Samaveda Parayanam – An Enchanting evening

In Hindi there is a saying: Upar Wala Jab Bhi Deta Hai, Chapar Phaad Ke Deta Hai - Divine Grace is unlimited and bountiful. Exactly that was the privilege some members of the SFV Vedic Chanting group who were free at short notice, had this evening. 

Hardly had we had the pleasure of participating in the Shata Rudrabhisheka last week, when this evening Mr Gopalakrishnan, of Oak 2124, organized a private Samaveda Parayanam at his house. He invited the SFV Vedic Chanting group to partake the pleasure. Yes, I am talking of the same unassuming Mr Gopalakrishnan with an amiable disposition who, when speaks, releases the exact unit of decibel as is required for the listener to hear him – nothing more, nothing less.

Five learned pandits bestowed with the same pitch, as though Mr Gopalakrishnan had hand-picked them as would a music director for a chorus, rendered nonstop for an hour and a half Samaveda Parayanam, keeping the audience captivating. Starting off a little slow, they warmed up soon, and the hall reverberated with their scintillating rendering – uniform pitch, speed, intonation, superb synchronization, and what have you – as though it was a recording session. It was a listening pleasure. And as my Group friend pointed out, we could decipher not a single word of their rendering. Probably that is the speciality of Samavedam chant which has a musical tone in it.

On rare occasions when a train moving fast would suddenly slow down on spotting a buffalo or cow at a distance, the purohits slowed down at places only to pick up the original speed. After the session I thought of clarifying with them, but they seemed so tired after a long chant.

Altogether it was a real change from the ’leopard coming, leopard spotted…’ mindset we are in. Yes, last evening it was the turn of Alder and Maple 3 residents to watch from their balconies the leopard enjoying a post-late-lunch siesta on a boulder.

Also, the chant-session looked as though it was to celebrate the opening up of the sky from the cloudy and sickly weather that we in Bangalore were subjected to for the past few days consequent upon the cyclone in Tamil Nadu.

An evening well spent. It was like enjoying  a serene chamber music as opposed to a concert in an auditorium with all pomp and show. The positive energy and vibration that pervaded the 2124 hall knew no limits. An enchanting evening no doubt, Gopalakrishnan ji.

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