Lazy as a buffalo

SRI SYAMA SASTRI was a divine composer. Subbarama Dikshitar, in his Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini, says in a moving tribute to Sri Sastri, ``With the grace of Kamakshi, Sri Sastri composed many krithis, swarajatis, and thaana varnas that excelled in poetical beauty, musical innovations and (astonishing) thaala patterns. These compositions, because of their novel musical patterns, and Atheetha and Anagatha excellences, were described as Naarikelapaakam by scholars. Some lazy persons, unaware of the greatness of the compositions, and unable to bring out the beauty of the songs, are saying they are difficult.''

(Naarikela is coconut. It takes some effort to rip open the coconut and enjoy the nectar inside. Tyagaraja's compositions are described as Draakshapaakam and Dikshitar's as Kadalipaakam).

In this context, Subbarama Dikshitar recalls the words of that great Telugu poet, Srinatha, who translated Harsha's Naishadam into beautiful Telugu. Naishadam, described as ``Vidwad oushadam'' (or scholar's nectar) was supposed to be a tough work. Srinatha describes those who say thus as Somari Pothulu.

Pothu is a he-buffalo (kada in Tamil). The she-buffalo at least has some instinctive work to do. She is fond of her calves, rushes to them at the proper time to feed them, and fondly licks them. When a calf dies, the she-buffalo sheds tears for days together, and does not eat or drink.

The he-buffalo or Pothu is significantly free of all such instincts. Just watch it standing with its head held high with the most stupid look possible. Only a farmer who tries to plough his field with he-buffalos knows how impossible it is to make the animal move.

If you come across a group of these he-buffalos, or ``pothus'' and are able to identify the laziest among them, (the laziest of the lazy) then that animal is the one described as somari pothu, and can be said to be like the man who says Syama Sastri's compositions are difficult.

These words were of course applicable to a time when vidwans tried to find out the gems imbedded in every delicate twist and turn in Sastri's compositions. But they are clearly out of place these days when all great compositions are sought to be sung like javalis or light music.

- GD

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