Rudraveena player Pandit Carsten Wicke from Germany Visits Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay’s Research Centre at Ponda, Goa

Pt Carsten Wicke, who enchants the audience with his soothing and serious playing of the Rudraveena, visited the Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay’s (MAV) Research Centre on 27^th January 2023 at Ponda, Goa. During his visit, he learnt about the research work MAV is conducting in the fields of music and dance. He had visited Panaji, Goa the previous day for his recital of the Rudraveena organised by ‘Anam Prem’. The Panaji programme was attended by the Faculty of the Music and Dance, when they invited Pt Carsten Wicke to visit the MAV Research Centre.

**MAV Music Coordinator Ms Tejal Patrikar**

Research Fellow with MAV Mr Sean Clarke (who is at the spiritual level of 65%) and Mrs Shweta Clarke informed him about MAV’s research work. MAV Music Coordinator Ms Tejal Patrikar (who is at the spiritual level of 62%), was also present during the interaction. Pt Carsten Wicke was impressed by MAV’s research work and expressed his desire to contribute to this work and to visit MAV’s Research Centre, stay for some time and participate in the music research.

1. Introduction

Pt Carsten Wicke hails from Germany, but has settled in Kolkata, Bengal. As a child, he took lessons in violin and western music. He was highly influenced by Indian music and started learning the Tabla at a young age from 1990 from Anindo Chatterjee. It was then that he was introduced to ancient Dhrupad music and he turned to learning the Rudraveena. Ustad Asad Ali Khan, the best Rudraveena player in India, was his Guru. He learned the traditional Khandarbani Dhrupad style from his Guru.

Pt Carsten Wicke studied Dagarbani-style Dhrupad singing from Mr Ashish Sankrityayan, the current Director and teacher at Dhrupad Centre in Bhopal, and thus, perfected his veena playing skills. Pt Wicke’s Rudraveena concerts are held in India and abroad. He also trains many disciples in this art.

2. Pt Carsten Wicke’s praise for MAV’s Scholars and Artists

In his very first meeting with the MAV seekers who attended his recital in Panaji, Pt Carsten Wicke readily accepted the invitation to visit MAV’s Research Centre. “Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay Seeker-artists told me about the various experiences they had during my Rudraveena recital. I was impressed by their subtle perception ability, which is a very rare gift. Hence, I had a strong desire to visit the Research Centre to find out about its on-going work”.

When Pt Carsten Wicke visited the Research Centre, he immediately felt close to the seekers because of their openness and ease of conduct.

3. Characteristics of Rudraveena narrated by Pt Carsten Wicke

Playing the Rudraveena is an inner journey since it makes an individual introverted : “All Rudraveena players are also singers. However, they do not sing. Their inner voice (singing) is represented by their Rudraveena. By playing the Rudraveena, I express what I feel from within. It is necessarily an inner journey. This instrument makes an individual introverted. It is definitely not an instrument for those who want to be big stars or rock the stage”.

4. Pt Carsten Wicke’s bhav for his Rudraveena

A. Rudraveena is everything to me : When asked what he thinks about the Rudraveena, he replied, “Rudraveena is my life. Rudraveena is my wife. It is everything to me. I am grateful that this instrument was taught to me. I meet many students. I tell them to find something meaningful in life, that will make you forget everything else. Rudraveena plays that role in my life. Rudraveena is my devotion. This is the highest point in my life”.

B. Rudraveena is a Universal Sound, and hence, I came from Germany and settled in India to learn the Rudraveena : “Why did I choose Rudraveena ? Why not the flute or sitar ? Many have asked me such questions. I too have asked myself these questions. Each player chooses his instrument. A singer’s instrument is his throat. When you get to the core of Rudraveena, you will realise that it is not a regional instrument. This has a Universal Sound. Hence, I left Germany and came to India. I have dedicated my life to learning this Veena”.

5. Significance of Indian Music narrated by Pt Carsten Wicke

A. Indian music touches the heart, it has depth : While narrating how he turned to Rudraveena, Pt Carsten Wicke said, “I learned the western violin in my childhood. After I came to India, I liked Indian music more. Indian music is not in a written form. Our mood while singing and playing, so also our state of mind while sitting on the stage, is reflected in our music. In contrast, western music is written and pre-composed. This means that in western music, if I choose to play, I will only be replaying the music created by earlier artists according to their mood. It is no doubt good music; but playing pre-composed music leaves no room for the artist’s creativity. Indian music touches the heart; it has a depth to it”.

B. Since I am an outsider, I can better understand the power that Indian music can give to society in modern times : “In this birth I was born outside India. I came here from a foreign land, and hence, I can appreciate the power of Indian music. Where did this power come from ? What can this power give to society in this modern age ? I can say it better because I am a non-Indian. If I had been born in India, I would not have been able to say that much”.

6. Pt Carsten Wicke’s words of praise about MAV

A. The atmosphere in MAV’s Research Centre and the spiritual guidance given to the seekers here are all very special : During the very first meeting at Panaji, the seeker-artists of MAV briefed Pt Carsten Wicke about their research on music and dance. In reply he said, “This is essential. This will develop interest amongst the intellectual class in society for music. Therefore, I decided to visit the Research Centre”. When he was shown a presentation of the Research being conducted by MAV, he liked it very much. He said, “In ancient times people did not feel the need to quantify the observations in this manner; because, they had faith in what the Sages said. People believed in the experiences they had. Today in the 21^st Century, everyone wants proof. The atmosphere at MAV’s Research Centre and the spiritual guidance given to the seekers are all very special”.

B. I was happy as well as surprised to see that the Research Centre has young children thinking about music and spiritual practice : During the tour of the Research Centre, I was happy to see so many young children in the music Section. Most of today’s young generation are unable to obtain true bliss from music. Society thinks that spiritual practice should be performed after the age of 50 ! Indian music gives the experience of man’s true nature. Hence, whether this body (of the singer or listener) is 20-years-old or 50-years-old, it does not matter. If we keep music with us, it will lead us to God-realisation. So I am really happy that there are so many young children in the Research Centre.

7. Spiritual experiences of the seekers who attended Pt Wicke’s Rudraveena concert organised by ‘Anam Prem’

A. Ms Renuka Kulkarni, Kavale, Goa.

1. I felt as if I have entered a meditative state while listening to Pt Carsten Wicke’s recital.
2. His stability of mind and spiritual practice was reflected in the recital.
3. During the recital, Pt Carsten Wicke played Kharj – the lower notes. While listening to these, I felt as if they emitted the sound of ‘Om’, which reminded me of Deity Shiva and awakened my bhav (Spiritual emotion) enormously.

B. Ms Mrinalini Devghare, Ponda, Goa. (3.2.2023)

1. Pt Carsten Wicke played the Raga Shuddha Sarang. At that time, I perceived Apatattva (Absolute Water Principle) and rain showers.
2. During the recital, I felt a sensation on my Anahat-chakra.
3. I was constantly remembering Shrikrushna.
4. Seeing his instrument, I perceived the presence of the Goddess Principle in it to a higher extent and felt that he is devotee of the Goddess.

C. Ms Apala Aundhkar (Age 16; she is at the spiritual level of 61%), Ponda, Goa.

1. After Pt Wicke played Raga Shuddha Sarang, I perceived Shrikrushna Principle in the environment.
2. I began to perceive vibrations on my Ajna-chakra and Anahat-chakra, and after a while, I also perceived the vibrations of Anand.
3. With my eyes closed, I could see light subtly.
4. Thereafter, I perceived Goddess Principle and remembered Shri Bhavanidevi.
5. To an extent, I could also perceive the Destroyer Principle in the environment.
6. When he played in the Dhamar-tal, I saw Deity Shiva dancing, and the level of Anand increased further. At that time, I could subtly smell the Divine aroma of camphor.

Compiler : Ms Tejal Patrikar (Sangeet Visharad, Music Coordinator, Maharshi Adhyatma Vishwavidyalay, Goa, 27.2.2023)
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In ancient times people did not feel the need to quantify observations, because they had faith in what the Sages said !