Dear Branan, thank you so much for the insight and the wonderful Darbari! I would like to share some of my own insights on this topic, kindly do let me know your thoughts :) - I think that the tanpura does indeed represent Atma (pure consciousness that illuminates our mental faculties). Just like Atma is the unchanging observer witnessing all vrittis of the mind, the tanpura provides a harmonic canvas of shadj and pancham, both achal swaras (unchanging) that bear witness to all other notes coming in and out of existence. - On the topic of ragas being the silence between the notes, I've heard a similar quote being attributed to Debussy. I feel this perfectly summarises the pursuit for spiritual enlightenment, as the seeker attempts to realize their own true self as Atma by eliminating all vrittis/thoughts, till only consciousness remains. Practitioners look for these brief moments of mental silence, where nothing but bliss remains. This mirrors the situation where the silence between notes provides that brief glimpse into the pure drone of the Tanpura, where the rasa of the raga remains inconsequential, and only bliss remains. No matter what rasa the raga is, and what bhava it produces, that moment of silence is one of bliss and provides a canvas onto which the emotions of the raga can be painted. Again, many thanks for this video as I'm yet to find any resources on the internet that have been willing to start this dialogue between the deep spiritual insight of ICM. Om!
I would like to add that when one sings in unison with the tAnpurA, the resonance it creates elevates the energy and the divine presence, as a living experience within..
Amazing how he has internalized the music and spiritual connection...
What beautiful Sanskrit recitation. God bless.
Dear Branan, thank you so much for the insight and the wonderful Darbari! I would like to share some of my own insights on this topic, kindly do let me know your thoughts :)
- I think that the tanpura does indeed represent Atma (pure consciousness that illuminates our mental faculties). Just like Atma is the unchanging observer witnessing all vrittis of the mind, the tanpura provides a harmonic canvas of shadj and pancham, both achal swaras (unchanging) that bear witness to all other notes coming in and out of existence.
- On the topic of ragas being the silence between the notes, I've heard a similar quote being attributed to Debussy. I feel this perfectly summarises the pursuit for spiritual enlightenment, as the seeker attempts to realize their own true self as Atma by eliminating all vrittis/thoughts, till only consciousness remains.
Practitioners look for these brief moments of mental silence, where nothing but bliss remains. This mirrors the situation where the silence between notes provides that brief glimpse into the pure drone of the Tanpura, where the rasa of the raga remains inconsequential, and only bliss remains. No matter what rasa the raga is, and what bhava it produces, that moment of silence is one of bliss and provides a canvas onto which the emotions of the raga can be painted.
Again, many thanks for this video as I'm yet to find any resources on the internet that have been willing to start this dialogue between the deep spiritual insight of ICM. Om!
I would like to add that when one sings in unison with the tAnpurA, the resonance it creates elevates the energy and the divine presence, as a living experience within..
😁 *Promo sm*