by Vishnudatta Jayaraman 8 July 2019
Amidst a huge gathering, His Holiness Sri Dr. Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji of Mysore, India performed ‘Raga Maya Raga Sagara,’ a Meditation and Healing Concert at the John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington DC on July 6, 2019 .
At the concert, Swami Chidatmananda of Chinmaya Mission offered a garland to Sri Swamiji. Special invitees, Ambassador P K Kapur, former Indian Ambassador to Chile, and Cambodia, honored Sri Swamiji with a Vastram, and Rajan Natarajan, Transportation Commissioner, and former Deputy Secretary of State for the State of Maryland, presented a memento to Sri Swamiji from the State of Maryland. Another special invitee Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary and Spokesperson for the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, who represented the Indian Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, honored internationally acclaimed violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam, who played alongside Sri Swamiji at the concert.
At the press conference, prior to the concert, in the Kennedy Center, Sri Swamiji said that he was happy to be performing at the Kennedy Center, and talked about the importance and benefits of attending the Music for Meditation and Healing concerts.
Soon after the concert Sri Swamiji conveyed that the Kennedy Center concert had been planned for a long time but finally the star, date and time aligned and the concert happened. He played two new ragas, Chandika and Kamavardhini and their combination turned out very well. He appreciated special guest, violinist Dr. L. Subramaniam for an excellent performance, and the overall troupe for their musical support.
The main raga, Kamavardhini, a very powerful healing raga, played during the concert, worked on the entire body, all chakras, all zodiac signs, and all five elements. Sri Swamiji also played Rushyaketupriya, Kapi, Mohana, Chandika, Kamavardhini, Madhuvarshini, and Sama ragas. The ragas played during the concert are helpful in Cervical Spondylosis, Computer Related Stress, Thyroid diseases, Laryngeal Disorders, Hyperacidity, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Arthritis, High Blood Pressure, and Insomnia to name a few. Regularly listening to these ragas help relax persons with such ailments. During the concert, Sri Swamiji walked amidst the audience with a crystal rod and identified people with chronic diseases and channeled healing energy and vibrations, stated a press release issued by media coordinator Vishnudatta Jayaraman.
At the concert, artists Jaitra Varanasi (Violin), Shankar Ramesh (Mridangam), Mahesh Bhatt (Tabla), and Mani (Keyboard), and Jaya Datta (Cymbals) from Sri Swamiji’s Celestial Message Troupe accompanied Sri Swamiji. The event was jointly organized by Datta Yoga Center, DC Chapter and Yoga Sangeeta, Sri Swamiji’s non-profit organization based in New Jersey. This concert was part of the US and Switzerland concert tour 2019. Thus far, Sri Swamiji has performed in Houston, and Washington DC. Other concerts are planned in Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and Davos, Switzerland.