Kadri Gopal’s Saxophone Offering…
Sunday, July 13th, 2014
Blowing himself through his saxophone pressing the keys in tandem Kadri Gopinath blew himself to greater glory and rare blessings in the Divine Presence of the Ultimate Teacher Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. On the evening of auspicious Guru Purnima today famed Saxophonist and Carnatic Musician Kalaimamani Padmashree Dr Kadri Gopalnath presented a scintillating concert playing it out for The Divine! …and it turned out to be a rare gratitude offering to The One Who had blessed him to become world-famous over five decades ago…. Earlier, the evening session commenced at 1650 hrs. with two speeches, one each by representatives from International and Indian Wings of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations.
George Bebedelis, an alumnus of Athens University, and an office bearer of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations – Greece was the first one to address. Presenting a total quality speech, with rare sparks of a practising devotee, George’s speech was on the theme of “Tools For Spreading His Message”. Explaining his theme with the term S-A-I B-A-B-A, the answer according to him, he said, the term SAI is expanded to Service, Adoration and Illumination and Baba is Being. Awarness, Bliss, Atma. By adopting the three modes of activities of Service, Adoration and Illumination one reaches finally to Supreme Bliss, the Goal of human sojourn. Quoting Bhagawan’s advice to surf the Innernet against Internet, the speaker reminded that the term ‘www’ originally stands for ‘world wide net’ has a different connotation from the Sai parlance, that is Work… Worship… Wisdom, that represent Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga… the three defined path for salvation. George then spoke in detail about the three Ws.
Elaborating on the first W, Work, George enumerated in brief of the International Organisation’s effort in the area of Global Healthcare, Disaster Relief, a new project entitled: Serve The Planet etc. Touching upon the second W, Worship, twisting his tongue to Indian, singing the bhajan Hari Bhajana Binaa… George reminded the audience that group devotional singing is the royal path towards Godhood!
Enumerating interesting anecdotes from Bhagawan’s interview room involving the three great Greek philosophers, Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, George went in detail about Jnana Yoga, reminding one and all of Bhagawan’s message to question oneself repeatedly “who am i”? to find the truth of Being… Brahmam. The term S-A-I has the answer that, with Service, Adoration, Illumination one can reach Being, Awareness, Bliss, Atma, the final goal… George concluded his illuminating speech with the famous verse from Holy Guru Gita, “Brahmanandam Parama Sukhadam Kevalam Jnanamurtim…“. We have our Beloved Bhagawan and what better gift can one aspire from Him than seeking Brahmandam… reminded George concluding his speech. George was well received by the appreciative audience who burst into rapturous applause for his unique rhetoric excellence full of understanding and wisdom.
George’s speech was followed by his Indian counterpart, Narayan Sar, Vice President, SSSSO – Odisha, who divulged in detail about the various initiatives by the Indian Wing of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. Interlacing his speech with rare touch of His Love, narrating Sevadal’s experience during service in the villages, Sri Narayan also enlisted various service initiatives planned for the ensuing mammoth occasion of Bhagawan’s 90th Birthday celebrations.
Kadri Gopalnath’s concert followed next. Gopalnath’s journey into the world of music had the rare Touch Of The Divine. In the sixties as a young lad he had come to Prasanthi Nilayam seeking blessings from Bhagawan. Bhagawan blessed the young Gopal then, who sought special ‘favours from The Divine’ for a successful musical career, assuring him of sending right gurus in time. He then also blessed the young lad to become ‘world-famous’.
Offering rich gratitude, dedicating the programme at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet, Sri Gopalnath chose to play a mix of Sai Bhajans interlaced with some of the famous devotional numbers. The numbers were: Hari Bhajana Binaa Sukha Shaanthi Nahi… , Govinda Krishna Jai Gopala Krishna Jai…, Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam…, Bho Shambho Shiva Shambho Swayambho…Bhajare Ramacharanam…, Sri Lakshmi Ramana Narayana…, Ranga Vittala Pandu Ranga Vittala…, Krishna Nee Beganee Baroo…, Jagaddorana, famed St Purandaradasa composition, Brahmam Okkade of Annamacharya composition, Kurai Ondrum Illai, famous Ms Subbalakshmi number, Om Namo Narayanaya…, Ganga Jatadhara Gowri Shankara Girija Mana Ramana…. Kadri Gopanath did the ‘samarpan’ with a twin offering of St Purandaradasa compositions, Tamburi Meetidava followed by Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma….
Musical prowess of the genius was on display in the beautiful twilight with The Supreme Teacher, watching and listening in His omnipresent form… .. a virtuosic offering entertaining The Lord and delighting The Lord’s assembly in His ‘Kingdom’…
Kadri Gopalnath was accompanied by Ms A Kanyakumari on Violin, Sri B Hari Kumar on Mrudangam, Pt Raghunath Nakod on Tabla and Sri B Rajsekhar on Mukha Sankh.
The artist and accompanists were felicitated. Bhajans continued and ended with Bhagawan singing “Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin…” Mangala Arathi at 1945 hrs. marked the end of the proceedings.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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