Child Prodigy - Upanyasakar - Sri Elayavalli Sadajith

What you see here is part of crowd that had gathered at a place in Thiruvallikkeni in the evening around 04.00 pm.  Can you imagine what it was all about ?

Thinking of Sriman Narayana and surrendering at the Lotus feet of Lord Narayana only will lead to us salvation. To be good in life, one should be connected with good things, think and do good things and for this association with good people is of utmost importance.

There are many abodes of Lord Maha Vishnu and among these those sung by Azhwars are reverentially known as ‘Divyadesams’.  Blessed are those who live in Divyadesams for those have the opportunity of having darshan of the beautiful Thirumenis of Divyadesa Emperumaans.  Blessed are those who go to temple regularly and do some kainkaryam to the God.  Blessed are those who continuously chant the name of Lord Govindha and hear those Divyaprabandhams of Azhwars and listen to the commentaries of Purva Acharyas through great Kalakshepa Athigaris. 

Thiruvallikkeni, Brunthaaranya Kshetram ~ the abode of Lord Parthasarathi, abounds with good things.  There is the most famous Great Temple ~ replete with people doing all sorts of kainkaryams.  There are Great Archagas who  devotedly in the service of God do great kainkaryam to the Perumal and do great sarrupadi to Perumal; there is the Veda Adhyapaka Goshti which without thinking of any recompense does ‘veda divyaprabandha goshti’ kainkaryam. There is the Thennacharya Sri Padham Thangigal who beautifully carry the Lord on their shoulders during the purappadu; there are so many bakthas who come to the temple regularly, there are so many of them – doing other kainkaryams including offering grand floral garlands and more. 

The Dhanur masam [month of Margazhi] is replete with kalakshepams ~ renditions of many great Athikaris, explaining in detail the works of Azhwargal and Purva Acharyas in nice, coherent, easily comprehensible manner. While listing those Kalakshepa Athikaris is not easy, there are so many in Triplicane that Triplicaniites have the pleasure of hearing to them so often.

This margazhi was no different… in the morning there was the kalakshepam by Dr U.Ve. M.A. Venkata Krishnan Swami at Sri Parthasarathi Swami temple; there was Sri U.Ve. Akkarakkani Srinidhi Swami at Sri Vanamamalai mutt and in between there was the kalakshepam of Sri Sadajith at Nampillai Sannathi at Peyalwar Kovil Street. 

People who have heard many Swamins, authorities on Thiruppavai kalakshepam too flocked to Nampillai sannathi to hear Sri Sadajith.  It was a nice articulation when heard from outside but sure one would be wonder-struck if they are to see the person rendering the kalakshepam.

Sri Sadajith @ Geethacharyan has a rich lineage; his father Sri Elayavalli Sriram Swami also performs kalakshepams; more famous is his grand father Sri U.Ve. Elayavalli Bhoovaragachariyar Swami. What sets Sadajith apart is ~ he is a real ‘child prodigy’ – he is only 7 years old. 

As you would understand, a child prodigy is one at a young age develops skills at a level far beyond the norm for their age.  The giftedness of prodigies is determined by the degree of their talent relative to their ages.  The term ‘wunderkind’ is also used to describe such prodigious talent. Child prodigies evoke awe, wonder and sometimes jealousy: how can such young children possess and display so much of talent that most adults will never master, even with years of dedicated practice.

For many parents, a child speaking few words itself is a wonder ~ but here is a child only 7 able to orate, words flowing unhindered ~ dispensing out so much of information that some of us may never get even in our entire lifehood.  The vishayagnanam and the flow with which they are rendered can hardly be described in words; can only be understood by those who heard Sri Elayavalli Sadajith perform at Nampillai Sannathi.  Nothing of a great wonder for many who attended there, for they have been hearing Sadajith for more than 3 years now.

Here are some photos of Sri Sadajith being honoured by Dr MAV Swami and another great legend Dr V.V. Ramanujam Swami

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

15^th Jan 2013.