SUGUNA PURUSHOTHAMAN - SIMHANANDANAM RTP

[CRama]

ON 30/3, there was the Simhanandanam RTP by Vidushi Pallavi Exponent Suguna Purushothaman.at Podhigai TV at 9.00 AM. It was simply amazing. It was an aural and visual treat because, we have to necessarily see how the talam is put. This is a retelecast and I am thankful to Podhigai TV that they took the care to retelecast the same for the sake of people who did not see it earlier. The talam is having 128 beats. The sahithyam goes like this

Narasimha nandanapriya Ahobilavaasaa
Bhaktha poshaka Prahlaadavaradaa
Nin charane gathi
Parama kripaanidhi neeyanro
Sankaranai kaatha Aabadhbaandhavaa
Sree Lakshmi

Raga alapana was elaborate for 10 minutes. The tanam was equally wholeome. Neraval was done in her customary manner, elaborate with amalagam of intelligence and aesthetics. Swaraprasthara was awesome. In each avarthanam, she sang swaras for all the phrases. The whole exercise went on for 55 minutes.

Her prime disciple K.Gayathri provided vocal support quite competently. Dr.R.Hemalatha's support on the violin was commendable. She excelled in her neraval and swara returns. Neyveli Narayanan n the Mridangam also played with good understanding. His thani was very brief.

My only doubt- where does Sankaranai kaatha fits in the above theme of the pallavi.

Kudos to all the artists of this programe.

[rajeshnat]

Is this simhanandam pallavi with lines the same as what Mudikondan venkatarama Iyer sang as mentioned in this link
http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday ... 557786.ece
By the way I am assuming the RTP rAga was in Kambodhi

If there is any video recording uploaded in youtube please do share (VenkatakailAsam or others )

[CRama]

I do not think this is the pallavi sung by Mudicondan. I have got that in my collection, but I have to check out for the sahithyam.This pallavi, in all possibility must have been composed by SP only, herself being a composer. The Pallavi was in Thodi, as I forgot to mention in my earlier post. Sorry for the omission.

[harimau]

My only doubt- where does Sankaranai kaatha fits in the above theme of the pallavi.

In Kandiyur, a small town just south of Tiruvayyaru, right on the road to Thanjavur is a temple to "Hara Shapa Vimochana Perumal".

While I have no idea about the curse Vishnu rescued Siva from, right there is a clue that Vishnu protected Siva.

PS. We Vaishnavites like to write such stories about Siva, Brahma, Indra and other celestials to establish the superiority of Vishnu!

[CRama]

Thanks Harimau for the clarification.

[kvchellappa]

Basmasura tried to kill Siva by dint of the boon Siva granted him that anyone on whose head the asura laid his hand would be reduced to ash. Siva took refuge in Vishnu who saved him. That is the mythology referred to perhaps.

[CRama]

You a re right KvChellappa. I forgot that story. Thanks for clarification.

[rshankar]

Basmasura tried to kill Siva by dint of the boon Siva granted him that anyone on whose head the asura laid his hand would be reduced to ash. Siva took refuge in Vishnu who saved him. That is the mythology referred to perhaps.

vishnu appeared as mOhinI, captivated bhasmAsura, and got him to copy all of 'his/her' actions - when the infatuated asura copied mOhini's act of placing her hand on her head, he was reduced to ashes....

[rajeshnat]

I do not think this is the pallavi sung by Mudicondan. I have got that in my collection, but I have to check out for the sahithyam.

Crama
Can you share the pallavi please?

[VijayR]

In Kandiyur, a small town just south of Tiruvayyaru, right on the road to Thanjavur is a temple to "Hara Shapa Vimochana Perumal".

While I have no idea about the curse Vishnu rescued Siva from, right there is a clue that Vishnu protected Siva.

Here is the kshetra purana for that: http://kshetrapuranas.wordpress.com/200 ... kkandiyur/

[Enna_Solven]

Our kula deivam. Memorized this pAsuram when I was very young. Every year, after our turn of mandagappadi at Kandiyur we came back home with half a gunny bag full of puliyodarai for prasadam distribution to our family & neighbors!

MangaLAsAsanam: ThirumangaiyAzhwAr has sung the praise of this shrine in one pAsuram (NDP 2050) in ThirukkuRuntANDagam.

NDP 2050; ThirukkuRuntANDagam 19

piNDiyAr maNDai En^thip piRarmanai thirithan^thuNNum,
uNDiyAn sApam theerththa oruvanoor, ulaka mEththum
kaNDiyUr arangam meyyam kaccipEr mallai enRu
maNDinAr kuyal allAl maRRaiyArk kuyya lAmE

Meaning: This place (KaNDiyUr) has the reputation of having rid Lord Shiva of his curse which was incurred as a result of his having plucked one of Brahma’s heads. Lord Shiva went around (with the skull of Brahma which stuck to his hand) begging for his food. His hunger got quenched finally and his curse was lifted at KaNDiyUr . The Lord of KaNDiyUr is the one who dwells in Srirangam, thirumeyyam, KAnchipuram, ThiruppErnagar, and thirukkaDalmallai. Those who throng such shrines will get salvation while those who don’t are devoid of such a blessing.

[pvs]

There are many many instances of Narayana saving Siva in our mythology. The pAsuram given above is very apt. But, I belive the pallavi composed by SP is about the shrine and deity of Ahobilam where He saved Adi Sankara from kApalikAs (cannibals or human sacrificers). When they attacked him and his disciple PadmapAda, Narasimha appeared to save the two. Sankara composed the Lakshmi Narasimha Karavalambam - a Sanskrit slokam in His praise. The pallavi mentions Ahobilam, PrahlAda Varadhan and Lakshmi Narasimhan.

[Ramam]

I think Sankarani katha ... here refers to the rescue of Adi Sankaracharya in the forest from the hands of certain tribal (cannibals). It was his sishya Padmapaada who prayed for his Ishta deveta Lord LakshmiNrusimha for rescue. So did the God appear.

It is altogether a different matter that Lord Shiva (Sankara) has composed the Mantra Rajapadam on Lord Nrusimha and has accepted Him as his mentor too.


The ease Vidhusi SP had is enviable and adorable.