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My favourite raga
Kedar is my choice: Meera Savoor
“Modern science has proved that there is a common energy which manifests itself in various ways like sound, colour and feelings and is inter convertible, while colour blue indicates devotion, ochre–detachment and yellow–spirituality.
“The very word ‘Kedar’ transports me to Kedarnath. The image of Siva at the hilltop comes out vivid and clear, so rendition of Kedar gives me immense peace and comfort,” says Meera Savoor, teacher and an exponent of Hindustani classical, disciple of Pandit Rama Rao Naik who in turn was a direct disciple of Alla-Mausaqui Ustad Faiyyaz Khan of Agra Rangila Gharana.
“Kedara, Ishwara, Siva are the names that evoke a particular spirit. They are symbols that help the logical thought and the musical motif to pass from the indefinite to the definite,” says Saroor.
According to her, the characteristic conjugation, ma pa dha pa ma re sa, where first madhyam is tivr and the second komal is set in a revolution through the intelligible sequence of swaras.
Phrases like ma pa dha ni sa; nidha nidha pa, where ma is tivr and ni is komal guide me from dream state to a state of consciousness.
“Another favourite of mine is ‘Shree’ sung at dusk which has komal dha and is marked by the beautiful combination of pa, re and in my mind’s eye I see Lord Krishna returning home with his cowherd. It is really a spiritually elevating experience and at each rendition a fresh one.
“Komal Rishabh Asavari is yet another favourite of mine which has the same swaras as Bhairavi but has a different chalan. ma pa dha pa ma ga re sa and ma pa dha pa ga re sa where dha ga and re are komal and what differentiates Bhairavi from this is the sapat of Bhairavi that is sa ni dha pa ma ga re sa. ni dha ga re being komal again.”
Stimulating music
For Meera Savoor music has been a language of personal experience stimulating different types of awareness.
“Guru ji always said, ‘Close your eyes and give completely your heart and soul to your singing; your feelings will elevate you to higher regions and that is true music which comes from the inner-most recesses of your heart.’”
Meera demonstrated, oblivious to the world, pouring in the bol baants, bol tans and Jodi tans lacing them with Nom tom alap and Tihaais of the Agra Rangila tradition opening a whole world of learning, which can be ascribed to Patanjali’s Yoga.
JYOTI NAIR BELLIAPPA
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Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
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