India Post News Service
WASHINGTON: Amidst a huge gathering, Dr Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swami of Mysore, India, performed ‘Raga Maya Raga Sagara,’ a meditation and healing Concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington July 6.
At the concert, Swami Chidatmananda of Chinmaya Mission offered a garland to Sachchidananda Swami. Special invitee P.K. Kapur, former Indian Ambassador to Chile and Cambodia, honored Sri Swami with a Vastram, and Rajan Natarajan, Transportation Commissioner, and former Deputy Secretary of State for the State of Maryland, presented a memento.
Another special invitee Shambhu Hakki, First Secretary and spokesperson for the Indian Embassy in Washington, who represented the Indian Ambassador to the US, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, honored internationally acclaimed violinist Dr L. Subramaniam, who played alongside Swami at the concert.
At a press conference prior to the concert in the Kennedy Center, Sachchidananda Swami 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, he said 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 violinist 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. Swami 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 among others.
Regularly listening to these ragas help relax persons with such ailments. During the concert, Swami 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), Mani (keyboard), and Jaya Datta (cymbals) from the Celestial Message Troupe accompanied Swami. The event was jointly organized by Datta Yoga Center, DC Chapter, and Yoga Sangeeta, Swami’s non-profit organization based in New Jersey.  This concert was part of the US and Switzerland concert tour 2019. Thus far, Swami has performed in Houston, and Washington. Other concerts are planned in Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, and Davos, Switzerland.