CHINMAYA BHAKTI PRAVAH
forum to promote Indian Music, Art & Culture

"Sound is a basic disturbance. When it does not convey any meaning it is noise. When it conveys a meaning, it is word. And words arranged in proper syntax and conveying a fullness of thought become a sentence, in prose. The same idea expressed in metrical composition becomes poetry. Poetry soaked in emotion and cadenced in its own harmony and rhythm becomes music."

"The audience must arrive with his mind well-prepared for this great take-off See that you are in your seats before time and fasten the seat-belts on your speaking. Calm your mind. Remember the Lord of your heart (Ishta Devata). Sit completely relaxed, both physically and mentally surrendering totally to him who is the sole protector of this Universe. "

- Swami Chinmayananda

"Classical music is rich in its devotional sentiment because it has the rare and precious ability-to raise us to sub 'me heights. This is because, in devotional music, both the lyrics an melody kindle the jnana and bhakti elements in us and fuse the two. This fosters a stirring of the heart-an expansion within that is moving and blissful. Thus music integrates the heart and head and purifies us. So it is a wonderful sadhana. "

"I am glad that Chinmaya Mission, Delhi has created a forum for devotees and music lovers to elevate themselves through Bhakti Sangeet."

-Swami Tejomayananda Head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide

The music of India has journeyed down through the ages. And it is equally true that this journey has been cradled by the sages.

The core animating principle of our classical music is three fold. Gyana, Karma and the_enunciation of the two on the musical scale of Bhakti. Great composers like Purandaradasa, Thyagaraja, Swami Haridas, Tansen and Amir Khusro have milestoned this enlightened path. A path that most of today's musicians follow. If folk and tribal music celebrate nature and everyday events like birth and marriage, harvests and hunts, then let's not forget that tribal worship has also always been nature and life centric.

Bhakti and Sangeet have always been one
Together they have always shared a wonderful creative, regenerative, cyclic relationship of cause and effect. Though there are singularities in terms of context and content between the classical music of the North and the South, when it comes to Bhakti, the cup has always overflowed to become a centuries deep ocean of mesmerising compositions and creations. One part of the country has borrowed freely from the other, and our dance forms have also been integral to these expressions.

There is a musician in each one of us
Indian literature has always celebrated the glory of creation as a spiritual melody. At every moment, each one of us is playing a part in conducting, in performing this great symphony. And herein lies the essence of the Chinmaya Centre of World Understanding's Bhakti Pravah Series.

Bhakti Pravah is not just any other Bhakti Sangeet Series. It is the mission's attempt to hone the musician in us. To say the least, it aims to be Spiritually participative. Bhakti Pravah is also a celebration of the completion of 50 years of Swami Chinmayananda's service to humanity and his brilliant interpretation of Vedantic philosophy which inspired millions across the world to explore the true meaning of life. The symphony of Bhakti Pravah has been composed on the scale of Gurudev's thoughts and ideas.

How do you stand to gain by becoming a Chinmaya Bhakti Pravah member?
Swami Chinmayananda said "When music is employed by a devoted heart of a saintly person, it lifts the listener's heart to new realms of consciousness. To listen to music, adoring the divine, with a worshipful heart, by a deeply devoted person of character and dedication is to transport all devoted hearts listening to it, most effortlessly, in a pleasant spontaneity, into an ecstasy of an inexplicable state of bliss and beatitude."

The Bhakti Pravah Series will feature some of the finest and most devoted bhaktipriya artistes of India.

As a Bhakti Pravah patron you can open the doors to a whole new world of enlightening, enjoyable, spiritually uplifting cultural experiences. Bhakti Pravah patronage will entitle you to receive free invitations for the Chinmaya Bhakti Pravah Concerts and Presentations for the year ahead.

Your membership will go a long way in giving Chinmaya Bhakti Pravah a much needed permanance on the cultural canvas of Delhi .

For Membership contact Chinmaya Mission, 89, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003  Ph.: 24643301, 24697848

GLIPMSES OF CHINMAYA BHAKTI PRAVAH

Click for Chinmaya Bhakti Pravah Donations