Gokulotsavji Maharaj

{{Short description|Hindustani classical musician}}

{{BLP sources|date=August 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Gokulotsavji Maharaj

| image = The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Bhushan Award to Dr. Pandit Gokulotsavji Maharaj, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on April 08, 2015.jpg

| imagesize =

| caption = Gokulotsavji Maharaj (left) receiving the Padma Bhushan award by then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on April 8, 2015.

| native_name =

| birth_place = India

| nationality = Indian

| citizenship = India

| occupation = Classical musician, composer, writer, vocalist and musicologist

| yearsactive =

| known for = Hindustani music, Haveli Sangeet, Indian classical music and world philosophy

| spouse =

| domesticpartner =

| children =

| parents =

| website = {{URL|http://goswamigokulutsavji.com}}

{{URL|http://gokulotsavji.com}}

| relatives =

}}

Gokulotsavji Maharaj is a Hindustani classical musician, specializing in Khayal, Dhrupad Dhammar, Prabandh Gayaki and various other ancient indian musical styles. He is also a singer-cum-composer, writer, poet, and musicologist.

He composes music under the pen name MadhurPiya. He has created more than 5,000 compositions in Khayal, Dhrupad Dhammar, Prabandha Gayan, etc. in Sanskrit, Hindi, Braj Bhasha, Persian, Urdu.{{Cite news|date=2011-11-11|title=Daughter on a sun|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/daughter-on-a-sun/article2616175.ece|access-date=2021-12-26|issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web|title=Echoes Of An Old Music, Vignettes Of Stage Memories|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/echoes-of-an-old-music-vignettes-of-stage-memories/298396|access-date=2021-12-26|website=www.outlookindia.com/|language=en}}{{cite web|date=2015|title=All Music|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/goswami-gokulotsavji-maharaj-mn0001777079/biography|access-date=5 February 2015|publisher=All Music}}{{Cite web|date=2006-03-22|title=Indian classical music is eternal: Gokulotsavji|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/indian-classical-music-is-eternal-gokulotsavji/story-AZWSfOAqWJISJ70OGjt1KP.html|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}} He belongs to the SamVeda(mother of Indian Music) and Krishna Yajurveda parampara[tradition].{{Cite web |last=Padma Awards Portal, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |first=Padma Awards Portal, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |year=201 |title=Citation Padma Bhushan Dr. Pandit Gokulotsavji Maharaj |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Content/CitationsForTickets/2015/201520.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008114927/https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Content/CitationsForTickets/2015/201520.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2022 |website=Padma Awards Portal, Government of India |publisher=Padma Awards Portal, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |publication-place=New Delhi}}

He has received Padma Bhushan,{{Cite web|date=April 9, 2015|title=List of Padma Awards 2015|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/list-of-padma-awards-2015-247836-2015-04-09|access-date=2021-11-26|website=India Today|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2017) Year-Wise List|url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/Year_Wise_main_25042017_0.pdf|website=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India|pages=88, 109}}{{Cite web|date=30 March 2015|title=Padma Awards 2015 - Award recipients list|url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/Awards_2015_14042017_0.PDF|access-date=26 Nov 2021|website=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India}} Padma Shri by the Central Government of India. He has also received National Tansen Samman Award 7 December 2007, Dhrupad Ratna from Darbhanga Gharana of Dhrupad Virtuosos Pt Kshtipal Mallick Dhrupad Society. He is the top grade artist of All India Radio(Aakashwani) and DoorDarshan.{{Cite book|last=Mathur|first=Neeta|title=Śāstrīya saṅgīta ke sūrya : Ācārya (Paṃ.) Gokulotsava Jī Mahārāja : saṅgīta sevā, śāstra cintana evaṃ bandiśoṃ kā saṅkalana|publisher=Radha Publications, New Delhi|year=2011|isbn=9788174877659|location=New Delhi|pages=9, 10|oclc=769743702}}

He has also created several new Raagas such as Bhaat Kalyan, AdhbhutRanjini, Hem Gaud, Madhur Malahar, Divya Gandhar, Khat Shringar, Prasanna Padaa, etc.{{Cite web|title=Homepage of Dr Pandit Gokulotsavji Maharajshree|url=http://gokulotsavji.com/mainpage.php?pageid=2#:~:text=He%20has%20created%20a%20number%20of%20new%20ragas%20such%20as%20Adbhut%20Ranjani,%20Divyagandhar,%20Madhur%20Malhar%20Prasandpada,%20Sneh%20Gandhar%20Madhur%20Dhwani%20Kanhda.%20He%20conducts%20several%20creative%20projects%20for%20the%20revival%20of%20rare%20and%20old%20Samved%20Sanskrity.|access-date=2021-12-26|website=gokulotsavji.com}}

He sings in ancient talas, like Brahma Taal(28 beats per cycle) and Matta Taal(18 beats per cycle), Shikhar Taal, Lakshmi tala and others.{{Cite news|date=27 June 2021|title=Sanget Martand Pt. Gokulotsavji Maharaj|work=The Free Press Journal|url=https://epaper.freepressjournal.in/c/61426710|access-date=26 December 2021}}

He has given interpretations and hidden meanings of syllables nom, tom, dere, na, tadani, etc., of dhrupad aalap and tarana, which were earlier considered to be meaningless and he states that these syllables derive their meaning, authority, creation and existence from vedic mantra beej-akshars.

Gokulotsavji Maharaj has created and founded his own distinct music style [http://sarvanggayki.com "Sarvang Sampurn Gayaki"] consisting of a combination of various elements of classical vocal music as mentioned in sangeet shashtras.{{Cite web|title={{!}}{{!}} VrajRang - Vrajotsavji {{!}}{{!}} - Sarvang Sampurn Gayki|url=https://www.vrajrang.com/acharya-dr-vrajotsavji/sarvang-sampurn-gayki|access-date=2021-08-18|website=www.vrajrang.com|language=en-US}}

Neeta Mathur(associate professor at Vivekanand College Delhi University) has authored a biographical book named "Shashtriya Sangeet ke Surya Acharya (Pt) Gokulotsavji Maharaj"[Sun of Classical Music Acharya (Pt) Gokulotsavji Mahara]{{Cite web |title=Shastriya sangeet ke surya: Acharya (Pt.) Gokulotsav ji Maharaj |url=http://indianculture.gov.in/union-catalogue/shastriya-sangeet-ke-surya-acharya-pt-gokulotsav-ji-maharaj |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=INDIAN CULTURE |language=en}} on Gokulotsavji Maharaj.{{Cite book|last=Māthura|first=Nītā|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/769743702|title=Śāstrīya saṅgīta ke sūrya : Ācārya (Paṃ.) Gokulotsava Jī Mahārāja : saṅgīta sevā, śāstra cintana evaṃ bandiśoṃ kā saṅkalana|date=2011|publisher=Rādhā Pablikeśansa|isbn=978-81-7487-765-9|edition=1. saṃskaraṇa|location=Naī Dillī|oclc=769743702}}{{Cite web|title=Shastriya Sangeet Ke Surya'( Radha Publication Delhi, 2011), biography of Acharya (Pt.) Gokulotsavji Maharaj,renowned classical musician of international repute by Dr. Neeta Mathur.|url=http://www.drneetamathur.com/research.php?id=16|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.drneetamathur.com}}

Gokulotsavji Maharaj has also served as the Member of Indian Council for Cultural Relations(ICCR), Trustee of Bharat Bhavan and Judge to the First Court of Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar.{{Cite web|title=Awards and Achievements of Dr Pandit Gokulotsavji Maharaj|url=http://goswamigokulutsavji.com/mainpage.php?pageid=4|access-date=2021-08-18|website=goswamigokulutsavji.com}}