| Abstract: India has seen many musical saints who have created a silent revolution through the power of melody and their compositions, which reminds us of supreme values of knowledge, devotion and discipline from time to time. The poetry and songs easily find their way into the minds of men. The poets, singers and saints with their passionate devotion to the ideals of truth, freedom, harmony and beauty have had a strong impact on society.
About one century from 1750 A.D. was a golden period in the history of music. In this period the musical trio, Shyam Shastri, Muttuswami,Diknitar and Tyagaraja were born. They were much influenced by the beauty of music & poetic excellence of Annamacharya, Narayana Teertar, Shri Purandara Dasa, Knetrajna, Bhadracala Ramadasa and built a beautiful monument of music. Shri Tyagaraja’s gift to this world is a trilogy of devotion, poetry & music. His talent proficiency greatness and spiritual wealth are not ordinary. His musical world is above materialism. He made music an instrument for liberation rather than mere entertainment and through this music he also realized the divinity. He demonstrated the importance of devotion and divine love through music. The purpose of his life was to spread the message of divine love to each and every person, who is interested in knowing the higher truth. Shri Sadasiva Brahmendra, contemporary of Shri Tyagaraja, sought Brahman realization not only through vedantic knowledge , but through the worship of Nada also. He has sung about the bliss of Brahmananda in his compositions. He was also a renowned scholar & author of many books. He was a Yogic master and was liberated in his life time. The whole idea of Jnana, Bhakti, Karma and Raja Yogas which has been the central theme of this report, (apart from presenting divinity in melody, which is the soul of Nada yoga) in the compositions of Shri Tyagaraja & Shri Sadasiva Brahmendra. |
| Summary & Conclusion: Music or musical culture is a true and sure means to purify the mind or heart. The mind is always engrossed in thousands of thoughts & impressions (Saaskaras) of the past and present. Its nature is modification. Concentration and meditation are the methods to eliminate the modification of mind or to control the mind. The sweet tunes of the tones of the music bring forth concentration & meditation easily. The controlled and concentrated mind can only bestow upon us peace and everlasting bliss! So through the spiritual practice or sadhana of music we can attain that peace and bliss like many saint musicians who have graced this land - Shri Purandara dasa, Kanaka dasa, Tyagaraja, Shri Sadasiva Brahmendra,Narayana Teertar, Svathi Tirunal, Muttusvamy Diknitar, syama sastry, Annamacarya, Meera bai, Sur das, Kabeer das, Jayadeva and many more. Japakoti gunam dhyanam - dhyanakoti gunolayas
laya koti gunam ganam - ganat parataram nahi || “Singing a song once in absolute melody is equivalent to worship of God through dhyana one crore times.” The essence and effect of this art and science called music is almost indispensable in today’s world scenario, since, in its various forms, musical notes have the ability to revive what we have lost and what is almost extinct - in terms of social, economic, political, spiritual and moral values. |