FRIDAY, JULY 27, 2012

Golden Daily schedule words Seat of WISDOM Devotees can have dar- shan of the Acharya in the mornings and eve- The following are SEER It is with disarming simplicity that Sri Bharati Acharya referring to the burden of home work, TV predecessors did not do it, nings. He presents Anu- excerpts from the heavy traffic, in a private in- shows and Internet. nor will I.” graha Bhashanam on discourses Sri terview. “Yes, television has played Message for The Hindu Wednesdays and Sun- Vidya Tirtha speaks profound philosophy. days (6.30-7 p.m). The Bharati Vidya Tirtha Thousands throng tem- a significant role in all this. readers… GEETHA VENKATRAMANAN ples and rituals are done Young people are mesmer- “Let every one do their du- lecture is telecast by delivered at various with a never-before fervour ised by TV. I wonder if it has ty with sincerity. Never try Sankara TV. places: and frequency. But negative any beneficial effect on their to hurt or harm others with Eminent artists ren- ● Desire and anger ivan and Iswaran forces seem to be gaining the minds,” observes the word or deed. On the other der bhajans and con- are two great are the same but upper hand? In other words, Acharya, who again under- hand try to be as helpful as certs every evening (7 enemies of man. “Jwith a difference. life has become a challenge lines the duty of parents. “Sit possible. Don’t fail to pray or p.m.) Catch up with the While desire is one’s An empty pot con- for those who tread the path with them. Talk about our observe nityakarma.” Mambalam Sisters to- longing for an object, tains space, but not quite the of honesty. “Good and bad country’s great heritage and day. Tomorrow Sri same that prevails all have always co-existed,” ob- culture. Make them under- Jayakrishna Dikshitar anger results from around. You break the pot serves the Acharya, gentle stand that they may not get will present Namasan- non-availability or and they merge to become surprise lacing the tone. “Ra- the answers for all their kirtanam followed by deprival of the object. the same entity,” the audi- vana lived at the same time questions. They will under- the vocal recital of ● What does one ence listens spell bound to as Rama. The latter went stand as they grow up.” Lakshmi Rangarajan. lose by uttering this simple explanation of a through immense sufferings Is bhakti necessary for a Updates are posted on respectful words? profound theory of Advaita because of the Lanka ruler. person to lead a clean life? www.sringeri.net and But many speak harsh as Sri Bharati Vidya Tirtha of Rishis doing penance were “Yes, prayer and rituals of- www.srisankaratv.net. Sringeri Sarada Pitam speaks disturbed and hurt by fer solace and strengthen the GV words and hurt the high philosophy. demons…” mind. Your faith in the path feelings of others. Both theory and the akasa But scriptures speak of di- that you have chosen gets ● The three fetters and ghata-akasa analogy are vine intervention… reaffirmed.” that chain a human Sri Adi Sankara’s and only a “Sure. One must wait. Do The Acharya’s opinion being to samsara – mind that has not complete- your duty with a clean mind on religious leaders and Loka vasana, Sastra ly understood the concept of and things will fall in place,” math heads entering Truth gets confused that he says. politics… vasana and Deha leads to arguments. The “I can only speak for vasana. On youth and discipline make-shift hall of ‘Sudhar- ACHARYA: Sri Bharati Vidya Tirtha of Sringeri Math myself,” smiles Swamiji. ● The life of a man ma’ (124, Dr. Radhakrishnan The dialogue turns to chil- “No. Politics is not my (right). PHOTO: K. V. SRINIVASAN AND ARCHIVES who does not help Salai) where the Acharya is dren and youth. With dis- cup of tea. Sastras others is worthless. camping to observe Chatur tractions at every turn and do not encour- Thus great Masya Vrata is packed, as from several sources. At 15 he you may not understand the lifestyles having undergone a age a sanyasi to Swamiji’s lecture draws both became an understudy of Sri subtleties, but try and get the massive change, it is tough to dabble in the af- importance is given the lay and the elite. Sri Bha- Abhinava Vidya Tirtha and larger picture,” he says not instil discipline in them. The fairs of state. My to Paropakara, which rati Vidya Tirtha, who is on ascended the throne as the without kindness. Acharya believes they have scriptures refer to as Vijaya Yatra, is following in 36th head in 1989 but not be- Sri Bharati Vidya Tirtha is the potential to ring in posi- compassion. the footsteps of his prede- fore acquiring a comprehen- visiting Chennai after nearly tive changes. ● “I do my duty and cessors, who believed in edu- sive knowledge of the Vedas, 20 years. Does he find any “Earlier moral instruction am happy with what I cating the uninitiated. Upanishads, Mimamsa, Tar- change? “Well, from one was mandatory in schools. A scholar, the Acharya’s ka and so on. The wisdom place to another it took Now parents should assume get.” – this should be talk in fluent Tamil is inter- comes across in the simple about 10 minutes but these that role and guide their the attitude. spersed with apt quotations style that he adopts. “Some of days it takes 30,” laughs the offspring,” he says. ● Be content with Easier said than done, whatever comes to considering the questioning you of its own accord. spirit and the I-know-what- Practise equanimity Dissemination of knowledge I-want attitude. Why, there when experiencing is no scope for bed-time sto- ocated on the in an aside. “Even a slight cash award of Rs. 21,000. rytelling what with the heavy the pairs of Lpicturesque banks of the error is enough to disqual- Sri Sankara Advaita Re- opposites, such as Tungabhadra in Sringeri, ify a person. The standard search Centre publishes pleasure and pain. Karnataka, Dakshinam- is high.” The Pitam con- literature in the subjects of Shun envy. naya Sri Sarada Pitam, ducts Veda Sammelans and Vedanta, Vyakarana and (Culled out from founded by Adi Sankara, sastra sabhas across the Nyaya. Knowledge is dis- ‘Golden Words of the runs many Veda patasalas. country. seminated through jour- Glorious Guru,’ It is generally said that the The Veda Poshaka Sabha nals such as Tattvaloka Vedas have no takers and and Sastra Poshaka Sabha (English), Shankara Kripa published by Sri the number of learners is encourage young learners (Kannada and Telugu), Sringeri Sarada Pitam dwindling. “Wrong,” to excel in their studies. El- Amman Darisanam – 577139, Karnataka smiles the Acharya. “In derly scholars are given (Tamil). ph: 08235250123 -- fact the number of stu- monthly honorariums. Sringeri Vidya Bharati and distributed at a dents, who receive the cer- Under the scheme of Gi- Foundation has units in subsidised price of tificates at our patasala has ta Gnana Yagna, individu- Stroudsburg, Pennsylva- been increasing,” he says. als who recite all the 700 nia, the U.S., and Toronto, Rs. 35.) “No compromises slokas of the Bhagavad Gita Canada. there,” informs a volunteer receive a certificate and a GV

hanks to the efforts of editing a play to shorter TMilena Salvini of France durations (of one to three and Sanskrit scholar turn- hours) at a short notice as Shraddha’s new plays ed diplomat, Christopher He broke barriers for art per performance require- Briskly from Poland, Koo- ments duly retaining all Shraddha’s latest presentation, a collection of three short plays, will diyattam, the ancient per- the essential ingredients,” be staged from August 2 and 5, 7 p.m., at Narada Gana Sabha, TTK forming arts tradition who formed Margi, Thiru- kode under the aegis of All recalls Kalamandalam Ra- Road. The plays -- ‘Madi Neruppu,’ ‘Irandavathu Maranam’ and sustained only in Kerala, vananthapuram, under the HOMAGE India Radio. This event ma Chakyar. ‘Andharangam’-- are written by Anand Raghav. Each story, about 30 made its first trip abroad to leadership of the late D. and the debut Koodiyat- ‘Jatayuvadham’ second minutes long, deals with three scenarios which bring out the conflict- Poland and France. The Appukuttan Nair. The Del- A maverick tam performances of Mani part, ‘Kalyanasoughandi- ing influence of faith and doubt on the protagonists. four-week tour during hi-based scholar, Dr. Sud- Madhava Chakyar’s sons gam’ first part, ‘May- ‘Madi Neruppu’ looks at with the effects of urbanisation on May-June, 1980, was under ha Gopalakrishnan’s and visionary, (hailing from the Nambiar aseethangam, individual lives. Siva’s peaceful life is shaken by the murder of his the leadership of Guru painstaking attempt re- community and who han- Naganandam’ third act and neighbour and long time friend. From a position of comfort and Paimkulam Rama Chakyar sulted in the submission of Paimkulam dle the percussion by vir- the two acts of ‘Swapnava- peace, Siva is pushed into paranoia and fear. The play is directed by (1904-1980). a project proposal to the tue of following the savadatham,’ were among Kathadi Ramamurthy who also acts in it along with V. Ramesh, T.D. There was displeasure UNESCO that in 2001 Rama Chakyar’s matriarchal system) in his known choreographies. Sundarajan and Shivaji Chaturvedi. among Chakyar’s clan and earned the art recognition 1955 were considered the The present day status ‘Irandavathu Maranam’ narrates the agonising wait of a loving the traditionalists, who felt as ‘the masterpiece of the 32nd death primary attempts to take of Nangiarkoothu is cred- son at his father’s death bed. The poignant story also talks about how it was an unholy act to take oral and intangible heri- the art form outside the ited to Paimkulam. At the extraneous circumstances affect our conviction. G. Krishnamurthy is the dance form out of the tage of humanity.’ This anniversary falls temple. Kalamandalam where the director of this play with Girish and Suchitra Ravi playing the temples and abroad. They substantially improved the more girls started taking main roles. saw Chakyar crossing the situation as some sort of on July 31. His inspiration up Koodiyattam (and ‘Andharangam’ opens with an unusual situation. Deepti and Nikhil, a newly wed couple, who have not yet found the limits of their sea as a crime that warrant- regular funding for the sus- K.K. GOPALAKRISHNAN Later Paimkulam re- when admission to dance ed making him an outcast. tenance of the art and art- corded that the inspiration section became full), he personal space, encounter a unique problem. This play, the author’s By ignoring opposition, ists began to be given by for these acts came from worked on developing favourite, promises to be an intriguing, multi-layered portrayal of Paimkulam was laying the the union government the words of the late Ma- Nangiarkoothu to get them human emotions. Swaminathan directs this play and also plays Nik- foundations for change. through its cultural bodies. (Chelakkara, Thrissur) perform Koothu or Cha- layalam litterateur, Prof performance space. He al- hil. Kavitha plays Deepti. “A strict vegetarian, he This helped the artists, where, since 1946, the an- kyarkoothu, for three days Joseph Mundassery (who so initiated the reforma- Balaji, Sridhar, Chandru, Bala, Haripriya, Venkat, S.L. Naanu, lived on fruits during the who, in the past, had to rely nual performance right has at a Namboodiri house in later became the state’s tion of the entire Anand Raghav and Cheenu and others play small but powerful char- tour,” recalls his disciple- on the insufficient income been his family’s by a spe- Kollam district as he hap- Minister for Education), Koodiyattam costumes acters in the three plays. cum-grandnephew and a that came from their per- cial order of the then Kochi pened to be staying there. spoken in 1943, on how and one such classy en- Chandrashekar, a senior guitarist, is the music director. Lights will leading exponent of our formances in the temples. King. He performed it without non-Hindus and lower deavour is the present day be managed by Chetta Ravi and Kumar is in charge of make-up. times, sexagenarian Kala- The Koodiyattam facul- “Once Chakyar asan was percussion or a Nangiar. class Hindus were de- headgear of Nangiar- The plays are sponsored by Kartik Fine Arts Club, Narada Gana mandalam Rama Chakyar, ty at the Kalamandalam invited for a performance The issue of costume was prived of the chance of koothu and the female Sabha, Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha and Brahma Gana Sabha. Tickets who was among the 13 was started under the lead- at Manjeri (Malappuram) solved by using what was watching this ancient, in- roles of Koodiyattam. He are priced at Rs. 100 and Rs.200 and are available at Narada Gana members of the group. The ership of Paimkulam Rama and he took me too. When available. This drew the tellectual art because it also modified some of the Sabha. For details, contact Shivaji Chaturvedi at 98402 08583. tour was followed by trage- Chakyar in 1965. He began the local authorities came wrath of his clan. Only was confined to temples. mudras. dy. The fruits the thespian to teach the dance to non- to know that I would be Chathakkudam Krishnan From 1977 onwards, For fear of aesthetic cor- ate made him acutely dia- Chakyars and non-Nan- participating, they op- Nambiar (Usha Nangiar’s when his pupils became ca- ruption, the Chakyars were International music festival betic and on July 31, he giars, in 1965 and 1970 posed it. He told them po- father) supported him and pable of handling lead forbidden to watch other passed away. (His disciples respectively. litely but firmly, ‘if this was a source of inspiration roles, Paimkulam reduced performing arts, especially rahma Gana Sabha will conduct, day. The schedule is as follows: Ju- will be commemorating his Kalamandalam Rama place is forbidden to my to Paimkulam throughout his performances to give Kathakali. Paimkulam Bfor the first time, an Interna- ly 30, 6.30 p.m.: Subhiksha Rang- death anniversary on Tues- Chakyar and Sivan Nam- disciple, whatever may be his life, along with Peruva- them the opportunity in- broke this custom, by en- tional Music Festival from July 30 arajan with K.P. Nandini (violin) day next.) boodiri, this year’s Padma his caste, I think I am also nam Narayana Chakyar, an stead and proudly watched couraging his disciples to to August 1, at ARKAY Convention and Umayalpuram Bhairav (mri- Today, his clan, includ- Sri recipient, were the first incompetent to perform ayurvedic physician, and their act. watch and appreciate oth- Centre, Mylapore. Talented dangam). July 31, 6.30 p.m.: ing those who had opposed two students; the latter be- here,’ and led us back with- Peruvanam Raman ‘Bhagavadajjukam,’ er art traditions. He also youngsters from all over the world Sandeep Narayanan with Kamala- him, are enjoying the result ing the first from outside out performing,” reminis- Nambiar. based on Bodayana’s farce ensured that his students get an opportunity to perform with kiran Vinjamuri (violin) and of his endeavour. Now the communities. Kala- ces Sivan Namboodiri. In 1956, Paimkulam per- (seventh century), is one of read newspapers and were leading and up-and-coming musi- Umayalpuram Bhairav (mridan- Koodiyattam is not only mandalam Girija followed In 1949, Paimkulam de- formed Koodiyattam at a his celebrated up to date on general cians/accompaniments from In- gam) and August 1, 6.30 p.m.: presented outside the tem- Namboodiri and became fied another tradition to function held in Kozhi- choreographies. knowledge and socio-polit- dia. The first performance will be Amrutha Murali with Kamalaki- ple, but in other States and the first woman and non- ...... “His expertise in chore- ical developments. by Umayalpuram Bhairav, disci- ran Vinjamuri (violin) and B. Ga- abroad. Nangiar to learn the art. ographing a new play, ed- “After all, a Chakyar’s ple- grandson of Umayalpuram napathy Raman (mridangam). Today, she is the head of iting an existing one and job is being a social critic as Government support Sivaraman and Kamalakiran Vin- department of Koodiyat- PAIMKULAM DEFIED TRADITION TO composing the slokas for well”, was his justification. jamuri, disciple of Kanyakumari, Drama festival Since the 1980s, the Cen- tam at the Kalamandalam. PERFORM KOOTHU FOR THREE DAYS Vishushaka in Sanskrit and (The writer is the Direc- who will accompany some of the The annual Aadi Nataka Vizha tral Sangeet Natak Akade- Paimkulam dared to give Malayalam are discernible tor, Centre for Kutiyattam, artists. Haridwaramangalam A.K. begins on August 2 at , Dakshina- mi has been supporting performance space to Si- AT A NAMBOODIRI HOUSE. in all the plays that he had Thiruvananthapuram, of Pazhanivel, member Sangeet Na- murthy Hall (P.S.High School), Koodiyattam, thanks to the van and others like him at ...... worked on. He was also the Central Sangeet Natak tak Akademi, New Delhi, will be R.K.Mut Road, Mylapore. For de- efforts of a few aficionados the Venganallur temple praised for his acumen in Akademi, Delhi) the chief guest on the inaugural tails call 9444444767

CM ...CH-CH YK