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An aura of devotion
FOR TEN days, the Krishna Gana Sabha, supported by the Integrated Academy for Performing Arts, reverberated with the sound of extraordinary music.
It was Nama Sankirthanam at its best. It seemed the culture of the Cauvery and Thanjavur had flowed all the way to Chennai. A large crowd gathered everyday to drink deep from this clear stream of beauty, melody and devotion. Each day, was commemorative of a great Bhagavathar.
They made an impressive list which included Perambur Kuppuswami Bhagavathar, Pudukkottai Gopalakrishna Bhagavathar (who used to dance in ecstasy when he sang the songs of great composers), Tiruvaiyaru Nagaraja Bhagavathar, Kumbakonam Balu Bhagavathar, Mayavaram Krishnaswamy Bhagavathar, Tiruvidaimarudhur Venkatrama Bhagavathar, T. V. Narayana Sastrigal, and Tippirajapuram Swaminatha Bhagavathar. They perfected the art of Bhajan singing and Nama Sankirthanam.
Their legacy lives today in innumerable inheritors and sishyas.
A sizable group of the current stalwarts sang for ten days at Krishna Gana Sabha. The mood was electric, and the audience, young and old, rejoiced in the experience.
The concluding day saw all the Bhagavathars on the stage to celebrate Radha Kalyanam. Udayalur Kalyanaraman, one of the most fabulous singers today, took pains to explain to those gathered that they are still following the tradition in selection of songs and the order in which slokas and viruthams are sung. With no trace of ego, and in utter spontaneity, the Bhagavathars took turns to sing and joined the chorus. Some even danced a few steps enthusiastically. E. K. Srinivasa Bhagavathar, Kovai Jayarama Bhagavathar, Narasimha Bhagavathar, Nallur Venkatrama Bhagavathar, Papanasam Ramani Bhagavathar, Srivanchiyam Muralidhara Bhagavathar, Arcot Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar and Ravi Bhagavathar took part.
LAKSHMI VISWANATHAN
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