six different sounds and that is how this came about.

We started this about 3 years back.

BP: It is so wonderful to listen to your band in Puttaparthi. You have given so much bliss and joy to everyone here. We just hope you are also taking something from here.

GKM: Its only because of Swami's grace that I am here! Whenever I sit in a concert, I pray to the Almighty. Today also I prayed to Bhagawan thus – “Even if I play poorly, it should sound good to everyone's ears, including Yours.” That was my prayer and everyone appreciated the concert. That's all. We don't take the credit.

BP: Whenever you sit on a stage for performing, what is the uppermost thought in your mind?

GKM: Music and only music! I don't think about the plan, how it is going to unfold, who are the people around, whether a VIP has come, and so on. In fact sometimes, people have even come and spoken to me about this. Once, a minister had come for my performance in Chennai. I didn't notice him. After the concert, he himself called me; he was a Congress leader. But I just apologized to him saying that I never notice anybody and that he should not mistake me. When I get onto stage, I fully focus my mind on the sound, what I need to play, and so on.

"Even if I were given the highest honour in India, it would pale in comparison to today's concert," said Guruji after the Prasanthi concert

BP: That concentration is what becomes meditation!

GKM: Definitely!

BP: Thank you very much sir. We just hope that you'll come back to Prasanthi Nilayam again.

GKM: Certainly! There was only starting trouble! Now that I have started, I'll come regularly. Today's performance is an unforgettable event in my life; in fact, it's an achievement. I don't need any award. Even if I were given the highest honour in India, it would pale in comparison to today's concert. Playing before Bhagawan is definitely an award for me. These are not mere words. I really feel so. I don't need anything else. We should hold on tightly to what is really important.

As I told you earlier, I have more than 1000 students. They're all devotees of Baba. Hence, when there are bhajan sessions at their places, they would invite me to attend and then request me to speak to them. This is the message I used to tell them: “Just surrender totally to Him saying, ‘You have to do everything for me. I don't have anybody. I am an orphan. You have to take care of my life’. By doing so, His responsibility increases. Then, He'd have no other option but to take care. He can't escape.” That's how I used to ask everyone to hold on to Him.

Similarly, when you believe in God and go to temples or visit saints or go to holy places, please do not ask for this or that. Just go happily and have darshan. Pray to God to help you live as a good person and to help you render useful service to others. He will take care of you. Once we tune our mind this way, we will reach an exalted state. This is the message I often tell people who have spiritual bent of mind.

We should not go to temples and pray, “If you do this for me, I'll break 108 coconuts.” That amounts to starting corruption right there! We shouldn't do that. If a particular event should occur in our life as per destiny, it will definitely happen.

Today, as I sat before Swami's Samadhi and placed my mridangam, I was not myself. I felt such amazing vibes. It is His grace. I pray to Him that I should feel His presence and grace all the time. At this juncture, I just pray that Sai's blessings should spread across the world. Namaskaram!

BP: Thank you very much for coming! Namaskaram. Sairam.

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- Team Radio Sai