A gist of Sriram Venakatakrishnan's talk about Gopala Krishna Bharathi at TAG, chennai.
The talk started off with the maestro Madurai Mani Iyer's rendition of "Eppo Varuvaro" of GKB. GKB was an important link as a composer in tamizh carnatic music. His unique style of compositions had an impact on Papanasam Sivan, Neelakanta Sivan and Subramanya Bharathi.
Born in 1811 in Narimanam (near nagapattinam) in a family of scholars and veena players as Gopala Krishna iyer, becomes Gopalakrishnan Bharati after sometime. He lost both his parents at an early stage and that's why probably it prompted him to pen the masterpiece and close affinity to Lord Shiva - " Thandai tAi irundAl ulagattil umakkinda tAzhvellAm varumO ayyA (petra)" and NC Vasanthakokilam's rendition moved all of us!
The talk started off with the maestro Madurai Mani Iyer's rendition of "Eppo Varuvaro" of GKB. GKB was an important link as a composer in tamizh carnatic music. His unique style of compositions had an impact on Papanasam Sivan, Neelakanta Sivan and Subramanya Bharathi.
Born in 1811 in Narimanam (near nagapattinam) in a family of scholars and veena players as Gopala Krishna iyer, becomes Gopalakrishnan Bharati after sometime. He lost both his parents at an early stage and that's why probably it prompted him to pen the masterpiece and close affinity to Lord Shiva - " Thandai tAi irundAl ulagattil umakkinda tAzhvellAm varumO ayyA (petra)" and NC Vasanthakokilam's rendition moved all of us!
The Marata
empire had a lot of influence on GKB's younger years and he had his
fundamental tutelage in Hindustani Music first from a Hindustani
Musician, Ramdas Swami. And later on in Carnatic music from Ghanam
Krishna Iyer, who was famous for his "padams"(generally as an
accompaniment to classical dance)- We listened to the Atana Padam of
Jayamma (Bala saraswati's mother). One of his other guru was Govinda
Sivam and it is said that GKB used to work as a cook in the kitchen of
Koothanur saraswathi temple.
Initially he was a composer of wedding songs and had deep knowledge in mythology. The turning point in his life was his visit to Chidambaram temple where the moolvar is in "arupam" form and Utsavar is an eternal dancer!
His compositions have been influenced by Muthu Thandavar and Mari Muthu pillai' style - and Sriram mentioned about the awesome song "Kanamal veenile kaalam Kazhithome" of Muthu Thandavar and drawing reference to the style of composition of "Enneramum" of GKB.
Initially he was a composer of wedding songs and had deep knowledge in mythology. The turning point in his life was his visit to Chidambaram temple where the moolvar is in "arupam" form and Utsavar is an eternal dancer!
His compositions have been influenced by Muthu Thandavar and Mari Muthu pillai' style - and Sriram mentioned about the awesome song "Kanamal veenile kaalam Kazhithome" of Muthu Thandavar and drawing reference to the style of composition of "Enneramum" of GKB.
GKB has
composed a couple of "Ninda Sthutis" which showed his closeness to Lord
Shiva. This nindha sthuti is out of pure devotion and it goes on like
this :
"Peyandi thanai kandu nee yendi maiyal Kondai , pengaalukku azhagaamodi
Mayandi chudalayil vaazhvaandi, kaliyudan Vathadi, choiothadi, vazhakkadi thirivaandi
Sundarkku thoothu nadanthavan ivan thandi, Dumburu Naradar pattai kettandi,
SAnthosham vandhaal unnai thazhuva varuvaandi, SAmayam vandhaal oru kaalai thookuvaandi"
GKB initially settles down in a place called "Ananda Thandava Puram" in Mudikondan near Thanjavur (when he was 18-19 years) with Annu Iyer, who takes of all his needs and also looks after his financial investment from GKB's earnings. Eventually he gets to meet a shipping magnate, Kandappa Chettiar, at Nagapattinam who urges him to write a tamil compostion on any of the 63 nayanmars.
GKB's affinity to Nandanar from Chidambaram days probably made him to write the full length tamizh opera "Nandan Charithram" - a musical drama of the story of Nandanar, which has 127 krithis (including descriptive section for discourse and a wide variety of compositions)
Nandanar or திருநாளைப் போவார் நாயனார் stayed in a village called Adhanur and belonged to the "Pulayar" community and worked under a brahmin landlord. The original text by Sekkizhar in Periya Puranam does not contain any references to a Brahmin landlord, but GKB had intentionally introduced this villainous character in Nandanaar Charithram to illustrate that Bhakthi is better than rituals.
Nandanar desires to visit Tiruppungur (8 kms from Vaideeshwaran kovil near Sirkazhi Mahakshetram) and requests the lord that he cannot have a darshanam of Lord Shiva from the Theradi - and the Lord instructs Nandi to move a bit so that Nandanar can have his darshan. Listened to a bit of Sanjay's rendition of "Vazhi Maraithirukkude, Malai pole oru madu Paduthu irukuthe" and "Satru Viladhi Irum Pillai"...
The phenomenal success of Nandan Charithram in Nagapattinam as harikatha prompted a French collector to publish it as a book in 1861.
One of the many interesting events in his life is meeting Saint Thyaraja. Thyagaraja recognizes the famous composer and asks whether he has composed any song in Abhogi and "Sabapatikku" song showed how prolific his compositions where!
Though GKB composed various charithrams on Iyarpagai Nayanar, Neelakanta Nayanar and Karaikal Ammayar, none had the popularity and success as Nandan Charithram.
In 1861, Annu Iyer dies and so GKB is forced to move out of Ananda thandava puram and vanishes for a period of 11 years, supposed to have been wandering all over and spent his time with Ramalinga Adigal. He resurfaces back in Thula Kadam in Mayavaram and spends his time close to Mayuranathar temple teaching music and also since his voice was not good, he learnt the violin and used to play at that age!
Mayuram Vedanayaka Pillai, Arumuga Navalar were GKB's close followers. U.Ve.Sa at the age of 17-18 meets GKB and has the privilege of learning directly under him. He, however, had to quit learning music because his Tamil teacher Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was against it. GKB wanted the eminent scholar MSP to write a foreword in his book Nandanar Charthiram and he sings "Varugalamo Iyya" while visiting and waiting for him at MSP's house - and finally MSP concedes due to the devotion and overlooks the grammatical errors in the composition!
Gopala Krishna Bharathi settles down at Mayavaram and goes on to live till 80+ years (till 1881) and passed away of Maha Shivarathri night. He gives away most of his life time investment - part to his shishya and Rs.3500/- to Subramanya Desikar of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam - To have a daily Ardhajama Pooja at Agastheeswar sannidhanam at Mayura nathar temple in his name - and with a daily neivdhyam of Curd rice, Samba sadam with Coconut thogyal (to be served to 6 people daily)..
And finally some lighter moments watching a clip of "Kindan Charithram" of NSK!
"Peyandi thanai kandu nee yendi maiyal Kondai , pengaalukku azhagaamodi
Mayandi chudalayil vaazhvaandi, kaliyudan Vathadi, choiothadi, vazhakkadi thirivaandi
Sundarkku thoothu nadanthavan ivan thandi, Dumburu Naradar pattai kettandi,
SAnthosham vandhaal unnai thazhuva varuvaandi, SAmayam vandhaal oru kaalai thookuvaandi"
GKB initially settles down in a place called "Ananda Thandava Puram" in Mudikondan near Thanjavur (when he was 18-19 years) with Annu Iyer, who takes of all his needs and also looks after his financial investment from GKB's earnings. Eventually he gets to meet a shipping magnate, Kandappa Chettiar, at Nagapattinam who urges him to write a tamil compostion on any of the 63 nayanmars.
GKB's affinity to Nandanar from Chidambaram days probably made him to write the full length tamizh opera "Nandan Charithram" - a musical drama of the story of Nandanar, which has 127 krithis (including descriptive section for discourse and a wide variety of compositions)
Nandanar or திருநாளைப் போவார் நாயனார் stayed in a village called Adhanur and belonged to the "Pulayar" community and worked under a brahmin landlord. The original text by Sekkizhar in Periya Puranam does not contain any references to a Brahmin landlord, but GKB had intentionally introduced this villainous character in Nandanaar Charithram to illustrate that Bhakthi is better than rituals.
Nandanar desires to visit Tiruppungur (8 kms from Vaideeshwaran kovil near Sirkazhi Mahakshetram) and requests the lord that he cannot have a darshanam of Lord Shiva from the Theradi - and the Lord instructs Nandi to move a bit so that Nandanar can have his darshan. Listened to a bit of Sanjay's rendition of "Vazhi Maraithirukkude, Malai pole oru madu Paduthu irukuthe" and "Satru Viladhi Irum Pillai"...
The phenomenal success of Nandan Charithram in Nagapattinam as harikatha prompted a French collector to publish it as a book in 1861.
One of the many interesting events in his life is meeting Saint Thyaraja. Thyagaraja recognizes the famous composer and asks whether he has composed any song in Abhogi and "Sabapatikku" song showed how prolific his compositions where!
Though GKB composed various charithrams on Iyarpagai Nayanar, Neelakanta Nayanar and Karaikal Ammayar, none had the popularity and success as Nandan Charithram.
In 1861, Annu Iyer dies and so GKB is forced to move out of Ananda thandava puram and vanishes for a period of 11 years, supposed to have been wandering all over and spent his time with Ramalinga Adigal. He resurfaces back in Thula Kadam in Mayavaram and spends his time close to Mayuranathar temple teaching music and also since his voice was not good, he learnt the violin and used to play at that age!
Mayuram Vedanayaka Pillai, Arumuga Navalar were GKB's close followers. U.Ve.Sa at the age of 17-18 meets GKB and has the privilege of learning directly under him. He, however, had to quit learning music because his Tamil teacher Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai was against it. GKB wanted the eminent scholar MSP to write a foreword in his book Nandanar Charthiram and he sings "Varugalamo Iyya" while visiting and waiting for him at MSP's house - and finally MSP concedes due to the devotion and overlooks the grammatical errors in the composition!
Gopala Krishna Bharathi settles down at Mayavaram and goes on to live till 80+ years (till 1881) and passed away of Maha Shivarathri night. He gives away most of his life time investment - part to his shishya and Rs.3500/- to Subramanya Desikar of Thiruvaduthurai Adheenam - To have a daily Ardhajama Pooja at Agastheeswar sannidhanam at Mayura nathar temple in his name - and with a daily neivdhyam of Curd rice, Samba sadam with Coconut thogyal (to be served to 6 people daily)..
And finally some lighter moments watching a clip of "Kindan Charithram" of NSK!
very interesting narration SreeMathy.You should climb to greater heights with your writing!
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