Where did Mahant Virbhadra Mishra of Sankatmochan temple learned music? Unique secret surfaced:

News India Live, Digital Desk: Kashi (Varanasi), the holy city of Banaras, where music and spirituality grow together, a very special and inspiring story has come out from there. Padit Chhannulal Mishra, a renowned classical singer of Banaras Gharana, had taught music to Prof. Virbhadra Mishra, former Mahanta of Sankat Mochan Temple, Kashi’s famous Sankatmochan Temple. This story tells how the streams of art and faith together make Kashi unique.

Professor Virbhadra Mishra, who was known as environmentalist and iconic Mahant, was so strong that he himself came from Asi Road every Sunday and used to come right next to Pandit Chhanulal Mishra’s house Sankatmochan temple. Here, Chhannulal ji used to get him a classical singing and teach him the nuances of music. Virbhadra ji used to learn music with so much reverence and dedication that Pandit Chhannulal ji was very happy to get him Riyaz.

Chhannulal Mishra himself mentioned in an interview that Virbhadra Mishra was a very diligent and a person willing to learn. This unique example of the Guru-disciple tradition shows how there is no age to receive education and if the disciple is going to learn, then the Guru imparts knowledge with all his loyalty.

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra ji also organized several music meetings in the Sankatmochan temple complex, in which Virbhadra Mishra was always present with him. According to him, because of Virbhadra Mishra, he later also went to the Sankatmochan temple and started to recite classical singing, where earlier he was not a Guru, now he used to come in search of a place for Riyaz.

This story gives a precious glimpse of not only the music tradition of Kashi, but also the sacred relationship of Guru-disciple. This shows us how art and spirituality together spread harmony and knowledge in society.