In this Kaliyuga, Vedas have prescribed three most essential requisites to develop and propagate devotion. They are Satsangam, Saranagati and Namasankeerthanam. Satsangam is the quality of righteous devotees to  mingle rapturously, rather elatedly, with similar -minded people.  In fact, out of the four Yugas in order, it is firmly believed by the vedic erudite school of thought that Kaliyuga is the best yuga for practising boundless devotion. Devotion, done with utmost selfless passion can strike the divine chords of all deities and move them to shower blessings to the salvation- seekers. Then, Saranagati is the final stage of absolute unconditional surrender to the Almighty Lord or to reach the ultimate destination. Salvation! Prahlada and Markandeya are classic examples of selfless devotion. Ultimately, we come to the conclusion that Bhakti or devotion to the Almighty God demands Chitha Sudhi or purity of mind, a sine qua non for spiritual uplift. Bhakti, Jnana and Vairagya are the essential requisites to tread the path of God -realisation.  The first and foremost condition is absolute unconditional surrender to the Almighty!

As the devotee progressively moves ahead, he finds that besides Satsangam and Saranagati, there is another potential sphere of devotion by name Namasankeertanam which can stir any mind to dance in spiritual inebriation. We have heard that Sant Tukaram, Namdeo and Janabhai who, with their intense devotion and unconditional dedication, have experienced the manifestation of God’s presence in every object they behold. They relinquished all material pleasures in the world and knew only devotion and dedication for the pursuit of spiritual activities. Devotion is, therefore, the only option for spiritual uplift and attainment of salvation. The very purpose of human birth and the very purpose of life is to achieve this objectof fulfilment or accomplishment of life. Then only, the very purpose of mission on earth will be complete. Only a peaceful, contented and dedicated person with no expectation of fruit of his action in return, can be successful in spiritual life.

Of all spiritual methods, therefore, Namasankeertanam, the art of singing and praising the Lord’s grace and resplendence, in group, is emerging as the most powerful and important way to propitiate the deities and therefore, bhajan is gaining remarkable momentum in this Kali Yuga! Now it has become an integral part of our culture and is practised so vigorously in all temples, social circles and spiritual centres.  In this pursuit of Namasankeertanam, many vocalists and classical songsters emerged and thus the culture of group- singing in praise of the Lord has become an integral part of our social life. This particular genre or art has generated more enthusiasm among the people of all ages. In our daily life, every material activity or experience, whatever it be, one easily loses interest in everything after a particular stage and everything becomes humdrum, when the initial enthusiasm slowly withers away. But, the only activity which every normal individual would never get tired of, but aspires for incessant involvement, is DEVOTION, which he cherishes with unremitting passion and dedication, while treading the path of God- realisation. Devotion and dedication are, therefore, the true blessings of God and not anybody’s choice.

In these series of Feature Articles, I wish to analyse comprehensively, the spiritual services being rendered by the several Bhajan Samrats of Mumbai. There are hundreds of Bhajan groups here, functioning in their areas and presenting their soulful performances in various languages in their respective areas with elan and éclair and the devotees listening and singing in tune with the singers rhythmically. Here, my humble attempt is to pick up some of our familiar Tamil Bhajan Samrats from various parts of Mumbai, who have specialised in this genre with rich classical background and are presenting their sterling performances not only in India, but also abroad. Now let us peep into their challenging music journey and much celebrated performances one by one.

SRI BOMBAY HARI  - THE BHAJAN SAMRAT WITH A STENTORIAN VOICE

By virtue of his sonorous voice and historic musicperformances all over Mumbai as well as other parts of India besides abroad, SRI BOMBAY HARI, the legendary classical and Bhajan Samrat of Mumbai, Seldom needs any special introduction. He has already carved a niche in the bhajan Empire and occupied a honourable position by dint of his hard work and perseverance. Nevertheless, as a music enthusiast and ardent lover of his musical extravaganzas, I wish to chronicle his dedicated journey in the path of Namasakeerthanam. By dint of his hard work and commitment,  he has risen to the rank of those whose names have become a household name in Mumbai.  Many of his performances I am told, are now available in You Tube today.   I was also privileged to attend his Namasankeertana program, one evening in the Ghatkopar Bhajan Samaj temple premises in Garodia Nagar Mumbai in the presence of an elite audience. Any performance, be it music dance or drama,  it needs the presence of enthusiastic lovers, listeners and viewers. Fortunately,  Goddess Saraswati has blessed him with the quality of capturing the audience with his mesmerising, resounding voice quality.  His age has never put any hurdle before him, but has proved that only the physic gets old,  but not the inner faculty which remains ever-green over time,  of course with strict regimen and regular dedicated practice.  Now, let us have a brief survey of his musical journey.

A thumbnail sketch of his life and bhajan renditions

Shri D H Viswanathan, popularly known as BOMBAY HARI, the legendary Bhajan Samrat of Mumbai, by virtue of his splendid singing styles and qualities, has become the Bhajan Icon of MUMBAI, a magnanimous gift of Mumba Devi, in true sense. His unassuming nature, flawless, effortless and instantaneous presentation or alaapan of the keertan in the prescribed classical format or scale and gifted stentorian voice are the factors behind his success and popularity.  Music is considered as the language of Devas and it goes to a chosen few only.  Such talented musicians are born once in hundred years. 

A brief account of his family

He was born as the eldest son to late Sri Devaraja Iyer and late Smt. Kaveri Ammal. His wife’s name is Vatsala, a home maker and they have been blessed with two daughters viz, Vanita and Sunita who are also settled in Mumbai. He has three sisters settled in Mumbai and a brother Dr.V. S. Iyer (Organic Chemistry) who is settled in the U S.  His three sisters are Smt. Parvati Krishnamurti, Smt. Jayalaxmi Ramakrishnan and Smt. Lalitha Natarajan respectively.  He says, he had his early tutelage in music from his eldest sister Smt. who,  like his other siblings,   is also settled in Mumbai.  

Well,  Smt. Parvati  Krishnamurti, the elder sister of Shri Bombay Hari,   a veteran musician who had received her initial music lessons from Late Krisnaswami Bhagavathar,  and later from Late Chellamani Bhagavathar, was his first music teacher,  says Shri Hari mama so proudly.  The blessings of the Guru have worked miracle in his music career that the disciple has been making sterling performances over the years, breaking territorial barriers. The greatest, invaluable Gurudakshina that a disciple can ever give his/her Guru is, making the Guru’s expectations of the disciple,  a delectable reality.  Nothing can match that sublime, selfless contentment or gratification!   She used to practise singing every day at home and continued the habit, even after her marriage, quite religiously.  Even today, she is agile in this area of fine art by virtue of her self-commitment and regular practice. Still, at her age of 86, she is admired as capable of distinguishing the NUANCES OF RAGAS - the subtle differences in the traditional melodic pattern or rhythm - which reveals her professional perfection! No wonder her knowledge and prowess has percolated to her children, grand children and great grand -children who sing well.   Similarly, the other two sisters are also graduates and learned music at their young age. The other sister Smt. Jayalaxmi Ramakrishnan,  a resident of Garodia Nagar, is also adept in Carnatic music and she gives vocal performances during festivals in temples and Sabha’s programs as well as on social and religious occasions.  Besides, she is conducting music classes at her residence to groom a batch of enthusiastic students.   While he himself,  and his sisters,  have gone in for vocal singing, Dr. V.S.  Iyer, ( New York, U.S.A ) has,  on his own, mastered the art of playing the harmonium and can  fluently accompany the Bhajan Singers.  Let us pray for their long and healthy life!   Here, Bombay Hari would like to express his gratitude to Late P. V. Natarajan (Popularly known as Blue Star Natarajan) a   musician of great calibre, who groomed Shri Bombay Hari’s singing nuances and fine tuned the songs sung by him.

Shri Bombay Hari, lives in Matunga with his family and continues his musical pursuits, regaling the vast chunk of music lovers and enthralling the audiences in Mumbai as well as abroad, with his utmost involvement and mesmerising voice quality.

A triple graduate from Mumbai University, he retired as the Secretary (O. S.) in the rank of Deputy Zonal Manager from the Life Insurance Corporation of India Mumbai in November-1998 and since then he is continuing his favourite genre so passionately.  Even while in service, he enjoyed presenting performances without hampering his official duties.  He has been giving programs all over India for the last five decades.  In addition to regular traditional programs, he is also adept in performing several Kalyanams (marriages) in Bhajan programs like Sita Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Meenakshi Kalyanam, Ganapathy Kalyanam, Hariharaputhra Kalyanam, Srinivasa Padmavati Kalyanam, Lakshmi Kalyanam, Valli Devasena Kalyanam etc.

Besides his busy schedule of programs, he also finds time to groom a group of young and old group of students by imparting lessons in Sampradaya (traditional) Kirtans or Bhajans like Tarangam, Ramdasa Kritis, Meenakshi Sutha Kritis, popular Marathi Abhangs etc.

During his maiden visit to the U S in 1999, he had given number of programs in several states which fetched him good repute and popularity. Close on the heels, a unique program was arranged in Trivandrum where Shri Bombay Hari was called upon to conduct a SAPTHA KALYANA MAHOTSAVAM, from 12th May to 19th May 2002, vis-a-vis special programs covering Kritis of Ramdas, Purandaradasa, Sadashiva Brahmendra, Meenakshi Sutha, Abhangs, Tarangams, Hindi Bhajans etc. invariably every day.  In addition,  he was also invited to give music demonstration to students doing PhD in Music under the   auspices of the Kerala University.

It is heartening to mention here that Shri Bombay Hari was invited to perform Ashtapadhi, Divyanama and Radha Kalyanam in Dubai, in November-December-2003, followed by Shiva Ashtapadhi and Purna-Pushkala Kalyanam in Muscat in 2006. Further, he got another opportunity to perform his bhajans in various states in the U S in July 2009. He was blessed with another opportunity to perform series of Kalyanams (marriage) for various deities and Bhajans in U A E in September and December-2016.   

He owes all his grooming and development in the genre of music and particularly in the realm of traditional Bhajans to his Pujya Guru, Shri Subbarama Bhagavathar, Delhi. By virtue of his whole- hearted blessings, his disciple Shri Bombay Hari (Shri. D H Viswanathan) has, no doubt, surpassed all his normal expectations and outgrown to assume greater heights of a perfect, seasoned musician, regaling the audiences nationally and internationally.

It deserves special mention here that Shri Bombay Hari, with all his mastery and perfection in the traditional – Sampradaya- Bhajan, Abhangs, Kalyanams of various deities worshipped in the Hindu mythology and verve in all octaves, has been able to win the hearts of all music lovers everywhere. Recognizing his talents and ingenuity in the genre of classical music and Bhajans, the Kanchi Paramacharya Aradhana Mahotsava Committee, Palakkad (Kerala) conferred upon him the coveted title of -GANAMRUTHA VARSHINI- during the Bhajanotsavam, held in August-2005.

Shri Bombay Hari is also the Founder President of an NGO Hari Music Foundation – recently renamed as Kaveri Music Foundation after his late mother. This NGO primarily takes care of the educational needs for continuing education of the poor and needy in the society. Also the NGO is associated with few other NGO’s in giving them financial aid for their various projects.

Shri Bombay Hari, with all his positive qualities and attributes, acquired over the years by dint of his hard work and poised efforts, his penchant for Namasankeerthanam has elevated him to the status of a great maestro of the epoch.

Let us now extend to this reputed Bhajan Samrat,  our best wishes for healthy long life to scale still greater heights and amuse the music lovers and achieve many laurels and accolades in the years to come!

SHRI BOMBAY HARI  is, no doubt, the pride as well as the Bhajan Icon of Mumbai!  But,  in a broader sense,  he belongs to the world!