Sanjay Talwar - Singer of the Heart Part.3

VH: We have several of your records on our Sahaja radio. They are: Adi Shakti Poojan 1 & 2, Prerna, Roohani Roshani, Bandagi, Jagriti, Sahaj Sadhana, Phuhaar, Santulan, Santushti, Kahat Kabir, Kabir Bhajnamrit, Kabir Sur Sangam, Paigambari, Surkamal...
Which of them is the closest to you?

„Roohani Roshani“. Because Shri Mataji personally supervised its making. Right from the compositions, poetry, the prerecording Puja advice. At the recording time She put Her attention to it, and when it was recorded, She checked for its quality & amde me rerecord certain portions where she felt it needed correction. It also marked the maiden Album under my name „Roshan“(The Enlightened one) a khitaab (Name) She gave to me during its making. There were many things she said at that time, about this album being one of my best & would be the most popular of all. It really is very special and closest to me.

VH: Your last album „Jai Jagdambe Maa“ has come out with the official world mark TIME MUSIC. How did you manage to press Sahaja yoga to the world trade?

I had just had a meeting with Shri Mataji on 10th Dec 2002. I went back home and recorded a new album.
I met all the leading music companies of India and proposed this latest Bhajan album for a worldwide release. 'Times Music' reviewed my Bhajans and selected them for a worldwide release. Thus was born the music album - "Jai Jagdambe Maa."
The trick was - not to talk about mother or Sahaj Yoga to them. Just let them listen to the music, my voice and then decide. They asked me one question: "What inspired you to creat something so good and original like this?" I answered: „ It is the story of the Devas, who sought the protection of the Devi in the Devlok. These Devas were being routed by the Asuras or the Rakshasa, who had spread hell in the trilok. Finally the Devi went on a rampage to kill these demons. And now the devas have been reborn as Sahaj Yogis and Shri Mataji as the Devi Herself. And I am merely singing the praise of Shri Mataji for having saved us from our own Asuras that had come back to attack us in the subtle. The bhajans are actually the rejoicing of this victory that Shri Mataji has managed in this mortal world by giving the seekers Sahaj yoga, the ulitmate tool to all problems of life."

TIMES MUSIC IMMEDIATELY WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT SHRI MATAJI AND RELAESED HER ALBUM WITH A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF HERS AND HER LIFE NARRATION ON THE INNER COVER. IT WAS INDEED VERY GRACOIUS OF THEM. IT WAS RELEASED WORLDWIDE BYTHEM IN MARCH 2003.

It includes some popular Bhajans from my previous musical works - "Roohani Roshani & Prerna". In addition to these, I wrote and composed three new Bhajans. The CD' has a total of 8 Bhajans, recorded professionally to meet with the international commercial norms. The recording was completed Jan. 2003.

VH: The video CD „Maa Ka Aashirwad“ (Mother´s Blessings) is also very nice. Could you write us how was it created, where did you record it and what is the contents?

A separate Video production of the Bhajans of „Jai Jagdambe Maa“ was produced in March 2003. It was titled "Maa Ka Aashirwad"(Mother's Blessings) It comprises of an opening welcome song and has several photographic images of Shri Mataji, that best describe the lyrics of each Bhajan.
I hired a professional film director, a dance director and his team of dancers & choreographers. We filmed the songs in Pune and Satara in four different temples. Shri Mataji had soon thereafter taken to silence, but had blessed the project with all her love and good wishes. She gave many bandhans. It was a tribute paid to Her and was released during Her 80th Birthday Puja.

VH: Finally one more question – how does still Sahaja yoga fill you after so many years, what does Shri Mataji mean for you and what does music composing give you?

In order to do more justice to this question, I would first like to summarise my musical journey as a learning of Sahaj Yoga from the Teacher of all teachers, the Goddess Herself. And what a blessing...... It is a moment of great pride and fulfilment for me, ever since I started writing, composing and singing Bhajans in dedication to our Divine Mother in 1986.You will recollect the Bhajan tapes of Adi Shakti Poojan Vol-I & II, Roohani Roshni, Prerna, Jagriti, Sahaj Sadhana, Phuhaar, Paigambari, Santulan, Santushti, Kabir Sur Sangam, Kabir Bhajanamrit, Kahat Kabir & Soorkamal - all of which have been popular among Sahaja yogis, the world over. I had the privilege and blessings of our 'Mother' to write about all aspects of Sahaj Bhakti, as it grew within me. There was never an opportunity lost in sharing with Her my poems, which She corrected and even moulded, so as to impart a more deeper meaning to it. She filled these with all HER vibrations.Some of the Bhajans' lyrics, are actually her own words, as dictated to me.Sometime in Feb 1989, She had called me, to let me know, that my Bhajans would reach all corners of the world, and that seekers would be able to meditate on them. Later She even authorised my poems and compositions, that were subsequently recorded and presented to all of you in the form of the above-mentioned releases. All these Bhajan tapes, , having been there since last 22 years. I managed to recover not only my production costs, but many times over. The collections were presented to Her as Royalties.

In Her magnanimity, She allowed me to retain sufficient funds, so as to continue making more Bhajan recordings. That is how so many productions happened.Once there was a gap of about two years, when I had not made a new Bhajan Tape.She ordered me not to discontinue making them. There were many others who had also started doing the same, and there was a big competition. I was being stopped by many from continuing, but then She told me, that She was trying to overcome this evil of jealousy among human beings, and that till such time it happened, I must not lose hope and learn the art of forgivness.It was the 10th of December,2002, when I had a chance meeting with Her, that She shared with me a very thought-provoking fact. She said: "One day even I will have to leave this mortal being, and it is You people - the Sahaja Yogis, who will have to keep this lamp of love glowing in everyone's hearts. You will have to take the responsibility to lead all seekers of truth to their ultimate fulfilment through your own Self-Awakening."

Her words left a great impact on me. I was spellbound, and a great sense of urgency engulfed me. Almost instantly I shared with her my dream- 'to bring all the Poetry that She had filled me with; all the music She had nurtured in me, and all the sweetness She had endowed to my Vishuddhi, to reach out to the whole world- whether it be shared with all my Sahaj brothers and sisters, or with those who could receive the vibrations of Her love through my musical works and lead them to their Self Realisation. This would also include those seekers who were waiting to become yogis.
I asked her, that this time She did something so unique, that Her vibrations from these Bhajans would provide instant meditation to all. I prayed to Mother for her blessings, and she granted it. She told me that my work was already done. She then reminded me of Her golden words, when in 1989 she had predicted this would happen. She said: "Now, the time has come, and nothing can stop it from happening. So go ahead, you have my "Anant Aashirwad"(eternal blessings) .

That is when I took a very bold initiative and went on to sign the historical 10-year contract with TIMES MUSIC. I also went on to produce my very first Bhajan video CD - „MAA KA AASHIRWAD“ This project cost me over Rs 10,00,000.00.
Her blessings were such that I recovered every penny of it. And all this despite stiff opposition from some quarters. I really cannot blame anyone for it, because they ad no clue about my long association with Mother on this subject.

I have never spoken so much in detail and so candidly, as I have done in this interview.

Now coming to the essence of your main question- Sahaja yoga is that aspect of Shri Mataji that I am continuously learning. Its fulfillment is endless. I feel completely bathed in it & wish to keep having this bath till my last breath. What concerns me most is that I need to share this experience with as many people as can be possible. And that is the challenge I am presently dealing with. I still feel I have a lot to do, and so am hopeful to keep prodding on.

What Shri Mataji means to me? Well it must have become quite apparent to you by now.
We are indeed very fortunate to have SHRI MATAJI with us in our lifetimes.Imagine, we are living in times when the Goddess Herself has decended on Earth to save mankind from destruction.

Music Composing fills my heart with gratitude to Mother.
Here is an expression of gratitude that I would like to share with you:
Very recently I wrote a song in english. It is my promise to our Mother, written on behalf of all the Sahaj Yogis ( Jewels) of this world.
I am waiting to record this song in North America, as I know it is the song that would please the Adi Shakti very much.
It goes like this - "We’re in the Heart of the World with your blessings......“ - it is in Google
It is one of the ways I wanted to say:

THANK YOU MOTHER FOR GIVING US THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD OF SAHAJ YOGA. WE PROMISE TO KEEP THE LIGHT OF YOUR LOVE GLOWING FOREVER.


VH: Where can our listeners buy your CDs and what is the price?

That is a good question, and I am myself trying to find some answers for it. Firstly, all my music was being made available by me only. In the early days ( 20 years back) my music was the first to come out. Mother wanted me to sell my own tapes. So these wouls be copied by my Sahaj Brothers form UK & Germany and given to me in ganapatiphule, where i set up my musici stall. This cotinued for about 10 years, till more and more musicains were born and morew tapes flooded the Sahaj music market. Mother then started the NITL in Pune, who then started to sell my music.

Lately NITL has been busy with Mother’s archives and due to too many musicians and too much work involeved in making all the music available to all the yogis, I found my works getting drowned in this vast ocean of Sahaj Love. So finally I decided to work my own music myself once again. I have reprepared all the music masters and have brought them with me for making them available to all of the Norht Americans first, as i am currently based out of Victoria BC. Currently my tapes are avbailable for sale with Mr Ahuja of the toronto Centre and Mr Mahadev form the Vancouver Centre. Maybe Calgary Centre still have a few left with Mr. Surjit and Binu. Details can be had from Dr Andrei Harabor. Else I too have some stock lying with me.

The CD’s are priced at $10.00 each and the DVD at $ 15.00 each. In case you need some stock for sales, you can order directly with me on email, and i shall have it shipped directly to you. Only the title Jai jagdambe Maa should be freely available in all stores worldwide (wherever Times Music has a contract to sell). I am the only other copyright holder entitled to sell my own work.

VH: Dear Sanjay, thank you very much.

Hope I have answered all your questions.

JAI SHRI MATAJI

Love

Sanjay (e - mail: [email protected])