Sangeetham & Nama Sangeerthanam for spreading bhakthi movement

 

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.

 

 

                                                Trinity of Sangeetham or Carnatic Music

 

Trinity of Nama Sangeerthanam

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Dr. Udaiyalur K. Kalyanaraman Bhagavathar & Bhajan exponents during 126th year Radhakalyana Mahothsavam on 28,12.2024 in Vilangudi Village 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.