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Sivasri Skandaprasad enthralls Minnesota community
Her performance left the audience visibly moved by the end of the program.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 14, May 2026
- 16:17 EDT
- 39
Sivasri Skandaprasad / Rajesh Govindraj
Renowned Indian Carnatic musician Sivasri Skandaprasad on May 2 transformed an evening of music in Minnesota into what many attendees described as a spiritual offering during her Namasankirtanam concert at Chinmaya Mission Twin Cities.
The concert, jointly organized by Layyasaaram Institute of Indian Arts and MN Kannada Koota, brought together members of Minnesota’s Indian community for an evening centered on bhakti, or devotional expression, through music. Community members Vallabha Tantry and S. P. Naidu, along with a team of volunteers, played a key role in making the event possible.
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Held at the Chinmaya Ganapati shrine in Chaska, the concert took place in a setting that added to the atmosphere of devotion. With nine forms of Lord Ganesha surrounding both the performers and the audience, the venue itself became part of the experience. That sense of reverence was felt from the opening song, Sur Niragas Ho, which drew an immediate emotional response from the audience.
Throughout the evening, Skandaprasad presented a wide-ranging repertoire that crossed regional and linguistic traditions. Her selections included Tamil namavalis, the Kerala devotional piece Krishna Krishna Mukunda Janardana, Hindi bhajans, and Marathi abhangs, taking listeners on what many described as a musical journey across India.
One of the evening’s standout moments was her rendition of Sant Kabir’s Guru Bin Kaun Bataave Baat, which resonated strongly with the audience. Through shifts in tone and expression, she brought out the emotional depth of the composition, moving from the struggle of human illusion to the comfort of spiritual guidance. The performance ended with the entire audience joining her in chanting “Guru Maharaj, Guru Jai Jai, Parabrahma Satguru.”
Skandaprasad referred to the evening not as a concert but as an “offering,” a description reflected in both the tone of the event and her engagement with the audience.
Her rendition of *Siyapati Ramachandra Keejai* was particularly noted for how she highlighted verses about Dhruva and Gajendra, emphasizing that sincere devotion, rather than age or status, is what brings one closer to the divine.
Another powerful moment came during *Twamasi Mama Jeevanam*. Skandaprasad paused mid-performance, visibly emotional, allowing the silence in the hall to carry the meaning of the composition before she resumed. Attendees said the room remained completely still, as if everyone understood the significance of the moment without explanation.
Her accompanists contributed significantly to the concert’s impact. The harmonium artist closely followed her phrasing, while the mridangam artist maintained a restrained rhythmic presence. Supporting instruments such as the jalra and chaplakattai, along with Skandaprasad’s own clapping, added to the intimate and traditional character of the performance, organizers said.
A notable feature of the evening was Skandaprasad’s interaction with younger members of the audience. She invited children to come on stage and sing with her, a gesture that many attendees saw as a meaningful act of passing on a living tradition. Her father, watching from the wings, was also noted by audience members as a moving symbol of the lineage behind her music and spiritual practice.
Many in attendance also expressed surprise at her Marathi repertoire. She performed two Marathi devotional pieces, including one in praise of Lord Ganesha and an abhang, with a pronunciation and fluency that drew appreciation from listeners familiar with the language. The performance highlighted her ability to honor multiple devotional traditions with equal authenticity.
The concert concluded with a visibly emotional audience, with several attendees describing feelings of peace, gratitude, and joy.
Organizers extended the spirit of the evening beyond the performance by gifting flowers to women in attendance and serving prasadam to all, bringing the event to a close that many described as both celebratory and deeply comforting.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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