The First Lesson - By Mysore Vasudevacharya

Mysore Vasudevacharya, doesn't need any introduction among the the Carnatic Music Devotees. Many popular compositions like 'Broche varevarura' in Kamas, 'Mamavatu sri Sarasvati' in Hindolam, 'Bhajare Re Manasa' in Abheri, 'Ninne Nammitinayya Sri Rama' in SimhendraMadhyamam are the contribution of this great Musician who belonged to the 'Shishya Parampara' of Sri Thyagara Swami, forerunner among the Trinities of Carnatic Music. We found an old article written by him- published somewhere in between 1900 -1961, recalling the days he spent with his Guru - Sri Patnam Subramania Iyer around 1870s! Those words, like his compositions, were flowing out from the heart of purity.

He writes :

Says Bhagavadgeetha. You should serve your Guru with devotion and sincerity; you should prostrate at his feet; you should ask him questions and get your doubts cleared; you are, then, ready for the road to 'Brahmagnana' .

Who is a Guru ? In the word Guru, Gu denotes darkness and Ru stands for removal. The word Guru thus means one who removes darkness. A Guru is one who, through his gnanopadesha, enlightens the sishya. It is through Guroopadesha that the sishya attains Brahmagnana. It is through him that the sishya is introduced to the esoteric secrets of Art or Science. No wonder, then, the Guru is held in high esteem in our tradition.

Your attainments will be proportionately related to your devotion to God and Guru.

the sishya should abandon all comfort and sleep and devote himself wholeheartedly to his studies.

'Dravyarjana' and 'Vidyarjana demand constant and continuous effort ; one should work for them every moment.

Guru Patnam Subramanya Iyer

The sishya should gaze with his mind's eye on the picture of the form of his Guru from head to foot to be able to reach his goal without impediments on the way. The sishya is also known as 'anthevasi' because he lived the Gurukula Vasa so that he was ever ready to attend to the needs of his Guru.

And how should a Guru be? A true Guru should be a 'Shishy-hruthApaharak' but not a 'vithApaharak' . The Guru should try to win the heart of his sishya and not merely extract monetary benefits from him. The Guru should feel delighted if he were to be excelled by his own desciple : 'shishyaathichedam parajayam'.

Mysore Vasudevacharya

In a Gurukula there are usually not more than two or three sishyas The Guru who is not under any monetary obligation to any of them is master in every sense ; he teaches the sishya whenever the likes and whatever he chooses. He will, thus, always give his best to his sishya. The sishya who pays the 'Gurudakshina' through his seva only always tries to please his Guru by means of his ardent devotion. He awaits with patience and eagerness for the blessings of the Guru. The sishya is thus ever in a respective frame of mind conducive to grasp things quickly and assimilate them fully.

This was the first lesson we were taught at the Samskritha Pathasala: I decided to live up to these principles when I went to TIRUVAYYAR for my training in music under my Guru Patnam Subramanya Iyer. I stayed there for a little over six years Parameswara and Kempegowda of Coimbatore were the other two disciples who were with my Guru at that time. According to the daily routine of work each of us had to follow, I was required to get up early in the morning and be ready to provide the 'tamboora sruthi' for my Guru at the time of his Sadhaka which would be from 4.30 to about 6.30.

After the Sadhaka I went out to collect tulasi for his pooja. My next task was to go to the river and wash the clothes of my Guru and his wife and fetch drinking water. By the time I returned home, the Guru would have finished his pooja ; I would wash the pooja utensils and keep them ready for the next day. Lessons for Parameswara and Kempegowda began by about 9 in the morning and I was to be present at the time and listen attentively.

After food, I would be by the side of my Guru who would be engaged with his musical composition. At night, I had to make the bed for my Guru and do 'padaseva' till he fell asleep. Several months rolled by in this manner but I received not a single lesson from my Guru. I had not the courage to ask him either as to when he would begin teaching me. However, it was not difficult for him to read my thoughts. One day, he himself talked about and said. Do not think, Vasu, that you have just wasted away your precious time because I have not taught you anything so far. I am fully aware of your eagerness and enthusiasm to learn I was only preparing the foundation for the future construction. A student of music should first of all welcome all opportunities to hear good music ; their benefits are many. After attentive listening, one can learn in no time any Varnam or Keertana, however, difficult and complicated it may be, I have taken you to the very doors of the temple of Art; what remains to be done is to enable you to have a darshan of the 'moola vigraham' .

The next day, as instructed by my Guru I got up early to have my bath in the Cauveri. I went to the Tyagaraja Samadhi and offered prayers. Returning home, I did Sashtunga- pranamam to my Guru 'Sangeethavidyasidharsthu' said he and blessed me placing his band on my head, I felt thrilled.

He started the lesson with his own Varnam in Begada marachitlunde. Though I was able to learn the piece by heart in a couple of days, he did not teach me any thing else for the next three months. I was asked to practise the same Varnam morning and evening! in 'Prathama' , 'madhyama' and 'Thri kalams' . Next, he analysed the varnam 'avartam' by 'avartam' and explained the 'Ragasanchara' and 'Ragabhava' in each 'avartam' . He asked me to take up one 'avartam' a day and elaborate the 'ragaprayoga' occuring therein. This excercise went on for about a month. “Look, Vasu”, said my Guru, “I have taught you the Begada Ragam in its totality. Nothing else remains for me to teach you in that ragam. So thorough and so detailed was the method of training. Neither the Guru nor the Sishya in those days was guided by the number of varnams and kritis taught or learnt. Any thing taught or learnt should be flawless and complete; that was their aim.

Written by
Mysore Vasudevacharya

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