Sri Azhagiya Singar 'Swathi' purappadu 2018

Today 21^st July 2018  is ‘Swathi’ Thirunakshathiram.   In the evening there was chinna mada veethi  purappadu of Sri Azhagiya Singar at Thiruvallikkeni. Thelliya singar purappadu starts from the western gopuram, through Peyalwar Koil Street, South Mada street – culminates with thiruvanthikappu at Thulasinga perumal koil street.   

In the purappadu it was ‘moonram thiruvantathi’ of Sri Peyalwar.:  பேயாழ்வாரின் பக்தி சுரக்கும் வார்த்தைகளில் இங்கே ஒரு  பாசுரம் :

மருந்தும் பொருளும் அமுதமும் தானே,*

திருந்திய செங்கண்மாலாங்கே, - பொருந்தியும்

நின்றுலகமுண்டுமிழ்ந்தும் நீரேற்றும் மூவடியால்,

அன்றுலகம் தாயோன் அடி.

For us, the lotus(red) eyed Sriman Narayana Himself is the medicine; its innate healing power; the Sweet Nectar – the power of wellbeing as well.  He is one who made the Universe, swallowed, remade,  and went on to measure it, by seeking a gift of three feet of land …..  and to Him we offer obeisance.

Away, a search led to the renowned ‘Svati Tirunal’.. .. .. Svāti Tirunāḷ Rāma Varma (1813 – 1846) was a Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore, British India. He was a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 400 classical compositions in both Carnatic and Hindustani style.  A well-formulated code of laws, courts of justice, introduction of English education, construction of an observatory, installation of the first Government printing press, establishment of the first manuscripts library were amongst the many initiatives taken by Svāti Tirunāḷ, as a King, to modernise Travancore. 'Efficiency was the key word and corruption a taboo', according to the article The Monarch Musician in The Hindu.

Here is a bakthi literature kirtana of Swati Tirunal praising Lord Krishna :

Oh the repository of compassion, who resides in an arbour on the banks of the river Yamuna.   The melody of your flute captivates my mind. This melody has held the celestials, the people sages and the women of Vraj under its spell. I am fascinated by your effulgent form adorned with feathers of peacock ,ear pendants and yellow silk. Your glory is being sung in the Dasamaskandha of Bhagavata. It is You who lifted the Govardhana  mountain with the tip of the little finger. You are Lord Padmanabha relining on the serpent couch. You are Murari  who destroyed a host of demons.

A couple of decades ago, there was a film on legendary ‘Swathi Thirunal’   directed by Lenin Rajendran. It starred Anant Nag in the title role,  Srividya, Nedumudi Venu and Murali in other important roles. The story begans with Gowri Lakshmi Bayi entrusting the four-month-old Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma to the care of the English East India Company whose representative was Col. Munro. Then it cuts to when Swathi Thirunal is sixteen and takes over the reins of Travancore from his aunt Gowri Parvati Bayi.  Swathi Thirunal's biography is was put in the backdrop of the music that he himself has composed. The movie ended with his death in 1846.

~adiyen Srinivasadhasan

PS : song lyric and meaning downloaded from www.swathithirunal.in