A divine musical journey with the iconic Shri Vidyabhusha

 NE SRS Brundavan in association with Kala Tarangini presented a devotional music concert by Sangeetha Vidya Nidhi Shri Vidyabhushana on June 3, 2018 at the Nashua High School. The concert, a fundraiser for NE SRS Brundavan, was attended by around 350 people.

Shri Vidyabhushana, a household name in Karnataka and many parts of South India, is the modern day epitome of presenting music as a vehicle of Bhakti - a legacy started and popularized by the Haridasas of Karnataka. In this 2 hour concert, he transported the audience into a divine realm with his golden voice and soulful and bhakti-filled renditions. He presented a great mix of his classic/iconic songs like ‘Pilangoviya Chelva Krishna’ and many new and fresh renditions. He enthralled the audience not just with devotion but also with his Carnatic classical music virtuoso. As a common treat to the devotees and the art rasikas alike in the audience, he also presented one song first in a pure Carnatic form followed by the same song rendered in a devotion inspiring Bhajan-format with a rousing crescendo that had the audience clapping to the beat and feeling emotional and experiencing goose bumps. The passion he was able to invoke in the audience resulted in some members shouting out ‘Hari Sarvothamma, Vayu Jeevothama’, a slogan of the Madhwa philosophy praising the Lord. Shri Vidyabhushana also presented a couple of songs on Shri Raghavendra Swamy as a fitting addition to the fundraiser for the sustenance of the NE SRS Brundavan Mutt, a temple dedicated to this saint in Lowell. Last but not least Shri Vidyabhushana also presented a song in Tulu dedicated to lord Kukke Subramanya whom he served for several years at the famous temple in Subramanya.

Shri Vidyabhushana was accompanied by well know local artists -  Giridhari Venkatadri on Violin, Rajesh Pai on Tabla and Ullas Rao on Mridangam. These artists added dimension and completeness to the concert and exhibited their craft in the solo and percussion jugalbandi segments common in classical music concerts.

Shri Vidyabhushana also visited the NE SRS Brundavan mutt in Lowell on Sunday June 4 and presented a Pravachana or lecture/music workshop for a couple hours and performed Arati for the Lord and the saint.

New England Shri Raghavendra Swamy Brundavan is a registered non-profit that is currently running a volunteer -run interim temple in Lowell dedicated to the saint that is open to the public 3 days a week on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays for limited hours. The community associated with this effort is steadily growing and this temple is becoming known for its weekly Pradakshina Thursdays and Sunday Panchamrutha Abhisheka and home based Paduka Poojas. Classes for kids and adults are held on Saturdays and once a month a grand celebration takes place in the temple with a full sit-down meal served on leaves - a hallmark of Raghavendra Swamy mutts. NE SRS Brundavan is raising funds to march towards its next goals - the appointing of a full -time priest and the establishment of a permanent location for the temple.

NE SRS Brundavan also is gearing up for its most major annual event - the Aradhana of Raghavendra Swami scheduled to be celebrated on September 8th, 2018. Over 1000 devotees from near and far are expected to attend this grand event. For more info on NE SRS Brundavan, its activities, upcoming eventsand volunteering opportunities, please visit - http://ne-srsbrundavan.org/ or email info@ne-srsbrundavan.org.

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