The music class started with the singing of Saint Thyagaraja’s Kritis , and Shyamala Miss recapped the incidents and stories in the bard’s life.
“We liked the story where the idols of Sri Rama, Seetha and others, rise up from the Cauvery, when he sang Kanukontini ...” said Mukund.
Commitment
“When the idols were lost, it is said that the Lord wanted him to visit other shrines and temples, so that he would sing in praise of the deities there. Sri Thyagaraja went on a pilgrimage, hoping to find his beloved idols. When he reached the holy city of Srirangam, he composed the five gems, popularly known as Srirangam Pancharathnam .”
“ O Rangasayee , my mother sings this song often,” said Rasa.
“Yes. That is one of the Srirangam Pancharatnams ,” said the teacher. “One other interesting incident that I want to share with all of you is the Tirupati episode. The story goes that Sri Thyagaraja also went to Tirupati in search of his Lord. As luck would have it, the screen in front of the Lord, was all he could see in the Sanctum Sanctorum. After a long wait, the saint beseeched the Lord to take pity on him, and move the screen so that he could see him. He burst into song, and rendered the beautiful composition, Thera theeyaga raadhaa? Naa loni in the Ragam Gowlipanthu . It is said, that the Lord heard his prayers, and the screen moved aside for the ardent and true devotee. The people marvelled at this sight. When the screen opened to reveal the Lord, Sri Thyagaraja, sang the composition Venkatesa Ninnu Sevimpa . Similarly, during his spiritual journey, he stayed in Kovur, in the house of a zamindar named Sundara Mudaliar. He was a great patron of the arts and musicians. At his behest, he composed five beautiful compositions, known collectively as the Kovur Pancharatnam .” “My mother taught me the composition Eevasudha , set in Ragam Sahana , Miss” said Rasa.
“Can you sing it for us, Rasa?” asked the teacher.
“Eevasudha neevanti Dhaivamu...” sang Rasa melodiously.
The children clapped when she finished.
“In the next class, we will learn one more of his gems, while getting to know more about his life and compositions,” said the teacher, as the bell heralded the end of the class.
Game: What’s the word?
Check out the slideshow and try your hand at the game we have for you.
