Beyond the word... is sound

Sometimes I ask, why do I need to name my 'genre'? is it not evident that I can only speak one language? Because what we convey as musicians is not in fact bound by genre, technique and style. It is the ability to go beyond these exact boundaries that makes our pursuit worth it. Every little step on this path is a whole new world of realization. That beyond the apparent slowly reveals itself.

And the only way to be on this involves the immense courage to surrender, without expectations. Letting go of expectations of more praise, more work, more knowledge, more skills. I was happy to do that, and I must confess I have enjoyed it; even while I know that many would have thought of me as lacking in passion, drive or ambition.

My love for dhrupad and exploring its vast applications had brought me to create the concept of Taran-Tarini Dhrupad workshops in January this year. In the past few months I have realized that not only has my connection with my music deepened, it also brought the right kind of people into my life, and I see in them a similar fire slowly igniting itself - SWARA. Teaching Dhrupad through classes and workshops is how I grow, musically. It is also how I give it forward. It is immensely rewarding to immerse oneself into teaching what one loves and lives, however big or small it is, it is worth it.

Over the past few months I have discovered is - how expressive sanskrit language is. And how much it suffers from judgement and bias, and disinterest and dismissal because it is what it is, inseparably bound to the Hindu thought and evolution. How can a language be responsible for not fitting into 'liberal' ideas? I ask. Have we looked deeply and clearly enough? my tryst with this deeply impactful language has been through the sanskrit compositions of Muthuswamy Dikshitar for the past few years, dabbling with a few by Tyagaraja and Shyama Shastri, experiencing the power of Adi Shankaracharya through his works, reading the Bhagawad Gita every once in a while; but my recent dialogue with sanskrit which truly opened up the delicate esoteric pathways of the language has been through the discovery of the Lalita Sahasranaama. I seek knowledge through experience and sanskrit has been one of the most rewarding teachers on this journey. So I share my humble understanding with you on this subject.

Beyond the various levels of knowing, is the undisturbed, pervading intelligence. The living silence, that knows. That is the source of very sound, every vibration ever. Intelligence & vibration are two sides of the same coin. And therefore, maybe, sound has its own wisdom.