Sw Anand Nivedano

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(Alyrio Lima)

Nivedano in Japan, wearing one of Osho's hats.


Nivedano is a Brazilian percussionist born in Bahia in 1949. In his twenties he played percussion with Weather Report, Santana and others and came to Osho toward the end of Pune 1. Sarlo remembers him arriving, driving through the ashram front gate in a giant truck as if he owned the place, driving right up to Lao Tzu gate before stopping.

He was one of Osho's gardeners and played at Drive-bys at the Ranch, and came to super-prominence in the sannyas world in late Pune 2 when Osho introduced live guided meditations following his Zen discourses. Osho would call out his name and he would hit one tremendous beat on his surdo, to punctuate the stages of the meditation. More about all this in His Osho News interview (link below).

After Osho left his body, Nivedano moved back to Brazil, where he acquired some land and established an eco-commune called Campo Alegre in far-flung Alto Paraiso, next to Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.


In January 2015 we asked Nivedano for his memories about the musical world around Osho. He kindly supplied a wealth of information:

Late Poona One

From March 1, 1981 until the day that Osho left us I was the percussionist on all bands formations that came to play for satsangs and darshans.
Then came the Prophet days, when Bhagwan went into silence. [Note: When Osho went into silence in Pune in 1981, the satsang series at that time of silence was typically quotations from various of Kahlil Gibran's books, most prominently "The Prophet", read by someone between the five-minute periods of music that was played. The series began on 1 May 1981.]
During those "Prophet days" the band consisted of Ma Yashu (flutes), Nivedano, Rupesh and Harida (all percussion), Sw Govinddas (strings) and Yoga Krishna (brasilian, Chaitanya Hari's girlfriend - tamboura). And some guests on different days. This was right after Chaitanya Hari stopped playing for the meditations. He was told to go to Saswad and then Ma Yashu became the music coordinator until we went to New Jersey and then to the Ranch.
Most of the compositions, after Chaitanya left, were done by the group. Someone would bring a line, a melody and we would complete the song all together at rehearsals. There were singing songs that were specifically composed by someone who brought it ready made, but those were exceptions and mostly were songs played at darshans. Satsang music was usually a team effort, except for few songs that were hits and the best of them were composed by Govinddas, Yashu and Nivedano. Swami Karunesh and Swami Kamal also composed wonderful music. Yes to the River is a great collection. Milarepa at Pune 2 did compose many beautiful songs that are still now being played everywhere where celebrations are taking place worldwide.

The Ranch

Nivedano went along to the castle in New Jersey and the band there was Yashu (flute), Govinddas (guitars/sitar/mandolin), Nivedano (percussion), Yoga Krishna (Tamboura).
Right after that we went to the ranch, and the band at the 1st Annual World Celebration [July 3 to 7, 1982] at Magdalena cafeteria was Govinddas (guitar/sitar/mandolin...), Nivedano (drums and percussion), Toby (flute), Rupesh and Prem Git (bass).
With the 2nd Annual World Celebration [July 2 - 8, 1983] the band were Govinddas (guitars/sitar/mandolin), Toby (flute), Nivedano (drums/percussion), Premgit (bass), Rupesh (congas & tablas), Suresha (singer), Devakant (flutes). At night there was also Anubhava and Aneeta for music group.
At the 3rd Annual World Celebration [June 30 - July 6, 1984]: Govinddas, Nivedano, Rupesh (congas & tablas), Shiven (percussion), Premgit/Lalit (bass) Sw Shabdanur (trumpet), Toby (flutes/saxophones), Suresha (singer), Maniko (singer), Samir (buddhafield garage; guitar and singer), Vinit (Garimo/Arup's boy friend; guitar). I've forgot the keyboard player's name.
And at the 4th Annual World Celebration [about July 1 to 6, 1985] the same band plus someone that Sheela sent to harass the band, I also forgot that one's name. And then also Anugama on keyboards. Actualy Anugama played keyboards in many celebrations. Also at that time Sheela decided that we should add Sw Prem Bhavito (violin) and the other Russian swami who played guitar. You can hear that that music was a bit different and was really wonderful.
When Osho was arrested [Oct 28, 1985] we did Basho's Pond and had Chaitanya Hari playing flutes and his parafernalia.
There was at the Ranch every year 4 celebrations, and the band was basicaly the one that I am giving you the names. Maybe I am missing someone but it was basically that formation.

World Tour

We then went round the world with Osho and in Greece [around Feb 19 to Mar 6, 1986] there was Nivedano (percussion), Shavdo/Japanese (guitar and flutes), and a guitar player that I´ve forgot the name of.
In Uruguay [around Apr 12 to Jun 18, 1986] there was Nivedano and Milarepa and also we did play in Portugal once or twice.

Poona Two

Back in India, Poona-2, [from Jan 8, 1987] at Chuang Tzu Auditorium the band at first was only an Indian Swami who played tambourine and sang sutras. I forget his name, it really was just a tambourine, the instruments were still at Rajneeshpuram and took two weeks to arrive. Osho then decided that it was time for more energetic music and we started playing with this formation: Milarepa (guitar/singer), Nivedano (percussion), Swami Kamal (bass/keyboards), Swami Karunesh (keyboards), Swami Devakant (flutes), and Lolita (flutes). At times Swami Rupesh played tablas and percussion. This formation went on until we moved to the Buddha hall.
In the new Buddha hall [from about Dec 7, 1987] the band was bigger and most of the time was this formation: Milarepa, Nivedano, Karunesh, Kamal, Satgyan (Japanese bass player), Shavdo (bass player), Rupesh (percussion), Devakant, Lolita and Satyam, the English singer and keyboard player who later on was the music coordinator.
Then one night Nivedano and Milarepa had a heated argument about the quality of the music that was being played for the morning and evening meetings and it was then decided that we would only play from then on drums and not the singing and sweet mellow music anymore. The master loved it and then started the Oshoba. This was a name given to the music that we were playing. Not Samba but Osho-ba. This was the music played at the darshans every night for 18 months. [That must have been from about June 1988 ?]
This drove everybody insane, it was like having a celestial down load for many who enjoyed and a ego nightmare for those who were against it, some of them running the commune, made us a few enemies for life. Osho loved it and told a few that if they were not happy they didn´t need to come to the evening meeting, period.
This band was then formed as this: Nivedano (drums/percussion/snare drum), Milarepa (big surdo drum), Swami Marco (small surdo), Swami Sandesh (japanese; shakers), Swami Teerth (japanese; brasilian tambourine), Swami Abhivandan (japanese; agogo), Swami Satprem (japanese; 2nd small surdo and small percussions). The piano player was a Dutch swami Sw Siddhamo.
There was other formations later on, after Osho's departure, but the recorded music at the communes were basically made by the above listed musicians. I am sorry if I forgot somebody but those were the basic crew in residence.
Ah, and we also had Sw Shivam Sanjiva playing in many albums. He was also the sound man, actually the only sound-man who understood the musicians and the need for the music to be heard loud and clear all over the hall. With him the band really soared, and it was loud and clear and beautiful. All the others, the sound wallas, were afraid, really afraid to err and be called on their mistakes. And the sound was always compressed, dull and inexpressive or "fit for the master´s ears". Until Sanjiva started doing the sound it was so-so at best. The day we started Oshoba in Buddha Hall it was like a wall had been removed and musicians were then in charge of the music played for the master. What a sense of unbounded freedom for us all musicians. I guess because we were always having a good time playing and were considered a kind of out-cast crew, we were always saddled-up with some unfortunate brother or sister who had no idea of music, much less the tact to coordinate the moment to moment variations of the sounds and silences of our music. One can feel that, from the first day of Oshoba the whole commune started having a different pulsation everywhere. The evenings with Osho were again an Energy Darshan, every night the band took the roof off and it was possible to see stars again within the madness of such a chaos. Everyone letting go, the band giving their best to the Master´s play, it was wonderful. I am grateful to Sanjiva because he had the courage to have Jimi Hendrix sound brought to the sacred Buddha field. He is famous now and you should contact him for good information.
Thank you, love to you,
Nivedano

Letters to Osho

Nivedano's beautiful letters to Osho ...

Contact Details

address
Alto Paraíso Ecological Association
RPPN Campo Alegre
540 rua São Jorge - bairro Parana
Alto Paraíso - GO
CEP 73.770.000
Brasilia - DF
email
projectnewmanhotmail.com
website
Project New Man
discography
1975 : Tale Spinnin' with Weather Report
1976 : Starbright with Pat Martino
1976 : On the Town with Webster Lewis
1976 : Live from the Showboat with Phil Woods
1978 : Electric Guitarist with John McLaughlin
1978 : But Not For Me with Masabumi Kikuchi
1978 : Mistral with Randy Roos
1979 : Electric Dreams with John McLaughlin
1980 : Live at the Public Theater in New York, Vol. 1 with Gil Evans
1980 : Live at the Public Theatre in New York, Vol. 2 with Gil Evans
1981 : Susto with Masabumi Kikuchi
1981 : Every satsang from May 1 to May 31
1981 : 1981-07-17 Guru Purnima
1981 : 1981-09-08 Mahaparinirvana Day Satsang ~ Silence is Fire
1981 : 1981-12-11 Golden Birthday Celebration
1982 : Madjap Express with Masabumi Kikuchi
1987 : Chuang Tzu’s Dream
1987 : Open Window
1987 : Love Is An Invitation
1988 / 2005 : Oshoba - Zen Anecdotes in Sound
1988 : 1988 में गुरु पूर्णिमा कीर्तन (1988-07-29 Guru Poornima Keertan)
1990 : Hidden Harmony
1993 : Fragments of Truth
videography
2012 : Nivedano leading an "Oshoba" workshop
2013 : Project New Man, Brasil
see also
Interview made by Sw Anand Goloka with Sw Anand Nivedano, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 2012.
Interview in Osho News 2014
Dancing Poets
The Rajneesh Rock Band
Campo Alegre: o berço das águas

Gallery

  • Guru Purnima celebration at Chidvilas, New Jersey 1981

    Guru Purnima celebration at Chidvilas, New Jersey 1981

  • Lao Tzu House lawn, Rajneeshpuram, 1982 : left to right: Ma Gayan, Ma ???, Sw Doug, Sw Devakant, Ma Premda, Sw Venu Gopal, Nivedano and Ma Arpita

    Lao Tzu House lawn, Rajneeshpuram, 1982 : left to right: Ma Gayan, Ma ???, Sw Doug, Sw Devakant, Ma Premda, Sw Venu Gopal, Nivedano and Ma Arpita

  • Oshoba, 1983 : Sw Anand Milarepa , Nivedano, Sw Deva Karunesh (piano)

    Oshoba, 1983 : Sw Anand Milarepa , Nivedano, Sw Deva Karunesh (piano)

  • Oshoba, 1983 : Sw Teerth (percussion), Sw Prabodh (bass), Ma Bharti (piano), Nivedano (drums), Sw Anand Milarepa (guitar), violin player unknown

    Oshoba, 1983 : Sw Teerth (percussion), Sw Prabodh (bass), Ma Bharti (piano), Nivedano (drums), Sw Anand Milarepa (guitar), violin player unknown

  • Magdalena Cafeteria, Rajneeshpuram, 1983 : Nivedano & Sw Govinddas

    Magdalena Cafeteria, Rajneeshpuram, 1983 : Nivedano & Sw Govinddas

  • 1984

    1984

  • 1984: Nivedano and Sw Shivam Sanjiva

    1984: Nivedano and Sw Shivam Sanjiva

  • Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

    Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

  • Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

    Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

  • Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

    Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

  • Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : Nivedano (l) & Sw Veet Marco (r)

    Driveby, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : Nivedano (l) & Sw Veet Marco (r)

  • Rajneesh Mandir, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : In the drums

    Rajneesh Mandir, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : In the drums

  • Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

    Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

  • Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

    Jesus Grove, Rajneeshpuram, 1984

  • Darshan-Satsang band, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : clockwise from left: Sw Prem Geet (bass), Sw Shiven (congas), Nivedano (drums), Sw Govinddas (guitar), Sw Devakant (flutes), Sw Toby (saxophone), Ma Anand Suresha (vocals) & Sw Prem Anubhava (vocals & guitar)

    Darshan-Satsang band, Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : clockwise from left: Sw Prem Geet (bass), Sw Shiven (congas), Nivedano (drums), Sw Govinddas (guitar), Sw Devakant (flutes), Sw Toby (saxophone), Ma Anand Suresha (vocals) & Sw Prem Anubhava (vocals & guitar)

  • Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : "Nivedano !!"

    Rajneeshpuram, 1984 : "Nivedano !!"

  • Tao Center, Dec 1986

    Tao Center, Dec 1986

  • Uruguay, 1986 : clockwise: Nivedano, Sw Anand Milarepa, Sw Dhyan Yogi & Ma Prem Maneesha

    Uruguay, 1986 : clockwise: Nivedano, Sw Anand Milarepa, Sw Dhyan Yogi & Ma Prem Maneesha

  • Uruguay, 1986

    Uruguay, 1986

  • First satsang Buddha Hall, Poona, 1987 : Sw Deva Karunesh (piano), Sw Prem Joshua (sax), trumpet player unknown, Nivedano (drums), Sw Sandesh (percussion)

    First satsang Buddha Hall, Poona, 1987 : Sw Deva Karunesh (piano), Sw Prem Joshua (sax), trumpet player unknown, Nivedano (drums), Sw Sandesh (percussion)

  • First night Buddha Hall, Poona, 1987 : Sw Anand Milarepa, Sw Kamal, Sw Anand Rupesh & Nivedano

    First night Buddha Hall, Poona, 1987 : Sw Anand Milarepa, Sw Kamal, Sw Anand Rupesh & Nivedano

  • Japan tour, at the Tenkawa Shrine, 1998 : playing the birimbao

    Japan tour, at the Tenkawa Shrine, 1998 : playing the birimbao

  • Oshoba Japan tour, 1998

    Oshoba Japan tour, 1998

  • Japan, 1998 : Adarsha, Nivedano, Neera, Sat Prem

    Japan, 1998 : Adarsha, Nivedano, Neera, Sat Prem

  • Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano and others (1 of 3)

    Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano and others (1 of 3)

  • Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano and others (2 of 3)

    Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano and others (2 of 3)

  • Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano, Sw Bindu and others (3 of 3)

    Buddha Hall, Poona, 1998 : Milarepa, Marco, German Sw., Satgyan, Nivedano, Sw Bindu and others (3 of 3)

  • Oshoba in Budha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Deva Ashvabodhi, Sw Deva Madhuro, Ma Deva Aneesha, Ma Anand Pratibha

    Oshoba in Budha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Deva Ashvabodhi, Sw Deva Madhuro, Ma Deva Aneesha, Ma Anand Pratibha

  • Oshoba in Budha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Deva Ashvabodhi, Sw Deva Madhuro, Ma Deva Aneesha, Ma Anand Pratibha

    Oshoba in Budha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Deva Ashvabodhi, Sw Deva Madhuro, Ma Deva Aneesha, Ma Anand Pratibha

  • Oshoba in Buddha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Shavdo, Sw Antar Tathagat and Sw Sandesh

    Oshoba in Buddha Hall 1998 : left to right: Sw Shavdo, Sw Antar Tathagat and Sw Sandesh

  • 1999 : Abi, Ma Anand Margo, Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

    1999 : Abi, Ma Anand Margo, Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

  • 1999 : Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

    1999 : Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

  • 1999 : Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

    1999 : Ma Anand Pratibha, Nivedano and others

  • 1999 : Nivedano and Sw Anand Harida

    1999 : Nivedano and Sw Anand Harida

  • Nivedano in 2000

    Nivedano in 2000

  • Budha Hall, Pune, 2000

    Budha Hall, Pune, 2000

  • Osho Mandir 2000 : front to back: Ma Deva Premal, Sw Prabhu Miten, ??, Ma Deva Aneesha, Nivedano, Sw Prem Chinmaya, Ma Satyam, Ma Adharsha, Ma Bodhigita, Sw Shimanto, Ma Gayan, Sw Upanishad (?), Sw Venu Gopal, Ma Prem Lolita, Sw Bindu (?), Sw Deva Ashvabodhi, Sw Anand Amareesh, Sw Yoga Pratap Bharti and others
  • Pune, 2000 : Dinesh, Shavdo, Satgyan, Abi, Sat Prem, Nivedano, Amaresh, Milarepa, Adarsha, Pratibha

    Pune, 2000 : Dinesh, Shavdo, Satgyan, Abi, Sat Prem, Nivedano, Amaresh, Milarepa, Adarsha, Pratibha

  • Pune, 2000 : Milarepa, Nivedano, Vatayan and Sat Prem

    Pune, 2000 : Milarepa, Nivedano, Vatayan and Sat Prem

  • Music room, Pune, 2000 : Milarepa, Nirguno, Sat Prem, Gutei, Nivedano

    Music room, Pune, 2000 : Milarepa, Nirguno, Sat Prem, Gutei, Nivedano

  • Music room, Pune, 2000

    Music room, Pune, 2000

  • Ashram, Pune, 2000 : Nivedano and friends

    Ashram, Pune, 2000 : Nivedano and friends

  • Ashram, Pune, 2000 : Nivedano and friends

    Ashram, Pune, 2000 : Nivedano and friends

  • Ashram, Pune, 2000

    Ashram, Pune, 2000

  • Pune Resort, 2001 : Maneesh, Nivedano, Ojas, Vatayan, Denesh and others

    Pune Resort, 2001 : Maneesh, Nivedano, Ojas, Vatayan, Denesh and others

  • Buddha Hall, Pune, 2001 : Oshoba : left to right: Sw Anand Milarepa (big drum), Sw Sandesh (smaller drum), Sw Gutei (shaker), Nivedano (drums), Sw Abhivandan ( small drum), Japanese bass player (Ma Radha’s boyfriend), Sw Dhyan Vatayan (maracas) & Sw Nirguno (cuíca drums)

    Buddha Hall, Pune, 2001 : Oshoba : left to right: Sw Anand Milarepa (big drum), Sw Sandesh (smaller drum), Sw Gutei (shaker), Nivedano (drums), Sw Abhivandan ( small drum), Japanese bass player (Ma Radha’s boyfriend), Sw Dhyan Vatayan (maracas) & Sw Nirguno (cuíca drums)

  • Gudi-San, Japan, 2001 : Abi, Nivedano

    Gudi-San, Japan, 2001 : Abi, Nivedano

  • Japan : 2001

    Japan : 2001

  • Japan : With Sw Anand Milarepa

    Japan : With Sw Anand Milarepa

  • Ma Yoko, Sw Atasa, Nivedano, Sw Sat Prem
  • 2014

    2014