Thursday, June 17, 2010

Krishna Katha - Story for meditation - 18/06/2010 - Ustad Bismillah Khan's personal encounter with Lord Sri Krishna

(This narration is based on an interview of Ustad Bismillah Khan , reported by Dr.Madhu Vasudevan of Malayala Manorama daily ) .

Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Shahnai maestro, had a personal encounter with Sri Krishna. In spite of being a Muslim, the legendary Ustad have had great respect for Sri.Krishna ; and that could have prompted the merciful Lord to appear in person .

Once Ustad Bismillah Khan was traveling by train  from Jamdshedpur to Varanasy . It was a coal run passenger train and Ustad was traveling  in the third class compartment . From an intermediate rural railway station , a young cowherd boy boarded the bogey in which Ustad was sitting  . He was a dark and lean boy ;  and he was holding a flute in his hands . Slowly the boy started playing his flute . The supreme quality of his music surprised the maestro Ustad who didn't even know the 'Raga' the boy was playing . Ustad Bismillah Khan  immediately recognized that , the boy is none other than Sri Krishna , the Supreme God Himself  . The nectarin Nada-Brahman ( Brahman in the form of music) flowing out of Krishna's flute filled Ustad's heart with ecstasy ; and tears of joy started pouring out of his eyes .

After the stunning performance , Ustad called the boy near and presented him with a coin requesting him to play the song again . Krishna obliged. This repeated again an again until Bismiillah Khan's wallet became empty. Young Krishna got down at the next railway station and disappeared .

In fact , Ustad was en route to participate  in a music concert related to Kumbha mela ( a Hindu religious gathering of millions of devotees ) . In that concert , Ustad presented  the newl  'Raga' ( which he learned that day from Krishna ) . This  melodious 'raga' was greatly appreciated by the audience who begged Ustad to sing  it many times . The music scholars around couldn't make out the name of the 'Raga' and they asked about it to Bismillah Khan . Ustad replied that the name of the Raga is 'Kanhaira' .

Next day's news papers contained headlines about the melodious new 'Raga' invented by Ustad Bismillah Khan . Having read it , Hariprasas Chaurasya, the legendary Musician (Flutist)  ,  asked about 'Kanharira Raga's'   details to Bismillah Khan . Ustad revealed the truth and sang Kanharira  ; and  Hariprakash Chaurasya ,  the topmost Flutist in the world , burst into tears of joy  .

'Kanharira' is a divine gem in Indian music , as it  originated  from the lotus lips of Sri.Krishna , the God of Gods !!!.

Thanks to Manoj Prabhu (Melbourne) and Sri Krishna Hari Prabhu (Delhi) for sharing the nice pastime.

PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward moral / instructive stories they hear so that everyone can be benefited.

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