Sai Bhajans

[Guest guest]

AUM Sri Sai Ram Dear Brother Jag: Well said and well put as I would like to add a few more things to your comments and I'm confident that I great deal of centres/SSDG and devotees will send their respective comments about this. I've attended a number of satsanghs, all over the world and its consistent as to what you said. Swami has given guidelines; however, a fraction of the people are following as the "President for Life" Regions/central council/centres/SSDG have decided to have their own agendas. These people have occupied "life time" positions and would not follow any guidelines that have been provided by anyone, Swami included. Some years ago, while in Dharmashetra, I was fortunate to have attended a Bhajan session in a devotee's home in Mumbai and wow..that was so great as they followed the guidelines but they sang their heart out to Swami and I felt that Swami was about to emerge from the picture. Utilizations of microphones are good, in setting the lead singer's voices higher that the instruments; however, these are not followed if someone occupies a position within the centre/SSDG as they are free to do their thing. Many centres/SSDG give Mics for chorus and in many instances these people neither have musical skills nor voices to lead. They drown all voices from the chorus, resulting in a poor Bhajan session. These are my humble but factual thoughs. Ram Lakhanpal, Toronto, Canadasadhujag <sadhujag wrote: SairamIn 1940 when Bhagawan started bhajans, they were quite simple, divine namas set to very simple tunes,with the accompanimnent of A BRASS TALA (HAND HELD), A HARMONIUM AND A HURRICANE LAMP PROVIDINGTHE LIGHT.THAT WAS ALL. THE BHAJANS WERE VERY MELODIOUS.NOW SEE.SO MANY TALA VADHYAS - VISIT ANY WEEKLY GROUP EVENT : AT LEAST TWOLEATHER INSTRUMENTS (KANJEERAS, DOLKIS ETC.,) BLASTING AWAY AT FULLMIGHT, DROWNING THE VOICES OF THE SINGERS. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY YOUHAVE TO DISCERN THE SONGS AND THEN ACCOMPANY THE SONGS - SOME TIMES ITIS MORE LIKE A RITUAL THAN A SPIRITUAL MEET - A LOT OF COMPETITION INSINGING VERY LONG SONGS, SET TO UNKNOWN VARIATIONS IN TUNE WHICH AREVERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW.IF YOU APPEAL TO THE PERCUSSIONSTS THEY JUST NOD BUT CARRY ON WITHSAME GUSTO. IF YOU APPEAL TO THE CONVENORS / ORGANISERS, THEY PLEADTHAT THEY ARE HELPLESS. WHERE IS THE END

TO THIS TREND?THE SINGERS TOO, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, SING FROM THE LIPS AND IN ATHIN VOICE, ONLY OCCASIONALLY SINGING WITH FULL BREATH FROM THEIR NABICHAKRA.SAI BHAJANS IN YEARS UPTO 1985 OR SO WERE SO DIVINE AND MELODIOUS THATWE LONG TO HEAR THOSE TYPE OF BHAJANS AGAIN. A HARMONIOUS BLEND OFHUMAN VOICE, THE TALA VADYAS AND THE HARMONIUM SHOULD BE PRACTICED TOHAVE A DIVINE EFFECT. THE SINGERS / CONVENORS / ORGANISERS MAY PLEASEHELP THE SITUATION AND INCREASE THE DIVINE QUALITY, PLEASE.SAI BHAJANS SHOULD ALWAYS BE RADIANT WITH DIVINE HARMONYWITH RESPECTS TO ALL,SAIRAM,jag9940026095R. Ram Lakhanpal