Multi-faceted exponent
S. AISHWARYA
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Inspired by Tyagaraja's Sri Raga kriti, Sivaramakrishna Bhagavatar composed 1,000 songs.
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Photo: R. Ashok.
R. Anantharaman.
Brahmasri Sirugamani Sivaramakrishna Bhagavatar's (1904-1987) way of fostering the music, along with spirituality, was indeed unique. Speak of Sivaramakrishna Bhagavatar, his grand nephew R. Anantharaman turns self-conscious as he carefully chooses his words paying tribute: "One among the few who belongs to the direct sishya-parampara of Tyagaraja he began his career as harikatha exponent."
Bhagavatar's mastery over 18 versions of Ramayana in more than three languages gave him a special edge in delivering discourses, carrying on his Harikatha alongside voracious learning of Carnatic. His interest in composing songs, Anantharaman reminisces, was triggered by the Tyagaraja kriti in Sri Raga, wherein the saint melodically eulogised nama sankeertana.
Anantharaman still finds Bhagavatar's endeavour incredible: "After listening to the kriti, he vowed to compose 1,000 kritis based on `Ashtothara Sata Namavalis' of Hindu Lords. And he did accomplish the task."
Bhagavatar's extensive knowledge of scriptures and command over the evolution of raga made him compose thousand kritis, alongside his other parallel compositions including a panchanratna kriti on Adi Sankara.
Title conferred
Swami Sivananda conferred the title, `Kirthana Kalanidhi,' on Bhagavatar who came up with yet another composition bouquet christened `Sri Rama Nama Ganavali,' which was published under the aegis of the Ministry of Education in 1977.
Rummaging the book, Anantharaman points out the stupendous features of the book: "The raga lakshanas, as defined by Venkatamakhi, are ornately explained. It also has an interesting discussion on ragas, supported by Sarngadeva, Subbarama Dikshitar, Abraham Pandithar and Subba Bhattar."
Bhagavatar, who has evolved a catalogue of 2,000 ragas, has to his credit invention of two ragas, Megashyamala and Kamodha.
Anantharaman, professor-turned-Ramayana-exponent, is looking for a publisher to print his granduncle's manuscripts. "About 900 of his manuscripts remain in papers. If published, they could serve as an info-bank for the learners of Carnatic music," he says.
A retired Chemistry professor of E.V.R.College, Tiruchi, Anantharaman began his Ramayana discourses, drawing inspiration from Bhagavatar. He presents weekly discourses on the Ramayana at Sri Sringeri Sathsang Math, Tiruchi.
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