User:Ramaseva

Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Bangalore-560018

http://ramanavami.org/ http://templeofmusic.co.in/index.html http://concertatmandali.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sree-Ramaseva-Mandali-Blore

An Introduction:--Ramaseva (talk) 11:38, 14 March 2013 (UTC) Sree Ramaseva Mandali,was founded by Late Shri. S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao in the year 1939 & has been rendering its unique service for over 7 decades, with the help and co-operation of patron members. The Mandali is celebrating its PLATINUM JUBILEE THIS YEAR.

The Mandali started in a very humble way and steadily gained strength. It has grown into perhaps the only gigantic organisation on in the country conducting Sree Ramanavami celebrations in a grand manner for over a month every year, inviting artists of national and international repute. The Mandali has been in the forefront in propagating our rich Cultural Heritage by conducting Classical Music Festivals as part of its annual Sree Ramanavami Celebrations.

IN ITS 75 YEARS THE MANDALI HAS BEEN IN THE FOREFRONT IN PROPAGATING THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF INDIA & HAS PROVED THAT "IT IS AS SECULAR AS MUSIC IS"

''' SREE RAMASEVA MANDALI, CHAMARAJPET 74 YEARS IN RETROSPECT--Ramaseva (talk) 11:38, 14 March 2013 (UTC)''' For the religiously devout and to the discerning Music lovers of Bangalore and nearby places, the advent of spring indicates the arrival of yet another exhaustive feast of music. They eagerly look forward to the Ramanavami season during the months of March-April which provide a rich fare of Classical Music. Similar to the year-end festival season of Chennai, the Ramanavami Celebrations organised by Sree Ramaseva Mandali, Chamarajpet, has captivated the attention of both Musicians and Music lovers alike.

A survey of the cultural scene a few decades prior to independence - particularly old Mysore region, brings to fore several festivals which were celebrated on a large scale. However, those with greater community participation were mainly two : Ramnavami and Ganesh Chaturthi.

If today, one were to visit some of the old areas in Bangalore like Ulsoorpet, Chickpet, Mamulpet, etc., one would still come across people enthusiastically participating in weekly Bhajans, group singing at Bhajana Mandirs and Temples.

Sree Ramaseva Mandali of Chamarajpet, had its humble begininng in such an cultural background. The Mandali is now an important Cultural Institution in Bangalore. From its origin on a roadside pavement, today it has gained wide recognition and admiration from Artistes, Scholars and Music lovers, across the country.

The mandali has completed one full “SAMVATSARA CHAKRA” and is now in its 74th year. At this juncture it will be an interesting exercise to trace and document the progress made by this great Institution.

S.V.NARAYANASWAMY RAO'S DEDICATION:--Ramaseva (talk) 11:38, 14 March 2013 (UTC) Sri S.V. Narayanaswamy Rao, who founded this Institution and religiously guided its destiny through Sixtyone long years, died (05-01-2000) at the age of 75 years. It is for the twelfth time the ensuing Celebrations are being held in his absence.

Narayanaswamy Rao, then just a boy of fourteen years old used to take the lead in organizing Holi & Ganesha festivals in his locality, true to his age, he and his friends must have enjoyed this as fun, but one could notice an element of religious fervor underneath. After the first series of festivals were over, a surplus money accrued from the funds collected. Wondering how to utilise this Mr. Rao hit upon the idea of celebrating Ramanavami in the coming year, thus in the year 1939, almost by a streak of accident Narayanaswamy Rao started the Ramanavami festival along with his friends and well-wishers. Then onwards he never looked back and also never looked elsewhere. He identified himself in body and mind with Ramanavami Festivals and for the next 61 years till his death he dedicated his life for this purpose and pursued only this as his life’s mission.

At young age youth generally show great enthusiasm and interest in such activities but as they grow up they quite naturally lean towards domestic life and settle down for a secured Career and Life. But Narayanaswamy Rao was different he was reluctant even in his studies, hesitantly got into quite a few jobs such as at HAL, KGID, etc., but felt uneasy everywhere, his mind was singularly committed to Mandali and Ramanavami festivals. Moreover, availing long leave for Ramanavami activities was a greater problem. Ramnavami & Music attracted him more, hence he gave up his job for the Mandali, to build & strengthen it.

Such a decision materially affected him and his family, but unperturbed, he continued with his mission. Such was his commitment and involvement in Mandali‘s activities, he even camped at the Ramnavami Pandal itself for the whole duration of the Festival. He returned home only after the festivals concluded. He observed this like a religious ritual and never broke this practice even once in his lifetime.

Ramanavami Festival at Fort High School Grounds :--Ramaseva (talk) 11:38, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

In late sixties, in the year 1968, the Celebrations were shifted to the huge Fort High School Grounds, just opposite the City Institute. Thanks to the liberal help and co-operation from the Government of Karnataka, Dept. of Education, Celebrations are being smoothly conducted here for the last 35 years.

The Pandal and the huge open space adjoining it can very easily accommodate up to eight thousand people. Here, the Mandali celebrated its Golden Jubilee and its Diamond Jubilee Festivals in a grand manner. The Golden Jubilee Festival was for 54 days while The Diamond Jubilee celebrations went on for a record 62 days. Sri. R.Venkataraman, then President of India, inaugurated the Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Sixties and Seventies saw the emergence of several eminent Artistes. The Mandali took pride in hosting many such stalwarts: Jon B. Higgins, Emani Shankara Shastry, Maharajapuram Santhanam, Chitti Babu, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, and many others. Jon B. Higgins an American, who had acquired great proficiency in Karnatic Music performed at the Mandali for two years (1971,1982). The same period saw some new, young and highly talented Musicians come on the scene, some of whom are today household names across the country: K.J. Yesudas, Kunnakkudi Vaidyanathan, Baby Gayathri and such others. K.J. Yesudas tops the list, who, today is one of the most sought after Musician.

Several talented and accomplished artistes of Karnataka have adorned the Mandali’s stage as young artistes, some of whom have risen to great heights today. To mention a few : Sri. R.K. Srinivasamurthy, R.K. Suryanarayana, Rudrapatnam Brothers, Kadri Gopalanath, M.S. Sheela, Suma Sudheendra, Ravi Kiran, Mysore Nagaraj and Dr. Mysore Manjunath.

Several Classical Dance and related Programmes, have been featured in the Mandali’s Ramanavami Celebrations. The most notable among them are two Dance programmes one by the legendary Bharatanatyam exponent T. Balasaraswathi, and the other by the world renowned Kalakshetra of Madras. The 4 day Dance- Drama ballet based on Ramayana, enacted by Kalakshetra was a unique experience, the presentation emphasising purely on Bhava and rich Abhinaya without the use of any conversation was a wonderful experience

'''MUSIC IS SECULAR & SO ARE WE....--Ramaseva (talk) 11:38, 14 March 2013 (UTC) '''

“Sangeetha Gnanamu Bakthivina Sanmargamu”                                                          Music is the rightful path parallel to bakthi. –Saint Shree Tyagaraja “If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.” ― William Shakespeare

“Music is a Discipline and a Mistress of the Good Manners,                                                                  she makes the people milder & gentler, more Moral and more Reasonable”                                                                                                                                     -Martin Luther King

After reading the above statements, a question arises in our mind “Does Music belong to any one religion/caste/sect, only because of the fact that the song sung/played is in favour of a particular deity of the group?” & the answer to such question will be a big NO, because music is above all the religions/castes/sects. Music is an instrument that promotes Bhakti & not religion. Music is only the permutation & combination of the 7 octaves that results in the formation of different tunes which will have a strong influence over the mind, body & soul of a man. These tunes are called as RAGAS in our Indian Classical music, which is further divided into Karnatic & Hindustani styles. Sufi music also became a part in the later stages. Music has no boundaries; it can be sung /played by anyone belonging to any religion. Hindustani Music style has gifted many great musicians from Islam & Karnatic Music has gifted many musicians from Christianity. The Mandali since its inception has been staging many concerts of artistes from Islam & Christianity. Shri Chembai Vydyanatha Bhagavatar gifted the nation with 2 very important singers Jon.B.Higgins & Dr.K.J.Yesudas. Ustad Bade Gulam Ali Khan; Ustad Bismilla Khan; Ustad Amjad Ali Khan; Begam Parveen Sulthana etc. were the gifts from the Hindustani style & the most important fact is that all of them are/were very closely related to the Mandali & are/were a part of the Mandali. All of them prayed to the Sangeetha Brahma, the main deity of the Mandali. Dr.K.J.Yesudas; Ustad Amjad Ali Khan; Begam Parveen Sulthana has performed nearly 50; 40 & 15 concerts respectively in the Mandali. One more interesting fact is that the chairs for the Ramanavami Celebrations are provided by M/s. Saleh Ahmed from past 50 years. The Mandali is stating the above facts because to tell that “WE ARE AS SECULAR AS THE MUSIC IS”. The Mandali throughout its 75 years has been proving “THAT MUSIC IS SECULAR & SO ARE WE”. The Mandali follows only one religion & that is simply MUSIC.