Sri Ramanavami Reflections

My musical greetings to all our friends on the occasion of Ugadi and Sri Ramanavami, which marks the launch of music festivals all over South India.  This is the occasion to remember our 'musical gurus' who have gifted us the treasure of Carnatic music (South Indian classical music).

Saint Purandara Dasa (1484-1564) who lived in Hampi (Karnataka) during the regime of Vijayanagara empire is revered as the 'pitamaha of Carnatic music' (top in the pic).  He laid the foundation for systematic learning and singing of Carnatic music. As a tribute to this musical great, music learning starts with his basic lessons called 'sarale, janti-varase, geethams and alankaras' throughout South India. No student can learn music unless he starts from humble geethams like 'Lambodara, Vara Veena, Kereya neeranu' composed by our Pitamaha. 

Saint Tyagaraja (1767-1847) acknowledges the greatness of Saint Purandara dasa in his famous kriti 'Kana Kana Ruchira' by singing

mariyu Narada Parasara Shuka Sounaka

Purandara Nagarajadhara mukhyulu sakshi

Tyagaraja has also derived inspiration from kritis of SaintPurandara dasa. The spirit of Pitamaha's song 

 Ramane tandeyu, Janaki tayiyu

Laxmananannanu namagella 

is very much reflected in Saint Tyagaraja's composition

Seethamma mayamma

Sri Ramadu ma thandri

Saint Tyagaraja, Saint Muthuswamy dixitar and Saint Syama sastry (see down of pic above) who were all contemporaries are revered as the 'trinity of Carnatic music'. They continued the tradition of nourishing music.  But for all these greats,  music was only a 'bhakthi maarga' for reaching God.

Coincidentally all the three musical greats Tyagaraja, Dixitar and Sastri hailed from same place Tiruvarur in TN (Tanjavur Dt ).  

Recently we had the opportunity to visit their homes of birth. 

 

Thiruvaiyaru (TN), on the outskirts of Tanjavur is famous for Saint Tyagaraja Aradhana festival (see pic above). Musicians and devotees from all over the country gather here during the Aradhana day (falls during January) to sing 'pancharatna kritis' of Saint Tyagaraja in chorus (see pic above).  Bengaluru Nagarathnamma (see inset above) was a musician and a dancer who took initiative to build the Tyagaraja temple here from her personal sources in order to nourish the annual Aradhana festival.

This year 2019, marks the birth centenary of Padma Vibhushana D.K.Pattammal (born 19th March 1919), the famous Carnatic

classical singer.  She was the first lady to break the male dominated domain of classical singers.  She was an authority on kritis of Muthuswamy Dixitar and was the first lady to sing 'ragam, tanam, pallavi' on stage.

Music over the years has undergone a sea change. It is disappointing to see thin attendance in classical music concerts. Our youth have a great attraction towards film and pop music. 

They throng in lakhs to witness live events of famous western musicians.  Our Indian film musicians are also second to none.  Like test cricket has given way to shorter versions like IPL cricket, classical music has given way to modern music.  There is a striking similarity between the two.  Shorter version of cricket owes its origin to test cricket.  But for connoisseurs of cricket, nothing is more attractive than the test cricket. So also classical music is the best version for all real lovers of music, whereas shorter versions are for the masses. 

'kalaya tasmai namah'! People and even music has to change with times. But we can't forget our roots. I am sure Lord Rama will provide the 'sethu bandhana' between old and the new. 

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