For the disciples of ‘Brahadwani’, a Chennai-based music school, it was an opportunity to perform a concert in glory of Goddess Brahadamabal at Sri Brahadambal temple here on Friday night.
Performing a vocal concert and singing the compositions in glory of the Goddess had once remained a daily practice at this temple till a few decades ago, but has become a thing of the past. “It is difficult to organise the daily cultural event because of dearth of musicians and artistes. Hence we have been organising the annual event as ‘Sri Brahadamabal Aradhanai’ at this temple,” says S. Ramadoss, one of the coordinators of the ‘aradhanai’. This is the third annual aradhanai organised at the temple.
The ‘aradhanai’ coincides with the ‘Mammundiya Pillai aradhanai’ at Pudukottai. “Shortly after offering worship to the great musician Mammundia Pillai in the morning, the disciples assembled at the temple to perform the aradhanai to Goddess Sri Brahadamabal,” said S. Swaminathan, organiser of the festival. Incidentally, the festival at Pudukottai falls on the eve of Sadguru Tyagaraja Aradhanai at Tiruvaiyaru.
In all, about 20 disciples of ‘Brahadwani’ rendered the vocal concert, taking the local senior citizens of Pudukottai town down their memory lane. The songs included ‘Guruvai panindhu’ a Siththar song in Madhyamavati ragam set to Adhi thalam; ‘Sri Vagulamayee’ in Aarabi ragam seet to Adhi thalam; and ‘Periya kummi’ in Kavadi Sindhu. Both songs were composed by Ramachandra Kavi.
“The disciples also presented a composition ‘Gurumai Karuna’ in a rare ragam Mangala Kausikai set to Aadhi thalam,” says Mr. Swaminathan. The artistes were accompanied by Mannargudi Balaji on mridangam, Sri Kumar and Divyanand on the veena.
S. Subramanian, Director of ‘Brahadwani’ said the objective of the ‘aradhanai’ was to motivate the disciples to understand the ancient glory which had been in practice decades ago.
It would also enlighten the local residents to remember the importance of the patronage offered by the erstwhile Samasthanam rulers in promoting music and fine arts at this temple.
