Anandha Bhairavi…..Thyagarajaa…..Tiruvidaimarudur…..

An eMagazine for TDRites

-------------------------------

From Sridhar’s cupboard

My dear TDR ites,

Hope this letter finds you in the pink of your health and happiness. Yes….we are the happiest persons in the earth, right now. We have lavishly enjoyed the memories of Thai poosam through Ramji’s Photos and Videos. This time, due to the hype created by TOSA and TDR Times, many have visited TDR and part of the great moments like, Ther….Rishabha Vaaghanam….Theertha vari….Velli Radham…..reunion of many friends…..Vijay’s house Graha pravesam, first one from our friends circle, etc,.  etc,.

I would like to multiple your happiness, further, through sharing of the following event about Thyagaraja, one of the Sangeetha Mummoorthigal. Of course, this is the right time as banners at many places at Chennai are still green with the photos of Mummoorthigal in the programmes of “Chennaiyil Thiruvaiyaru…..Tharangam”  (Singing only Sriman Narayana Theerthar Songs) etc. etc.

The Bhisma Pithamahars of ever green Sashthriya Sangeetham is  now getting further fillip through the efforts of Carnatic music current day veterans. I heard during my school days about the TDR link of Saint Thiyagaraja and Saint Muthuswami Dikshidhar and like to share the same about Thyagaraja now.

One of the Great Sangeetha Scholar, Chonti Venkata Ramanaiya  was the Kavi in King Sarafoji’s court. He was staying with his son at his old age at Thiruvaiyaru. I could not recollect his son’s name. Thyagaraja was the  student of Chonti Venkata Ramaniya during his childhood days.  Due to the same age group, Ramanaiah’s son happened to be the close friend of Saint Thyagaraja.

In those days, traditional way of life at Thiruvaiyaru was going to  Panchanathiswara Swamy Temple for Saayam Sandhi, after performing the daily rituals (sandhyavandanam) at Koil Tirukkulam. After having dharshan, they will take food in the evening itself, before sunset. An wooden bench will be there in every house which will be put in the Vaasal so as to have comfortable talk with neighbours till night. If you so desire, you can call it as “Arattai”.

On many occasions, depending upon the festivals, Dramas, Theru koothu and / or music programs will be there for thorough enjoyment and comfortable sleep thereafter, say at around 2 a.m.

In those days, in Tiruvidaimarudur, a Weaving community of Saurashtra Origin was there and each Saurastrian family will have 12 to 15 members. Yes….more than a Raavana’s family in the words of our Individual Sir (Raavana family means…..10 thalaigal). They are all from Somnath and the official cloth makers to the somnath Temple. Due to various historic reasons, they were driven out of the place at that time. Some of the family members escaped from the place and started coming towards southern part of our country and sought asylum to the then king Rajendra Chola. A part of such Saurashtrians settled at Chola Mandalam and remaining at Madurai.

In Chola Mandalam, based on their skill, they were all made to settle in various places, palaces and temples and Rajendra Chola accommodated them with full honours.  

Thus, a section of Saurashtrians settled at Tiruvidaimarudur, where a palatial palace was there. They used to make Silk Dhotis, Silk Umbrella to Mahalinga Swamy and other deities. They were accommodated in the temple, palace etc,. They are the masters in performing Folk Dramas, known as Theru koothu. During festival season they will do the work at the temple and in remaining period, they used to propagate the art of drama, music, theru koothu in various places.

Once, they went to Thiruvaiyaru to perform a drama for about fifteen days.

Now the real picture starts with above backdrop.

Chonti Venkataramanayya’s son met Thyagaraja at the temple…After dharshan, he told about the skill and special calibre of the folk artist group which camped at Tiruvaiyaru, particularly about one artist from Tiruvidaimarudur who is an exponent in rendering “ Aanandabhairavi Raga” in his own enviable voice, in a beautiful manner, every day at mid night. Lot of people, irrespective of the status, used to hear his performance, visiting from nearby places and enjoy the Raga Aalapanai, especially his Anandabairavi and plead to him for repeat singing. He requested Thiyagaraja also to come and enjoy the same.

Thyagaraja, an orthodox, highly religious man, running a vedic way of life, scholarly man, a famous composer of songs in and around Thiruvaiyaru…..normally will not come out and mingle with others. Nevertheless, he conveyed to his friend about his inclination as he was carried away by the sweet words and his love for music. He, however, told that  “ I will come in disguise ‘. You don’t tell anybody. I am keen to listen to the Anandha Bhairavi Raga Aalapanai tonight. Accordingly on that night, Thyagaraja started from his house by covering his head and most of the face through cloth (mundaasu)     and went to the theru koothu to witness the concert.

In the late night, Drama started….the artist started the Raga Aalapanai and continued for about two hours, past mid night. Mesmerizing voice with full command and during the entire stretch, Chondi Venkataramaiya’s son saw his friend Thiyagaraja with tears rolling down through cheeks. After the conclusion of Aalapanai, Thyagaraja went to the backside of the stage along with his friend and asked one of the artist in the troupe about the artist who gave Aanandha Bhairavi.

The artist showed the singer to Thiyagaraja who came from Tiruvidaimarudur to perform.

Thyagaraja removed his head turban…..The artist was shell shocked to see the Great Thyagaraja

Sami…. Sami… You have come here…. You have come here….. Before you I am nothing sami. How dare…I sang before you ?

Thyagaraja, with emotional tears, with a pat on his shoulder said,  No… No…  I was totally involved in your Anandha Bhairavi Raga Aalapanai. What a great voice and command you are having…..Konjam kooda pisiru illai.    Wonderful…..Appa……Appa…….  Naradhar is living in your body. I never heard this type of  Anadha Bhairavi.

I am in real Aanandham, now. My joy knew no bounds. Peranandham.

The artist put his forehead on the feet of Thiyagaraja, offered Namaskaram and attempted to tell something to Thiyagaraja….but words are not coming out.

Tell me…. Tell me….. What do you want? What do you want?.

A small request Sami….

Tell me…. Tell me……. If possible, I will do,. Even other wise, I will try to make it possible.

Sami….This is enough for me….your presence, praise,. everything moved me. Words are not adequately enough for me to express what I want to say. Can you please do me a small favour ? What you told me here, I beg you to utter before the audience for whom I have surrendered myself through this art. They are the living GOD for me. Can you ? Can you ?

Thyagaraja…..Ok…. then what do you want……….

Sami, I am a humble street folk artist.

You are a great composer. Your songs are sung by most of the singers without exception, throughout Chennai Rajadhani, particularly in Chola Mandalam.

Now you have blessed me that I am also doing something in Raga Aalapanai in Anadha Bhairavi.

Thyagaraja told……Yes….. come to the stage along with me.

When Thiyagaraja appeared on the Stage, everybody was surprised, taken aback with eyebrows up, to see him on the stage. For some time, total silence prevailed.

There….on the stage, Thyagaraja declared to every body

My dear patrons,

I Thyagaraja declare that I heard the Raga Aalapanai of Anadha Bhairavi of this Great artist from Tiruvidaimarudur. Nobody can do Raga Aalapanai of Anandha Bhairavi like this..…….Perfection to the core….beauty to ears through his mesmerizing voice with total involvement…..At his request, I am on the stage now. As a fitting tribute to the man’s voice and calibre, I declare that, hereafter, I will not compose any song in Anadha Bhairavi.

What ever I have already composed in the same raga, I will not teach to anybody. This artist has attained saturation level in Aanandha Bhairavi. No body, in the earth can match him.

I have taught only five songs in Aanadha Bhairavi to my Sishyas. I shall order them…… not to sing the Aanandha bhairavi raga….hereafter. I shall also order my Shisyas not to teach the songs to anybody hereafter, this is my vow after hearing the sweet raga here. This vow is the recognition to this Tiruvidaimarudur artist of Saurashtra origin. Thiyagaraja came down from the stage with tears and went to his house.

One folk artist from Tiruvidaimarudur made the giant …..not to sing a song in a particular raga…. as a tribute to the command and devotion of the artist from Tiruvidaimarudur…….

Cauvery thanneer endral summava ?

By Sridhar

S/O Ganesa Iyer, TDR.

 Feedback:gsn1000@gmail.com;tdrtimes@gmail.com