CMANA awarded, Saturday 6 Oct 2007, evening, Sangeetha Saagara award to Sri Madurai TNS at the packed audience Bridgewater Hall in New Jersey.
TNS chose to celebrate the Thayar Perumal Kalayanam on the auspicius day of Purattasi Sanikkizhamai Saturday. He was beautifully dressed in Panchakacham and the long angavastram and Thiruman Srichurnam and was garlanded by Sri Sankara Narayanan, the President. From the audience view, he stood right below lotus feet of Lord Srinivasa, as, one can see the Lord Venkateswara's huge painting right above the dias. Sri Murugabhoopathy was on the left with Mrudangam and Sri Chandramouli on the right with violin.
He invited us with 'Kolam kaana vareer" with a melodius music note. The whole Hari Katha was very interesting for audience of all age, filled with Bhakthi, Bhavam, opportunity for listeners to identify various apt ragas, he sang the sacred Ramayanam from almost author, notably, Valmiki, Thyagaraja and Kamban for Sanskrit, Telugu and Tamil. During his Harikatha, he beautifully rendered the Saranagathi thatvam highlighting the supremacy of Sri. Lakshmi Narayana. The importance of Thayar as Purshatkaram was spelt and explained, how Thayar decided to reside with the Lord, who left for Himself will run away for the sake of call of a bird or an elephant. He quoted "Agalagillen..Marai marba". He emphasized that Thayar's kataksham is imperative in order to get the grant of Moksham from Perumal.
The entire Harikatha was punctuated with humor every now and then, keeping the audience alive, all through.
He took us from Vishwamitra taking Rama and Lakshmana from Dasaratha for a protection from the demon. TNS explained, why, Kamban described the residence of Emberman as Karungadal, though it was Paarkadal. He explained that Emberuman as "Pachai Maa malai pol meni' and equated Him to an emarald. A pure Emarald when dropped in unadulterated milk, wil turn the milk into black, hence karungadal.
While explaining, why Viswamitra chose to sing suprabatham as "Kausalya supraja" TNS quoted Thayragaja singing "Sri Vasudeva'a anda ko'otla" of Brova Barama in Bahudari. He praised Thayagaraja, how in one word he captured the supreme being, who during pralaya kalam, consuming the entire universe sleeps on an 'Aal ilai' was held in Kausalya's Garbham. Thus Kamban said "Thiram kol Kosalai" with a pride. This, TNS contrasted with Thayar, who was Ayonijai, i.e, without the garba vasam, thayar was found as a new born baby, found bythe tip of a plough, hence named Sita.
Viswamitra made Rama and Lakshmana to walk till the forest because, the bhooma devi was tired of demons walking and hence she preferred that Rama walk and place His foot on Her.
TNS quoted Kamba Ramayanam which described how a Veena should be played or a Bharata natyam should be performed. All string instuments were called Veena and needs to be applied with nei, clarified butter. Veena should be played with a subtle mrudangam, called Thannumai. He mocked at the the modern day attempts to make Veena more poratble more than playable.
He said Veena strings, when played 'well' will impact the listener's veins, hence during Seemantham, veena recitals were arranged. He joked, that with current days, some veena players, the garbha sthree may get 'Durswapnam' after listening.
TNS redifined the word Tradition to that which resulted after constant research of centuries. The word tradition should not be equated to 'Old' and looked upon with contempt. He discouraged the attempt made by moderners to modify the musical instruments.
The Harikatha also included beautiful songs from Ramayanam like 'Meru Samaana' in Mayamalava Gowla, Yaaro ivar yaro in Saveri instead of Bhairavi as introduced by 'Iyengar'. "Nagumo mu", "Manasuloni" "Annalum nokkinaal" and applied various notes to sanskrit versions like "Iyam Seetha Mama sutha".
He quoted why Valmiki equated Him to an Elephant in 'Gajasimha gathiveera'. Because if you want to climb on an elephant, you cannot do it unless, the elephant offers its leg, Similarly, He offers His Charanaravindam to our rescue. TNS said to remove our Padhaka Malam He offers His Padha Kamalam.
TNS equated Thyagaraja to a kid, who when flipping through his parents wedding album did not find his photo on that. While describing the visitors to Seetha Kalyanam, Thyagaraja wanted Anjaneya to be on the first of the list of attendees quoting "pavanaja shtuthi patra".
TNS mentioned that for marriages, one should not expect invitation, it is only to say the address of the marriage, Even without invite, Bharathan's Mama yugajith attended the marriage.
Vashishta named Him as Rama being the jeeva aksharam of 'Ra' from Ashtaksharam and 'Ma' from Panchaksharam.
There were several quotes like "Periazhwar petredutha pen pillai", Vayinal paadi mathinaal sindhikka" etc. and finally concluded with Pavamaana suthadu.. and Sriyah kanthaya kalyana nidhaye nidhaye..Sri venkata nivasaya Srinivasaya Mangalam.
At the end Sri Sankara Narayanan was speechless; with koral thazhuthazhukka delivered his vote of thanks to Sri TNS. What a great fall festival organized by CMANA.
Please excuse me if anything is wrongly quoted, would be only my misunderstanding and lack of adequate knowledge!
Sridhar Vasudevan
New Jersey 609 240 7369
Harikatha by TNS in New Jersey- Review by sridharan Vasudeva
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