Swathi Sangeethotsavam at Kuthiramalika Palace

[kvchellappa]

Hope you have taken my light remarks in fun. I follow your posts avidly.

[Sachi_R]

Dear KVC, no scope for mistaking your humour!
I was struck how everything is named after Ananta, Padmanabha, Krishna, Shankham.. Even the airport is next to Shangumukham Beach and they stop the flights on the runway to allow ceremonial elephant procession for the Lord's bath in the sea...
(And then I saw this beef board.)

Anyway, here's a positive. A beautiful archway/doorway in the palace complex:

[kvchellappa]

I remember Anatharama Dikshitar saying in one breath, sankhu, chakkaram, gadai, vanamaalai, kousthubham, srivatsam, maarbile lakshmi .. ippadi kandennal bhattadiri. Appanum thalaiyaati divyamaana swaroopatthai kaatinaar. intha kaliyile naanooru varshatthukku munnaadi.

[arasi]

Sachi,
Every year my wish, but a miss
You delight us with your account of your trip, pictures and musical moments. Good to have you around on the forum, as always. See you at the spring festival in Gayana Samaja...

[pattamaa]

If you are still there, visit Sri Varaham temple... This is where dikshitar composed famous abhogi keerthana - sri lakshmi varaham...

[Nick H]

There is/was a very good handloom shop. I think I still have some vestis (mundu) dating back to my visit.

If you can travel that far, visit the wooden place at Padmanabhapuram Palace. Beautiful! And I think Swathi Thirunal composed [some of?] his music there?

You've probably been there another time already....

[Sachi_R]

Pattamaa, I walked in the Varaham area. I thought of the song Sri Lakshmi Varaham! So.
Yes Nick, have been to that Palace twice. And I also bought some handloom... So there! Owls of the same feather, aren't we.

[kvchellappa]

"Owl Symbolism and Owl Meanings. The owl is sacred to the Greek goddess of learning, Athena and is even depicted on some Greco-Roman currency as a symbol of status, intelligence and of course, wealth."
We have two worthy owls in the forum.

[MaheshS]

Owls in Hinduism. Interesting read.

[Sachi_R]

The old Anglo-Indian gentleman who lived in the Raheja Residency Olive block where I had a flat was a kind soul and facilitated matters as the association secretary. He collected all kinds of owl figures, pictures, etc. All sizes. I saw a few dozen of them, almost like an assembly of Indian kings and regents at a reception for Queen Victoria.
Here is an owl I said Hello to at 3 ft. distance. Perched next to the dining hall in Chinmaya Vibhooti:



By the way the bust of the royal elephant Chandrasekharan that served the Travancore kings for 86 years till 1970's or so has been preserved in taxidermy (head, ears, trunk, magnificent tusks!) and presented in the Chitralayam. He stands about 14 feet tall and has wonderful skin. Must be due to frequent Ayurvedic massages. No photos allowed.

[Ranganayaki]

Such a nice thread! Thank you RSachi for the descriptions and the tidbits!

[arasi]

Ranganayaki,
His name's end* is AnandA

*also goal, purpose

[kvchellappa]

rasikANANDAkaraka

[Sachi_R]

Thank you. I am merely responding to the positive vibes I get all the time here from sahRdayIs.

Rig Veda:
आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः

[Sivaramakrishnan]

If you are still there, visit Sri Varaham temple... This is where dikshitar composed famous abhogi keerthana - sri lakshmi varaham...

The above kriti as well as
Hariharaputram (Vasantha - Sabarimala Ayyappan),
Sreekrishnam bhaja ( Todi- The Lord of Guruvayur) and
Pannagasayana Padmanabha (Madhyamavati - Sri Padmanabhaswamy,Trivandrum)
are said to be not 'on the spot compositions' of Dikshitar (in other words there are no records of Dikshitar having actually visited these temples of erstwhile Travancvore-Cochin State unlike those sthalas in Tamilnadu).

Academicians could throw light.

[harimau]

If you are still there, visit Sri Varaham temple... This is where dikshitar composed famous abhogi keerthana - sri lakshmi varaham...

The above kriti as well as
Hariharaputram (Vasantha - Sabarimala Ayyappan),
Sreekrishnam bhaja ( Todi- The Lord of Guruvayur) and
Pannagasayana Padmanabha (Madhyamavati - Sri Padmanabhaswamy,Trivandrum)
are said to be not 'on the spot compositions' of Dikshitar (in other words there are no records of Dikshitar having actually visited these temples of erstwhile Travancvore-Cochin State unlike those sthalas in Tamilnadu).

Academicians could throw light.

On top of that, several books say that Sri Lakshmivaraham is composed on the deity at the Kallidaikurichi temple.

Others aver that this is not a genuine Deekshithar composition but something out of the Kallidaikurichi School of disciples.

[rupavathi]

This is where dikshitar composed famous abhogi keerthana - sri lakshmi varaham...

Most definitely NOT... this song is based on temple in Kallidaikurichi. The charanam clearly states "tAmraparNi tIra sthitam..."

[Sachi_R]

Friends,
I took a few short videos from my seat, please watch them here:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_ ... 1063686787

[thanjavooran]

Sachi,
Thanks.
Thanjavooran
11 01 2018