Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Jayanthi Keerthananjali was celebrated by eminent musicians from the city at Sree Ayyappan puja sangham premises in Ramnagar, Coimbatore on October 13 and 14.
Legend has it that when 11-year-old Muthuswami Dikshitar was taking bath at the sacred Ganges contemplating on Goddess Saraswathi, two hands decked with bangles emerged from the river and disappeared after placing a Veena in his hands. The divine instrument’s yaazh was turned upwards with inscription of RAM in devabhasha (Sanskrit) at the bottom. The tiny instrument was shaped just about the size that could be used by a boy of his age. The veena, now in possession of a member of the seventh generation in the Dikshitar lineage – D. Muthuswami, former managing director of Dhanalakshmi Bank, residing in the metropolis, was taken out in a procession by the students of music and the public to the accompaniment of nagaswaram by Pazhani M.Sakthivel and M. Ramadas.
Musicians pay tribute
About 80 prominent artists drawn from the city and its neighbourhood – S.R. Krishnamurthy, Usha Sankar, Priya Sivaraman, Deepa Namboodiri, Hemalatha Ganesan and instrumentalists – Lalgudi Rajalakshmi, K. Balasubramanian, Sreeranjani Ramkumar, Chandramouli, Madhuvanthi and Brinda (violin), S.V. Subramanian (electronic organ),
Subramania Siva (flute) and K. Prakash, Ramachandran and K.S. Raghunathan (mridangam).
Well-aligned to sruti, the young and promising artists trained by K. Sivaramakrishnan (Retd. Prof. of Music), Coimbatore, rendered the compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar on the occasion.
C.G. Venkataramanan, president of the sangham complimented the artists on their effort.
The programme sponsored by Ravi of Sailakshmi Caterers drew wide acclaim from the music buffs who attended the concerts on both the days. Those interested in learning Carnatic music may contact K. Sivaramakrishnan (98431 44101) and K.S. Raghunath (99441 40653).
