Australia Nada Sagara

Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji's Healing Music creates Guinness Record in 2015. View More...
It was a long awaited concert held in the auspicious setting of the iconic Sydney Opera House, and was very well attended by devotees and patrons alike. 'Australia Nada Sagara' performed by His Holiness Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, a world-renowned performer of healing music under the auspices of Datta Yoga Centre Australia (DYC)

At a time when ailments are pervasive with cures sought from increasingly strong medications, His Holiness Dr. Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, pontiff of the Avadhoota Datta Peetham of Mysore, India led the "Largest Music Therapy Lesson" at a single location on 6th April, 2015 at the iconic Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, for the well-being of not just the participants, but also those suffering around the world.

Guinness World Records Recognized Sri Swamiji for the Second Time in Three Months. A bare two months earlier on January 31, Sri Swamiji led an astounding 128,913 devotees in chanting the 'Hanuman Chalisa' twenty-seven times each, setting a Guinness World Record for a four hour marathon 'Most People Chanting from a Single Location' for world peace.

Performing at the Australia Nada Sagara, Sri Swamiji was accompanied by renowned -

1. Indian Violin Mestro Nada Chakravarti Dr L Subramaniam.
2. Ghatam Suresh Vaidyanathan.
3. Ramdas Palsule on Tabla.
4. Jaitra Varanasi on Violin.
5. Sri Tadepalli Narasimham(Mani) as keyboard support and
6. Sri Shankar Ramesh on Mridangam (Percussion).

A massive 2042 people attended the three hour long concert, and were mesmerised by the delightful rendering of unique ragas, with Sri Swamiji well supported by world famous artistes.

Sri Swamiji played the Ragas -

1. Rushyaketupriya (Bhajan - Pranavasvarupam).
2. Mohana (Bhajan Ishapatisha).
3. Raga Charukeshi (Bhajan Shantirastu).
4. Raga Shankarabharana (Dance tune - Bhajan - Needu Padayuga).
5. Raga Shubhapantuvarali (Bhajan - Bhaja Bhaja Dattam)
6. Raga Sindhubhairavi (Bhajan Pahi Pahi Gajanana) and
7. Mangalam in Raga Sama

Before the healing concert commenced, Sri Swamiji gave a brief description of the music healing technique and explained the series of Mudras (hand gestures) people should hold during each composition. This was a first time, Sri Swamiji gave such detailed lesson in His concert

Consul General of India in Sydney, Sri Sunjay Sudhir, the chief guest for the event, thanked Sri Swamiji for the wonderful music therapy session, and relayed his hope for many more such sessions.

The Concert
Sunjay Sudhir, was invited to start proceedings by lighting the ceremonial lamp before the Master of Ceremonies, Roy McCullagh invited a Koomurri Indigenous Australian performer to play the Didgeridoo. The performer produced unique musical notes in keeping with mood of the evening.

Swamiji began the concert by suggesting that music has the potential to cleanse the soul by penetrating into the deepest spheres of the natural human state. He believes music transcends all race, religious and communal differences. The therapeutic aspects of Swamiji's music incorporate the traditional Indian concept of Nada Yoga and Nada Chikitsa, which is somewhat different to Western thoughts on music therapy. Nada Sagara also involves the invocation of shakthi, the mother of supreme energy. He linked each presentation to a particular sign of the zodiac, a chakra in the 'Yoga Paddhati' and one or more of the Five Elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth, Space/Ether). Swamiji explained the Mudras (hands, thumbs and finger positions) before playing each raga for the audience to replicate.

Listing the sequence of ragas that would formulate the body of the concert, Swamiji started with a bhajan Pranavaswarupam in Raga Rushyaketupriya, which purifies the surrounding environment and the instruments, whilst he held his right thumb with his left hand. He identified this raga with Libra, Swadhishtana chakra and air as the element. It was a well-orchestrated piece with participation by all accompanists.

The next bhajan Ishapatisha in Raga Mohana demonstrated the format of play was similar to alapana on the violin. Dr. L. Subramaniam brought out the instrument’s beauty, assisted by the percussionists to a lilting beat. According to Swamiji’s philosophy, playing Mohana raga has maximum effect on the upper abdomen, counters hyperacidity, irritable bowel syndrome and provides motivation for physiotherapy and exercise. It links to the corresponding zodiac sign Leo, Manipuraka chakra and the element fire.

Swamiji announced the next bhajan Shantirastu in Raga Charukesi, to be the one with the "Longest Sanchara" as it is linked to all the chakras, all zodiac signs and all the five elements. The raga promotes comprehensive well-being and health. The play made even laymen feel the impact of all the elements at work particularly due to the deep notes touched upon by Swamiji where his synthesizer sounded like sarod and santoor alternately. Dr. L. Subramaniam toyed with the 'Aarohana' and the 'Avarohana' to bring out the 'Gamakas' with his command and found enough scope to demonstrate his mastery

Bhaja Bhaja Dattam in Raga Shubhapantuvarali was next in line. It is supposed to impact the knee and joints affected by conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis, as well as help to recover and recoup after surgery. The raga links to the zodiac sign of Capricorn, Muladhara chakra and the element earth. The play was "Kirthana" style and had a short 'Alapana'.

A dance tune Needu Padayuga in Raga Shankarabharanam followed with a rapid tempo upfront which increased with the passage of the raga. It was played for a short duration but was crisp in the rendering. This raga has maximum effect on lower thighs, helps with lower back pain, fracture healing and neuropathy pain. It is remedial for diabetics also. This was linked to the zodiac sign Sagittarius, Muladhara chakra and the element fire.

The penultimate bhajan was Pahi Pahi Gajanana in Raga Sindhubhairavi. The corresponding chakra is Muladhara, the element being ether and the zodiac sign Aquarius. This raga impacts burning feet or restless foot syndrome. It is remedial for those with high blood pressure, calf muscle pain, sciatica and insomnia. Dr. L. Subramaniam’s violin accompaniment was simply divine and the audience applauded repeatedly. The solos and unison performance by all three percussionists followed. It almost resembled a mini 'Tala Vaadhya Kucchheri', a treat in rhythm.

The concert concluded with a Mangalam in Raga Sama.

Swamiji’s performance on this day received an accreditation from the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest music therapy lesson in the world. Added to Swamiji’s performances on world stage at Royal Albert Hall in London, Lincoln Center in New York and the Esplanade in Singapore, the Sydney Opera House concert will linger long in everyone’s memory.

Sri Swamiji's Music.
Sri Swamiji has honed his healing music over several decades, and his scientific approach to music therapy has benefited millions of people directly and indirectly through many such music therapy lessons. The therapy process applies to individuals as well as groups through both active and passive therapy. The techniques include receptive listening, active singing, song writing, lyric discussion, music and imagery, music performance and learning through music.

According to Sri Swamiji, the benefits of music therapy include -

1. Relief from pain and discomfort.
2. Reduction of stress, improved coping.
3. Strengthened immune system).
4. Self-Empowerment during treatment.
5. Strengthened family bonds
6. Continued developmental growth
7. Improved patient and family satisfaction and
8. Spiritual upliftment

In addition, Sri Swamiji's healing music is utilized in a number of Intensive Care Units at numerous hospitals. As such, preliminary experiments to study the influence of Sri Swamiji's music on Tamilnadu State police personnel showed improved behavior with plaintiffs, reduced job-related stress, and an improvement in their overall sense of well-being. When Sri Swamiji's music was played in prisons, an improvement in convicts behavior with co-habitants and better social consciousness was observed.

Sri Swamiji's Nada Yoga Research Center in Mysore, India is a state of the art center which provides the experience of individualized healing sessions in a precisely calibrated environment with computer controlled piped music. A comprehensive compilation on Sri Swamiji''s approach to music and music therapy explaining the various facets of Sri Swamiji's concept and therapy process has been published in the name of 'Raga Ragini Nada Yoga.'