Mariyadagadayya and Sruti Bhedam

[vilomachapu]

When sruti bhedam became controversial in the 1950s, the Music Academy was seized of the matter. GNB explained that in the Thyagaraja song 'mariyAdagAdayyA' (bhairavam), Thyagaraja has subtly introduced sruti bhedam in the word 'tAratamyamu' in the charanam line 'tanavADulanyulanE... in order to justify his (GNB) indulging in sruti bhedam in his alapanas. But certain people feel that it is not sruti bhedam but a bhashanga swara notably the dhaivata that has been used in 'tAratamyamu'. I'd like to know from experts the actual fact.