An Evening with 3Ps!!

Carnatic Vidyalaya – Annual Day 2019

“An evening with 3Ps – Purity, Patience and Perseverance”

Pure achievers focus on activities which will deliver results for the entire humanity. The invaluable contribution will remain as long as the cosmos exist. That’s what the elated team of parents, kids and music lovers experienced this past Saturday – 11th of May 2019 when Carnatic Vidyalaya, the premier school of Indian music for children of all ages, celebrated its Annual Day in a grandeur way. Mindfulness based perseverance was witnessed across the children of all age groups that delivered the art that evening. By observing the sishyakotee’s of Mrs. Viji Murali (Founder & Guru of Carnatic Vidyalaya) perform on the dais of divine music, the just-starters, the already-started, the less-experienced, the advanced, whatever label we attach, each ‘child learner’ perform meticulously, showcased their genuine efforts. It elevated the Master Craftsman – Mrs. Viji’s genuine efforts with the bolsters that she employs with empathic awareness.

Mrs. Viji’s music family practices focused divine music in all its nuances that elevates any ordinary but genuine participant in her team’s programmes, whether they are novices or experts. Adi Sankaracharya’s Ganesha Pancharatnam, Shiva Panchakshara, Ganesha slokams with the natural blend of Gajavadhana (Kedaram Raagam/Adi Thalam) and Veda Vinayaka (Bowli Raagam/Adi Thalam) invoked the blessings of celestial beings. The quite-experienced kids performed the Telugu Varnam Valachivachi that compounded a collection of nine raagas in NavaRaagamailika. The children maneuvered it with ease under the expertise of Mrs. Viji. The tiniest of Viji’s artists proved age as no bar when they set the stage on musical fire with Hamsadwani Ragam gliding their way through Vignesham Bajare. One would think that the musical fest was truly an endeavor extravaganza, but it was not just all of it. The garland of divinity then strengthened with the 8-hymn Lingashtakam prayer to Lord Shiva followed by a famous Nottuswaram composed by Muthuiswamy Dikshithar – VarashivaBalam, in Shankarabharanam Raagam/Adi Thalam. This combination is said to shower peace of mind by keeping evil away from our lives. And indeed, the music enthusiasts were showered with health, wealth and prosperity with mind- blowing performances.

Mrs. Viji has profoundly laid a strong foundation with such budding talents and the ramification of which was a feast to our senses. The satisfaction was that of touching the contours of a rainbow. If music has got its lighting effect we glean the firefly light effect as a complementary token from Mrs. Viji’s Disciples. The school is playing a vital role to translate mellifluous voices of raagas into astounding attempts of improvisation that was evident when the kids were watched from near the stage. An excerpt from Bhagavad Gita (Brahmarpanam) was recited as invoking the blessings before a meal – and our meal was to the ‘senses’! The stars also twinkled with Purandara Dasa’s Padumanabha Geetham set to Malahari, followed by Aana Lekara on Suddha Saveri Raagam. The kids literally drowned us (and our ‘egoistic spirits’) in the Kaanada Raagam’s Dayakaro Bhagwan. The feast to the senses just continued to rain. The

mix between Shlokas, Varnam, Geetham and Kritis were well aligned and spaced out. Symphony was achieved when Bhajans and Kritis in Mohanam (Shankara Sada Siva), Shankarabharanam (Murali Manohara), Brindavana Saarang (Govinda Govinda) were rendered. The 15th century born saint, Annamacharya, would have truly witnessed the music otters singing the praise of God Venkateswara by listening to his own composition through the mellifluously honed students of Mrs. Viji.

Thiagarajar Kriti Thulasi Dhalmulache in Maayamalagowlai Raagam, along with a popular Telugu composition of Mysore Vasudevachar in Khamas Raagam – Brochevare Varura, swayed its way through the souls, as Mrs. Viji and her daughter Shruthi Murali enticed the music devotees with their soulful singing.

Indeed the music recital brought to light the aesthetics of divinity, fulfilling nectar of the musical ‘Akshaya paathram – vessel’ through the selections of ‘Yenna Thavam Seidhanai Yasoda’, ‘Hanuman Chalisa’, ‘Dikshitar’s Kritis’, ‘Ganesha Pancharatnam’, ‘Thyagaraja Kirtanai’. Each budding artist shoveled the presence of nectar in the fully flowered element of music. The endeavor was a true marvel and a treat for the senses in its true attempt. The integrated effort by the school’s families was the studded highlight that unraveled the fathom of divine music. The ‘shraddha’ (devotion/faith) of the Guru, Disciples and Parents proved to be a ‘yogic spirit’ and underlying chord that brew genuineness through the Bufford Community Center. The recital mellifluously inspired and propelled through many hearts and souls, and became a green memory etched in the clouds. The ‘aaroghanam’ and the ‘avaroghanam’ and the ‘neravals’ of the evening are still reverberating in the senses of those that experienced bliss this Spring.