Saturday, 2nd October 2021 was a very significant day to most of us in our own ways. While the nation was celebrating the birth of the father of the nation, Gandhiji, and many people were happy that they could step out after a two-year forced stay at home hiatus due to the pandemic, we the team at Vanamala Center for Art and Culture (REGD) were very excited and geared up to be at Suchitra Cinema and Cultural Academy in Banashankari, Bengaluru. We were all looking forward to the release of the much-awaited audio-visual documentary on “Dasha Mahavidya” – The Ten Cosmic Powers.
This project, a brainchild of Dr. Meera Rajaram Pranesh and Dr. Pranesh, brings the knowledge on the various esoteric aspects, of the Devi as an audio-visual documentary making it accessible to the common man. It showcases years of their dedicated research and resources that were curated by both of them in arduous situations and directed into this project which makes it very unique and enthralling. This documentary was released as the 19th of the lectures, through the program Bharatiya Samskriti Darshana (A series of lectures on the Origin and Development of Indian Culture through ages). The whole event was also live streamed on the Youtube channel of Vanamala Center for Art and Culture virtually on the below link:
Vid.Nagashree Narayan, team member of Vanamala Center and the Dasha Maha Vidya project, as the Master of Ceremony commenced the event seeking blessings from Guru’s and welcomed the guests of honour and the program hosts to the stage. The program proceeded with a soulful and melodious invocation ‘Sadashraye Abhayambike’ rendered by Vid.Smt. Paavani Bharadwaj, Vid.Smt. Navya Nagaraj and Vid.Smt. Megha Prabhu seeking blessings from the Mahavidya Tripura Sundari, selected from the Dasha Mahavidya project. Dr Madhuvanti took the privelege to introduce the acclaimed guests of honour – Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal (Art Historian, Unesco Fellow), Smt. Lakshmi Anantanarayan (Sanskrit Scholar, Philosopher) and Vidushi Rohini Manjunath (Karnatak Musician, Teacher) to the live and virtual audiences. Post the customary lamp lighting by the guests of honour and the hosts, Dr. Meera Rajaram Pranesh spoke in brief about the vision and making of the documentary which set the right momentum to the program. The documentary was then released to the wider world by the guests of honour. Post this, everyone in the audience was treated to a 40 min live screening of the trailers of the documentary in both English and Kannada. It left the audience awe-stuck and asking for more. Blessed and thankful were we, who as a team were part of this project and could visualize the seamless intertwining of the concept through philosophy, chants, music, sculptures and the interesting commentary. Smt. Ragini Sanath, team member of Vanamala Center and the Dasha Mahavidya project, narrated her experiences and take-aways as an active participant of the project. Invited dignitaries shared their point of view and words of appreciation towards this noble endeavor. Sri Avinash, and Sri Umesh, video editor and sound engineer, who successfully compiled this as an audio-visual documentary, a mammoth task by itself, were honoured by the hosts. The program concluded with Dr. Meera Rajaram Pranesh introducing us, her team- Dasha Mahavidya, to one and all present, a proud and humbling moment to all of us. Smt. Ananya Bhagath, team member of Vanamala Center and the Dasha Mahavidya project, profusely thanked all stakeholders involved with the project. Everyone present was treated to a scrumptious and delicious food treat. All in all, it was a day that will be remembered by all present for years to come.
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To know more about Dasha Mahavidya:
Dasha Mahavidya Documentary – English
Dasha Mahavidya Documentary – Kannada
Songs on Dasha Mahavidya
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