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Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan is a premier socio-religious institution in South India. Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj, a nineteenth century saint, philosopher, mystic and poet established the Samsthan in the year 1845 to propagate the message of religious harmony and universal brotherhood. The Samsthan today has gown into an important place of pilgrimage and draws thousands of devotees cutting across religious, linguistic and geographical barriers. Apart from being an important religious institution, it is also serving the society through its multifarious educational and charitable activities. |
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Musical Heritage of Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan |
Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj (1817-1865), who is considered as the fourth incarnation of Bhagwan Shri Dattatreya, was a nineteenth century saint, philosopher-poet and a mystic who propagated the message of equality of all religions and universal brotherhood. He was also a great musicologist who composed numerous padas in Hindi, Urdu, Marathi and Kannada. Such was his mastery and authority over the field of music that great maestros of Hindustani classical music of his time such as Tarra Hussain Khan and Bade Mohammad Khan considered it an honor and privilege to perform before him. Maniknagar thus became a 'Musicians' Mecca'. Since its establishment in the year 1845, Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan (the institution founded by Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj) has been patronizing music |
This great musical heritage was further strengthened by the third Peethadhipati of Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan - Shri Sadguru Martand Manik Prabhu Maharaj (1861-1936) who was a philosopher par excellence, a poet of rare distinction and an authority over Indian classical music. His two books, namely DNYAN MARTAND a widely acclaimed treatise on the Advaita Philosophy and GAANA MARTAND a study on the Raaga system of Indian classical music and its indissoluble relationship with spirituality stand as a tall examples of his great personality. |
Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, the doyen of Indian Classical Music and the founder of Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya had great respect for Shri Martand Manik Prabhu Maharaj. On the invitation of Pandit Paluskar Shri Martand Manik Prabhu Maharaj visisted Mumbai in the year 1919 and stayed at the Mumbai branch of Gandharva Mahavidyalaya. On the concluding day of Shri Maharaj ji's stay Pandit Paluskar sang before Shri Maharaj ji as a mark of his respect for him. On the conclusion of the recital Shri Maharaj ji honoured Panditji with a garland of flowers. Expressing his gratitude panditji said “I consider this garland of flowers to be more precious than a NAVARATNA MALA (a necklace made of precious stones)”. Instantly interrupting Panditji amidst his speech, Shri Maharaj ji called him nearer, took out the navaratna mala presented to him by the Shankaracharya of Shringeri which he used to always wear and put it around the neck of Panditji and said “your music is so divine that nothing less than a gift like this would be a fitting appreciation of your musical pursuit. |
This is the reason why the masters of Indian Classical Music of his time such as Pandit Bhaskar Buva Bakhle, Pandit Balkrishna Buva Ichalkaranjikar, Ustad Rehmat Khan, Gauhar Jaan, Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and Pandit Vinayakbuva Patwardhan always visited Maniknagar and stayed here for weeks together to receive the blessings of Shri Maharaj ji. |
The Samsthan has been selflessly working to train talented young musicians and is also providing them the required platform for the exhibition of their musical talent by way of organizing regular concerts and music sessions at Maniknagar. In keeping with the great musical heritage of Maniknagar, the Samsthan regularly hosts music festivals, seminars, lectures and workshops on various issues relating to Indian classical music, dance, theatre and art. |
Almost all legends of Hindustani classical music such as Vidushi Hirabai Badodekar, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Basvraj Rajguru, Smt. Gangubai Hangal, Pandit Vishwamohan Bhatt, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Allarakkha Khan Saheb, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Smt. Prabha Atre, Smt. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande and Smt. Veena Sahsrabuddhe have performed at Maniknagar on different occasion during the last 50 years. |
According to well-known musician of Karnataka Smt. Gangubai Hangal there is a well-established feeling among the musicians all over India that unless they perform before the holy Samadhi of Shri Sadguru Manik Prabhu Maharaj at Maniknagar, 'their Saadhana (musical preparation) will not bear fruits'. This is the reason why, she says, every big and small musician from across the country, makes it a point to visit Maniknagar, at least once in his lifetime and performs SANGEET SEVA before the Samadhi of Shri Prabhu Maharaj. |
The Annual Datta Jayanti Mahotsava (held every year in the month of December) is an occasion for all musicians to congregate at Maniknagar for offering their Seva. Thousands of music lovers sit in rapt attention to listen to a host of renowned and upcoming artists who perform during the DARBAR (a night long musical session) which forms the concluding part of the Mahotsava. This Darbar has a history of more than 165 years and can very well be compared to the famous musical festivals of the country such as the Tansen Samaroh of Gwalior, The Sawai Gandharva Mahotsava of Pune and the Harvallabh Music Festival of Punjab. |
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