Shirdi Sai Parivaar which started with a small group of Sai devotees in 2002 has now grown to serve over thousands of Saibandhus all over the Bay area. The 40,000 sq.ft. mandir was inaugurated on June 20, 2010 and houses Sai Baba’s statue measuring 5ft. 6in.
The temple consists of main hall, Dwarakamayi, Chavadi, dining hall, multipurpose auditorium, reading room, library, youth room, yoga room, kids’ corner, several different class rooms and office rooms.
Shirdi Sai Parivaar activities include weekly prayer meetings with bhajans, events to commemorate the significance of Sai Baba’s philosophy and life history, charitable events benefitting the local community.
Shridi Sai Parivaar had organized an enchanting Nadhaswaram concert on May 18 by Nadhaswara Nadhamani Kasim and Babu Brothers, grandsons of the late Nadhaswaram Sangeetha Kalanidhi Sheikh Chinna Moulana. In South Indian Hindu culture, the Nadaswaram is considered to be auspicious, and it is a key musical instrument played in almost all Hindu weddings and temples of the South Indian tradition.
The instrument is accompanied by a pair of drums called thavil. Kasim and Babu have been learning Nadhawaram from the age of 8, under the tutelage of Late Sangeetha Kalanidhi Shiekh Chinna Moulana and have been honored and appointed as the “Asthana Vidhwans” of Sri Sharada Peetham of Sringeri Math, Thirumala Thirupathi devastanam, KanchiKamakoti Mutt.
Kasim-Babu brothers have visited countries like Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Russia, Germany, France, U.A.E, Finland, Malaysia and earned accolade in their concerts.
“We are from a very big music tradition from Andhra Pradesh; our tradition is about 300 years old, a very great and ancient tradition,” Kasim tells us with pride. About 40 years ago, the music was mostly used traditionally in Temples and celebrations such as weddings. But nowadays, it’s more common that people go and listen to the music in concert halls.
Kasim and Babu have played together all over the world since 1992 and have received many honors and awards. Kasim and Babu’s children are now carrying on the family tradition. Kasim and Babu run a musical school namely “Saradha Nadhaswara Sangeetha Ashram” founded by Dr Sheik Chinna Moulana, with the main objective of imparting Nadhaswaram training to younger generation. They have established a trust in memory of their Guru and grandfather, the “Dr. Chinna Moulana Memorial Trust”.
The prime objective of the trust is to globalize the importance of Nadhaswaram Music. The Trust is rendering a noble service by presenting Nadhaswaram instruments to deserving students and senior indigent artists of the Nadhaswaram fraternity. They impart free training for higher level courses in Nadhaswaram, where they teach on the intricate nuances of different ragas.
“Music is essential in life, it can change the world and it has changed the world”, says Kasim. The concert was over 4 hours and was enjoyed by over 300 devotees. They started with the Guru Vandhana, followed by Rangapura vihara, Endhano mahanubhava, Venkatachala
ilayam, Thiruppavai pasurum “Ongi ulagalandha”. The unique part of the concert was the rendition of Dasavathara ragamalika composed by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal with ten ragas and 6 sections. The rhythmic accompaniment on the thavil by P.Natarajan and R.Nalakumar was of a high order. To their brilliant accompaniment the brothers mesmerized the audience with their melodic renderings of various krithis.
Vidya Sethuraman
India Post News Service
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