The efficacy of kirtans composed by Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami in healing the soul and hearts was explained by music lovers at a function held to mark the contest on ‘bhajans and kirtans’ composed by Swami by Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamigal Ashram, Mysore, in Tiruchi recently.
S. Balasubramanian, chairman, City Union Bank, said the kirtans composed by Swamiji were soul stirring and brought solace to listeners. He also compared the ‘bhavam’ in the kirtans composed by Swami and Sri Muthusamy Dikshitar and explained the striking similarities in them. The contest for students, organised in Tiruchi, should be extended to all centres in the country, so that Sri Swami's devotion and mastery in music could be further propagated to the masses.
Tiruchi K. Ramesh, founder of the Nadha Dweepam Sangeetha Gurukulam, referred to the overwhelming response he had witnessed from the audience in Mysore and Chennai during the course of his exclusive concert on the kirtans composed by Swami.
He specifically referred to a few kirtans which were popular among music lovers. Sri Swami had composed about 7,000 kirtans in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Sanskrit.
N. Gopalsamy, whole time director, Dalmia Cements, gave away prizes to the winners in various competitions.
S. Jayaraman, Trustee of the Ashramam, said this was the first time the contest on Swami's kirtans was being organised, although the one on his bhajans had been organised earlier.
The following were the winners in the contest:
Bhajan: Vignesh Ranga Matriculation HSS got first prize while the second prize went to Nada Dweepam Sangeetha Gurukulam. Jayendra Matriculation HSS finished third. A consolation prize was given to differently-abled students of Arivalayam. A special prize for key board was given to Pranav, a student of Nadha Dweepam Sangeetha Gurukulam.
The best lead prize went to Jaya Bargavi and S. Vaishnavi. Kirtans: J. Bala Girish got first prize. Second prize went to Radhika while third prize was shared by Priyankari and C. Venkatesh.
