A three-day Aradhana of Tumu Lakshmi Narasimhadasu, who lived between the 16thand 17th centuries, was celebrated last week at Ravindra Bharati. Like Bhakta Ramadasu of 17th century, Narasimhadasu too spent his life writing, composing and rendering lyrics on Bhadrachala Srirama and developed the Sri Rama temple built by Ramadasu. His contribution to lyrical literature was remarkable. He is said to have composed 136 compositions but only a fraction of them are available now. Some of them were household renditions at one time.
He was contemporary of Thyagaraja and the two met in 1833, during his tour of South and his literature was inspired by him. It is often said that he entered the river, Godavari, flowing by the side of Rama temple in Bhadradri and never surfaced again.
Sree Bhadra Peetham, founded by Tumu Venkatarama Krishna belonging to the Tumu lineage, kick started a movement to popularise these kirtanas of Narasimhadasu. This festival featured some well-known Carnatic vocalists of the city. The festival was inaugurated by K.V. Ramanachari IAS, the chief guest at the function. On the occasion the executive officer of Bhadrachalam Devasthanam presented a cheque of Rs. 50,000 as Devasthanam's annual grant to popularise Tumu Narasimhadasu kirtanas.
Vocalist T. Chandrabhanu appears to have studied the story of Narasimhadasu well as she presented his kirtana compositions inspired by events that occurred in his life. Five of her students accompanied her. Of the kirtanas, Rama Ramayanaraadate O Manasa in Yadukula Kambhoji, Aparadhinaparadhi in Mukhari, Selava Maku Selava in Madhyamavati and Nidramudrankita in Anandabhairavi were captivating. Rajasekhar on violin and Chandrakant on the mridangam accompanied her.
T. Vijayalakshmi rendered Namosthuthe Raghunayaka in Nata, Nidramudrankitamaina in Anandabhairavi, Sri Rama Jayarama in Ragamalika, Nee Momu Jupinachalu in Bilahari, Choodagalgenu in Jhenjhuti, Aparaadhinaparaadhini in Mukhari and Selavaa maaku selavaa in Madhyamavathi.
Tangirala Anasuya rendered Jayajanaki Ramana in Naata, Nedugadaa Raghuraamuni padamulu in Saaveri, Nee Momu Joochina Chalu Rama in Bilahari, Rama Naamamritame in Keeravani, Daasarathithoda Sari Daivamede in Surati, Seeta Manohara Pahimam in Janjhooti and a few others.
P.V. Subba Rao presented Srirama Jayarama in Mohana, Pahipahimam in Jhanjhuti. Vinave Sriramuni Kathalu in Sahana, Namonamo Dasarathi in Sidhubhairavi, Enduku Alisinavu in Madhyamavati and Emira Dasaratharama in Natakuranji.
On the third day, Kamalaramani started with a sloka of Tumu Narasimhadasu and went for Jaya Jaanakiramana in Nata with a few Kalpana swaras in an experimental approach.
Puja SeyuchundareRamanamamruthame
Ch. Mahalakshmi sang Chalada Ramuniseva in Hamsadhwani, Avadharimpumi Rama in Khamas, Karuna Yedira Rangayya in Vachaspati, among other renditions.
