Music for meditation. A four-decade journey.
Since July 1987, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji has performed 377 concerts across 33 countries, in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.
A musical journey that began in Amsterdam in 1987.
Concerts in 33 countries, across six continents
377 concerts · 33 countries · since 1987
Twenty years on, back in Amsterdam
The very first international Music for Meditation concert took place in July 1987 at the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in Amsterdam. Twenty years later, on 14 July 2007, Sri Swamiji returned to the same hall for a jubilee concert. Het Parool covered the evening.
"Twintig jaar na zijn eerste concert in Nederland was de vooraanstaande Indiase musicus en mysticus Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji weer hier, nu voor een concert in het Krasnapolsky Hotel in Amsterdam."
Twenty years after his first concert in the Netherlands, Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji returned to Amsterdam, this time at Hotel Krasnapolsky.
Poster: SGS Benelux, 2007. Foto: Michael Jacobs, Het Parool, 16 juli 2007.
Hear Agastya Seikritt, who organised that first concert, tell the story →
Sri Swamiji performs on a synthesiser programmed with over a thousand sounds he has selected himself, accompanied by an ensemble on violin, flute, mridangam and tabla. An introduction to raga, tala, and the listening experience.
Since the first international concert in Amsterdam in July 1987. A searchable record of every date, city and venue, with recordings where available.
Full-length concert recordings from the Royal Albert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center and beyond, plus the complete discography on streaming services.
“His music has a profound healing and relaxing effect on the listener.”
What others say
Through the medium of Nada, Pujya Swamiji is engaged in the task of taking ordinary people towards Brahma. To understand the spirituality behind music, and to connect with Brahma through it, is indeed a commendable task which Swamiji has been ceaselessly undertaking. He has used the entire world as His stage to perpetuate the great tradition of Nada Upasana.
One of the greatest things that has happened to me was meeting Sri Swamiji in Switzerland in 1987. There was a time in my life when I thought I would never play the violin again, Sri Swamiji is very much responsible for me playing violin again. His music has a profound healing and relaxing effect on the listener.
19 October
Concerts performed on 19 October in previous years.
SGS Ashrama
A single performance marks this date.
Nara Kasugano International Forum, I·RA·KA Noh Theater Hall
Japan Raga Sagara brings Sri Swamiji to Nara for a Music for Meditation and Healing concert at the I·RA·KA Noh Theater Hall of the Nara Kasugano International Forum, set within the historic Kasuga district. Part of a week-long visit (25 November to 2 December 2026) that also includes a Yoga Conference, "Sound, then Truth", on Saturday 28 November. Doors open at 17:00, the concert begins at 18:00. Children under six are not permitted. Full programme details and ticket information are published on japanragasagara.com.
What to expect on the night
- Arrival and seating. Doors usually open about an hour before the music begins. Seating is unreserved unless the venue states otherwise. Arriving early is recommended; the room fills.
- The ensemble enters. The Celestial Message Troupe takes the stage first, tuning the violin and tabla. Sri Swamiji joins shortly after and settles at the synthesiser.
- The raga unfolds. Each piece centres on a single raga, opened by a slow exploratory passage and gradually joined by the rhythm instruments. Pieces are long; the listening is the point.
- Silence at the close. Concerts end with an extended quiet rather than a flourish. Applause comes after the silence has settled, not over it.
- Prasadam, where offered. Some venues distribute a small blessed offering (prasadam) at the end. It is optional, never required, and not all concerts include it.
- Length. Plan for two to two and a half hours, with no interval. Comfortable clothing and a quiet phone help everyone, including yourself.