From maths to meditation
March 2008
By Mamta Tripathi
‘The trimurti of maths, music and meditation is the royal way to the Divine.’ – Osho
Those, who can master even one of the three Ms, consider themselves lucky. Indeed, a deeper study of each of the disciplines has been opening doors to life’s mysteries for numerous seekers since time immemorial. To consciously aim at the mastery of all is certainly an ambitious take on life! Chasing her dreams has been a life’s work for Noida-based yoga instructor and musician, Mamta Tripathi.
After completing her master’s in mathematics in 1996, this Agra girl moved to Noida, “in search of the pathway of life that would give a shape to my profession, imagination, creativity and spirituality.” Here, she met a young master of traditional Indian classical music, Pandit Nirmalya Dey, who is an exponent of the dhrupad tradition of singing. “The encounter with Nirmalya-ji has strongly motivated me to start learning dhrupad because of its intense meditative essence and creative nuances,” she says.
Explaining her choice of music, she explains, “I chose this art form because the practice of this music is not meant for entertainment, or to render a spectacular event; on the contrary it is geared towards attaining self-realisation. Dhrupad encompasses every aspect of life and nature, like spirituality, love, anguish, sorrow and devotion. Besides, the principle and practice of dhrupad is well connected with the theory of ‘Nada yoga’. The voice training, the process of unfolding the melody (raga), rendition of the composition, improvisation, is strictly maintained in adherence to principles of ‘Nada yoga’.”
Her training in dhrupad led her towards the world of yoga, as she felt that both are closely related and have a common aim. Her seeking led her to Dr Girish Jha, a reputed yoga master in Delhi. “Because of his generous support I could discover this unique discipline of life. Yoga has now become my life, profession and philosophy,” she says. She went on to complete an MSc in Science of Living, Preksha Dhyan and Yoga from Gyan Vishwabharati Yoga Sansthan in Ladnun, Rajasthan.
She lives on her own in Noida, making a living as a well-respected yoga instructor and dedicating the rest of her time to music. She manages her schedule on her own terms, giving due importance to her personal sadhana along with her work. “I do earn my livelihood being a yoga instructor, but I don’t follow this discipline only for the sake of money. Money is, of course, essential but not at the cost of living a blissful life,” she asserts.
She does not like to adhere to the conventional requirements of ‘settling down’ that most young women in our society are expected to fulfil. “Friendship is the most important and precious relationship in my life as it deals with common issues and interests and goes beyond the limitation of blood relationships and social arrangements. This is a kind of relationship which carries value for me; where wishes and expectations are not the primary factors for continuity.” Her take on spirituality is equally unique: “In my opinion spirituality has nothing to do with the belief in God, deity or any particular sect. On the contrary, it educates one to realise the inherent power of oneself, which is the most essential factor for leading a healthy and successful life.” She has certainly realised her inherent power, and continues to live life on her own terms, inspiring and healing all those she encounters.
Faraaz Tanveer
Contact:mamta73@gmail.com