CHENNAI: Some completely surrender to God and believe that everything happens for a reason. Some, take a better liking to science and its nuances of how we came into being. Success finds them both. CE spoke to Mohan Santhanam, award-winning Carnatic vocalist. Here’s what he has to say...
Have you always been a believer?
Well, I always used to accompany my parents on temple visits. It was always understood that God was ‘there’, so to speak!
What has made you continue to have faith in a supreme force?
The way my life has taken shape, the way I am able to use my talents, the hurdles thrown in the way and the way I struggle with these hurdles, sometimes winning, sometimes losing. But thankfully, I always have the faith and confidence that this is what is intended and that the best time is now! This is what makes me really believe in the supreme force.
List five things in which you see God.
For me, God is in the name that I repeat to myself, the calmness and compassion, the Sun, my violin maestro Lalgudi Jayaraman’s musical genius and finally in Carnatic music.
Have you visited any pilgrimage sites? Tell us what you saw and how it made you feel?
Yes, I have been actually to many. The one place that is extra special is Swami Sivananda’s ashram — The Divine Life Society, Rishikesh. I have been an avid reader of Swami Sivananda’s writings since my student days and I have also had the opportunity to spend a few weeks there. I would definitely want to go back..
Any words for those who are not believers?
I am reminded of the old story about the watch in Frankfurt who didn’t believe in the existence of watchmakers!