Gokulotsavji Maharaj

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.

Gokulotsavji Maharaj
Gokulotsavji Maharaj (left) receiving the Padma Bhushan award by then President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, on April 8, 2015.
Born	India
Nationality	Indian
Citizenship	India
Occupation(s)	Classical musician, composer, writer, vocalist and musicologist
Known for	Hindustani music, Haveli Sangeet, Indian classical music and world philosophy
Website	goswamigokulutsavji.com gokulotsavji.com

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.[1][2][3][4] He belongs to the SamVeda(mother of Indian Music) and Krishna Yajurveda parampara[tradition].[5]

He has received Padma Bhushan,[6][7][8] Padma Shri[7] 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.[9]

He has also created several new Raagas such as Bhaat Kalyan, AdhbhutRanjini, Hem Gaud, Madhur Malahar, Divya Gandhar, Khat Shringar, Prasanna Padaa, etc.[10][1]

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.[1][11]

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.[12]

Gokulotsavji Maharaj has created and founded his own distinct music style "Sarvang Sampurn Gayaki" consisting of a combination of various elements of classical vocal music as mentioned in sangeet shashtras.[13]

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][14] on Gokulotsavji Maharaj.[14][12][15]

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.[16]