NAAD SHAKTI as we titled the concert, is a theme, a concept, a vision, to share with people the power of indian sacred sound. So through this event, we try to share that fragrance, that energy that’s the power of naada - naada brahma, meaning the sound is divine, the sound is God. This is our effort to share what is Indian sacred sound, Naad Shakti.
Everything is conveyed through sound. In the Indian culture, sound has so much significance, so everything is conveyed through sound. Weather it is a feeling of celebration, or sadness, or joy or something which is beginning in an auspicious way.
Music is more than just entertainment. Sacred music is a recent new phenomenon in the genre of concerts - I see that the purpose of music can be much higher than that; that’s where the sacred music enters. So with the sacred music we have this possibility to create a certain space for the listeners which can take them a little bit above the mental world: music has this immense power to take people deeper into a state of meditation, in the state of celebration, in the state of silence. And that somewhere became a very, very significant part of what I am doing through the music. Behind every song there is a certain story, there is a certain essence, which is the main thing that I want to convey to people; so for example if there is this “Shivoham” (*see below) which is also known as Nirvana Shatakam, which is written by no other than Adi Shankara and one of the finest wisdom of non-duality Advait Vedanta is being contained in that Sutra, so it becomes a fine amazing medium to reach people and the best way to share wisdom with people is through music!
Our music flowers when we get in a receptive space. Our music flowers when we get this receptive space from the people, where you “feel” the people are appreciating it, people are absorbing it… so that indirectly becomes an energy circle and that supports us and our playing, our performance, what we are trying to share.
The audience was receptive, silent, totally connected… and that always helps us to perform better, to share the music in a very different way; so I was really happy about that, I really feel grateful to that. The ambience was great, a church, the house of God, so in these places a certain energy is already there: we don’t have to work hard to create a sacred space, because that energy is already there, in fact, it supports the music.
Ambassador of India in the Netherlands, H.E. Venu Rajamony. “Friends, let me just say that in the Indian tradition, music and all sorts of art are a path to the divine, the unity, the God… and this is what these musicians have attempted.” “I was very happy Desiyup brought Manish Vyas to the Netherlands and staged a very nice concert in a beautiful church setting in Rotterdam. I think the background and the ambience of the venue particularly converged with the kind of music and message Manish Vyas had. Manish Vyas had wonderful accompanying artists, I was very impressed with the sitar artist with whom he played, Hindol; and it was a wonderful mixed audience of people from Indian origin, Dutch, international… I think everyone who was there enjoyed the music thoroughly and Manish Vyas gave a wonderful performance; he is very talented, and because of the background in which he has grown up, he’s deeply knowledgeable as well as he likes talking about indian philosophy - he makes a good fusion about culture, philosophy and music, so overall, I think it was a very good performance.
* Nirvana Shatakam
Mano Budhyahankaar Chitani Naaham, Na Cha Shrotra Jihve Na Cha Ghraana netre Na Cha Vyoma Bhumir Na Tejo Na Vayuh, Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Na Cha Praana Sanjno Na Vai Pancha Vaayuhu, Na Vaa Sapta Dhaatur Na Va Pancha Koshah Na Vaak Paani Paadau Na Chopasthapaayuh, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Na Me Dvesha Raagau Na Me Lobha Mohau, Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya Bhaavah Na Dharmo Na Chaartho Na Kaamo Na Moksha, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Na Punyan Na Paapan Na Saukhyan Na Dukham, Na Mantro Na Tirthan Na Vedaah Na Yajnaah Aham Bhojanan Naiv Bhojyan Na Bhoktaa, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Na Mrityur Na Shanka Na Me Jaati Bhedah, Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maataa Na Janma Na Bandhur Na Mitram Guru Naiva Shishyah, Chidaananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Aham Nirvikalpo Niraakaara Rupo, Vibhutvaaccha Sarvatra Sarvendriyaanaam Na Chaa Sangatan Naiva Muktir Na meyah Chidananda Rupah Shivoham Shivoham
Meaning:
1) I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego, nor the reflections of inner self. I am not the five senses. I am beyond that. I am not the ether, nor the earth, nor the fire, nor the wind (i.e. the five elements). I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.
2) Neither can I be termed as energy (Praana), nor five types of breath (Vaayu), nor the seven material essences (dhaatu), nor the five coverings (panca-kosha). Neither am I the five instruments of elimination, procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.
3) I have no hatred or dislike, nor affiliation or liking, nor greed, nor delusion, nor pride or haughtiness, nor feelings of envy or jealousy. I have no duty (dharma), nor any money, nor any desire (refer: kama), nor even liberation (refer: moksha). I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.
4) I have neither virtue (punya), nor vice (paapa). I do not commit sins or good deeds, nor have happiness or sorrow, pain or pleasure. I do not need mantras, holy places, scriptures, rituals or sacrifices (yajna). I am none of the triad of the observer or one who experiences, the process of observing or experiencing, or any object being observed or experienced. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.
5) I do not have fear of death, as I do not have death. I have no separation from my true self, no doubt about my existence, nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth. I have no father or mother, nor did I have a birth. I am not the relative, nor the friend, nor the guru, nor the disciple. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.
6) I am all pervasive. I am without any attributes, and without any form. I have neither attachment to the world, nor to liberation. I have no wishes for anything because I am everything, everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium. I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva, love and pure consciousness.