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Veritable aural feast
THE MARGAZHI festive spirit was heralded in the city this year by the release of a Harikatha cassette on Sri Andal Tirukalyanam by Srimad Andavan Swamigal of Srirangam, brought out by the family members of Dr. K. Sankaranarayanan of Srivilliputtur in his memory. Carnatic music aficionados are bound to remember with nostalgia the rendering of Tiruppavai by Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar in his concerts. And it was a revelation to learn that it was this medical practitioner, a connoisseur of music, who set the tunes adopted by the veteran musician. Indutrialist, P. Obul Reddy, and Carnatic vocalist, Madurai T. N. Seshagopalan, received the first copies.
Dr. Sankaranarayan is remembered in the birthplace of Andal even today not just for his medical acumen and compassionate care of his patients but also for his devotion to this Goddess-saint and patronage of music. It is indeed in the fitness of things that his family chose Andal's Tirukalyanam as the theme for paying their tribute and Kalyanapuram R. Aravamudan to render a Harikatha, as this popular exponent has the unique privilege of having organised a Tiruppavai festival in the birthplace of Andal for some years now. Disciple of Embar Vijayaraghavachariar, his erudition, musical skill, proficiency in languages and melodious voice have earned him distinctions like the Kalaimamani from the Government of Tamil Nadu, the TTK Award from the Music Academy and many other titles. He is the Harikatha Asthana Vidwan of Srirangam Srimad Andavan Ashramam.
Srimad Andavan Swamigal of Srirangam at the cassette release function.
The devout fraternity owes its gratitude to R. Aravamudan for tirelessly crusading the cause of Harikatha, a performing art form, which has been dwindling over the years for various reasons. This two-volume set is a musical discourse in Tamil on the life of Andal, revered as an incarnation of Bhudevi. R. Aramudan follows the traditional style of Harikatha, which is interspersed with songs to highlight the theme and is a veritable aural feast. Andal's life is her message. She is the best exemplar of bridal mysticism, a form of devotion in which the devotee looks upon the Almighty as the beloved. According to Srivaishnava theology, the Supreme Being is the only Purusha (male) and hence this mode of devotion came naturally to Her. The discourse engages the listener with the highpoints in the life of Andal from Her appearance as a baby in the flower garden of Vishnuchitta (Periazhwar), who became Her foster father, the blossoming of Her overwhelming love of God, which She expressed in the exquisite verses of the Tiruppavai and the Nacchiar Tirumozhi and finally Her marriage to Lord Rangantha. R. Hemamalini and Tanjore T. K. Ramachandran have provided the accompaniment on the violin and the mridangam respectively. The cassettes, priced at Rs. 80, have been recorded by Kosmic Music and available at Loyal House, No. 6, Link Street, CIT Colony.
SUDHAKSHINA RANGASWAMI
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