Traditional classical music has played a significant role in the pursuit of spiritual heights. Throughout history, the great Gurus have composed hymns called Shabads in various ragas and encouraged their disciples to sing them accordingly. This old Sikh tradition, which dates back to the time of Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, was faithfully upheld by Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji with unwavering devotion.
He was an ardent admirer of Indian classical vocal and instrumental music. His preference was to sing Gurbani in the same raga in which it was written in the Adi Granth Sahib.
It is said that whenever Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji embarked on his tours in India and abroad, he made time to listen to performances by classical musicians, regardless of how packed his schedule might be. On one occasion, he even permitted a group of English and Finnish Christian musicians to perform in his presence in Britain, showcasing his openness to musicians of all faiths.
Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji encouraged young people to delve into Indian classical music, urging them to learn from renowned eminent musicians who held him in high esteem. He served as a source of inspiration for many notable Indian classical musicians. Musical concerts, both in India and abroad, are organised to promote Indian art and to attract more people to explore and learn this rich tradition.
The Kala Kendra has been established at Sri Bhaini Sahib to promote both vocal and instrumental music under the guidance of eminent musicians. Students as young as 5 years old are being trained in classical music under Satguru Jis supreme supervision. With his patronage and blessings, many music schools have flourished in India, including those in Delhi, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Mandi (Himachal Pradesh), and Jammu, dedicated to teaching music to children.
Sri Satguru Ji also made special arrangements with world-famous Indian classical musicians to mentor these children. Many talented young Namdhari artists received instruction from internationally reputed musicians such as Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shanta Prasad, Pandit Krishan Maharaj, Pandit Shiv Kumar, and Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia.
These and other renowned classical musicians, including Ustad Umeed Ali Khan, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Shri Kumar Gandharava, Swami Pagal Das, Pandit Ram Narayan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Allah Rakha, Singh Bandhu, and Ustad Zakir Hussain, have had the honor of participating in Namdhari Sangeet festivals and receiving blessings from Sri Satguruji.
The following are views of eminent musicians highlighting the greatness of Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji :
Amjad Ali Khan
“His Holiness Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji Maharaj has always been a source of great inspiration to many classical musicians of India”
Ustaad Amjad Ali Khan is an Indian classical musician who plays the Sarod. Khan was born into a musical family and has performed internationally since the 1960s. He was awarded India’s second highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2001).
Namdhari Senior disciple: Ust Gurdev Singh.
In conversation with Pandit Ravi Shanker
Pandit Birju Maharaj
“Words fail us when we speak about His most Exalted Holiness Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji. His intense love for and wholehearted devotion to every aspect of music – deep thought, melody and rhythm – need no testimony, and this art spontaneously permeates his whole life.”
Brijmohan Mishra popularly known as Pandit Birju Maharaj is the leading exponent of the Lucknow Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Kathak dance in India. He is a descendant of the legendary Maharaj family of Kathak dancers, including his two uncles, ShambhuMaharaj and LachhuMaharaj, and his father and guru, Acchan Maharaj. Even though dancing is his first love, he also has an excellent command over Hindustani classical music and is an accomplished vocalist as well.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia
“I have never known a spiritual Guru such as ‘Satguru’ who is so keen and knowledgeable in the Indian classical musical field. It was a delight to witness him playing and teaching his students with such a vast knowledge, especially his grasp of rare and original ragas as well as taals found very inspiring”.
Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (born 1 July 1938) is an Indian classical flautist. Apart from classical music, he has made a mark as a music director for Indian films along with Shivkumar Sharma. He has also collaborated with various world musicians in experimental cross-cultural performances, including the fusion group Shakti.
Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra
“You (Sri Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji) are an enlightened person and possess immense knowledge of music yourself and you have chosen to nurture musical talents under the guidance of professional musicians. This amply illustrates your love for music you have therefore become the saviour of Indian Classical Music.”
Rajan and Sajan Mishra are brothers, renowned singers of the khyal style of Indian classical music. They were awarded the PadmaBhushan in 2007, SangeetNatakAkademi Award, jointly in 1998, the Gandharwa National Award for 1994-1995 and the prestigious National Tansen Samman 2011-12 on 14 December 2012. Rajan and Sajan Mishra are part of a 300-year old lineage of khyal singing of the Banaras gharana, the Mishra brothers have been performing to audiences all over Indian and the world for many years. They were both accountants in a small shop when they gave a performance in the presences of Satguru Jagjit Singh. The Satguru, realizing their talent, offered to pay double their living wages in exchange for them to put in more time to practice their vocals. The rest was history and they gave their first concert abroad, in Sri lanka in 1978.
Namdhari Senior disciple: Ust Mohan Singh & Sukhdev Singh Namdhari
Vocalists Pandits Rajan & Sajan Mishra seek blessing in March 2010
In conversation with Ustad Bismillah Khan
Khan rarely accepted students, but in 1985, during a meeting with Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji, the then master of the Namdhari Sikhs, he encountered a talented young boy named Baljit Singh Namdhari playing the tarshenai. Impressed, he welcomed Baljit Singh as his student. Ustad Bismillah Khan and Satguru Jagjit Singh Ji held great mutual respect for each other. In 1999, Khan adopted two more tarshenai students, Kirpal Singh and Gurbaksh Singh Namdhari. Additionally, he had a student from Kerala named Usthad Hassan Bhai, who currently resides in Kasaragod.
Sri Satguru Ji singing bandish (composed by SatGuru Ji) with Pt Rajan Sajan Misra, Raagis Mohan Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Balwant Singh with Harpreet Singh Sonu:
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Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
“Indian classical music and spiritualism are two sides of the same coin. Indian Saints and Sages have used music as a medium of meditation. Revered Satguru Ji is the brightest and most appropriate example of an ideal combination of a great spiritual Guru and not only a great lover of music but having deep knowledge of this art. He has amazing knowledge of hundreds of traditional and rare compositions in various Ragas and Taals. These compositions should be recorded and preserved”. – Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Pandit Shivkumar Sharma is the master instrumentalist of the Santoor. He is credited with making the Santoor a popular Classical Instrument. In a 1999 interview to rediff.com, Shivkumar said that it was his father who decided that he should play the Santoor and that he never thought he would be choosing it when he started learning music. He recorded his first solo album in 1960.
In 1967, he teamed up with flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia and Brij Bhushan Kabra to produce a concept album, Call of the Valley (1967) which turned out to be one of the greatest hits in Indian Classical Music. Together they has composed music for many Hindi films in collaboration with Hariprasad Chaurasia starting with Silsila (1980).
Namdhari Senior disciples: Ust Harjinderpal Singh & Kiranpal Singh.
In conversation with Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma
Ustad Zakir Hussain seeks blessing – 2010
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