Here are articles I had wth me for a long time abt on Yesudas. It was published on his 59th B'day. they came not together but in parts.
The Divine, Ecstatic, Excellent Moments of Experience with Dasettan
Hari Kochat
The music festival during the silver jubilee celebrations of Malayalam cinema conducted for days together at Thiruvananthapuram was an experience of unforgettable moments. The art lovers from various fields assembled there, returned with an experience of a lifetime; one song by Dasettan that especially shook every one, deserves a special mention: "Man created Religions, Religions created Gods"- the first film song which echoed above all, against religious snobbery. The significance of the song was its philosophical content. The song written by Vayalar, for the film "Achanum Bappayum" * was set to music by honorable Devarajan. Disgusted by the forceful thrust of political contempt through religion in the younger generation, when the heart broken down, it shook every one. He lost control and sobbed while he sang. That sob created waves in every hearts assembled there. After singing that song, he explained the reason for his uncontrolled feelings to the audience: "gentlemen, when Vayalar wrote these lines he would have foreseen that one day when generations pass, it would be like this. He did not write these lines for me or Devarajan or even just for you. You have all assembled here not because of your regard for religion. We artists, have no religion. Prose and poetry are beyond religion. So please do not look at this generation or even the next to come through the narrow eyes of the religion and trouble them. This is an earnest request from me".
After couple of days when I was spending an evening with Dasettan, we happened to discuss about the incidence. At that time I felt that, in his views Krishna, Jesus and Nabi - all appeared to be one. I inquired so that I could understand more, of what is hidden in that mind. "Dasetta, to the general opinion that you are born in one religion and you lived through another religion, what can be the explanation?"
With an unusual smile on his face he told me. "If God desired to create Man in different religions, that divine power could have created man in differences shapes. Why that was not done? Why all were created alike? Because, they should grow up as children of the same mother. Look at my own life. People talk according to their whims about me, of what I have not even thought of. From many corners, I happen to hear that I christened my son Vinu as Ayyappa Das. What benefit these people had by trying to say such things, which a father had not done, I don't understand. Similarly, that with my singing at the Sabari hills the sanctum doors opened! All mere gossips. What else to say! But it is true that I am a devotee of Ayyappa. There are many reasons for my heart to get drawn towards Ayyappa. I will tell you after we both have another cup of coffee".
Dasettan continued after a short while of rest, "At Sabari hills I do not consider religion. I offer my soul to the Supreme Power. There is a greater search of self than of religions over there. This is what I am trying to say. While we are alive, people address me as "Yesudas" and you are called "Hari". But when we are dead and gone, we become just memories. Our 'body' transforms into a 'corpse' and the soul depart. I have felt this natural process happening there. The first step towards that, is the change in the way of addressing each other. Once we wear this string of beads 'Hari' does not call me and I don't call 'Hari'. With out any discrepancy to cast and community, with out any difference between rich and poor, every one addresses the other as "Ayyappa". Even if one is angry we only say, "What is this Ayyappa?"
After wearing these beads it is a situation of detachment from worldly affairs. When we concentrate on the Supreme Power our names vanish. I have felt it, as a transition to unite with the Supreme Power. There is no duality. That attracted me a lot."
Having gone to Sabarimala for eighteen years and when he is unable to do the same since the last few years, the sorrow was very much evident in the tone when he explained. Except that he is born as a human being, his life is significant and filled with divine principles; while meditating through the medium of music, he attempts to discover the meaning for duality. I was finding it difficult to scale the depth of that heart which perhaps no one tried to observe or understand. When Dasettan brought me back to reality with a touch on my shoulder I had to return to this world, at least temporarily.
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The Rare, Rapturous Moments of an Evening Spent With Dasettan
(Part 2)
Hari Kochat
Like the grandeur of the setting sun's luster at dusk, like any other time, the radiance was glowing on his face. I felt my heart was like the devout who would be standing in front of the sanctum sanctorum with a throbbing heart for the doors to open, before the evening worship. My heart was full of questions carefully kept from overflowing and for which I was eager to know the answers. Whether the questions I chose to ask would be of interest to him, was my fear at first. But slowly I felt his heart opening towards me. I thought of the only divine name I utter when I get perplexed and looked at his face. When the fingers caressing the beard moved away from his face, I could see a smile gleam over there. I felt as if the doors of the sanctum sanctorum opened amidst the jingling sound of thousand bells!
With all humbleness I asked, "Dasettan from the time when the curtain of the musical stage is raised and till you take leave from the podium I feel that you strictly follow certain rituals (disciplines). More than the rapturous melody of the music, I have always witnessed on the stage, an inexplicable brilliance (Tejus), which is not seen within any one else. Why is it so?"
I did think for a minute if there was enough ground for my question. But his mind was composed and it seemed he could read my mind. I felt he was transforming himself as a teacher. He explained what is the bliss of music. With a smile, the cool soothing answer came this way; " Music is spiritual".
"The music that is accumulated within in me through n'number of births, is not created by me. That is God given. That is my life and my living. If the source of my music is from God, the listeners in front of me who are God's creation, are the precious treasures I receive as flowers of adoration. In my lawn if there are no listeners the rhythm, the melody in my music will be like the cactus in a desert. I adore my admirers with my heart. I concentrate my soul in front of my admirers. I even request them to clap. It's not to encourage me. The sound od clapping is like the jingling of bells. I t helps them to get engrossed along with me. It is the concentration of my mind, which encourages me to sing forgetting myself. I remember a story to explain this. 'Once a young man went to a saint and requested that he would like to adopt sainthood. As an answer to his pleading the saint advised him to sit under a Banian Tree nearby.
Though he did not understand the reason behind this, the youngster readily agreed. He thought it was to test him- to ensure that he can sit and meditate- so as told, he sat cross-legged under the tree. After a while he saw a young beautiful girl passing through that way. Some crazy thoughts flashed in his mind. To ensure that such an incident does not repeat, he tied his eyes with a piece of cloth. Next day again the girl came that way with the rhythmic sound of her anklets. His mind was again drifting to wild thoughts. To make sure that such sound does not disturb him again; he blocked his ears with cotton and continued to meditate. But next day his mind was getting restless as the time approached- he was wondering whether she would come again that day to see him!'
So that was the matter. In whichever way one may try to cover up outwardly if the inner mind can not be controlled and concentrated all the rituals will fail. Similarly there is one more important thing that I follow very carefully. I told you that my listeners sitting in front of me are very much adorable to me. I never sow my back towards them. There is a reason behind this practice. You see we never sit or stand turning our faces while praying in a temple or church. Like that one should never show one's back to the deity while walking out of the worship place, is one of my principles. I always tell these to my children also. Because music devoid of discipline is incomplete.
If one is proud that one can sing anything, God will give back that person to day or tomorrow. Whatever big position or wealth I have today, was not brought, with me to this world, when I was born? The person who bestowed on me has every right to take them away any time. We should always remember that. The humbleness in the start should continue till end. By understanding others, not becoming a victim to selfishness, if you treat others properly, you will have good experiences. Their blessings will be always be with us".
Such valuable advises....! I shall always remember. Even today the sound is echoing in my ears.
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REMINISCENCES OF THE DAWN HOURS
SPENT WITH DASETTAN.
by.HARI KOCHAT
When Nature is up with the morning rays putting an end to the stillness of the night, awakening to the cries of crows or the fluttering sound of the feathers of the birds remain as memories of bygone days. But that particular day appeared to be totally unique. As my eyes just opened up in the wee hours, the sweet melody and that deep voice reached my ears, with a queer feeling hugging my senses. My body was infused with energy. My eyes followed the direction from where the music flowed like nectar.
Truly, it was difficult to believe. Previous night, after a long conversation, when Dasettan retired to the bedroom, half-asleep, it was past midnight. Yet he was unable to allow any obstacle in his early morning Saadhakam (practice session); it was Dasettan's Saadhakam that woke me up! With that much spiritual intensity he worships music. I was convinced of the truth in Dasettan's words:
"My life is music".
After morning chores, at break fast time I considered it a blessing to continue our conversation. I asked him: " Dasetta, between the busy schedules these days do you find it difficult to get enough time for Saadhakam, like you used to get in the earlier days?"
With a brilliant smile that resembled the aura of the sun's rays, his reply to me was this: "near a lake surrounded with greenery, sitting on the branch at the early hours if any bird sings a tune, I will recognize it. Not because I have any knowledge in ornithology. But because, then and now, they have been my friends. When they wake up, I too wake up. They never hesitate to sing; reason is, they know too well, if I am here, I will reply to them in a tune. Once the practice session is over, till this day, with out any break until I offer my prayers, I never even felt the urge for refreshments. That is my devotion. God has given me energy to observe and follow them till this time. I consider it as a great luck. Just because of this alone, I believe Vageeswari is equipping me to complete my mission with out any obstacles.
Music is a blessing from the goddess of learning. It is a gift from Vageeswari. To day if a person wants to become a player, overnight he cannot become an expert. Similar is the case with literary creation. Music is in no way contrary to these. Music is not a child's play. Narrating an incidence he tried to make me understand, the foolishness of people to show the society that one has learnt music. He explained this particular experience he had, when he was returning after a performance in Dubai.
One of the guests who went to Dasettan for an autograph said, more with pride than respect: "Mr. Das, I too learnt music for six years".
With the calmness of a saint Dasettan asked him: " Is it? Very good. How much time did you spent to learn music every day?" Holding his head high that person said: " with out break, every day for an hour". Dasettan continued in a pleasant tone: " That means you were learning music for 365 hours in a year. Or in six years 2190 hours. Did I go wrong? From what we have learnt, 2190 hours means 91 days is it not? So is there any meaning in saying that you learnt music for six years?"
Dasettan has always been saying: even if one learns music for innumerable cycles of birth, it will not be the music of a man's entire lifetime. Music is a penance. There is no end to it. From infinity those invocations will continue endlessly. Such ardent expressions!
Dasettan has no great desire to bring up his children dipped in the world of music because of his position or fame. Dasettan has been saying at many occasions that the inborn quality in a person is brought out by one's own efforts. Music is not something that can be bargained for value with wealth. He criticizes the parents who teach music against the aptitude of their children and the music teachers who create the wrong desire in parents in decorating the children with the highest degree in music within a stipulated time. Music is not an illusion. Due to this alone, just because one has a good voice, every one cannot become a master on the steps of that path.
God decides every thing. According to the situations, sometimes we feel sad, sometimes we are happy, some times we get angry. That is life. He reminds us that his life equally transient like others. When Dasettan said that he can not do any thing more than what God has destined for him and like others he too is an ordinary human being, I was observing with admiration the simplicity in that historic man.
Edited by Barnali - 19 years ago
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