Pandit Jasraj, the unparalleled doyen of North Indian Classical vocals, has a scholarship instituted by the University of Toronto in his name for deserving young Canadian students who wish to train in Indian music. Born into a family which has given to Indian music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro, Pandit Jasraj had his initial grooming in music under his father, the late Motiramji. He then underwent intensive tutelage under his elder brother and guru, the late Sangeet Mahamahapadhyaya Pandit Maniramji.



Endowed with a rich, soulful and sonorous voice which effortlessly traveses over all three and half octaves, Pandit Jasraj?s vocals are characterised by a blend of austere and opulent elements, projecting traditional music and an intense spiritual expression at once chaste and densly coloured. In this he has been guided by his spiritual guru, the late Maharana Shri Jaiwant Singhji of Sanand.

Perfect diction, clarity of sur and command over all aspects of laya are other highlights of his music. He pays great attention to the choice of the composition and the words in it. This sensitivity together with his pure classical approach have given his music a lyrical quality which is the quintessence of the Mewati style of singing. His biggest contribution to Indian music is his concept of a novel jugalbandi based on the ancient system of moorchanas, between male and female vocalists, each singing their respective scales and different ragas at the same time. This has been so highly acclaimed that connoissures of music in Pune have named it Jasrangi Jugalbandi.

Pandit Jasraj has been honoured by the Harvard University Art Museum in the US and has the Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation in Vancover and the Pandit Jasraj Academy of Music in New Jersey.

courtesy: http://www.india-today.com/mtoday/profiles/jasraj.html

Nimmijee :

Thanx for uploading wonderful picture and details. Here is something interesting about Pandit Jasraj. This appeared in India Times.

Pandit Jasraj




My first introduction to God happened when I was just 14, in the year 1944. Now I am turning 73. My older brother was then called to the small estate of Sanand near Ahmedabad to sing. In those days invitations from kings were rare and to only a few. So my brother and also my Guru Pandit Maniramji and I went there.



But my brother had lost his voice and he was asked to be excused. Then, the king of Sanand and our spiritual Guru Maharaj Jaiwant Singhji told him that Ma will give some of her shakti to him and he will be able to sing again. Only he will have to sing for God alone. A miracle happened when Maharaj went into the temple and closed the door.



After some time, he called my brother and me inside and instructed him to sing. My brother who could not even speak before that was then able to sing from 12 midnight to 6 in the morning. I was thus introduced to God and at a personal level.

Remember that God makes sure that you believe in his presence. Once that happens you cannot severe the relationship. I also believe in all forms of God but with Mata and Krishna, I share a very close relationship.

My love for Krishna grew as I grew. He loves music and I play it for him. I went to Somnath and I saw my Krishna in the Shivaling a. In fact, I saw each mood of my Krishna in the Shivalinga . I sang for him and I had my fill. That is my love for him and his love for me.

As for Mahakali , I sing to her gentle expression. She is my protector and my mentor. Krishna is my guide. That is why I do not sing for religion. I sing for God and spirituality. You know that all religions use music as medium. They have some sound or voice to communicate to Him. But then I feel that to reach his niraakaar form you have to find some medium. Once you connect to a form or a deity after loosing your own self then only you can really see him.

How can you see God in darkness? There has to be light and guidance of devotion and dedication to take you to Him. If you can love His form to the extent that you forget about your own existence like Meerabai, then you can be one with His niraakaa r-self. I have immense faith in Him and I know that He has blessed me with my art.

So many times I have encountered Him and felt His presence. I was coming back to Mumbai and when I crossed Kolhapur I visited a small temple of Mata . One sage had done a complete s hringaa r (decoration) of the Goddess. On turning he saw me and called me into the sacred room. He removed all the jewellery and asked me to bathe the Goddess in milk. Then I did the shringaar all over again. He did not know who I was.

Then I asked him if I could sing for her and sat there singing in her presence for an hour. I felt as if I was given a new life. I know that today many people feel that rituals are useless but I have experienced that they have so much of power.

People are not honest. So they can neither understand nor feel the power given by it. Before all my performances, I always invite Him to be with me and ask Him to accept my dedication. Without this, even today, I can not give my best. For me it is not performance but my worshipping, my pooja. If my God is not there then how can I do my rituals and pooja with my singing? Without Him I am nothing. I believe in Him 100 per cent.

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