Harikatha on HMB in Bay area

[thanjavooran]

I wanted my grand daughter to attend the Harikatha of Shri TN Seshagopalan recently in a Bay area sabha.
The following is her observation.

" He has a vast knowledge in Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil and English. His fluency is unparalleled . With puns and funs he kept the audience spell bound. When he passed comments on a disciple with angavasthiram and another with new innovative ideas every body laughed. I could not make out whom he referred. In general an excellent program for 2 1/2 hrs, though his voice was not keeping up with his great imagination. The subject he took was his Guru's guru. Parama guru ? "

Thanjavooran
12 05 2016

[arasi]

Thanjavooran,

Great to see this!
Whose granddaughter? vAzaiyaDi vAzai
We have another rasikA/critic in the making.
Perambur in tandem with California! vAzga!

[mahavishnu]

Sri Thanjavooran: How sweet of your granddaughter to write this!

When he passed comments on a disciple with angavasthiram and another with new innovative ideas every body laughed. I could not make out whom he referred. In general an excellent program for 2 1/2 hrs, though his voice was not keeping up with his great imagination. "

I think this is just TNS taking a dig at NSG.
Sadly TNS's voice not keeping up with him has affected his harikatha performances also.

[arasi]

Were you there, Ramesh?

[mahavishnu]

Unfortunately, I couldn't be there due to travel constraints

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

I have never had a chance to listen to TNS' Harikatha of HMB. Being a Tinneveliyan I used to "lap up" anecdotes about his wit and scholarship from my elders. An anecdote SSi told my uncle about HMB:

HMB was getting old and could not put up with the heavy demands of the Travancore Maharani to "resurrect" Swathi Tirunal's compositions from the archives. He felt an younger person may be able to do the rigors. So he recommended SSI--who was in his early thirties and because of his voice limitations inhibiting his performance opportunities "needed" an "anchor" for his own career. Hence he decided to accept the assignment. As was the custom the handing over the reins from HMB to SSI included a maiden performance of SSi before the Maharani.HMB was sitting beside the Maharani during the performance
SSi sang the Gowla Pancharatna krithi of the Saint. SSi observed that tears flowed from HMB. He was curious because the realist that SSI was he was sure that HMB was NOT moved by SSI's music. So he asks him after the concert what made HMB shed tears .
HMB replied "In this song the Saint castigates himself for several weaknesses in himself.To my knowledge the saint does not have any of those defects but I have all of them, I should be the one to lament and atone and that's why I shed tears!!!
I am sure TNS would have narrated many more anecdotes about HMB .
I would be curious to know!!

[arasi]

Ramesh (senior),


I did hear TNS once as a harikathA vidvAn. It was just when he had launched on his hari kathA prasanga gAna (this happened at gAyana SamAja). kamba rAmAyaNam, was it? He was in beautiful voice and he was as excited as we in the audience were, because it was the very next such program for him after the premiere at Chennai, if I remember.

As for the anecdote, no, he didn't relate it, and he wouldn't--with all the respect he has for his parama guru. If what Ramesh junior says about the reference to anga vastrams--its being a jab at his chElA--well, what one thinks is fine for a student is not at all fine for one's guru's guru

[kvchellappa]

Sri MKR's and Sri MV's posts may be on different points. While the latter tries to unravel the crypic reference of Sri TNS to his disciples, the former is on HMB related anecdotes, to my mind.
Is the disciple with innovative ideas Smt. GG?

[arasi]

I wasn't clear, was I? Logically, no

Yes, the recent observation about 'angavastram' by Ramesh (mahavishnu) made the association process in me proceed up the ladder to the paramaguru, I see now

[Gadolinium]

Thanks for starting the thread, Thanjavooran. Such a nice and succinct review by your grand daughter. I meant to pen my thoughts earlier but never got to do it. I was not there for the entirety, hope someone can complete the parts I missed.

And MKR - always a pleasure to read your anecdotes. I feel your writing just hits the sweet spot, the right dose of wit without being offensive. You should write a book!

I think TNS is a master raconteur. This is the first time I am listening to his harikatha. I feel harikatha of personalities are more difficult than general topics and narrower in scope. But TNS was able to pull a vivid imagery of HMB, and wove a story around him with such fluidity in narration. He started by mentioning that many people become kings but very few people get to live like a king, followed by a narrative about his physical appearance, gait and command over his surroundings. Apparently, when he used to walk with mysore maharaja, many people would be wondering who is the guy next to him (mistaking him for the maharaja). He also mentioned how great people lose one of their parents early, which was the case with HMB (he lost his dad). He spent some time talking about HMB's foray into harikatha, with some nice dose of history of harikatha itself and how it was influenced (or introduced?) by the marathas during their reign in Thanjavur. Apparently, every pournami (or ammavasai? I always get confused) was harikatha day from 10 pm to 4 am with the king and around 2000+ people in the audience, and the artists could sing for this crowd for over 6 hours without mike. There was some self-deprecating humor too, with TNS suggesting that artistes, especially male, should consider learning harikatha too since their voice breaks once in teens and once in 40s, and god knows what after that. He also had a word of advice for young musicians, suggesting that they practice for at least 8 hours a day and think about music for 8 hours a day, for at least five years, to have a good grounding.

I was very impressed by his sincerity - he performed standing for the entire time that I was there, and didn't take a sip of water as far as I could tell. There was very little singing. He was supported by Gokul Kumar on violin and Shriram Brahmandam on mridangam (sorry, don't remember who was on vocal support)

[thanjavooran]

Arasi, MV and Gado,Thanks.
IMO the second casualty may be TMK. A rasika who attended the program will be in a position to clarify.
Thanjavooran
13 05 2016

[iamsundar]

@ Thanjavooran - Thanks for starting this thread.

I had the distinct pleasure attending TNS’s Harikatha in the Bay Area. TNS was scheduled to speak on Thyaga Brahmam, but based on some feedback from the organizers, decided to wing one on his Parama Guru HMB (based on a vision he had the previous night).

TNS’s breadth & depth of knowledge is simply extraordinary. While his voice is a goner (one could still spot those genius sparks on occasion), he was still able to mesmerize the audience with his intellect.

While highlighting how HMB brilliantly innovated (leveraging old-in-new & introducing new-in-old), TNS was sarcastic in what modern day artists “produce” in the name of innovation. For creating something “new”, one needs to study and learn what was produced before ! Otherwise, it is “new” only for the artist, not for others… he remarked. Personally, I felt it was a reference to our rebel king TMK

He also mentioned how HMB was the first person to establish a systematic school of learning for Music in Madurai. Prior to that, there was primarily “Gurukulam” system, which was a hit or a miss. Some students just did chores at their Guru’s home (maatu-kotai) and graduated with learning minimal stuff. Later, they put on a Angavastram and claim the “parampara” ! Just as @Mahavishnu suggested, many many in the audience thought that was a missile aimed at NSG

Overall, it was a phenomenal harikatha. Personally, I didn’t know much about HMB before and it was quite enlightening.

@Gadolinium - Ashok Subramaniam was TNS’s vocal support.

[arasi]

Thanks Gadolinium and iamsundar for your posting more about this special presentation.

It was an inspired TNS indeed, when he decided to give a harikathA about his parama guru Harikesnallur MB
who was a larger than life personality besides being a musical genius. A charmer we hear, who had in him a generous amount of jois de vivre.

My aunt was a student of his. She played the viNA, but went on to medical school after that. My family comes from a village close to Harikesanallur. Of all the things, that he lived for a while in one of the two family houses there, still makes me go 'wow'! I wasn't born then, and have no clue what's there now where they used to stand

[Kundhavai]

@Thanjavooran- I'm thankful you started this thread.

@Arasi- I could only attend the last 1 hour of the Harikatha. And I remember two incidents from HMB's life that Shri TNS recounted which confirm his parama guru's love for life.

1. The Maharajah of Mysore having heard of HMB's musical prowess invited him to sing at his court. Unfortunately for HMB, his voice wasn't co-operating that day and he didn't do justice to his fame. So, he got the same "sammanam" that all the other artists got and didn't get singled out by the Maharajah. HMB feeling very upset, went to Chamundi Temple to ask the Goddess why this had happened to him? TNS at this juncture, described HMB as a person who was always used to winning/ standing apart from the fray and couldn't tolerate being "pathoda onnu pathin onnu". In any case, while at the temple, HMB realized his folly and answered his own question, "Mother, when I came to Mysore I went to see the Maharajah first. Instead, I should have come to see you first and sing for you".

2. Once at a royal court, a fellow musician came to HMB with a worried expression. When asked what was worrying him, he replied that he noticed all the other artists had turbans on and he didn't have a turban to wear while singing. So, HMB generously gave him his own turban to use. HMB noticed that the recipient of his generosity was sniffling and seemed to be suffering a cold throughout his performance. After the other artist's performance was over, HMB asked him the reason for the sudden on-set of cold. The recipient responded that it wasn't cold, but an allergic reaction to the lingering perfume in HMB's turban. Apparently, HMB in TNS' words was a "parama sukhi" who loved perfumes. He would frequently ask for perfumes and baby elephants as "Sammanam".

TNS also took a dig at people who try their hand at composing with little or no knowledge. He recounted an incident from his own life many years ago to bring his point across. I strongly suspect this is a fictional event. An old family acquaintance took to frequenting TNS' home with requests that he sing her composition in no less a venue than Music Academy! TNS having failed at deflecting her efforts many times, sat her down one day and told her "Mami, although your composition rhymes, it lacks logic. You say 'Pachai Paambu Padam Eduthu Aadum' in one verse, and that is 'abatham'. You should first study all the great ones' compositions for many many years. Understand the moods and meaning they were trying to convey. And then, maybe try your hand at composing".

I enjoyed the Harikatha very much and I was in awe of TNS' encyclopedic knowledge. He didn't refer to any notes and there were no awkward pauses. He didn't grope for words be it in English or Tamil.

[thanjavooran]

Kundhavai ji
Welcome to the forum. Last one hour you were made to sit and enjoy. ' Kundhavai "chuttar polae. Excellent portrayal of the event.
With wishes,
Thanjavooran
15 05 2016

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Kundhavai/Thanjavooran et al: Thanks for the illuminating recap of TNS harikatha.
Like many other Tinnevelians I have been regaled by stories about HMB.

The reference to the turban in one of the posts reminds me of an anecdote(apocryphal it may be!!!).
It seems once in the R.R.Sabha hall in Mylapore,there was a concert of a young person and HMB was to attend the concert.
HMB was late for the concert. Not wanting to cause a flutter in the Hall with his intrusion,HMB--fully bedecked in Silk Turban,angavastram etc(he was a dandy when it came to dress and in matters of food was a true epicurean--in short a Bohemian in every sense of the word!).
For those of you who may not be familiar with the Hall layout(it has since been reconstructed I believe),it is more like a gallery with several ascending rows from the Dais.There will be several entrances on both sides of the hall so that people can "sneak" in without much of a commotion. The 'ushers" will be specially instructed to escort VIP's even if they are late (the ushers were trained to spot these "regulars" in Mylapore!!).

HMB comes late and not wanting to go in front removes his turban(thinking that his turban is the giveaway to the usher!!) tries to sneak in thro the last entrance--the usher recognizes him and tries to steer him to the front entrance. HMB not wanting to be a distraction slowly removes the turban--before moving to the next entrance--again the usher there recognizes HMB and nudges him forward. HMB then removes his angavastram and tries to enter thro the next entrance--Before the usher could recognize HMB and nudge him to the front entrance the Sabha Secretary standing on the sidelines of the hall watching all this tamasha, shouts to the usher in Tamil :
'SEEKIRAM AVARAI(HMB) ULLE VITTUDU--ILLAVITTAL VESHTIAYE AVIZHTHUVIDUVAR POLIRUKKU"--(Translation: 'LET HIM IN QUICKLY--OTHERWISE HE MAY UNFURL HIS DHOTI(as a logical progression of the undressing sequence -first the Turban,the second Angavastram!!).

here is a riddle for those tamil scholars of the Forum(ARASI is disqualified because she had correctly answered this riddle on this topic years ago!!!

PARAMASIVANUKKUM AARU THALAI

VINAYARKKUM AARU THALAI

SHANMUGHARUKKUM AARU THALAI!!!


Anyone take a shot at this?

[rshankar]

First Aru talai = Arudalai (consolation)
Second = Aru talai (whose head)
Third = six heads

[arasi]

Ravi,
I don't remember solving it before. So, a missing connection on my part or MKR's, young as we both are I should wait though, until others give it a try...

[Govindaswamy]

ShankaraRku maaRuthalai shNmukaRku maaRuthalai
ainkaraRku maaRuthalai yaanathO sangaip
pitiththOrkku maaRuthalai piththaa nin paatrham
pitiththOrkku maaRuthalaip paar



Lord Shiva has a river in his head, Lord Murugan (Shanmugan meaning Six faces) has six faces. Lord Vinayagar has a different head. Lord Vishnu on the other hand has a Water source as His home. And the worshippers and disciples of Lord Shiva get consolation or in other words have a great good change in their lives as result of their worship

Sankarar - Lord Shiva
Aaruthalai - Aaru (River) + Thalai (Head) - Lord Shiva having Ganga River in his head
Shanmugar - Lord Murugan
Aaruthalai - Six heads
Aingarar - Having five hands - Lord Vinayagar
Maaruthalai - Maaru (Changed) + Thalai (Head) - Lord Ganesh has an elephant's head that is different from the other Gods
Sangai Pidithor - Sangu (Conch) + Pidithor (Holder) which is Lord Vishnu
Aaruthalai - Aaru (River) + Thalai (Head) - Lord Vishnu having a Water body as his home. His other name Narayana means person residing in water.
Pithaa - Another name for Lord Shiva
Nin Paadham - Your (Lord Shiva) feet
Padithor - People who have realised, learned etc
Maaruthalai - Can be interpreted in two ways. Aaruthalai means Consolation, Solace. Maaruthal - Change or betterment in life

Truly Kaalamegam stands out of the crowd and his proven his mastery of poetry. He is a man to be honoured for ages come. There were other interesting incidents that happened in the life of Kaalamegam, one such event is the tussle with Kambar, the Kavi Chakravathi. Usually when poets fight, it will be a war of words that will be very interesting and of course they maintain the diplomacy, political correctness and the decency, yet insult each other with words very tactfully that makes things more interesting. Lets see more about this in the future posts.

[Ramasubramanian M.K]

Bravo Govindaswamy: Congrats for not only getting it right but for delving even deeper!! I am sure HMB could have used this one too!!!

[arasi]

Ramesh,
ARu thalai for Sivan is easy to figure out.
Murugan's--even more obvious.
vinAyakA's? Here is one: if you make it into a question, it works. Aru thalai? Who's the first born? Remember the expression talaichan for the first born!