Music season sees delightful convergence of Sangeetham &
Nama Sangeerthanam
13.1.2025
By V. Balasubramanian
The eventful music season in Chennai this year has seen
Sabhas, convention centres and halls hosting a galaxy of divergent programmes
and performances by veteran Carnatic vocalists, musicians, bhagavathas and
exponents in the fields much to the delight of Carnatic music and bhajan
lovers.
The season has seen the convergence of Sangeetham (Carnatic
music) and Nama Sangeerthanam, which are described as two unique formats and
common foundation for spreading bhakthi movement from ancient times in our
country.
Ably supported by fellow artists of violin, harmonium, mridangam
and dolki and co-singers, confluence of both the formats - Carnatic music and
bhajan programmes have become quite popular among the rasikas. They got
opportunity to attend the concerts as well as for watching them on TV and
YouTube channels.
Carnatic vocalists also enthralled rasikas by singing the
popular bhakthi kirthis in Tamil. They also encouraged singing by their disciples
and upcoming artists as a big motivation for them. During a concert, Sri Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan , veteran carnatic musician referred to the uniqueness of singing Tamil songs like “ Yarukku Thaan Theriyum”
composed by Gopalakrishna Bharathi.
Similarly, during her concert, Mrs. Nithyasree Mahadevan, leading carnatic musician recalled the big hit of “ Yaro,
Ivar Yaro” composed by Arunachala Kavi, to show the first impression of Seetha Devi
when she first saw Lord Rama in Mithalapuri. She said when the audio
cassette of the song sung by legends, M S Subbalakshmi and D K Pattammal (
grand mother of Mrs. Nithyasree) were simultaneously released, both were sold
out.
Sri Udaiyalur Dr. K. Kalyanaraman, legendary
Bhagavathar, Founder & Managing Trustee,
Bhagavatha Seva Trust said,” For years, Namasankeertham has
come to be identified as the easiest way to beseech the blessings of Almighty
in Kailyug. It is the best way to promote peace and national integration. Many Bhagavathas have
dedicated their entire life for propagating Pracheena Sampradaya
Bhajan (Traditional Devotional songs) all over India. They have been
instrumental in laying the spiritual foundation stone for the
younger generation’’.
Dr. R. Ganesh, leading Carnatic musician and Nama
Sankeerthanam performer says, “Sankeerthanam (Nama) is the base for Sangeetham.
Purandara Dasa said Bhakthiyillada Sankeetham Aranya Rodana (making noice as
trees making in the forest) and Saint Tyagaraja says “Sangeethagnanamu
bhakthivina sanmargamugalad”.
He said,” All our great composers inculcated
Bhakthi through their Sankeertanam with divine music. So, both Sangeetham and
Sankeertanam are inter-related. Mere
Sangeetham without Bhakthi or Anushtanam may entertain people but Sankeertanam
with divine music will definitely enlighten the devotees and also uplift them to
higher level of Bhakthi”.
Bhakthi is the livewire for Sankeerthanam and
Sangeetham. Purandaradasa who lived in the 12th century is called Sangeetha
Pitamaha and his compositions find place both in Sankeerthanam and Sangeetham.
His contemporary Ananmayya too immersed himself in nama bhakthi. The
namaprachara or namasankeerthana in north and west of India was nourished in
the 12-13th century by Sant Gnaneswar, Sant Namdev, Korakumbar, Kabirdas and
later on by Sant Thukaram, Meerabhai and others.
In South India, in 16th century, Sri
Bodhendra Saraswathi Swamigal, Sri Sridhara Ayyaval and Sri Sathguru Swamigal were
revered as trinity of Namasankeerthanam while Saint Tyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy
Dikshitar and Sri Shyama Sastrigal as musical trinity.
Dr.
Kalyanaraman, recounting
the rich history and heritage of Bhajans, said Marudanallur Shri Sadguru
Swamigal was the pioneer of Namasankeertanam.
“In the 17th century, he travelled all over the country and collected leading
kirtanas or compositions of Mahans and compiled them as Sampradaya Bhajan
(traditional Bhajan), also called Namasankeertanam. That way, he advocated
unity in diversity and promoted national integration through Sampradaya Bhajan”.
Srimad Bhagavatham on power of Nama Sangeerthanam
Srimad Bhagavatham has a Dhiyana Slogam by which Lord
Krishna is advocating Nama Sangeerthanam for removing all sins in Kaliyuga. Sri
Sathyanarayana Dasan, Krishna Devotee, in his Tamil book, Krishnarin Ninaivil, quoting from
Srimad Bhagavadam said, “though Kaliyug is riddled with so many problems, it
offers salvation by doing Nama Sangeerthanam. It is possible to get relief from
materialistic world and problems by reciting the maha mantra of Hare Krishna in
a simple way”.
According to Neyveli Sri D. Thiagarajan, a religious exponent, “in
ancient times saints and mahans regularly did thapus and conducted mega yagams
for the well- being of people. They have become rare in Kaliyuga, and people
are trying to beat stress and tension by attending concerts and bhajan
programmes.
He said saints and mahans in their compositions have shown us the divine
power of chanting Bhagwan namas like Rama, Krishna, Panduranga, Siva,
Natarajar, Murugan, Ambal. Immersed in Bhakthi While composing and singing in
praise of these almighty, they have visualised them as dancing, singing and in
other formats.
Sri T V. Hariharan, devotional singer and composer of Sai
Bhajans said, “By chanting and singing Nama Saranam and bhajans one can become
a true bhaktha and get blessings of God and Guru”.
Cauvery Delta bastion of two formats
Cauvery delta, comprising Thanjavur (now divided into three
districts) and Trichy and nearby districts remain as citadel or bastion of
both Sangeetham and Namasankeerthanam having produced Mahans, Saints, several
legendary musicians, vidwans, bhagavathas, support artistes and devotional
singers.
During the music season, several villages in cauvery delta are
still strictly following the Sampradaya Bhajan Pandhathi while conducting Sri
Radhakalyanam and Seethakalyanam Mahothsavams.
Sri Vilangudi V Jayaraman, an ardent follower and lover of
Carnatic music for several decades said, “Music and Thanjavur and Trichy Districts
are inseparable .Carnatic classics and Namasangeerthanam flow like Cauvery river
in the veins of people hailing from these places so much so singers and bhagavathas from other areas draw their inspiration
from this Cauvery soil now and then. This is not to be-little their mastery in
the art in their own way”.
Further, he said “From the streets of Tiruvaiyaru’s
Saptastanam to that of Madras’ Mylapore, the early dawn processions during the
Tamil month, Margazhi were led by Papanasam Sivan (Thanjavur district), the
only name that comes to mind when you think of Dhanur maasam bhajans.”
At the same time, Jayaraman said ‘’ Haridoss Swamigal is one whom people
cannot forget for ever as he took these treasures of Nama Sankeerthanam to rasikas
of Chennai Sabhas. Haridoss Swamigal, who excelled in Nama
Sankeerthanam over those from Cauvery Delta belonged to school of Ghanananda
Swamigal of Thapovanam at Tirukoilur in Kallakurichi district”. He built
Panduranga Temple in Thennangur in district. Later, Vittaldas Maharaj, known
for his famous Nama Saagar and discourses, built a temple for Sri Vittal and
Sri Rukmini at Govindapuram near Kumbakonam.
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· The author, V. Balasubramanian is an economic analyst, author, corporate communication executive and admirer of Namasankirthanam and Bhajans for over five decades. His mail id visbala@gmail.com.
