Popular bhajan singer Vinod Agarwal died in a hospital around 4 am on Tuesday. He died due to multiple organ failure, news agency ANI reported. He was 63.
Vinod Agarwal was admitted in a critical condition to a private medical facility in Mathura after he complained of chest pain on Sunday. The 63-year-old was put on ventilator after some of his vital organs stopped working, a doctor said. His family members rushed from Mumbai to be by his side at the Nayati Hospital.
Born in New Delhi in 1955, Vinod Agarwal‘s imitable style of bhajan singing has been popular for decades. He settled down in Vrindavan dur his love for Lord Krishna. As per his wish, his final rites were performed in Vrindavan.
On Wednesday, the public rushed to his last viewing at his home in Vrindavan’s Pushpanjali Vaikuntha residency. After this, at 3pm, the funeral procession departed and his final rights were performed on the banks of the Yamuna.
The legendary singer has performed in over 1,500 live programs across the country and has held shows in Singapore, Italy, Britain, Switzerland, France, Germany, Canada, Ireland and Dubai.
Speaking about his decision to relocate to Vrindavan, the singer said, "I left aside Mumbai, the city of dreams, and made Vrindavan, the city of bhakti, my home. For my entire life I sang Kanaiya’s bhajans and now, in this last phase of my life, I want to stay in Kanaiya’s home and to go to my eternal rest there. When my life leaves my body, it will leave it in Vrindavan.
Singing hymns of Kanha all over the world, this is the only wish that at the last stop of life, that I can sleep in the city of Kanhaiya only. Whenever my life goes out, I will go to Vrindavan."
No one knew that the desire of the maestro, Vinod Agarwal, will be fulfilled this fast so soon after the interview given to Amar Ujala. But it was decided by destiny. In an interview, Vinod had an expression of utmost satisfaction on his face. Describing his musical journey to Vrindavan, Vinod said that he has been singing since 1978. He said that he never even learnt music formally, but was able to sing because he received the grace of Kanhaiya.
Bhajan singer Vinod Agarwal said that, previously, he was in the clothing business. The business flourished with shops in Mumbai, but he was unable to concentrate on business and came to Vrindavan to settle with his wife. His son is managing the business. At this time, Vinod said that he is not a social reformer, a preacher or a speaker. He is just an ordinary person, who is immersed in the devotion. Explaining his attraction to Vrindavan, he said, "I always thought that I should spend a quarter of my life in Vrindavan".
He further said that music is like a vast ocean. Western music is about increasing excitement. Nowadays there is noise in the name of music. The intensity of words is important in music but these days, words are not being used properly. Singers should pay attention to the meaningfulness of the words in songs.
About the tears that can be seen in his eyes when he sings he said that when the love of Krishna cannot be contained in the heart, it comes out in the eyes. He explained,"there is a deep affection for Krishna in my heart and bhajan is the means of expressing this affection". He said that many of Vrindavan’s sants compose superb bhajans but they are not interested in performing.
He further said that the music is like a vast ocean. Change is the rule of creation. Western music fills the excitement. The intensity of words is also important in music. Nowadays there is noise in the name of music. Words are not being used properly. New singers should come to use words correctly.
Bhajan singer Vinod Agarwal said that previously, he was in the clothing business. The business flourished with shops in Mumbai, but he was unable to concentrate on business and came to Vrindavan to settle with his wife. Now his son is managing the business.
Vinod had said that he is not a social reformer, a preacher or a speaker. He just an ordinary person, who is immersed in the devotion. Explaining his attraction to Vrindavan, he said, "I always thought that I should spend a quarter of my life in Vrindavan". He said, I want to spend the last days of my life on the angan (courtyard) of Kanaya. At the end of my life, the name of the eternal flute player should be on my lips.
Vinod Agarwal used to perform kirtan every Sunday at his business place in Mumbai. He was joined by a friend Baldev Krishna who used to work in private company in Delhi. From 1993 the two started singing bhajans together. Both of them performed more than three thousand programs around the country and abroad and released over 200 albums.
Vinod was performing on stage even a few months ago. On October 7th, he performed at Sri Krishna Bhakti Ashram Mandal, Chandigarh, Sector-29. Rakesh Pal Modgil said, "Our organization called Bhajan Singer Vinod Agarwal many times to perform here. We are very sad to hear the news of his death. May his soul rest in peace".