Ramananjali is an anjali, offering of music, to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.
'Ramananjali' is a musical ensemble comprising five vocalists and six or
seven instrumentalists: flute, veena, clarionet, violin, tabla, and special
rhythms. The group has a repertoire of more than 300 songs in different
languages, which include compositions by Bhagavan Ramana himself, and those
written about him by great poets like Ganapati Muni, Muruganar, and Sadhu
Om.
The group has given more than 350 live programmes throughout India and
the rest of the world, and has recorded over 95 cassettes, in Sanskrit,
Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Gujerathi--all with soul-stirring
fervour. The tapes are produced by Sangeetha of Madras, leading producers
and distributors of pre-recorded cassettes in India.
NOTE: A booklet, 'The World of Ramana Music' is available
from the Centre. We describe below Sanskrit, and list the Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada
tapes:
SANSKRIT RAMANANJALI CASSETTES
Ramana Stuti.Highlights: Ramana Chatvarimsat, forty verses
in praise of Ramana, which are regularly chanted at the Shrine of Ramana
at Sri Ramanasramam. Also included is 'Ramana Ashtottara'--108 attributes
of Ramana used for daily worship at the shrine, morning and evening.
Skanda Ramana.Highlights: Contains all the verses of the
eighteenth chapter of Ramana Gita, which is ecstatic praise of Ramana by
Ganapati Muni. The music is particularly elevating. There is a brief introduction
in English.
Sat Darshanam.Highlights: The essence of the Maharshi's
teachings has been chanted with evocative meditative instrumentation. The
lucid introduction and commentary in English are by A.R. Natarajan, author
of several books on the Maharshi's teachings.
Ramana Gita Saram.Highlights: Contains the core of Ramana's
teachings selected from 'Ramana Gita' which covers many questions useful
for practice of the Ramana Way. The chanting is elevating. There is an
introduction and a commentary in English by A.R. Natarajan.
Sri Ramanasrama Vedaparayanam.Highlights: Complete chanting
of 'Rudram' and 'Chamakam' from Vedas. This chanting used to be done regularly
before the Maharshi, both in the morning and evening, and now in his shrine.
Two of Ramana's works in Sanskrit, 'Upadesa-saram' and 'Arunachala Pancharatnam'
have also been included as they form part of daily chanting at the Ashram.
Sri Chakra Pooja.Highlights: Every Friday, and on each auspicious
day at the shrine of Bhagavan's mother, a group of priests offers special
worship known as 'Sri Chakra Pooja', which is of great use in invoking
the presence of the divine. Sri Ramanasramam priests have chanted these
verses of praise in three cassettes.
Upanishad Chanting.Highlights: The chanting in this cassette
is also by the priests of Sri Ramanasramam. It contains chanting of 'Taittiriya'
Upanisad, considered particularly suitable for chanting. It is chanted
daily at the Shrine of Ramana.
TAMIL RAMANANJALI CASSETTES
Ramana Amudam
Ramana Geetham
Ramana Ninaivu
Ramana Mayavan
Ramana Tiruvadi
Ramana Tiruvembavai-I
Ramana Tiruvembavai-II
Arunachala Stuthi Pancakam
Ramana Stuthi Pancakam
Ulladu Narpadu, with commentary
Ramananubhooti
Ramana Vijayam (ballet)
Ramanaya Namo
Ramana Deva Malai
Ramana Sarana Pallandu
Ramana Mamani
Inba Ramana
Tiruvannamalai Thevarapoonkottu
Sadananda Ramana
Tiru Arunai Tiruppugazh
Ramana Deivam
Ranaba Guru Paran
Muruga Ramana
Ramana Tiru Mantram
Ramana Isai
Ramana Kannokkam
Sivame Ramana
Ribhu Gita
Anaittu Ni
Ramana Varnagal
Ramana Bhajanavali
TELUGU RAMANANJALI CASSETTES
Ramana Geethalu
Ramana Vandanam
Ramana Chaitanyamu
Ramana Soundaryamu
Ramana Smaranamu
Ramana Mahadeva
Ramana Amruthamu
Ramanuni Bangaru Padam
Ramana Madhuram
Bhagavan Ramanuni Bhajintumu
Ramananubhavamu
Ramana Dhara
KANNADA RAMANANJALI CASSETTES
Ramana Vani
Ramana Dhwani
Ramana Nada
Ramana Vandana
Ramana Smarane
Ramana Deva Deva
Ramana Sree Pada
Bhagavan Ramanana Bhajisona
Ramana Prabha (ballet)
Ramana Chetana
Ramana Anubhava
Ramana Cheluvu
Ramana Sobagu
Ramana Deva Saranu
Ramana Chitamani
Apta Ramana
Cit Sakthi Ramanesa
Ramanaesa Dewa
Ramana Gaana
Sivave Ramana
Ramananjali is included in the cultural wing of the Ramana Maharshi
Centre for Learning. In 1996 there was presented the 353rd offering to
Bhagavan Ramana, at Narada Gana Sabha, Sadguru Gnanananda Hall, in Madras,
sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka. The occasion
was the celebration of the Enlightenment Centenary of Bhagavan Ramana.
Fourteen songs were presented, including those composed by Sadhu Om, Muruganar,
Ganapathy Muni, and Bhagavan. They were sung in Tamil, Kannada, and Sanskrit.
(Cassettes of the music were available, with a special 25% discount to
mark the occasion.)
RAMANA BALLETS (Ramana Neritya Kala Ranga)
The Ballets of the Centre bring to the viewers a rich spiritual and cultural
feast. They are based on different aspects of the life and teachings of
Sri Ramana Maharshi presented in the context of India's manifold and splendid
heritage. The ballets are composed by distinguished poets and lyricists,
set to music by famous music directors, and choreographed by leading dancers--blending
and highlighting Indian classical and folk styles.
The main styles used are Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi and folk forms
of South India. The artistes, the Ramana Nritya Kala Ranga, are a cohesive
group of well trained, talented and dedicated young dancers. All this,
combined with the aptness of stage arrangements, technical perfection,
and splendid costumes, make the productions especially enjoyable. The ballets
are all scripted and directed by Dr. Sarada Natarajan and choreographed
jointly by Smt. Ambika Kameshwar and Dr. Sarada Natarajan, with special
items choreographed by experts in those styles of dance. The ballets are
available in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi. Introductory narration
is provided in English.
NOTE: A booklet, 'Enchanting Ramana Ballets' is available
from the Centre. We describe here only the 'Ramana Vijaya' ballet:
Ramana Vijaya
The ballet comences with the rejoicing of the stars at the birth of Sri
Ramana, especially his birth star, Punarvasu. The blind nurse assisting
in the delivery is blessed with a vision of light, and the village ladies
express the festivity dancing with their gay water pots by the riverside.
The highlight of this ballet is Ramana's death experience, the encounter
with and conquest of death, which has been dramatically presented. Other
incidents are Ramana's journey to Arunachala, Mother Alhagamma's entreaty
to him to return home, his first spiritual instruction given in reply to
Mother, the touching relationship between Ramana and cow Lakshmi, and his
affectionate partaking of porridge offered by a poor shepherd. The narration
is in the tradition of Koravanji style (the South indian gypsies) with
their typical vivacity.
Music: Dr. S. Rajeswara Rao and L. Krishnan
Folk dances: P.C Subrahmanya
Lighting and stage: Chandra Kumar Singh
General Timing of Cultural Festivals for the Centre
March: 2nd Saturday and Sunday, Bangalore
December: 1st Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Bangalore
ALSO: Festivals are held at Madras and Madurai.
This link is under development. Please be patient. Thank you.
OM NAMO BHAGAVATE SRI RAMANAYA
You are warmly invited to call, write, or visit
The Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning in Bangalore.
40/41 Lower Palace Orchards
Bangalore 506 003, India
Phone: 369633
