PTHC: Many people consider the word artist to mean singer, painter, dancer, sculpture, musician, writer, poet, etc.; how do you interpret the word artist?
Premanand Trikannad: I think generally, the common description as stated by you covers the definition of an artist or artiste. Personally, I do not have any other definition but in spiritual life, I think an artiste is divinely inspired, and when an artiste expresses his or her art in a feeling of offering it to the Divine, you can feel the ‘shakti’ or energy of the Supreme in the outcome.
PTHC: Would you consider bhajan singing to be an art form?
Premanand Trikannad: It is, whether spiritually speaking or as in a commercial sense. There are many very great singers who are professional artistes and they have raised the art of bhajan singing to heavenly heights. It is a blessing to hear and listen to these singers – whether in the East or the West.
PTHC: Do you think we can understand art in some cases to be sadhana and a technique to evolve spiritually?
Premanand Trikannad: That is the beauty of spirituality in India. Verily, everything can be realized as an expression of the divine, and form of art can be a natural way to evolve spiritually. Of course, there are many who may not agree to this. But an awareness that God is a natural and integral part of every form of art, it can evolve one spiritually.
PTHC: Now that you have been doing bhajan singing for all these years, on each Thursday at your home, funerals, pujas, etc., do you still sing every day, how / where?
Premanand Trikannad: I have an handicap, if you can term it so; I cannot sing bhajans without an harmonium. I started my singing with the harmonium and so my voice needs the support of the harmonium. Life in San Diego used to get quite busy, often hectic. Still, I did get opportunities once in a while to sit in our prayer hall and sing bhajans. But in Pune where we are moving to, I have ample of time and can sing bhajans to my heart’s content! I look forward to it!
PTHC: They say meditation is a technique to merge with the truth, to experience peace, joy and the realities of the inner self; do you consider bhajan singing to be a technique similar to meditation?
Premanand Trikannad: I have not made serious efforts to practice any techniques of meditation but all that you have described has been experienced in singing Ram Nam and bhajan.
One of the bhajans that was Papa’s favorite was composed by the great mystic saint and poet, Kabir. In that bhajan, he advises to enjoy the Supreme, the Divine in a most natural way – as natural as one’s breath. He admonishes not to undergo any physically torturous methods of sadhana, not to shut the eyes but to open them and behold the Divine pervading everywhere!
