Sri Parthasarathi nannu palimpa Raadhaa !! - Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar sahithyam

After the grand Chithirai Brahmothsavam, it is now vidayaarri for Sri Parthasarathi Perumal – Carnatic kutcheries have been arranged and on day 1 it was Rahul Vellal. Of the many keerthanas that he sang,  was this one on Sri Parthasarathi Perumal. 

Parthasarathi  nannu palimpa raadhaa sri (or shoud it be rara !) 

Oh  God Parthasarathy    can you not  protect me

Sarva dharma paripalaka sarva loka   saranyaa,

Sarveshadau    Srinivasa   sarva  roga  nivarana  

Oh Lord who looks  after  all Dharmas  with whom all  worlds seek protection,

Who takes all fortms , Who cures all diseases   and  who is SRinivasa  

Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar (1860 - 1919), also known as Ramanathapuram Srinivasa Iyengar, was a singer and composer, a doyen  of Carnatic music. Born in Ramanathapuram, his famous disciples would include   Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar. He composed over 100 songs and used the mudra Srinivasa in his compositions.  "The appellation 'Poochi' meaning 'insect' is rather strange. There are surmises that his raga elaboration resembled the humming of a beetle, or that he used to apply sandal paste on his body and the Tamil word 'Poochu' had become 'Poochi' or that he was known for his tireless activity like the bee; but the real reason is not known.  

His parents were Narayana Iyengar and Lakshmi Ammal in Ramnad, he studied under Patnam Subramanya Iyer.  According to historian V Sriram - for the Coronation Darbar of King George V in Delhi in 1911, he composed a song Satatamu Brovumayya in raga Todi as a prayer to Lord Rama to protect the new king and this was awarded a gold medal at the Muthialpet Sabha of Madras. While many of his songs are dedicated to Rama, there are some in praise of Lord Venkateswara of Tirumala.  

After Nayakan when Mani Ratnam rose to prominence, came the movie Agni Natchathiram in 1988 starring Prabhu and others – Anand theatre G Umapathy had a special role.  The main attraction of the movie was Illayaraja’s BGM and songs -  this song was a great hit !!

Ninnukkori… varnam varanam; Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Oru kili thanithirukka - Unakkena thavamirukka

Iru vizhi sivanthirukka - Ithazh mattum veluthirukka

Azhagiya raguvaranae anuthinamum  .. .. ..

The original keerthana was set to raag ‘Vasantha’.

Ninnu kori yunna nura Nikila loka nayaka

Nannu palimpa samayamura Nameetha krupa judara

Sannuthanga Sreenivasa

Poochi Srinivasa Iyengar here  prays Ramapiran – hailing Him as Nayaka, the leader of the entire (“nikhila”) universe (“loka”)! I am subsisting (“yunnanu ra”) because of the yearning I have for you (“ninnu kori”).   

The song ‘ninnukori varnam’  was set in Vasantha, though Poochi Iyengar had it in Mohana raag and to Adi Tana varnam in Telegu.   This song by Illayaraja was a great hit -  Raja perhaps has penchant for this Raga as there is yet another masterpiece ‘andhi mazhai pozhigirathu’ in Raja paarvai where the voice of TMG and violin reverberates !  

Moving away from all these, here are some photos of Sri Parthasarathi Emperuman taken on day 5 of Thavana uthsavam at Thiruvallikkeni on 3.3.2023   Here are some photos taken by me  during evening  purappadu.

 
adiyen Srinivasadhasan
Mamandur veeravalli Srinivasan Sampathkumar
16^th May 2023.