My father Balakrishnan was the eldest son of Guru Iyavoomurthi. Only one word describes every part of his body, mind heart and spirit - Music!

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His sib(dar)lings were close to him till the end. My mother Krishnavelli  was also a singer and together they taught and rendered classical music for all their lives. By the way they had two sons and two daughters. Time passed quickly and he was so absorbed with music that my father used to still talk about his little fellows- when we were past 25 years of age.

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Grandad used to research appropriate ragas/music scales for specific hymns and Dad used to fit tunes to the songs. I remember the hours he put in after work to get the music notes and rhythm in sync with the words, mood, and meaning so that the song was appealing. Grandad visited weekly at one stage and there was barely a hello said as they used to get stuck into music discussions. The songs numbered hundreds. Mother was the  first one to be taught the songs. Children played accompanying music or sang with. 

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Much later when we visited India I did hear these songs sung at temples and prayer meetings. They were very  similar to the songs Dad had fitted tunes to. He was obviously in tune - intuitively.That was one of my confirmations of past birth incarnation.

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He had taught music from a young adult to the very end in his 80's. He had not charged a penny for teaching music. He taught music in Tamil, Telugu and Sanskrit languages. Numerous recordings were made for people nationally and internationally.

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Overall he had a good sense of humour, and for the most part was not interested in what happens in the world. As long as his car carried the music instruments to music classes he was a happy man. Kept fit by daily walks and exercising by gardening- combine yoga whilst making your surrounding beautiful - free.

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When it was time to leave the earth he told us that his father beckoned in his dream - "come along Bala, you are taking too long now. Hurry it up!". He had a few days to go (because he was playing music and forgot to leave! Ha) . After his walk and bath he too a long look at mother, left money in her palm, and changed the position of his meditation. After meditation he told mother and brother that he felt strange. He strangely agreed to visit the family doctor. In the car my mother felt his hand was iced cold (usually it is very warm). Doctor checked him and was not very concerned. All joked and doctor said he will refer him to hospital later for an ECG - just in case.

 

As they were speaking, his eyes rolled back and he was gone. Well thought off and planned to the last detail. When mother got back home she eventually realised that he planned to the very end - there was one suit hanging in the wardrobe and all else was packed away in bags.

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