Guru Manpundia Pillai - Temple Renovation

[mridhangam]

Dear Members

Shri Gurubhyo Namaha.

The Temple at Pudukkottai where Palani Sri M Subramania Pillai Trust is organising annual Guru Puja is in need of Renovation. The appeal is given below. Please feel free to contact me in case of any doubt at the number given in the appeal.

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Renovation of Srilasri Manpoondiya Pillai Shrine at Pudukkottai
Om Shri Gurubhyo Namaha


The Laya Maestro, Manpoondiya pillai of Pudukkottai, who lived between 1858 and 1921, can termed as a godfather of the current day korvais and laya patterns. He was also instrumental in introducing Khanjira, a one-sided percussion instrument on the Carnatic Music Stage besides being the founder of what has come to be known as the Pudukkottai School of Percussive Art as distinct from the Tanjore School. The Pudukkottai School derived its inspirations from the Tavil Traditions.

The great man came from a very humble background, but by sheer hardwork, imagination and divine 'gnana', rose to unsurpassed heights as a Laya Yogi and an unparallelled innovator during his life time. In concept as well as practice, the Art of Percussion broke new grounds and established new peaks and the process initiated by him continues to this day.

A man with great spiritual inclination, besides being laya 'upasaka' he took 'sanyasa' when he saw his end approaching and came to be known as 'Sri La Sri Murugananda Swamigal'.He attained samadhi in the year 1921.

Manpoondia Pillai's disciples included the all time greats in the laya field such as Pudukkottai Dakshinamurthy Pillai, Palani Muthiah Pillai ( father of Palani M Subramania Pillai), Ramanathapuram Chitsabai Servai (father of Ramanathapuram C S Murugabhoopathy), Seithur Jamindar and Dramatist Sankaradas Swamigal. He also trained renowned vocalist of the time, Konerirajapuram Vaidyanatha Iyer in Laya intricacies.

At the behest of Palani Muthiah Pillai, his son and disciple, Mridangam and Khanjira Maestro, Palani Subramania Pillai built a Shrine over the Samadhi of Manpoondia Pillai in 1945, installed a 'Sivalinga' and performed Guru Puja till his untimely death in 1962. Thereafter, Ramanathapuram Sri M N Kandaswamy, a senior disciple of Palani Subramania Pillai continued this tradition till his death in 1995. Immediately after Sri Kandaswamy Pillai's demise, a Trust was formed under the leadership of Shri K S Kalidas, a disciple of Palani M Subramania Pillai. Annual Guru Puja at this Shrine till today and the Trust also conducts annual Guru puja of Palani M Subramania Pillai.

The Shrine at Pudukkottai needs to be renovated and a kumbabhishekam be performed as the last kumbabhishekam was performed by the Trust on 5th January 1999. The total cost of renovation and kumbabhishekam is slated to be 12 Lakhs.

Music lovers, practitioners and patrons are requested to donate generously to the Great Cause.

Contributions may be made by Cheque or draft drawn in favour of Palani Sri M Subramania Pillai Trust, and sent to Mannarkoil Balaji, Managing Trustee, Flat B2, Plot 909, 11th Sector, 66th Street, K K nagar, Chennai-600078. Alternatively, NEFT payments may also be made as per the following details :

AC Name : Palani Sri M.Subramania Pillai Trust
AC No: 458651338
Bank Name and Branch: Indian Bank,R A Puram Branch
IFSC Code : IDIB000E001

Contact Numbers :Mannarkoil J Balaji at +91 99620-30766 and K Arunprakash at +91 98412 50576.

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Mannarkoil J Balaji

[mridhangam]

Dear Members

We arranged a Lec-Dem by Sangita Kalanidhi Dr Trichy Sankaran (with K V Gopalakrishnan on Khanjira) to talk about the greatness of Manpundia Pillai at Raga Sudha on 20th Feb 2019. He reminisced lots of Korvais created by Manpundia Pillai and it was a worthy session by the maestro.

I once again place a request for generous donations towards the great cause of renovation of the temple of Manpundia Pillai.

Mannarkoil J Balaji