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Bhajan Samrats In Mumbai- 1

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In this Kaliyuga, Vedas have prescribed three most essential requisites to
develop and propagate devotion. They are Satsangam, Saranagati and
Namasankeerthanam. Satsangam is the quality of righteous devotees to
mingle rapturously, rather elatedly, with similar -minded people. In fact, out of
the four Yugas in order, it is firmly believed by the vedic erudite school of
thought that Kaliyuga is the best yuga for practising boundless devotion.
Devotion, done with utmost selfless passion can strike the divine chords of all
deities and move them to shower blessings to the salvation- seekers. Then,
Saranagati is the final stage of absolute unconditional surrender to the
Almighty Lord or to reach the ultimate destination. Salvation! Prahlada and
Markandeya are classic examples of selfless devotion. Ultimately, we come to
the conclusion that Bhakti or devotion to the Almighty God demands Chitha
Sudhi or purity of mind, a sine qua non for spiritual uplift. Bhakti, Jnana and
Vairagya are the essential requisites to tread the path of God -realisation. The
first and foremost condition is absolute unconditional surrender to the
Almighty!

As the devotee progressively moves ahead, he finds that besides Satsangam
and Saranagati, there is another potential sphere of devotion by name
Namasankeertanam which can stir any mind to dance in spiritual inebriation.
We have heard that Sant Tukaram, Namdeo and Janabhai who, with their
intense devotion and unconditional dedication, have experienced the
manifestation of God’s presence in every object they behold. They relinquished
all material pleasures in the world and knew only devotion and dedication for
the pursuit of spiritual activities. Devotion is, therefore, the only option for
spiritual uplift and attainment of salvation. The very purpose of human birth
and the very purpose of life is to achieve this objectof fulfilment or
accomplishment of life. Then only, the very purpose of mission on earth will be
complete. Only a peaceful, contented and dedicated person with no
expectation of fruit of his action in return, can be successful in spiritual life.

Of all spiritual methods, therefore, Namasankeertanam, the art of singing and
praising the Lord’s grace and resplendence, in group, is emerging as the most
powerful and important way to propitiate the deities and therefore, bhajan is
gaining remarkable momentum in this Kali Yuga! Now it has become an integral
part of our culture and is practised so vigorously in all temples, social circles
and spiritual centres. In this pursuit of Namasankeertanam, many vocalists and
classical songsters emerged and thus the culture of group- singing in praise of
the Lord has become an integral part of our social life. This particular genre or
art has generated more enthusiasm among the people of all ages. In our daily
life, every material activity or experience, whatever it be, one easily loses
interest in everything after a particular stage and everything becomes
humdrum, when the initial enthusiasm slowly withers away. But, the only
activity which every normal individual would never get tired of, but aspires for
incessant involvement, is DEVOTION, which he cherishes with unremitting
passion and dedication, while treading the path of God- realisation. Devotion
and dedication are, therefore, the true blessings of God and not anybody’s
choice.

In these series of Feature Articles, I wish to analyse comprehensively, the
spiritual services being rendered by the several Bhajan Samrats of Mumbai.
There are hundreds of Bhajan groups here, functioning in their areas and
presenting their soulful performances in various languages in their respective
areas with elan and éclair and the devotees listening and singing in tune with
the singers rhythmically. Here, my humble attempt is to pick up some of our
familiar Tamil Bhajan Samrats from various parts of Mumbai, who have
specialised in this genre with rich classical background and are presenting their
sterling performances not only in India, but also abroad. Now let us peep into
their challenging music journey and much celebrated performances one by
one.

SRI BOMBAY HARI - THE BHAJAN SAMRAT WITH A STENTORIAN VOICE

By virtue of his sonorous voice and historic musicperformances all over
Mumbai as well as other parts of India besides abroad, SRI BOMBAY HARI, the
legendary classical and Bhajan Samrat of Mumbai, Seldom needs any special
introduction. He has already carved a niche in the bhajan Empire and occupied

a honourable position by dint of his hard work and perseverance. Nevertheless,
as a music enthusiast and ardent lover of his musical extravaganzas, I wish to
chronicle his dedicated journey in the path of Namasakeerthanam. By dint of
his hard work and commitment, he has risen to the rank of those whose
names have become a household name in Mumbai. Many of his performances
I am told, are now available in You Tube today. I was also privileged to attend
his Namasankeertana program, one evening in the Ghatkopar Bhajan Samaj
temple premises in Garodia Nagar Mumbai in the presence of an elite
audience. Any performance, be it music dance or drama, it needs the presence
of enthusiastic lovers, listeners and viewers. Fortunately, Goddess Saraswati
has blessed him with the quality of capturing the audience with his
mesmerising, resounding voice quality. His age has never put any hurdle
before him, but has proved that only the physic gets old, but not the inner
faculty which remains ever-green over time, of course with strict regimen and
regular dedicated practice. Now, let us have a brief survey of his musical
journey.

A thumbnail sketch of his life and bhajan renditions

Shri D H Viswanathan, popularly known as BOMBAY HARI, the legendary Bhajan
Samrat of Mumbai, by virtue of his splendid singing styles and qualities, has
become the Bhajan Icon of MUMBAI, a magnanimous gift of Mumba Devi, in
true sense. His unassuming nature, flawless, effortless and instantaneous
presentation or alaapan of the keertan in the prescribed classical format or
scale and gifted stentorian voice are the factors behind his success and
popularity. Music is considered as the language of Devas and it goes to a
chosen few only. Such talented musicians are born once in hundred years.

A brief account of his family

He was born as the eldest son to late Sri Devaraja Iyer and late Smt. Kaveri
Ammal. His wife’s name is Vatsala, a home maker and they have been blessed
with two daughters viz, Vanita and Sunita who are also settled in Mumbai. He
has three sisters settled in Mumbai and a brother Dr.V. S. Iyer (Organic
Chemistry) who is settled in the U S. His three sisters are Smt. Parvati

Krishnamurti, Smt. Jayalaxmi Ramakrishnan and Smt. Lalitha Natarajan
respectively. He says, he had his early tutelage in music from his eldest sister
Smt. who, like his other siblings, is also settled in Mumbai.

Well, Smt. Parvati Krishnamurti, the elder sister of Shri Bombay Hari, a
veteran musician who had received her initial music lessons from Late
Krisnaswami Bhagavathar, and later from Late Chellamani Bhagavathar, was
his first music teacher, says Shri Hari mama so proudly. The blessings of the
Guru have worked miracle in his music career that the disciple has been making
sterling performances over the years, breaking territorial barriers. The greatest,
invaluable Gurudakshina that a disciple can ever give his/her Guru is, making
the Guru’s expectations of the disciple, a delectable reality. Nothing can
match that sublime, selfless contentment or gratification! She used to practise
singing every day at home and continued the habit, even after her marriage,
quite religiously. Even today, she is agile in this area of fine art by virtue of her
self-commitment and regular practice. Still, at her age of 86, she is admired as
capable of distinguishing the NUANCES OF RAGAS - the subtle differences in the
traditional melodic pattern or rhythm - which reveals her professional
perfection! No wonder her knowledge and prowess has percolated to her
children, grand children and great grand -children who sing well. Similarly, the
other two sisters are also graduates and learned music at their young age. The
other sister Smt. Jayalaxmi Ramakrishnan, a resident of Garodia Nagar, is also
adept in Carnatic music and she gives vocal performances during festivals in
temples and Sabha’s programs as well as on social and religious occasions.
Besides, she is conducting music classes at her residence to groom a batch of
enthusiastic students. Let us pray for their long and healthy life! Here,
Bombay Hari would like to express his gratitude to Late P. V. Natarajan
(Popularly known as Blue Star Natarajan) a musician of great calibre, who
groomed Shri Bombay Hari’s singing nuances and fine tuned the songs sung by
him.

Shri Bombay Hari, lives in Matunga with his family and continues his musical
pursuits, regaling the vast chunk of music lovers and enthralling the audiences
in Mumbai as well as abroad, with his utmost involvement and mesmerising
voice quality.

A triple graduate from Mumbai University, he retired as the Secretary (O. S.) in
the rank of Deputy Zonal Manager from the Life Insurance Corporation of India
Mumbai in November-1998 and since then he is continuing his favourite genre
so passionately. Even while in service, he enjoyed presenting performances
without hampering his official duties. He has been giving programs all over
India for the last five decades. In addition to regular traditional programs, he is
also adept in performing several Kalyanams (marriages) in Bhajan programs like
Sita Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Meenakshi Kalyanam,
Ganapathy Kalyanam, Hariharaputhra Kalyanam, Srinivasa Padmavati
Kalyanam, Lakshmi Kalyanam, Valli Devasena Kalyanam etc.

Besides his busy schedule of programs, he also finds time to groom a group of
young and old group of students by imparting lessons in Sampradaya
(traditional) Kirtans or Bhajans like Tarangam, Ramdasa Kritis, Meenakshi Sutha
Kritis, popular Marathi Abhangs etc.

During his maiden visit to the U S in 1999, he had given number of programs in
several states which fetched him good repute and popularity. Close on the
heels, a unique program was arranged in Trivandrum where Shri Bombay Hari
was called upon to conduct a SAPTHA KALYANA MAHOTSAVAM, from 12 th May
to 19 th May 2002, vis-a- vis special programs covering Kritis of Ramdas,
Purandaradasa, Sadashiva Brahmendra, Meenakshi Sutha, Abhangs,
Tarangams, Hindi Bhajans etc. invariably every day. In addition, he was also
invited to give music demonstration to students doing PhD in Music under the
auspices of the Kerala University.

It is heartening to mention here that Shri Bombay Hari was invited to perform
Ashtapadhi, Divyanama and Radha Kalyanam in Dubai, in November-
December-2003, followed by Shiva Ashtapadhi and Purna-Pushkala Kalyanam
in Muscat in 2006. Further, he got another opportunity to perform his bhajans
in various states in the U S in July 2009. He was blessed with another
opportunity to perform series of Kalyanams (marriage) for various deities and
Bhajans in U A E in September and December-2016.

He owes all his grooming and development in the genre of music and
particularly in the realm of traditional Bhajans to his Pujya Guru, Shri
Subbarama Bhagavathar, Delhi. By virtue of his whole- hearted blessings, his
disciple Shri Bombay Hari (Shri. D H Viswanathan) has, no doubt, surpassed all
his normal expectations and outgrown to assume greater heights of a perfect,
seasoned musician, regaling the audiences nationally and internationally.

It deserves special mention here that Shri Bombay Hari, with all his mastery
and perfection in the traditional – Sampradaya- Bhajan, Abhangs, Kalyanams of
various deities worshipped in the Hindu mythology and verve in all octaves, has
been able to win the hearts of all music lovers everywhere. Recognizing his
talents and ingenuity in the genre of classical music and Bhajans, the Kanchi
Paramacharya Aradhana Mahotsava Committee, Palakkad (Kerala) conferred
upon him the coveted title of -GANAMRUTHA VARSHINI- during the
Bhajanotsavam, held in August-2005.

Shri Bombay Hari is also the Founder President of an NGO Hari Music
Foundation – recently renamed as Kaveri Music Foundation after his late
mother. This NGO primarily takes care of the educational needs for continuing
education of the poor and needy in the society. Also the NGO is associated with
few other NGO’s in giving them financial aid for their various projects.

Shri Bombay Hari, with all his positive qualities and attributes, acquired over
the years by dint of his hard work and poised efforts, his penchant for
Namasankeerthanam has elevated him to the status of a great maestro of the
epoch.

Let us now extend to this reputed Bhajan Samrat, our best wishes for healthy
long life to scale still greater heights and amuse the music lovers and achieve
many laurels and accolades in the years to come!

SHRI BOMBAY HARI is, no doubt, the pride as well as the Bhajan Icon of
Mumbai! But, in a broader sense, he belongs to the world!
JAI HIND