Music is regarded as the best way to cope and find comfort when faced with any ailment.
This statement is especially true for ailments like cancer since music has the power to augment the healing by minimising stress, anxiety, physical and psychological pain during chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other treatment modalities. Research studies on music have proven that listening to music actively or passively is an effective non-pharmacological intervention for patients who are undergoing cancer treatments. Thus, music when used as therapy, helps patients improve their quality of life, uplifting their spirits, and enhancing their emotional and mental well-being that further aids in coping with cancer.
Svaropachara and Svarakshema Foundation
Svaropachara, a classical music series jointly organised by Sri Shankara Cancer Foundation and Svarakshema Foundation, is a humble effort to bring music to the patient’s bedside and facilitate music therapy for each patient by telecasting the concert to all the wards where patients can experience and appreciate the therapeutic essence of music in the comfort of their beds. This ethereal evening of therapeutic music is organised on the first or second Saturday of every month with many accomplished artists performing for the well-being of the patients. The concert is open to all patients, their caregivers, and music lovers to partake in the divine, enchanting, and healing music.
Svarakshema Foundation and Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma Foundation for Music ® have been organising Svaropachara at Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bengaluru since 2018. It is an NGO (a not-for-profit organisation) established by the couple Dr. Sowmya Sanak and Mr. Sanak Kumar Athreya. They aim to serve society by providing authentic and effective Indian Music Therapy to patients and their caregivers. This unique music therapy program has benefited many cancer patients by aiding them in pain management and helping them enjoy a better quality of life.
The 50th episode of Svaropachara
This May we celebrated the 50th episode of Svaropachara which was held on 11th and 12th May 2024, Saturday and Sunday at Sri Abhinava Vidyathirtha Mahaswamiji Auditorium, Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Bangalore.
The various events lined up for the two days of the golden celebration of Svaropachara 50 caught the attention of the music lovers and our dear patients as they enjoyed the euphoria created by music artists through their excellent performances.
On Saturday, 11th May 2024, we began the two-day program with ‘Medical Melodies’, a series of performances by our doctors, staff, and their family members of Shankara Cancer Hospitals and Nursing students of Sri Shankara College of Nursing, Bangalore. This was followed by a violin duet recital by the highly accomplished Mysore Brothers: Vidwan Mysore Nagaraj and Vidwan Dr. Mysore Manjunath who were accompanied by Vidwan Tumkur B. Ravishankar on the Mridangam and Vidwan N Amrit on the Khanjira.
We witnessed a houseful, joyous, duet concert by the very talented Mysore Brothers who set the stage for an evening filled with musical brilliance that took us all to a divine world free of thoughts and created a sense of joy in the room.
On Sunday, 12th May 2024, on the occasion of Shankara Jayanthi, we had with us one of the finest, senior Hindustani Music Artists, Sri Pandit Sri Vinayak Torvi Ji for the Hindustani musical concert, accompanied by Sri Soorya Upadyaya on the Harmonium and Sri Roopak Kallurkar on the Tabla.
His soul-stirring rendition of the compositions captivated the hearts of music enthusiasts and created a sense of calmness in the hearts and souls of the attendees. Such is the POWER OF MUSIC!Svaropachara served its purpose in reaching the patients when two of our adult cancer patients imbibed in the melodious music and witnessed the artistry of the music maestro Pandit Vinayak Torvi ji and expressed their humble gratitude as they spoke about how powerful impact music can create and the divine therapeutic nature of music that has been helping them in their healing journey. It was once again a houseful show with patients, caretakers, rasikas, and music connoisseurs among the audience enjoying the divine music.
This was followed by a musical prayer for all the patients, survivors, caregivers, doctors, and medical and paramedical staff by our invited celebrated artists. Each one turned out to be a masterpiece of a rendition that was thoroughly enjoyed by our audience.
The golden celebration of Svaropachara 50 gracefully concluded with a fierce Thani Avarthanam by Sri Anoor Anantha Krishna Sharma and his disciples with Konnakol rendition by Sri Somashekhar Jois. The rhythmic presentation of the thani avarthanam by the maestros left the audience at the edge of their seats, marvelling at the swift movements of their hands while playing mridangam and the sheer brilliance of the musicians' techniques.
Healing through music
It is a belief that Sathvika music has the power to heal, and every Svaropachara concert is crafted to achieve just that. So, immerse yourself in the soothing melodies, and let the music heal.
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