NEWS & NOTES Jayanti celebrations of the trinity he Tyagaraja aradhana at Tiruvaiyaru on Bahula TPanchami day which usually occurs in December/ January, is almost like a musical mela. Scores of musicians and rasikas from all over the world congregate at the bard’s samadhi on the banks of the river Kaveri and pay homage to him over four days. The same cannot be said about his birthday which falls in early May. Nevertheless, Sri Thiagaraja Vidwath Samajam, Chennai organises special abhishekam and pooja on Tyagaraja’s jayanti along with the rendering of the Pancharatna kritis at his samadhi in Tiruvaiyaru. Sangita Kalanidhi T.K. Govinda Rao took the initiative to organise this celebration, and vidwans used to offer akhanda ganam on that day; but that does Bombay Jayashri with students and accompanists at the Tyagaraja jayanti not happen any longer, though some concerts are held on the occasion. advice of the Kanchi Paramacharya, conducted for a few days in which The jayanti does not attract as much have also been organising similar well known artists perform. crowd as the aradhana, but devoted programmes for many years. Dr. Rama Kausalya, musician, musicians and rasikas do assemble to All these provide a filip to the musicologist, teacher and former pay homage to the saint composer. Mummoortigal Vizha celebrating Principal of Tiruvaiyaru Music Tiruvarur is the birthplace of the birthdays of the Carnatic music College, through her Marabu the music trinity—Tyagaraja, trinity which fall fairly close to one Foundation, Tillaisthanam, has Muthuswami Dikshitar, Syama another—Muthuswami Dikshitar on been conducting the jayanti of Sastry—and their houses are 24 March, Syama Sastry on 26 April Syama Sastry. She has organised maintained as memorials where their and Tyagaraja on 4 May. Though many workshops on the composer’s special days are celebrated. On these are the official birth dates, the creations which have been attracting Tyagaraja jayanti, the day usually occasion is celebrated on different participants from many parts of the begins with Bombay Jayashri and her days each year in accordance with the country. The students assemble in disciples assembling to offer pooja Tamil almanac. Tanjavur at the temple of Bangaru and musical homage. This year, on 11 The Mummoortigal Vizha was Kamakshi, the ishta devata of Syama May, she led a congregation of about initiated by vidwan Lalgudi Sastry, on whom he composed 40 students from 5 am and rendered Jayaraman on the advice of the numerous kritis. Apart from special the Pancharatna kritis, the divyanama Paramacharya. A celebrations pooja, the assembled guru and and utsava sampradaya kritis. committee organises special poojas students render the three famous She was accompanied by and musicians render the Pancharatna swarajatis in Todi, Bhairavi and L. Ramakrishnan (violin), Manoj kritis on Tyagaraja jayanti, the Yadukulakambhoji ragas. A couple Siva (mridangam), B.S. Purushotham Kamalamba Navavarana kritis on of concerts are also arranged in the (khanjira) and Jayalakshmi Sekhar Muthuswami Dikshitar’s, and the evening. (veena). The family members of three swarajatis of Syama Sastry on This year, the Marabu Foundation auditor Balasubramaniam, on the his birthday. A series of concerts are celebrated the birth anniversary of 8 l SRUTI June 2019 Syama Sastry, the oldest of the trinity, on the day of his janma nakshatram, 6 May 2019. Rama Kausalya had organised musical tributes at the residence of Syama Sastry and at the Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple, where he served as the hereditary priest. Two young musicians from Coimbatore, Archanashree and R. Sweta, who were part of the workshop this year, rendered kritis of Syama Sastry at his residence located near the Kamakshi Amman temple in Tanjavur. The celebrations concluded in the evening with a concert by Chaitra Sairam at the Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple. M. Balasubramaniam, Director, South Zone Cultural Centre, Tanjavur and Archanashree and Sweta singing at Syama Sastry’s house auditor Sundar graced the occasion. The Marabu Foundation which arts, literature and education, has and has also been celebrating Syama works for the promotion of peace been conducting many interesting Sastry’s jayanti for over a decade. and harmony through traditional workshops on music and heritage V. KARPAGALAKSHMI (L to R): Sundar, M. Balasubramaniam and Rama Kausalya Chaitra Sairam in concert 9 l SRUTI June 2019.