The Rediscovery and Journey of LALITAA VEENAA

Significant landmarks in the rediscovery and journey of LALITAA VEENAA.

·  The Lalitaa Veenaa emerged out of meditations on a Shrichakra bestowed by His Holiness Srividya Guru Sri Sri Vimarsha Nandendra Saraswati Swamiji upon Vishwanath in the year 1994.

·        Repeated visions of the instrument started appearing to Vishwanath which was then put into a Carboard model by Jagadguru Badari Shankracharya Samasthanam Srividya Peetham Asthana Sangeetha Vidushi Gana Kala Vibhushana Smt. Bhanumathy Vishwanath – wife, friend and fellow devotee of L.Ramashesh Vishwanath.

·        A Crude model of the Lalitaa Veenaa was first prepared during July, 1996 by Shri Sarabjit Singh son of the noted instrument maker, R.K.Mohan and Sons, Delhi.

·        This crude model of the Lalitaa Veenaa was carried by Vishwanath and Bhanumathy to the United States during July-August, 1996 on their Cultural Mission at the invitation of the Jagadguru Sringeri Shankracharya His Holiness Sri Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji.

·        The instrument was inaugurated in a public concert on the Hindustani System of Indian Classical Music on August 11, 1996 at the Shiva Vishnu Temple Maryland, US.

·        The Lalitaa Veenaa was Officially named by Srividya Guru HH Sri Sri Vimarsha Nandendra Saraswati Maharaj in September, 1996, one month before the Samadhi of His Holiness.

·        Tributes were paid on the Lalitaa Veenaa by Vishwanath on the Mahapuja day of Pujya Swamiji’s Samadhi at the Mahashodashi Peetham, Raja Annamalaipuram, Chennai.

Vishwanath under the Musical Spell of Shehnai Nawaz Late Ustad Bismillah Khan Saheb

·        The Lalitaa Veenaa was regularly performed during the Raja Rajeshwari Darbar known as Shiveli at the Sri Mookambika Temple, Karnataka for 48 continuous days in the year 2000.

·        In the same year, the Legendary Instrument maker Pandit Bhishan Das Sharma of the famous Rikhi Ram and Sons Musicshop, Delhi perfected the Lalitaa Veenaa instrument by adding gouds or Thumba for sound amplification as per the principles of the Veena along with the mettalic finger board which gives a unique tonal quality to the instrument.

·        In the year 2005, His Holiness Sri Sri Krishnananda Tirtha Mahaswamiji of the Shakatapuram Srividya Peetham Jagadguru Badari Shankaracharya Samasthanam evinced keen interest on the Lalitaa Veenaa and commanded Vishwanath to play during many of the Sri Raja Rajeshwari Poojas performed by His Holiness.

·        The Lalitaa Veenaa used to be played during the Sharada Navaratra Poojas of Pujya Shaktapuram Shankracharya Swamiji at various places in India including Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Azamgarh to name a few.

·        In the year 2008, the first Compact Disc consisting of Raga Jog with the title “Krishna Ganamrutam” for Destressing Through Music was dedicated commemorating the Janma Jayanti celebrations of the Swamiji.

· In the year 2009, Sri Sri Krishnananda Tirtha Mahaswamiji of the Shakatapuram Srividya Peetham Jagadguru Badari Shankaracharya Samasthanam conferred the title of Asthana Vidwan Lalitaa Veenaa Shiromani on Shri L. Ramashesh Vishwanath.

·        And now the Kanchi Kamakothi Peetham has bestowed the title of “Lalitaa Veenaa Vidwan” on L. Ramashesh Vishwanath which was conferred by His Holiness Sri Sri Jayendra Saraswati Mahaswamiji.