sound of music - at Thavana uthsava bungalow 2023

We tend to do things in a hurry – that includes our starting the day, eating, official work and even worship – if only we take some time, one could notice lot of finer things !!  ~  divine music at Thiruvallikkeni ! 

கடின காலத்தில்  -   நாம் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்ற கேள்வி எப்போதும் எழும் ?  பகவான் ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணர்  பகவத் கீதையில் பணித்துள்ளதுபடி எம்பெருமானுக்கே திருத்தொண்டுகள் செய்து எக்காலங்களிலும் வணங்கி சரணடைவதே நமது கடமையாக கொள்ள வேண்டும். 

Today 13.3.2023 is day 3 of Thavana uthsavam of Sri Azhagiya Singar – in the morning Thelliya Singar had purappadu to Thavana uthsava bungalow, had thirumanjanam and rest.  In the evening there was ‘Ul-purappadu’ with Azhagiya Singar gracing darshan  in Murali Kannan thirukolam. 

Those who went to the thavana uthsava bungalow for darshan in the evening were treated to mellifluous carnatic music by Thirukovil mangala isai virpannargal – thavil S Prabhakaran & G Sai Shanmughasundaram,  Nadaswaram duo J Nagaraj & S Prakash – the lead was a Senior pro – Sri Muthaiah  playing clarinet.  

For sure Carnatic connoisseurs have heard "Nithi sala sukhama",  one of the famous  keerthana in Telugu of Thiyagarajar.   Saint Thiyagaraja (Thiyagayya)  saw the reigns of four kings of Maratha dynasty but served none of them.  He was so fond of Sree Rama that his keerthanas exude bakthi rasam of the highest order.  At a time when King’s servants came searching to pick Thiyagayya to sing in the Court, he reportedly refused – his family which was in penury asked him to forego principles and earn money for their livelihood – Thiyagayya asks his heart which answered ‘nidhi sala sukhama’ -- !!   

My knowledge in Carnatic music (as is in other fields) is zero – and today heard a beautiful rendition, which I later learnt it to be in Saranga rag – “Entha Bagyamu’ – a lesser known Thiyagaraja kriti.   This melodious ragam is a Janya of Kalyani.  It has counterparts in Hindustani Music and the closest is Shudh Sarang.   Saranga is such a sweet ragam that even a lay listener without any music background can enjoy it.

 

enta bhAgyamu-sAranga  

In the kRti ‘enta bhAgyamu’ – rAga sAranga (tALa Adi), SrI tyAgarAja states that the Lord is his fortune.  

enta bhAgyamu mApAla kalgitivi

evaru-IDu muj-jagamulalO tanaku-(enta)  

How (enta) fortunate (bhAgyamu) of me that You happen to be (kalgitivi) on our side (mA pAla)! Who (evaru) is equal (IDu) (evarIDu) to me (tanaku) (tanakenta) in all the three Worlds (muj-jagamulalO)?

anupallavi

centajEri saujanyuDai baliki cinta bAga tolaginci brOcitivi

caraNam

munnu nI samIpamuna velayu sanmunula nella naNimAdi lIlalacE

dinnagAnu pAlanamu jEsinaTTu nannu gAcitivi tyAgarAjanuta  

you may hear this song as played at Thavana uthsava bungalow here :

Here are  some photos of the Thiruvallikkeni Sri Parthasarathi thirukkovil mangala vadhya isai kuzhu performing at Thavana uthsava bungalow and a picture of Sri Azhagiya Singar as Murali Kannan

 
adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
13.3.2023