The season of music and dance includes a sumptuous amount of other elements including musical discourse. Kausalya Sivakumar, known for her discourses on rare themes, has an interesting fare to offer.
“Presenting Lalitha Sahasranamam was a challenge and with the blessings of Sakti, I have completed the task,” says Kausalya. She explained the significance of every name of Devi mentioned in the sahasranamam, over a span of ten months in the morning at the Narada Gana Sabha. “It was a new attempt and I was nervous. But it went off well.”
Kausalya goes in search of new subjects and works hard to gather facts, sourcing material from literature, epics and scriptures. Combined with verses and music the presentations both educate and entertain. She considers ‘Sitayanam’ special in this context. Written in Maitili, it narrates the story of Sita, before marriage. It is cheerful, vividly capturing the epic heroine as a carefree young girl.
Getting through the script was tough. “It is not easy to come by people who know Maitili and also translate it into Sanskrit or English. But a professor helped me and I managed to whittle it down to presentable size. It contains dohas, which the people of Maitili sing even today when new brides leave for their husbands’ homes,” explains Kausalya. Kausalya presented ‘Maithili Mahamyam’ for Parthasarathy Swami Sabha yesterday.
Mahalakshmi Welfare Association, R.A. Puram, has invited her to present hitherto unexplored subjects on Devi. “It is a continuous project. I have presented ‘Sri Stuti’ and ‘Sarade.’
With the visit of the Sringeri Acharya fresh in the minds of devotees, the Association wants me to repeat ‘Sarade,’ today.
Kausalya remembers Appayya Dikshitar’s Atmarpanastuti that she presented in Bangalore for the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam acharyas. “Sri Jayendra Saraswati listened in rapt attention, and I felt blessed.” Durgachandrakalastuti was another unusual title. Kausalya is presenting discourses on Appayya Dikshitar’s works for Tattvaloka next month.
Lalitha Stavaratnam composed by Durvasar is all about Sri Vidya upasana. It contains 52 slokas describing Sripuram, abode of Lalitha. Kausalya is planning to present it next month.
She is excited about ‘Tiruvaachagam’ she is going to present for Tamizh Isai Sangam. “The Sangam was keen that every verse has to be taken up for explanation. Time was not a constraint. If I deliver, with God’s grace, that will be my magnum opus. ”
Her Madurai experience has made a deep impact on Kausalya. “I presented Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam, Haalasya Mahatmiyam and Sivalilarnavam for five days to school children. They surprised me by their involvement and questioning spirit during the interaction session. It was so fulfilling.”
What started off as a healthy diversion has caught on and Kausalya has carved a niche for herself. “It has been so thrilling and educative.
There are moments of uncertainty but divine intervention propels me in the right path,” concludes Kausalya, adding colour to the multi-dimensional cultural extravaganza called Maargazhi Season.
