Kalpa Media House | Bengaluru |
Salutations at the feet of the legendary personality, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, making this humble offering with his blessings.
The 250th centenary year of the prolific composer of 18th century, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar, revered as one of the musical trinities, is being celebrated widely at various sabhas across the globe. A great musician, Vainika, Sanskrit scholar, Astrologer, adept in SriVidya, intensely devoted to Lord Muruga and a pilgrim during most of his life time, his compositions are par excellence, taking audience virtually on pilgrimage. They are scriptural narratives, with religious and spiritual practices skillfully woven into them along with meticulously composed lyricscontaining many grammatical specialities like shabdhalankaras, metaphors, similies, alliterations, yati, prasa and are set to appropriate raga and taala. The deeply devotional compositions have the healing power to alleviate human sufferings. Each krithi contains the kshetraMahima, the architecture and beauty of the temples, grandeur of the festivities in the kshetra, the spiritual power in the worship of the diety. Every composition has a raga mudra incorporated coherently into the lyrics and its music is engulfed with the essence of the ragas. Also he is the only known composer to have used all the suladisaptatalas in his krithis.
He has composed several groups of krithisto represent a theme likevibhakthikrithis on Guruguha, Thyagaraja, Abhayamba, Madhuramba, Panchalingakshetrakrithis, KamalambanavavarnaKrithis, Navagrahakrithis, ragamalikas to name a few. He follows the Venkatamakhi’s raga scheme known as the asampoornamelapaddathi.
In a thematic presentation of Sri Dikshithar’s compositions a concert organised.jointly by M.A. Narasimhachar foundation and Vishishta Banashankari Fine Arts at the beautiful ambience of ‘Sri SudhaShruthiSagara’ highly accomplished artist, ‘Sangeetha Kalaratna Dr.S.C. Sharma gave an erudite presentation.
The priceless composition Sri Sathya Narayanam in the Shubhapantuvarali Rupakathalam was mellifluous. It is in praise of the Lord Sathyanarayana, the embodiment of truth. linked to shrine of Badrinath of Himalayas, which was visited by Dikshithar along with his guru Chidambaranath yogi. It describes events and Lilas of the Lord from Bhavishyottarapurana and Skandapurana.
The grand Sri Rajagopalam in Saveri, is in praise of Rukmini Sathyabhamasametha Lord Rajagopala of Mannargudi known as Dakshina dwaraka which is endowed with the beautiful forest of champaka trees, Goddess Lakshmi appearing as a champaka flower, Vidya Rajagopala as he is known, has a blissful appearance, playful demeanor, half of his sacred form embodyingas a lady, and has srichakra under his feet. The song also describes the festivities in his honor.
Yet another rare krithi‘Marakatha lingam’, isin praise of Lord Shiva in the form of Shivalinga made of emerald, said to reside in mahabilvavana which is aptly composed in raga Vasantha associated with spring season known for its vibrant energy.
One of the eight Guruguhavibhakti krithis, ‘Guruguhayabhakthanugrahaya’ in chaturthivibhakti or dative case set to raga sama is in praise of Lord Subramanya known as ‘Guruguha’, which is also the mudra of Dikshithar.
‘Meenakshi me mudhamdehi’ in praise of Madurai Meenakshi describing the sanctity and sublime dashavidhagamakas produced on the Veena, is set in raga Gamakakriyaof Deekshithar school, a popular composition sung by many artists with a nerval at the charanam line ‘madhurapurinilayemanivalaye’, According to legend this is the song rendered by his disciples when Dikshitharshed his mortal coils to become one with his diety.
Sri guruguhatharayashumam is a cute piece in praise of Lord Murugaset in Devakriya, equivalent of the popular shuddhasaveri raga of Sri. Thyagarajar school.
Dikshithar’s debut composition ‘Srinathadiguruguhojayathijayathi’ in the basic raga Mayamalavagowla, set to adithalam is in praise of Lord Muruga, inner guide for salvation. It is an ideal composition for students to practice the raga in tristhayi and three speeds Music of the krithi is composed so beautifully, giving the essence of this fundamental raga, along with the path to self realisation or ‘chidananda’ which areimmaculately interwoven. It introduces his famousguruguhavibhaktikrithis and is an example of his style of embedding sublime philosophy into a well carved musical structure.
Dharmasamvardhani’ in raga Madhyamavathi, associated with Goddess Dharmasamvardhini, one who stimulates righteousness , the consort of panchanadhiswara at a temple in thiruvaiyaru is another master-piece.
Each composition is an unparalleled gem, a class in itself. Dr. Sharma’s rendering of the compositions was soulful showing his indepth mastery of the krithis ofthis great composer.
Dr. Sharma was very well supported on Vocal by Vid. Dr. Udaykiran. He was ably accompanied by Vid. Arjun Dinakar on violin, Ganakala bhushana Dr.C. Cheluvaraj on Mridangam and Vid. Gurumurthy on Ghatam.
Efforts ofthe organisers, Sri M.A. Sri Kishan, Founder, M.A. Narasimhachar Foundation, Sri.S.A.Shashidhar, Founder, Visishta Banashankari Fine Arts, in arranging this wonderful concert is commendable.
Dr. S.V. Sharma fondly remembered the legendary artists and authority on Dikshithar’s compositions, Sangitha Kalanidhis, Vid. D.K. Pattammal and her brother Vid. D.K. Jayaraman whom he acknowledges as his spiritual mentors. The august gathering was enriched by the distinguished presence of Smt D.K. Pattammal’s son Vid. Ganesh, well-known musician Dr.D. Shashikala, President of Bangalore Gayana Dr. M.R.V. Prasad, samaj and other dignitaries.
Contact For News & Advertising: Whatsapp: 9008761663, 9481252093 – info@kalpa.news
