Central University (Kerala) Vice Chancellor Prof Jancy James has said that devotion is an empowering and sustaining force, which is a part of Indian ethos. The entire country is held together on the sentiment of devotion. Liberative element triggered from Bhakthi movement in India.
Deliving a key-note address at an international conference on ‘Rethinking Bhakthi’ organised by the Kanakadasa Research Centre of Mangalore University here on Wednesday, she said that discontent and hindrance between devotee and almighty was felt more in a caste structured society like India. The monopoly of access to the Almighty was with the elite. Bhakthi movement arised as a liberating force, she added.
Stating that Bhakthi movement triggered social transformation, she said that several discourses on Radha and Krishna have their inspirations from Bhakthi movement. The spirit of freedom and evolution which started with the Bhakthi movement never died. It continues to remain in India even during the contemporary world. The spirit of Bhakthi movement is seen in Dalit movement and Dalit literature.
Prof James said that there is a need to go into deeper study on the relation between devotion and song, devotion and dance. ‘Bhakthi’ is a centre for dance and music. Unless a dancer merges his/her spirit of bhakthi, she can not perform well. Bhakthi movement also made an attempt to define spirituality, which is reflected on the writings of a few writers of Ramayana and Mahabharatha. There is a need to work on how certain ideologies continue to remain intact even after several years through history, she added.
“Bhakthi movement was also a great language movement. It liberated literature from the heavy use of Sanskrit. It is also a cultural movement, where a movement empowered native culture and linguistic resources,” he added.
In his inaugural speech, litterateur Prof Hampa Nagarajayya said that study on ‘bhakthi’ or devotion was carried out on a horizontal line so far. There is a need to expand the scope of the study on verticle line. Micro level study on ‘bhakthi’ is essential.
“Tradition has alway been deep rooted on devotion. Every religion in the society has a say in devotion. It is nothing but relation between man and god. There is a need to give new dimension to ‘bhakthi’ in the modern time. ‘Bhakthi’ is not a ritual but it is a celebration,” he observed.
Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy said that the website kanakanakindi.org has details on works of Kanakadasa, audio video clips and so on.
Kanakadasa keerthanas not only has music in it, it has spiritualty and social concern in it.
‘Nee mayeyolago Ninnolu mayeyo’ (Kanakadasa Adhyayana Samagra Samputa volume 1), ‘Kanakana Suttamutta: Sankathanagala jijnase’ (collection of papers presented in national seminar on Kanakadasa) ‘Kanaka chintana 2011-12’ (compilation of extension lecture series) and a CD on ‘Keerthana gangothri’ was released on the occasion.
Columbia University (USA) Prof John Stratton Hawley, saxophone artiste Kadri Gopalnath, Registrar Prof P S Yadapadithaya, Centre coordinator Dr B Shivaram Shetty and Dr K Chinnappa Gowda were present.