Sri Swamiji in USA, Silver Jubilee year Music concert, Baton Rouge, LA, 13 Jul 2013
Silver Jubilee year Music concert in Baton Rouge
LA, Student Union Theater of LSU (Lousiana State University), 13 July 2013
History was revisited on 13th July 2013 in Baton Rouge, Lousiana state in USA. 25 years ago, on 30 July 1988 Sri Swamiji had given "Music for Meditation and Healing" concert in the US for the first time in Student Union Theater of LSU (Lousiana State University). 25 years later, today, Sri Swamiji gave "Music for Meditation and Healing" concert titled "Nada Swara Raga Sagara" in the same venue. Sri Swamiji was presented with "Honarary Mayor President of Baton Rouge" in 1988. Today too, the Mayor of Baton Rouge, Mr. Melvin. L. "Kip" Holden presented the citation "Honarary Mayor President of Baton Rouge". He also presented a proclamation stating - July 13th 2013 as "Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji Day" in Baton Rouge. The Mayor lit the inaugural lamp. Mr. Agnihotri, former Ambassador-at-Large of India and a long time resident of Baton Rouge, presented a citation to Sri Swamiji thanking Sri Swamiji. He remembered attending Sri Swamiji's concert in 1988. Sri Swamiji in the short introduction speech fondly remembered the first concert in USA in 1988 and said He would play today, "Pavo Sharana" a Bhajan He had played in 1988.
Pujya Swamiji played the following:
Pranava Svarupam - Raga Rushyaketu Priya
Patvalampura Vasini Saa - Raga Naga Swaravali
Nada Swara Raga Sagara comprising of
Aim Hreem Shreem - Raga Latantapriya,
No composition - Raga Padmini (new raga with Swaras sa ri2, ma1, pa, da2, ni2 - in traditional Swara system),
Pavo Sharana - Raga Simhendra Madhyama (Sri Swamiji had played this in 1988),
Dance tune - Raga Dheera Shankarabharana,
Raga Ragini Mangala - Raga Saama.
Sri Jaitra Varanasi supported on violin, Sri Mani on Keyboards, Sri Shankar Ramesh on Mridangam, Sri Ramanujan on Morsing and Sri Mahesh on Tabla. After the concert Sri Swamiji remembered the services of Sri Narendra Dave and family for the organization of visit to Baton Rouge and the concert. Sri Swamiji recalled that the composition "Raga Ragini Mangala" was penned while staying with Sri Narendra Dave. Not to miss this historic occasion, many devotees across the US had come to this concert. After the concert Sri Swamiji went around the stage, greeting and blessing devotees.
On 14th July 2013 was the Sunday which Baton Rouge temple and devotees were waiting for. Sri Swamiji commenced the Abhishekam to Ganapathy, Dattatreya & Anagha Devi and to the Shiva Lingam. Sri Swamiji later watched the Abhishekam performed by the priest Pathak. Sri Chakra Puja was performed in Jayalakshmi Bhavan. Devotee children from Houston sang Bhajans of Sri Swamiji. It was heartening to see young children take up to music on all the places of Sri Swamiji's US tour. At noon, Sri Swamiji returned to temple and performed Arati to the deities and to Srinathji.
In the evening, Sri Swamiji sang Hindi Bhajans. Sri Swamiji cut a 71st Birthday cake while devotees sang "Swaminatha Sachchidananda".
