The quintessence of Sadguru Rasanubhava which is meditative tranquillity, was fully explored by Suguna Purushothaman in her concert for Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, which marked the conclusion of the Gokulashtami series. The kirtanas she rendered uniformly conveyed the Tyagaraja spirit of ‘Saantamu Leka Sowkhyamu Ledhu.’ She served joy and peace throughout the programme.
The basic necessity to experience spirituality, according to the saint, is mental control -- ‘Manasu nilpa sakti lekapothe Madura ganta virula poojemi seyunu’ (Of what use is puja with flowers and the bell when there is no control over the mind?) ‘Manasu Swadinamaiva!’ (To a gnani who has brought his mind under his control) and ‘Talapu-Lanni-Nimisha Maina’ (without concentrating on the paratatwa of Sri Rama, what benefit can get by mere mumbling of his name?)
The three songs in Abhogi, Sankarabharanam and Purna Chandrika helped Suguna explore Tyagaraja’s message to mortals.
It was at this stage that she presented the Sama raga kirtana ‘Saantamu Leka.’ Gradually, her choice of songs focussed on the truth that past karma has a grip over the inability to please Rama. ‘Toli Nenu Jesina Pooja Palameelage’ in Kokiladhwani (This much is the result of my past, says Tyagaraja) and ‘Teliyaleru Rama’ in Dhenuka (That is how the mind gropes not knowing the path to Rama Bhakti) were examples.
Thus progressed Suguna’s singing, which highlighted a facet of self-discovery of Sadguru Rasanubhava. The nature of the recital was not so much about the display of vidwat as about her sincerity to convey to the rasikas the depth of the saint’s devotion and the concept of the special event. It was impressive and inspiring all the way.
The whole concept, development and expressional expertise laid bare Tyagaraja’s role in uplifting our lives, if the rasikas are willingly to be receptive. The list of songs was long and perceptive. It brought out clearly the distinction between Tyagaraja, the sublime, and Tyagaraja, the commercialised.
Suguna was accompanied by Charumathi Raghuram on the violin, B. Ganapathiram on the mridangam and H. Sivaramakrishnan on the ghatam.
