Sri Thyagaraja’s 163rd aradhana conducted

The 163rd aradhana of saint composer Sri Thyagaraja was held at the saint’s samadhi on the banks of Cauvery here on Tuesday.

Musicians rendering the 'Pancharathna Kritis' and paying homage to saint composer Sri Thyagaraja at his samadhi on the banks of the Cauvery at the 163rd Aradhana festival at Thiruvaiyaru on January 05, 2010.Photo: M. Srinath

The 163rd aradhana of Saint-composer Sri Thyagaraja was held at the Saint’s samadhi on the banks of Cauvery here on Tuesday.

Hundreds of Carnatic musicians sat on either side of the samadhi and rendered the pancharathna kritis of the Saint in chorus and paid homage to the great composer. The singing of the kritis began with playing of mellifluous flute and continued for an hour from 9 to 10 a.m.

The pancharathna kritis sung by the musicians are “Jagadanandakaraka” in Naata ragam; "Dudugugala Nanne" in Gaula ragam; "Sadinchine O Manasa" in Arabi ragam; "Kanakana Ruchira" in Varali ragam and "Endaro Mahanubavulu" in Sri Ragam. Aarthi was performed to the idol of Thyagaraja in the samadhi.

Earlier, an Unchavruthi bhajan was taken out from the residence of the Saint on Thirumanjana Veedhi to the samadhi.

Those who paid homage include noted Carnatic musicians Sudha Ragunathan; Anuradha Suresh Krishnamurthy; Mahati; Sirkali Sivachidambaram; Sirkali Parameswaran; Umayalpuram Sivaraman; Haridwaramangalam A.K.Palanivel, secretary of Thyagabrahma Mahotsava Sabha; G. Rangaswamy Moopanar, president of the Sabha and others.

The aradhana which commenced on January 2 will conclude on Wednesday.