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Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
True Art Takes Us Beyond Medium
Shastras mention 64 art forms , including dance, music, painting, sculpture, and others. But what is the deeper purpose behind these diverse expressions? The Sanskrit word for art is kala, which means 'that which brings out or manifests joy.' Thus, the purpose of art is to evoke joy and uplift the heart. However, every art needs a locus - the artist. Without an artist, art cannot manifest. So, the two main aspects are: art and the artist. Once, a deeply moved listener asked a performing artist, "Your music touches our hearts - but what touches yours?" The artist replied, "Money." If the heart is driven only by wealth or applause, the artist can neither soar high nor journey far. What truly matters is the intent behind the art. No matter how gifted an individual may be, their greatness is ultimately measured by the height of their altar of devotion and dedication. Attitude determines altitude. If the driving force is limited to wealth or recognition, true greatness remains out of reach. There is a well-known story about the legendary musician Tansen. He once told Emperor Akbar, "My Guru, Swami Haridas, is far greater than i am." Curious, Akbar visited the saint, for Swami Haridas would not enter the royal court. After listening to his music, Akbar admitted, "Your guru is indeed greater. But why?" Tansen replied, "Because he sings for God, while I sing for you!" Greatness lies in what resides in the heart - nothing can be greater than God. Why should our dedication be to Him? Because He is the very source of all creation, and creation cannot exist without knowledge. When our devotion is offered at this supreme altar, the art is transformed. An altar in life, alters life. The Valmiki Ramayan and Tulsi Ramayan are timeless masterpieces; composed and sung by great saints whose legacy continues to inspire generations. When graced by divinity, an art form transcends time and becomes immortal. Without this divine touch, all else is fleeting - here today, gone tomorrow. So, what truly lies in the heart of an artist ? The answer is hidden in the very spelling of the word 'heart'. If 'He' is in the 'art,' then everything is present. He - Paramatma - is the heart of all arts. When we admire a beautiful painting and merely note the clever blending of colours, joy remains on the surface. Similarly, when we focus only on notes, beats, or rhythm in music, pleasure stays at the sensory level. But the highest joy arises when the artist dissolves into the very source from which all creation flows. The truest art, the most elevated artist, and refined medium help transcend the form. As Swami Chinmayananda said, "Music is the ornamentation of silence - where words take us beyond sound." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 새로 나온 '실손보험' 최적가 가입추천! "월 보험료 줄이고, 보장은 더 든든하게"... 굿리치 (등록번호:제2006038313호) 가입하기 Undo True art takes us beyond the medium, words, and mind itself. It all comes down to who resides in the heart of the artist. Who shines through - the ego of the artist, or the presence of the Divine? A person reaches perfection - realisation - by worshipping the Lord through their art. The essence of devotional music lies in its ability to connect us to the one unchanging Reality. The focus must be on Divine consciousness from which all sound, rhythm, and artistic expression emerge, not merely on the techniques of raag and taal. Ultimately, the one who leads us beyond the medium, music, and mind is the guru. Authored by: Swami Tejomayananda Swamiji is from Chinmaya Mission Yoga Beyond Asanas: Ira Trivedi Mantena on the ancient practice, its hidden potential and the connection with mind & soul
Indian Express
7 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Bid to snatch control of Tansen's tomb: How a 16th century monument in Bhopal has been repeatedly pulled into litigation
Madhya Pradesh High Court last week rejected a plea by a private person to allow religious and cultural practices at the tomb of the Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in Gwalior, a protected monument of historical importance. The grave of Tansen, the legendary musician of Emperor Akbar's court, is located on the premises of the monument. Sufi tradition describes Tansen as a disciple of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus. The monument 'deserves to be protected with utmost care and caution', and it would be a 'national loss' if it loses 'its originality, sanctity and vitality', a Bench of Justices Anand Pathak and Hirdesh said on June 16. The monument in Gwalior The tomb, built some time after the death of Sheikh Muhammad Ghaus in 1563, has significant architectural and historical value and is considered one of the most notable structures of Akbar's reign (1556-1605). The tomb is listed as a Centrally Protected Monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, and has been maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) since 1962. The stone building 'anticipates trends yet to become popular in Mughal architecture, especially in eastern India', art historian Catherine B Asher wrote in her book, The New Cambridge History of India: Architecture of Mughal India (1992). The square building is topped by a large, squat dome and is flanked by chhatris, giving it a multi-tiered appearance. Around the tomb's central chamber runs a veranda with intricate stone screens, a design influence traced to Gujarat, where the saint had spent considerable time. These elements prefigure later monuments, such as the tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti at Fatehpur Sikri. Tansen is buried next to the tomb of the Sufi pir. His association with the site has deepened its cultural resonance, and for decades has attracted both pilgrims and music lovers. Petition and petitioner The petition was filed by Syed Sabla Hasan, who claimed to be the Sajjada Nashin, or spiritual caretaker of the tomb, as well as the saint's legal heir. He sought permission to perform religious and cultural practices at the tomb, including the annual Urs, a commemorative Sufi gathering. Hasan argued that these practices had been carried out for more than four centuries at the site, and that the restrictions on such events were arbitrary and unlawful. The ASI submitted that the petitioners were making false claims and were interfering with the upkeep and protection of the monument. It told the HC that unlawful activities were being carried out on the premises — including installation of electrical wiring, lights, tents, and even furnaces — nails were being hammered into walls, and a situation was being created that hampered tourism and undermined the structural integrity, and cultural and architectural dignity of the monument. The court agreed with the ASI that religious and cultural events could not be permitted at a Centrally Protected Monument. The court held that neither the petitioner nor his family had any legal right or title to the tomb, and that the matter had been litigated and settled multiple times over the past three decades. The ASI and the Union of India have consistently maintained that the matter had attained finality in law. * Back in 1995, one Peerzada Syed Ali Hasan filed a civil suit in the court of the Civil Judge Class-II, Gwalior, seeking ownership of the tomb. * After the court dismissed the 1995 suit, Ali Hasan's two sons and two daughters filed a First Appeal, which too, was dismissed in 2004 by a detailed judicial order. * In 1996, Ali Hasan's son Syed Muhammad Hasan filed a separate civil suit, which was dismissed in 1999. * A civil revision petition was filed against that ruling, which was rejected in 2002. * A second appeal was rejected in 2015. * A review petition filed before the Supreme Court was dismissed in 2016. Despite this long history of failures, Syed Sabla Hasan filed a case before the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Tribunal in 2019, seeking the ownership and religious control over the tomb. In 2022, this plea was dismissed, with the tribunal ruling in favour of the ASI.
The Print
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Congress must accept that Emergency was huge mistake and move on: Akbar
Asked whether the Grand Old Party of Indian politics should still live with 'the guilt', Akbar said, 'I think the Congress must find a way to accept that it was a huge mistake, an assault on the nation, and move on. Panaji, Jun 25 (PTI) Former Union minister M J Akbar on Wednesday said the Congress must 'find a way to accept' that Emergency was a huge mistake, and move on. 'After all, many political parties in India have found ways to correct themselves. Why can't the Congress?' the veteran journalist said, talking to PTI in Goa. He also underlined the 'maturity' of the Indian voters who brought Indira Gandhi back to power in 1980 after inflicting a rout on her in 1977. 'When they were given the chance in 1980 to vote again because the Janata Party experiment had collapsed, they brought back a stable government. They did not want instability. History is often a story of mistakes as much as it is of successes. So, the Congress must accept it and move forward,' said Akbar. Emergency was a period when arbitrary political power and dictatorship massacred the values and principles of Indian democracy, he said, adding, 'But within that dark experience, India also found inspiration to rediscover itself.' Recalling those days when he was a 24-year-old journalist, Akbar said Emergency, to begin with, was an unprecedented shock on an individual, institutional and the national level. 'We took democracy for granted. We could not believe that anyone could possibly interfere with the fulcrum as well as the foundational ideology of our nation. I think the shock took time to register,' he said. The first reactions from newspapers were of leaving blank spaces where the editorial was meant to be, Akbar said. 'Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of the Emergency was that after two or three weeks, there was a normalization of behavior, as if this would continue, and this was what India was going to become,' the former minister of state for External Affairs said. The 'perpetrators of the Emergency', prime minister Indira Gandhi and her younger son Sanjay Gandhi, began to talk of the next 20 years as if this was the new normal, he said. 'But we discovered that India may have become silent, but India was never supine. It was the people of India who actually fought against the Emergency.' Asked about the Emergency from current perspective, he said, 'Now, from the current perspective, if anyone were to try to repeat the Emergency today, it wouldn't be possible….No one could get away with it. That is the key lesson from 1975 to 77. 'Everyone now understands that the strength of India lies in its commitment to democratic principles,' he said, adding that anyone who tries to challenge India's freedom for personal power will be discarded by history. PTI RPS KRK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
20-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘People tell me I'm Hindu, he's Muslim… just want to be with him': Ghaziabad woman at centre of interfaith marriage speaks out
'Every day, someone new comes and tries to convince me that I have brought disrespect to my family because I married a Muslim man,' said Sonika Chauhan, 25, who is at the centre of a saga that includes an interfaith wedding, allegations of kidnapping, and vandalism. On May 25, Sonika's father, Laxman Singh Chauhan, filed a complaint with the Ghaziabad Police, alleging that his daughter had been kidnapped and wrongfully confined by a man named Akbar. The police registered an FIR, after which the couple surrendered at the Indirapuram police station. Hours earlier, they had shot a video in Akbar's car, stating they were married and requesting that their families not be harmed. Akbar's shop was also vandalised by a group of men belonging to the Bajrang Dal, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Indirapuram Yuva Morcha, and Uttarakhand Samaj Adhikarik, who raised allegations of 'love jihad'. Akbar was arrested on May 26, as were his relatives, including his sisters. He was finally released on bail on June 8. The police are yet to produce Sonika in court to record her statement. Speaking to The Indian Express, she said, 'People keep telling me that I am Hindu and he is Muslim, that I have brought disrespect to my family… I just want to be with him. When will all this end?' Akbar, meanwhile, who spent 14 days in jail before being granted bail by the Ghaziabad district court, said his private life had been turned into a political drama. Dressed in a white shirt and a pair of black jeans, he said, 'People are talking about love jihad, but do they know our story? Do they realise that she is my wife? We are married, I am not a criminal,' he said. Akbar recalled what had led to the FIR and vandalism of his two shops. 'On May 24, I was at my shop, and Sonika was at her salon, which is right next to my shop. Around 1 pm, Sonika's mother called her home,' said Akbar, showing CCTV footage from the cameras installed outside his shop. He said at 1.28 pm, Sonika returned with her mother to meet him, claiming that gold jewellery was missing from the house. 'I told them that I would figure it out. By 4 pm, Sonika returned to her salon, and my friend dropped her mother home. Later that evening, her mother returned to confront us about our marriage,' said Akbar, as he showed a copy of the marriage certificate, dated August 29, 2022, on his phone. Kalpana (25), Sonika's helper at the salon, said it was around 6-7 pm when Sonika's mother came to the salon and asked her to shut it down. 'There weren't many customers in the salon… When Sonika refused, her mother hit her. Soon, her father came as well,' said Kalpana. Akbar said that when Sonika's father confronted him about their marriage, he asked her to tell them the truth. 'She did, and we left for Allahabad, shot a video in the car to ensure that our family does not suffer. But everything was ruined… We were on our way to Kanpur when a police officer called and asked us to surrender. We came back, hoping to get police protection…' Akbar and Sonika, neighbours said, had known each other since they were children but fell in love nine years ago. 'I had known her since childhood, but it was all very formal. She studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya and went to school on the bus… some days, after school, I would stand at the bus stop and look for her. This is how we began talking,' Akbar said. 'Over the next five years, we completed school and college. Sonika wasn't interested in studying and planned to open her salon. So she opted for open school for graduation and joined a VLCC training programme that would last for 1.5 years,' Akbar said. 'In 2019, when her training institute denied her a learning certificate, she introduced me to her father. My brother is a lawyer. Several other girls did not get the certificate. I filed the complaint on behalf of 140 girls, and their certificates were issued — and I became a regular in her family,' said the 29-year-old. In 2022, Akbar said, Sonika opened her salon after many false starts and rejections. 'It was like a dream. We were financially capable of fending for ourselves and decided to get married. I was helping her all along. No friend does that, her parents knew that we were in love,' Akbar said. He reiterated that neither of them abandoned their religion, and they got married under the Special Marriage Act. 'I respected her religion and went to each temple that she wanted to go to. All I knew was that we wanted to be together, and I loved her. We thought that once we get married, our parents will not be able to pressure us,' Akbar said. 'Today, people are threatening those who were witnesses to our marriage. The problem is not the police or her parents, it is society,' he said. When The Indian Express contacted the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Trans-Hindon, Patil Nimish Dasharath over Sonika not being produced before the court for her statement, he said, 'We are trying. We will produce her when she is ready.' Akbar, however, is heartbroken. 'Bring her to court, let her say what she wants,' he said. 'I cannot take this separation. I am suffering, I cannot show the world, but I am breaking apart.' Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express. She covers crime, health, environment as well as stories of human interest, in Noida, Ghaziabad and western UP. When not on the field she is probably working on another story idea. On weekends, she loves to read fiction over a cup of coffee. The Thursday Murder club, Yellow Face and Before the Coffee Gets Cold were her recent favourites. She loves her garden as much as she loves her job. She is an alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. ... Read More
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ajeemganj Mango Festival on, visitors get a peek into Murshidabad's cultural heritage
Kolkata: Murshidabad, home to Nawabs with its rich cultural history, is known for its mango varieties. Historically a seat of the Nawabs, entwined with a rich tradition of cultivating unique varieties of mangoes, many of which are named after historical characters and events from their history. Ajeemganj Mango Festival organized by Murshidabad Heritage Development Society (MHDS) and House of Sheherwali, has started from June 1 to 30. The month-long celebration, which is underway, coincides with the peak mango season, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the diverse varieties of mangoes. Known as the king of fruits, mangoes are a summer seasonal fruit in India. 'Murshidabad gears up for its biggest-ever Mango Festival starting from June, expanding for a month-long celebration, the 10th edition will showcase the city's famed nawabi mangoes offering a rich blend of taste and heritage' said Pradip Chopra, President of the Murshidabad Heritage Development Society. The festival will highlight the historical significance of mangoes in the region, particularly how Mughal Emperor Akbar encouraged the cultivation and cross-breeding of mangoes, development of numerous varieties. India is the largest producer of mangoes, boasts over 500 varieties, with Murshidabad alone being home to around 150 varieties. Some Mango Varieties of Murshidabad include Kohitoor which is a cross between the extinct Kalopahar and another unnamed variety, prized for its unique flavour, Nawab Pasand: a mango named after a nawab's favourite, Inayat Pasand which is named after a jagirdar (land owner) who patronized the mango, Ranipasand: Named after the nawab's favorite wife, Champa, a mango with a distinct aroma, reminiscent of the champa flower, Bimli which is named after a maid employed by Mir Jafar, Anaras with its pineapple-like flavour, Saranga which dedicated to the sarangi players in the nawab's haveli, Gulabkhas which possesses a subtle rose fragrance, Mohanbhog offering as a tribute to Lord Krishna, Peyarafuli features a guava-like flavour, among others. Live Events Guests staying at the House of Sherawali will get the opportunity of daily mango trail experience, much like the wine trails of Europe or tea trails of North Bengal. Each morning includes visits to local orchards to hand-pick and taste mangoes straight from the trees, people in the know said. Guests can savor the rich flavours of seasonal mangoes while enjoying serene views of the Ganga River. Beyond this, all visitors can explore mango orchards, learn about the history and cultivation of the fruit, and discover rare and local varieties that celebrate Murshidabad's vibrant mango heritage.
