As Jyoti Hegde was sitting on stage in a recent event organized by the music Natak Academy to celebrate World Music and International Yoga Day in Delhi, on which the eye was caught, he had beautifully prepared instruments in his hands. It seemed like Veena, but not completely. It was Rudra Veena, and Jyoti Hegde is the only woman Rudra Veena artist. He was a suitable choice for this phenomenon because Rudra Veena is the only string instrument that the artist also needs to practice respiratory control. Underlining the need to do yoga for the same, Jyoti says that since the instrument is based on Dhrupad, which gives importance to breath control, it also applies to Rudra Veena. “It affects the way the device is played and sound is produced.”
‘Khandar Wani’ was the original style of ‘Beckers’ or Rudra Veena’s ambush. It was a style prevalent by Tensen’s son -in -law, King Misri Chand, known as Nabbat Khan in Akbar’s Mughal Court. Later, Ustad Asad Ali Khan became one of the excellent Rudra Veena artists from a family dedicated to this device. Jyoti is his leading disciple. Lord Shiva is associated with, and Rudra Veena is only a string instrument that the artist also needs to practice respiratory control. Jyoti was
Rudra Veena has always been associated with a mysticism, only a few chosen people are taught and are said to have been inauspicious to those who did not follow the tradition while playing it. In fact, instrument Sarsinger was invented in 18Wan Century, to teach this style of Rudra Veena (Baj) other string instruments such as rubab or sarod.
Jyoti Hegde is the only woman Rudra Veena artist photo credits: Narendra Dangia
At the concert, Jyoti presented the raga to Bairagi Bhairav. A relatively obscure raga, he learned it from Bindu Madhav Pathak, not from the master, a sitar and Rudra Veena Ghantank, from which Kiran Gharana, under which Jyoti was initially trained. Raag was re -introduced by PT. Ravi Shankar and Karnataka Raga are similar to Revathi. Jyoti composed a Chautal (12 beat) ‘GAT’ (composition) in the raga. The music of Seren, and meditation, Jyoti never calms down.
During the post -performance conversation, Jyoti revealed that she does not meet a family of musicians. When she began to learn, she could not identify the difference between Dhrupad and Khayal, and used to play restrictions on Veena. Although Ustad stopped her from chasing Rudra Veena, Jyoti was urged. “When I heard the sound of instrument, I got my calling. The note resonated deeply within me and I knew that I had to learn it.”
Marriage and motherhood did not stop Jyoti from expanding her music horizon. More, since she was in Dharwad, she was home to many music stallwarts. He participated in LEC-DEMS by PT. Indudhar Nyodi of Agra Gharana, who helped improve his skills. He also understood that Rudra Veena had only lent Dhrupad. She was then 35 years old, and was ready to move forward in her music trip.
Jyoti with his guru, Ustad Asad Ali Khan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Jyoti contacted Ustad Asad Ali Khan, refused to teach her, saying that Rudra Veena was not for women. She remained for a year, traveled across the country to meet her in every concert. He finally agreed, but he said that he had to learn breath control, and affect the sound of ‘AUM’ from ‘Nabi’ (navel). “Then will you be able to handle the device that he said,” shares Jyoti, who took six months to achieve it. Then the next challenge came, the player to sit in Vajrasana to play. Jyoti struggled, when Pakhwaz Mestro PT. Dal Chand Sharma, a friend of Ustad, intervened and finally, Ustad agreed to teach him.
Jyoti shared how she would travel by train for two days to reach Bombay to meet Ustad. “It was not easy to associate with him. Despite all the challenges, learning from Maestad was a memorable experience. The food was forgotten during classroom and later, Ustad will ensure that a vegetarian food was served for me. Once, he missed his flight because he was so tight in teaching, when I reminded him of that time, he focused on me.”
This learning lasted for six years, till the death of Ustad Asad Ali Khan in 2011. He is outstanding for him. Not only for teaching to play means, but also to understand its heritage. Today, he is a torch of tradition that was represented by Ustad.
Jyoti now wants to pass the tradition by teaching young enthusiasts. The way she can repay the loan, she realizes that she can teach others. Although Jyoti lives in a remote village in Sirsi district of Karnataka, she manages to teach students from all over the world. Some of them get for one-to-one training, including working on the farm. “After all art is about training both the mind and body,” Jyoti says.
Published – July 08, 2025 02:09 pm IST
