Graceful: Namasankeerthanam: A Journey of Devotion Across Generations from Villages to Towns, Cities and all over the World

19.12.2024

Namasankeerthanam: A Journey of Devotion Across Generations from Villages to Towns, Cities and all over the World

By K. Subramanian, Vilangudi

Ram Ram

During the beginning of 19^th century or a few years ago, it is observed that Namasankeerthanam was conducted in villages in and around the Tanjore district, often performed in the Thinnai of village homes by group of persons with a designated leader.

These gatherings weren’t just about singing—it was the heartbeat of the village that connected every soul to the divine. Over the years these groups began receiving invitations from their relatives and friends to conduct Bhajans including Sri Radhakalyanam and Sri Rama Navami uthsavams by the groups in towns and cities at homes or in public places without mic and media.

These Uthsavams were attended by like minded people who enjoyed the bhajans and at the same time felt the divine atmosphere.

The origin of Namasankeerthanam in Tanjore region may be attributed to Namasankeerthana Three Moorthigal, ( Trinity)- Govindapuram Shri Bhodhendra Saraswathi Swamigal, Thiruvisalur (Thiruvisanallur) Shri Sridhara Iyyaval, and Marudanallur Shri Sadguru Swamigal—whose mutts are located within a radius of 10 kilometer in Tanjore district.

The staying of Sangeetha Pithamaha, Sadguru Shri Tyagaraja Swamigal in Thiruvaiyaru developed bakthi and interest in singing Carnatic music, which attracted many people in hearing such bakthi oriented Tyagaraja Krithis and at the same time evincing interest in learning Carnatic music. Thus, it produced many popular Vidhwans from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In course of time, many talented Vidhwans of Carnatic music started performing programmes in temples and thereafter in Sabhas in big towns and cities, particularly at Chennai where a number of Sabhas are now organising Music festival by inviting many talented artists in the field.

The families of village Bhajan leaders and their disciples continued and passed on this treasure from generation to generation following the guidance of their elders. Their dedication contributed to the growing popularity of Namasankeerthanam in villages,towns, cities and international settings. Over time, disciples of these groups gained expertise and formed their own Bhajan groups, many of which still adhere to the traditional Sampradaya Bhajan syllabus.

To prove the above fact, during the period 1950 and 1965, Vilangudi late Kalyanasundara Bhagavathar (father of this writer) and Thiruvaiyaru Nagaraja Bhagavathar, along with a few others travelled to Hyderabad to conduct Sri Rama Navami Uthsavam organised by relatives and friends who after some years formed a Sabha called South Indian Bhajan Sabha at Hyderabad.

Members of this Sabha not only conducted Sri Ramanavami uthsavam, but also Sri Radhakalyanam, besides performing Ekadesi bhajans with local talents in temple premises or at homes of members. They also conducted early morning namasankeerthanam during Tamil month, Margazhi by walking through streets for a duration of about an hour from 5.00 am starting from the temple premises and doing bhajan in the temple for an hour or daily.

During the period 1964 to 1971, when this writer was working at Hyderabad, he participated in all the events of the Sabha as a Member. That way Namasankeerthanam reached towns and cities from villages in Tanjore district.

At the same time Sri Haridoss Giri Maharaj, a renowned exponent of Namasankeerthanam, popularised further the epic of namasankeerthanam with his divine voice, music, and soulful lectures, which infused bhakthi in the hearts of countless devotees, drawing large crowds in all major Cities in India and abroad.

Further, the audio cassettes of his bhajans were distributed during his programmes and these Bhajan cassettes sowed seeds of devotion in countless homes, temples, and devotional centers, ensuring that Namasankeerthanam reached every corner of the world.

VILANGUDI VILLAGE IN TANJORE DISTRICT

Vilangudi Village is situated about 15 kilometers from Temple town, Kumbakonam and the Bhajan group in the village started conducting the sacred tradition of Namasankeerthnam under the leadership of Vilangudi late Radhakrishna Bahavathar followed by his son Vilangudi late Kalyanasundara Bhagavathar who continued to conduct Bhajans and trained residents of the village in singing of Namasankeerthanam following the path of his father.

Their efforts with the support of village residents led to the construction of a Perumal temple in Vilangudi, where Namasankeerthanam chanting became a regular practice. This tradition expanded into conducting Sri Radhakalyanam Utshav every year, involving participation by village residents.

Vilangudi Radhakalyanam is a popular one in that region, and it is performed on Saturday during Tamil month Margazhi every year in the Perumal temple where the presiding deities are Sridevi Bhudevi Samedha Sri Venkataramanaswamy and the Uthsavar is Lord Krishna with Radha and Rukmini Devi.

Like our family weddings, on Radhakalyanam day, while Lord Krishna with special alankarams, kept on wooden mandapam, will be taken on procession to the Pandal in front of the temple with mangalavadhyam, Goddess Radha Devi will follow with Bagavathals chanting 18th Ashtapathi. Then, Bhattacharyas do the exchange of garlands and after keeping both the idols on a swing they also do Pongapudi rounding. There after both the deities will be taken inside the temple Kalyana mandapam with Nadaswaram and kept in the swing there.

All Assembled Bagavathals thereafter conduct pracheena Sampradaya Bhajan, chanting Choornigai and Mangalashtagam and then the Bhattacharyas will conduct Mangalyadharanam. After Aarathi, Bhagavathals will sing five Prarthana abangs are as per the tradition

On the occasion, as a matter of remembering the services of late Bagavathars in conducting Radhakalyanam for several years in the past and who have attained the Lotus feet of His Almighty, names of those Bagavathars will be mentioned. Names of those Bagavathars hereunder:

1) Vilangudi Radhakrishna Bagavathar

2) Vilangudi Ramanatha Bagavathar

3) Vilangudi Kalyanasundara Bagavathar

4) Vilangudi Sivaramakrishna Bagavathar (Father of Vikatam Santhanam)

5) Thiruvaiyaru Nagaraja Bagavathar

6) Gopalakrishna Bagavathar, Pudukkottai

7. Kumbakonam Balu Bagavathar

8) Raja Bagavathar, Govindapuram

9) Venkatarama Bagavathar, Thiruvidaimarudhur

10) Sethurama Bagavathar, Thandanthottam

11) Krishnamoorthy Bagavathar, Elandhurai

12) Santhana Bagavathar, Vazhgudi

13) Mani Iyer, Srivanjiyam

14) Naganatha Bagavathar, Thagattur

15) Krishnamoorthy Bagavathar, Mayuram

16) Ramachandra Bagavathar, Srivanjiyam

17) Narayana Sivschariyar Bagavathar, Pudukkudi

18) E K Srinivasa Bagavathar, Kumbakonam

19) N S Venkatarama Bagavathar, Nallur

20) E K Jayarama Bagavathar, Kumbakonam

21) Sundaresa Bagavathar, Teppalampuliyur

22) Venkatarama Bagavathar, Thiruvaiyaru

23) A L Krishnamoorthy Bagavathar, Aangarai

24) Tiger Mani Bagavathar, Kumbakonam

25) Jayarama Bagavathar, Kovai

26) Viswanatha Bagavarhar, Vilangudi

27) Ramaswamy Bagavathar, Hormonium, Tepperumanallur

28) Mani Iyer, Hormonium, Mayuram

29) Venugopala Bagavathar, Hormoium, Cuddalore

30) Nanu Dikshadhar, Mirudangam, Arayapuram

31) Rajagopala Bagavathar, Mirudangam, Injikollai

32) Ramakrishna Bagavathar, Mirudangam, Palaiyur

33) Sabesa Iyer, Mirugangam, Poongulam

34) Ramamoorthy Iyer, Mirudangam, Muzhaiyur

35) Gundu Rao, Mirudanam, Mayuram

36) Jayaraman, Mirudangam, Srirangarajapuram

37) Gopalan, Mirudangam, Srivanjiyam

38) Kuppuraj Bagavathar, Dolki, Thiruvannamalai

PARUPPU THENGA SET OFFERING FOR GETTING GOOD ALLIANCE

During Radhakalyanam day, there is a unique practice of offering Paruppu Thengai set by devotees for invoking God’s blessings for getting a good alliance for a boy or a girl. It is heartening to note that their Prarthanai is getting fulfilled in most of the cases by God’s Grace.

126^TH YEAR RADHAKALYANAM TO BE HELD ON 28.12.2024.

Villagers of Vilangudi uphold this legacy by organising Radhakalyanams, inviting eminent Bhagavathars while following the traditional Sampradaya Pandhathi. The ensuing Radhakalyanam is 126^th year Radhakalyanam on 28.12.2024 and the Bhajan programmes are to be conducted under the leadership of Udaiyalur Kalaimamani Dr K Kalyanarama Bagavathar and group.

This writer and his younger brother, K Venugopalan feel honored to be part of this Vilangudi Village Community. Our journey in this service began in 1956 as school students and by God’s grace, we have been able to continue and render our best possible service. May the echoes of Namasankeerthanam continue to touch hearts and inspire devotion for generations to come.

RADHAKALYANAM UTSAV IN MANY VILLAGES IN TANJORE DISTRICT

Annual Radhakalyanam Utsavis has been conducted in many villages in and around Tanjore district for a number of years. To name a few –

1) Marudanallur

2) Thiruvisalur ( Thiruvisanallur)

3) Govindapuram

4) Nannilam

5) Vazhgudi

6) Udaiyalur

7) Thiruvarur

8) Thappalampuliyur

9) Mayavaram ( Mayiladuthurai)

10) Thandhamthottam

11) Thiruvaiyaru

12) Thippirajapuram

13) Villianallur

14) Aalangudi

Radhekrishna

The author, K. Subramanian, retd. From TTK Group, is an admirer and exponent of Namasankeerthanam for several decades. He hails from Vilangudi village near Kumbakonam. His mail id ksradhekrishna@yahoo.co.in.