Smt. Shobha Srinivasan
Date: Jan 17 2023
Question: Can you ever outgrow the basics?
We have heard so many times, when our base is strong, we can grow higher and higher. When the base is weak, all can just crumble down one day. This just does not applies to buildings, but also in everything that we do.
Musical Experience
Learning of anything starts with the basics. The Alphabets grow into words and then sentences and then paragraphs and then chapters and then a story. Similarly, in music, the Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ni - the 7 musical alphabets grow into a raaga and then compositions and creative expressions.
In both the systems of Indian Classical Music Learning - Carnatic as well as Hindustani - the beginner is introduced to learning the basics. The way these two systems deal with the basic lessons is also very interesting.
In Carnatic Music, the basics include (the way it is spoken in Tamil) - Sarali Varisai, Jantai Varisai, Mel Stayi Varisais, Keezh Stayi Varisais, Dhattu Varisai, Alankaram and Geethams. This system of learning is devised by none other than the Sangeetha Pitamaha - Sri Purandara Dasa. These exercises are sung in the Ragam Maya Malava Gowlai. Each group of lessons is designed to introduce a particular aspect of music. Sarali Varisai introduces the students Sruthi, Layam, Swarasthanam, Talam and Speeds. Jantai Varisai introduces the students to voice modulation in the form of Gamakam called Sphuritam. Mel Stayi and Keezh Tyai Varisais introduce the student to upper and lower octaves respectively. Dhattu Varisai strengthens the Swara Sthanas by having Zig Zag patterns, Alankarams introduce the student to different Talams and Geethams introduce the students to lyrics and the relationship between the Swaras and the Tune.
As regards to Hindustani Music learning, masters like Prabha Atre Ji and Dr. Sriram Parasuram have clearly shared the rigour that one goes through in the beginning years to get the Sruthi right. The same couple of notes are sung again and again.
Unlike Carnatic music, where the compositions are introduced quite early and the Raag is learnt through compositions, Hindustani music focus on the Raag first and then the compositions.
Even when one moves from beginner level to intermediate level or advance level in Carnatic Music learning, they are advised to practice “akaaram” for the basic lessons. These strengthen the voice and also keeps us in touch with the basics.
The importance of practicing basic lessons in akaaram dawned to me more when I heard my brother’s experience. My brother who learnt his advanced lessons in Mridangam from Sri. Umayalpuram Sivaraman Mama shared this with me. He went and stayed at his place for training and he observed that Umayalpuram Sivaraman Mama used to practice the first lesson in Mridangam “ta ti tom num” for hours together. A genius like him who did not even have to practice, was playing the basic lessons and he probably was around 75 years of age at that time.
Is n’t it such an humbling experience?
Connecting the dots…
What can be our basics in life? Probably how our inner space is arranged. Basics are always very powerful but at the same time very subtle.
Out of the basics or the subtlety grows the pronounced or the gross. The gross is more easier to handle and sense and attractive. In that, we can sometimes loose the basics. Money, fame, power, fear, worry can all pull us out of our basics. The covid pandemic has taught us what it is to return to basics.
Our basic is our true nature and it is fun to explore.
Practice
“Who am I” contemplation is an excellent practice suggested by Sri Ramana Maharishi that can nudge us towards our true nature.
“I am not the body. I am not even the mind” is a meditation technique suggested by Sadhguru.
Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Gyana Yoga are all ways to understand our true nature.
Our vedantic philosophies, upanishads, our Puranas and Itihasas are all aimed at making us understand our true nature.
It definitely takes time and effort and guidance to travel that path and it is said that everyone does travel that path at some point or the other because of our innate yearning to unite with the creator that created us.
See you in the next episode with yet another musical experience and life lesson.