Unique features of Nada Mantapam:
- The world's first and only Sapta Swara Devata Mantapam: This Mantapa has deities of the godheads representing the seven musical notes. Sa-Agni, Ri-Brahma, Ga-Saraswati, Ma-Parameshwara, Pa-Maha Vishnu, Da-Maha Ganapati and Ni-Surya Narayana. It is Sri Swamiji's wish that the artists who perform here should first worship the Sapta Swara Devatas before beginning their programme.
- Twenty-two gigantic Tamburas have been sculpted and positioned gracefully against the 22 pillars of the auditorium. These 22 Tamburas represent the 22 Shrutis mentioned in the Sangeeta Shastra.
- The entrance of the auditorium has the sculpted deities of godheads connected with music - Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, Narada Muni, Garuda, Vishwaksena, Anjaneya, Tumburu, Hayagreeva, Nandi, Bhringi and Ganapati. The porch is colourfully decorated in Tamilnadu style.
- It is planned to decorated the walls with huge portraits of eminent music composers of the past. A special lighting system will illuminate the portrait of the particular composer whenever his composition is sung or played. For example, when the composition - Samaja Varagamana - of Saint Tyagaraja is played or sung, the lights in front of the portrait of Tyagaraja will automatically light up. The portraits of composers from South India (eg., Tyagaraja, Muttu Swami Deekshitar, Purandaradasa etc.,) , North India (Tansen, Tukaram, Meera Bai etc.,) and Western Countries (eg., Beethoven, Vivaldi, Mozart etc.) will adorn the walls of Nada Mantapa.
- The staggered seating system will hold more than 3500 people in this sacred auditorium, making it one of the largest performing theatres in India. The vast stage measuring 2150 sq.ft. can accommodate ballet groups and philharmonic orchestra groups. As the auditorium is an amphitheatre, there is vast scope for future expansion. The seats are laid out in a radial pattern such that they fall within an angle of 140 degrees from the position of the performer.
- The auditorium is equipped with state of the art sound (Bose Corporation of USA), lighting and theatrical systems.
- There is a big Yaga Shala to the North West of the auditorium where rituals can be performed during festivities like Navaratri.
- The hall has been so designed that several other functions like seminars and symposia, training camps, Yoga camps and mass eye treatment camps can be conducted in it.
Nada Mantapa is a testimony to Poojya Sri Swamiji's dedication, attachment and love for music. Right from its conception till its completion Sri Swamiji was totally involved even in the minutest of its details. Whenever He found time amidst His busy schedule, Sri Swamiji would discuss and give important suggestions which resulted in making the Nada Mantapa unique in all ways. Whether He was sitting on the banks of the sacred Manasa Sarovar or travelling in the hot and dusty villages of Andhra Pradesh or waiting in the transit lounge of an international airport, Sri Swamiji used His spare time in working out the finer aspects of the Nada Mantapa project. His commitment for any project is always complete and He does not allow his focus to deter until the project is completed with absolute perfection. That Sri Swamiji had worked out the details of the inauguration of the Nada Mantapa almost one year in advance is one of the examples of His meticulous planning.
Sri Swamiji is an inspired music revolutionary whose experiments and research in music have been acclaimed as harbingers of an era of "Music for Meditation & Healing" or Yoga Music. We are confident that the lofty artistic ideals and creativity along with humanitarian goals of Poojya Sri Swamiji will leave a permanent imprint on the society at large.
8 сен 2024
