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The Thyagaraja Aradhana was celebrated with
the usual grandeur and jubilation by Indian Fine Arts, Dubai on
Sunday 27 January 2008. The following is a poetic narration of
the event held at the Indian Consulate Auditorium and attended
by a packed audience:
The season began, the celebrations were on,
‘Twas time for our Tyagaraja to visit us again!
As we geared up with the choicest of His creations and kritis
To offer unto Him, with humility, reverence and Bhakti.
At the Dubai Indian Consulate Auditorium
With its fountains and fishes and a gun toting human,
The organizers were the dedicated Indian Fine Arts; the date
The day of Bahula Panchami., 27 Jan. 2008!
With exhilaration and animation that we
awaited this day,
When our Sadguru would bring the Lord’s blessings our way,
Pervading our lives with more song and warm melody.,
With a benediction , the gift of renewed faith and felicity.
It was indeed a wondrous sight to behold,
This divine congregation of young and old,
Each fired by devotion to the art and to the Maker,
With a passion and commitment, tinged with fervour!
This homage to the saint was charged with
sincerity and solemnity,
With the very first kriti, on the gracious Lord Ganapathi!
The ‘Prathama Deiva’, the favorite of Gods and mankind,
The mere thought of him spells success and happiness of every
kind!
The Guru illumines the pathway to God,
So state our exalted scriptures,
The composition ‘Gurulekha Etuvanti’,
Lends credence to this truth in our culture!
Set to ragam, Gowri Manohari’
An intensely inspiring tune,
It sure invoked feelings of Guru Bhakti,
Veritably, the finest blessing and boon!
The Pancharatna kritis , of St. Thyagarajar
Are gems in the fabric of our rich music culture!
Soothing the senses with the nectar of Rama Bhakti
Bearing our cleansed spirits, to the lotus feet of Shripati!!!
‘Entharo Mahanubhavulu..’ in the enchanting
ragam Sree,
A magnum opus beyond compare, in perfection, beauty and more!
Offering oblations to our gurus and seers, our illustrious
teachers of yore
Those divine souls, who alone from our bondage can set us free!!
The utsava sampradaya kritis, of Sadguru
Thyagaraja
Are delightfully, sparkling gifts from this devoted Rama bhakta!!!
Relaying us privileged ones to the Ayodhya of ‘Seethapathi’
And securing for us, a place in the heart of Sri Dasharathi!!
In ragams.., Amritavahini and Panthuvarali,
Kedaragowla and Shudda Seemanthini
In Suruti and the inviting Yamunakalyani
’Twas a celestial journey through the corridors of Bhakti!!!
Tangible ripples of joyfulness, of
irrepressible wonder and charm
Coursed through the gratified ‘rasikas,’ with the number, Gowri
Kalyanam,
Seetha Kalyanam Vaibhogame Rama Kalyanam Vaibhogame….
The song with the potency to fulfill desires….so our elders
say!!!
The scene of the Lord’s ‘Nalangu’
Depicted with spirit and aplomb!
With the catchy kriti, ‘Nagumomu.. .’
In Madyamavathi ragam.
As the saint and His flock were perfectly
lost
In the blissful world of ShrimanNarayana,
The Sadguru’s compassionate smile in the portrait
Assured us the grace of JanakiRamana!!
Our eyes filled with the glorious vision
Of Bhakta Palaka Sri Rama,
Our hearts overflowing with the bewitching beauty
Of Jaganmatha, Janani Seetha,
Our whole being throbbing with deep gratitude,
To our revered saint Sri Thyagaraja,
We now look ahead with great hope and elation
To the next year’s Bahula Panchami celebration
“Entharo Mahanubhavulu.
Antha Reeki Vandhanamu.”
Parvati Ganapathi,
Dubai,
ganpap@hotmail.com
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