top of page

Musicians

Original Celestial Message Troupe

SriSwamiji_CelestialTroupe2.jpg

The Celestial Message Troupe consists of master musicians specializing in both South and North Indian instruments. Band members began their musical journeys early in life and have trained in classical Indian music. Respecting the musical genius of Sri Swamiji’s compositions, they have devoted their lives to his music. 

​

The Celestial Message Troupe accompanies Sri Swamiji during Music for Meditation concerts and bhajan sessions.The ensemble features deeply dedicated musicians, including Ramesh, who has accompanied Sri Swamiji for over fifty years, and Jaitra for over four decades.

JaitraVaranasi_web.jpg

Violin •  Jaitra Varanasi

Jaitra Varanasi was born in Guntur and taught violin by his mother from a young age. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (violin and voice) from Sri Venkateshwara University. He has performed on All India Radio numerous times.

 

The violin has been an important instrument in Indian music for over 200 years. The Indian violin is tuned and held differently when played as compared to the Western violin.

MniTadepalli_web.jpg

Keyboard • Mani Tadepalli

Music has been a gift since childhood in Machilipatnam for Mani Tadepalli, who is from a family of musicians and musicologists. He earned a diploma in music for key-based instruments and voice, and is known for his playing of multiple classical styles.

 

Traditional Carnatic music includes keyboard melodies and accompaniment. The modern use of synthesizers has allowed incorporation of the traditional half- and semi-tones of Indian classical music.

Mridangam •  Shankar Ramesh

Rudrapatna Shankar Ramesh, from Mysuru, has studied mridangam since childhood. Sri Swamiji predicted that Ramesh would be His mridangam player. Ramesh is the mridangam disciple of legendary Karaikudi Mani. He earned a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Mysore.

​

The mridangam is an ancient double-headed barrel drum played with the hands. Known as “the king” of Indian percussion, it is the main drum used in Carnatic (Southern) Indian music.

 

Shanker-Ramesh_web.jpg
Mahesh-Bhat_web.jpg

Tabla  •  Mahesh Bhat (1969-2025)

Mahesh Bhat was born in Cochin into a musical family. He grew up in the Mysuru ashrama, and Sri Swamiji instructed him to learn tabla. He earned a degree in tabla performance from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai. 

Honoring the music seva offered

In Memoriam

Renowned musicians who have performed Sri Swamiji’s music include

  •  O. S. Arun—singer

  • Sudar C. Babu—singer

  • Sri B. V. Balasai—flute

  • S. P. Balasubrahmanyam—singer

  • Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt—veena

  • Bombay Sisters —singers

  • Anindo Chaterjee—tabla

  • Hari Prasad Chaurasia—flute

  • Chinmaya Sisters —singers

  • Gayathri Girish—singer

  • Kadri Gopalnath—saxophone

  • Zakir Hussain—tabla

  • Pandit Jasraj—singer

  • Sangeetha Katti—singer

  • TM Krishna—singer

  • K Krishna Kumar—singer

  • Mysore A Chandan Kumar—flute

  • Jayanthi Kumaresh—veena

  • Kumaresh and Ganesh—violin

  • Malladi Brothers—singers

  • Mambalam Sisters—singers

  • Madurai G. S. Mani—singer

  • Karaikudi Mani—mridangam

  • Ramkumar Mishra—tabla

  • Mysore Brothers—violin

  • Dr. Narayanan—singer

  • K. V. Narayanaswamy—singer

  • Priya Sisters —singers

  • Sudha Raghunathan—composer and singer

  • Rithvik Raja—singer

  • Maharajapuram Ramachandran—singer

  • Dr. Jayaprada Ramamurthy—flute

  • N. Ramani—flute

  • Thiagarajan Ramani—flute

  • Jayashri Ramnath—singer

  • Palghat Ramprasadh—singer

  • Yella Venkateshwara Rao—mridangam

  • Savitha Sai Shravanam—singer

  • Sowmya—singer

  • Nagamani Srinath—singer

  • Dr L. Subramaniam—violin

  • O. S. Thyagarajan—singer

  • Trichur Brothers —singers

  • Unnikrishnanan—singer

  • Suresh Vaidynathan—ghatam

  • Ram Vakkalanka—sitar

  • Pradeep & Ramesh Vinayakam—singers

bottom of page