Honouring Legendary Indian Dancers V.P. Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan

On 14 June 2007, Sri Chinmoy honoured the legendary dance couple Vannadil Pudiyaveettil Dhananjayan and his wife, Shanta Dhananjayan, with the “Perfect Oneness of the Sun and the Moon” lifting award, in a ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel in San Diego. They were highly recommended for the award by sitar Maestro Ravi Shankar and his wife, Sukanya, as the “most perfect married couple.” Excerpts from the function follow.

Vasudha introduces the couple: We’re very honoured to have with us today Mr. V.P. Dhananjayan and his lovely wife, Shanta. They are famously known as the Dhananjayans. The Dhananjayans are a legendary dancing couple, and they’ve established their own academy of great esteem in India, Bharata Kalanjali. They’ve collaborated with musicians and dancers and artists all over the world, including our dear friend and brother Ravi Shankar. In fact, it was Sukanya herself who wanted them to be honoured by Sri Chinmoy today. Because she was aware of the “Perfect Oneness of the Sun and the Moon” award, she said they are the most perfect married couple.

Welcome.

Sri Chinmoy: I understand that you two are Ravi Shankar’s dearest friends. Unfortunately, he could not come because Sukanya-di is quite sick. With your kind permission, I would like to sing a song about him, which I composed several years ago. (He performs one of his songs dedicated to Ravi Shankar.)

Singers perform the “Perfect Oneness of the Sun and the Moon” and “Lifting Up the World” songs. Sri Chinmoy lifts the Dhananjayans as part of the “Perfect Oneness” series.

V.P. Dhananjayan: Aum Sri Gurubhyo Namah. We are highly thrilled to have this honour today, which was very unexpected. As the scriptures say (chants mantra below):

```

Aum sahana vavatu

Saha nau bhunaktu

Saha viiryam karavaavahai

Tejasvi Navaditamastu

Maa vidvissaavahai

Aum shanti, shanti, shanti

```

What Swami-ji is promulgating throughout the world is to establish peace among us, all living beings. The essence of our Sanatana Dharma is to establish peace and make the whole world one family, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. His mission is something very great, what our ancient sages have envisaged. He is continuing the work of those great intellectuals who have given us this philosophy of bringing all the world together and establishing peace. To become part of this mission today, is ordained by the Almighty, as again to quote the Samskrutam, Anyata chinta dam karyam deva manyet chinta diyet._

We don’t know what God has for us. God has His own decisions. After getting the blessings yesterday of Pandit-ji, Pandit Ravi Shankar, we had planned to leave today, but somehow we thought we would postpone our trip until tomorrow morning. Then when we arrived this morning at Pandit-ji’s place again, to spend some more time with him, he said, “There is some honour waiting for you. That’s why you have come back.” That was ordained by God.

And to get Guru-ji’s blessing today, and receive an award like this unexpectedly, becomes the greatest thing in our life. So Swami-ji, we are blessed today. Thank you very much.

From:Sri Chinmoy,Concern: A Reality of the Heart, Agni Press, 2025
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/crh