Gauri Madhuri Dhanraj

Religion is not a label for me.

It's like a way of life.

There are, of course, the rituals and the vidhi that we follow as Hindus, like certain prayers you do, pujas, festivals you'll celebrate, especially because I work at this Hindu temple that my parents have built.

I'm inculcated in that all the time.

But Hinduism for me and for all of the people that I teach or my students or the people in the temple, it's more about giving thanks and living selflessly, doing seva or volunteerism.

And trying to make the world a better place for you and for the people around you, that's like the basis of Hinduism.

So I try to do that through music or through teaching and try to blend that kind of seva with our religious tradition.

So I think, yeah, that's what Hinduism sort of means to me.

Yeah, I'm lucky that I get to sing in the temple all of the time.

Other musicians, like we have to look for shows and gigs, right?

But the temple, Hindu temples and all places of worship are where people come to feel safe or they come for a haven or for some kind of escape from the real world.

So I find that when you give them bhajans, it's like giving them therapy, peace, love, quiet, in this very, very busy and difficult world that we live in.

So in my little way, that's my form of seva.

That is a good question, and one I think more musicians should ask ourselves, because it is difficult.

You're on a stage, and you're seeing these bhajans about Bhagavan, and in front of you are all these people who might not be looking at Bhagavan, but they're looking at you.

And a lot of times people follow the messenger instead of the message.

You know, they get attached to the singer or the pundit or the guru.

And they focus more on that and less on what the guru or the singer is trying to convey.

So for me, it is very difficult because Abhimanyu, pride, it's so hard to keep in check.

But I always try to remind myself that I'm just here in this position because I've been blessed with the opportunity and the privilege.