Sunday, December 11, 2016

SEMINAR ON THE OEUVRE OF NARAYANA DAS

A two-day seminar on the oeuvre of Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Das was held in Guntur on December 8 & 9. The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. A. Rajendra Prasad, Vice Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur. Eminent litterateurs and musicians delivered discourses on the various aspects of Sri Narayana Das' literary and musical genius.

Dr. A. Rajendra Prasad addressing the seminar. Seen on the dais (from L to R) Mahamahopadhyaya
Dorbala Prabhakara Sarma, Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma and Dr. Komanduri Seshadri
On the first day of the seminar, Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma introduced Jagajjyothi, Narayana Das' magnum opus and a critique of various philosophical streams of Bharat's Sanatana Dharma. Mahamahopadhyaya Dorbala Prabhakara Sarma spoke on the philosophical underpinnings and literary values in Harkadhaamrutam, a compilation of Samskrutam Harikadhas. Dr. Komanduri Seshadri spoke on the musical genius of Narayana Das citing examples from his Harikadhas.


Mahamahopadhyaya Viswanadha Gopala Krishna Sastry led the second day's proceedings with a discourse on Narayana Das' Tarakam, a Samskrutam Kavyam of unmatched literary merit. This was followed by Brahmasri Samavedam's discourse on Narayana Das' Accha Telugu compositions. Sri Modugula Ravikrishna, who has published an annotated version of Narayana Das' autobiography, Naa Eruka spoke on Kasi Satakam, with specific reference to the social and historical allusions of Narayana Das' time in the work. The seminar concluded with a discourse on Narayana Das' Harikadha literature by Dr. Muppavarapu Simhachala Sastry.

Seated on the dais (from second left): Dr. M. V. Simhachala Sastry, Mahamahopadhyaya Viswanadha Gopala Krishna Sastry,
Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma, Sri Modugula Ravikrishna. Standing (extreme left): Sri S.V..Lakshmi Narayana,
Secretary, Sahitee Samakhya, Guntur


Tuesday, August 30, 2016

శ్రీమదజ్జాడ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణ దాసుగారి 152వ జయంతి

"శ్రీమదజ్జాడ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణ దాస కథా గాన కళా పరిషత్" శ్రీమదజ్జాడ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణ దాసుగారి 152 జయంతి ఉత్సవాలను స్థానిక బృందావన్ గార్డెన్స్ లోని శ్రీ వేంకటేశ్వర స్వామి దేవస్థాన ప్రాంగణంలో ఆగస్టు 28, 29, 30 తేదీలలో మూడు రోజులపాటు ఘనంగా నిర్వహించిందికార్యక్రమానికి దేవస్థాన కార్యనిర్వాహక సంఘ కార్యదర్శి శ్రీ మస్తానయ్య స్వాగతం పలికారు.

మొదటిరోజు కార్యక్రమంలో శ్రీ నారాయణ దాసు గారు రచించిన "రుక్మిణి కళ్యాణం" హరికథను శ్రీమతి నేమాని నాగలక్ష్మి భాగవతారిణి గానం చేసి శ్రోతలను రంజింపచేసారుఆమెకు శ్రీ యమ్నగధర రావు మృదంగంపైనాశ్రీ పాలేటి గోవర్ధన రావు వయోలిన్ పైనా సహకార వాద్యం అందించారుశ్రీమదజ్జాడ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణ దాస కథా గాన కళా పరిషత్ కార్యనిర్వహకసంఘ సభ్యురాలు డాఉపాధ్యాయుల రాజ రాజేశ్వరి దేవి హరికథా కళాకారిణిని పరిచయం చేసారు సభలో పరిషత్ శ్రీమతి నాగలక్ష్మికి సన్మానం చేసి "హరికథా గానామృత వర్షిణి" అనే బిరుదు ప్రదానం చేసింది.


మిగతా రెండు రోజులలో డాఉపద్రష్ట వేంకట రమణ మూర్తి గారు శ్రీ నారాయణ దాసు గారు రచించిన "హరికథామృతంఅనే సంస్కృత హరికథల సంపుటిని శ్రోతలకు పరిచయం చేసారుడావేంకట రమణ మూర్తి విజయవాడ శారదా కళాశాలలో సంస్కృత భాషా ఉపన్యాసకులువీరు సంస్కృత భాషా ప్రచార సమితి ప్రాంతీయ కార్యదర్శిగా సంస్కృత భాషా పునరుజ్జీవనానికి విస్తృతమైన సేవ చేస్తున్నారుప్రాచ్య భాషా పాఠ్య పుస్తక రచయితగా జాతీయ విద్యపరిశోధనశిక్షణ సంస్థ (NCERT) చే నియుక్తులుఅంతేకాక కేంద్రీయ మానవ వనరుల మంత్రిత్వ శాఖ నిర్వహిస్తున్న రాష్ట్రీయ సంస్కృత పరిషత్ సభ్యులు. వారు తమ అద్భుతమైన సంస్కృత భాషా పాండిత్యంతో, వాగ్ధాటితో "హరికథామృతం" మహాకావ్యం యొక్క గొప్పదనానిని, అందులోని ఉపనిషత్, పురాణ రహస్యాలను, కథా కథన విశేషాలను శ్రోతలను మంత్రముగ్ధులను గావించేలా వివరించారు. పరిషత్ ఉపాధ్యక్షులు శ్రీ ఉపాధ్యాయుల నారాయణ దాసు వక్తను పరిచయం చేసి స్వాగత వచనాలు పలికారు. పరిషత్ సహకార్యదర్శి శ్రీ కర్రా సూర్యనారాయణ దాసు జ్ఞాపికలు అందచేశారు. పరిషత్ సభ్యురాలు శ్రీమతి కర్రా కామేశ్వరి వందన సమర్పణ చేసారు.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

కవి సామ్రాట్ విశ్వనాధ సత్యనారాయణ గారి ప్రశంస


గుంటూరు రచయితల సంఘం 1975లో నారాయణ దాసు గారి సాహిత్యంపై 'శ్రీ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణ దాస సారస్వత నీరాజనం' (సం: డా. శి. వేం. జోగా రావు) అనే సమగ్రమైన సమీక్షా గ్రంధం  ప్రచురించింది. అ గ్రంధంలో ప్రచురణకై కవిసామ్రాట్ విశ్వనాధ సత్యనారాయణ గారు ప్రత్యేకంగా రచించిన పద్య వ్యాసం లోనిది ఈ పద్యం:

ఈ యఖిలమ్మునందుఁ బరమేశ్వరుఁ డెట్టులు నిండియుండెనో
యా యఖిలమ్ము వచ్చి తనయందున నుండెన యాదిభట్టనా
రాయణదాసులో హరికధాకృతి భారతి సర్వశిల్పవి
ద్యాయుతి సంస్కృతాంథ్రముల యాకృతియై  పెఱమూర్తులై మఱిన్

  

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Daśa Vidha Rāga Navati Kusuma Manjari

By Dr. Shreekantham Nagendra Shastry

‘Dasa Vidha Raga Navati Kusuma Manjari’ - a Musical and literary prabandham composed by ‘Laya Brahma’, ‘PanchaMukhi Parameshwara’ Shrimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Das, is a rare musical wonder, in which Shri Narayana Das expertly brought together theoretical and practical aspects of Karnatik Classical music. He gave us a complete work which in a nutshell, achieves ‘Lakshya – LakshaNa’ Samanvaya, confluence of Theory and practice. A musical work of this vast range and inherent depth is very rare in our literature and also in oral traditions.

The very importance of the ‘Manjari’ lies in creating Lakshya (Musical form) for many ragas which are only to be found in Shaastra (Theory). The structure of the ‘Manjari’ can be briefly explained as follows. It has a total of 10 ‘Navatis’ in 10 types of Raga-classes or (Jaathis). Each ‘Navati’ comprises 9 ragas making it  a total of 90 Ragas in the entire composition. Languages used are Samskritam (In AarohaNa maalika) and Telugu (In Avarohana Maalika), which also demonstrates Shri Das's lyrical and musical prowess. Shri Narayana Das included ‘Raaga Mudra’ in each raaga's composition similar to that of Muttuswami Deekshitar's tradition, in such a way that ‘raaga mudra’comes as a reference to ‘Bhagavati/Devi’.

Shri Naryana Das named this musical essay ‘ Panchamukhi’, which also refers to the 5 faces of Bhagavan Shiva namely, Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishana. Panchamukhi has 5 taalas /Angas which are to be performed simultaneously in 1 cycle (Avarathanam) by using various physical movements which include hands, thighs and head. A 6th anga can also be used and then it can be called ‘Shanmukhi’. In our classical texts this can be referred as ‘Laghu shekhara’ which is a part of ‘Taala Shodasanga’.

The ‘Manjari’ has enormous scope and possibility to demonstrate in 5 types of Laghus and also in all SuLaadi Sapta taalas.

Scholars and Musicians alike have hailed this musical essay as ‘Peerless, Unique and Unprecedented’ which is no exaggeration. Shri Narayana Das had performed Manjari in Shanmukhi by keeping a ‘lemon fruit’ on his head on February 1, 1933 during the 14th anniversary celebrations of ‘Sri Vijayarama Gana Pathasala', the famous music college at Vizianagaram, of which he was the principal.

Now, after a gap of almost 83 years, ‘Dasha Vidha Raaga Navati Kusuma Manjari’ demonstration is being attempted by Prof. Srikantham Nagendra Shastry, the torch bearer of Chintalapalli Music tradition of Karnataka and his disciples. The specialty of this presentation would be 9 participants demonstrating ‘Navatis’ simultaneously. Each individual is conceived as a form of ‘Navati’. The troupe will try to show different possibilities and facets of the ‘Manjari’ in its presentation. This will also be the ‘first–of–its–kind’ attempt, where in Panchamukhi and Shanmukhi are being presented in ‘Goshti’ (Troupe). Shri Nagendra Shastry has studied the work in detail. Possible typographical errors in the alignment of the notation and the lyric in the printed text are taken care of and will be presented in line with the prevailing current musical tradition.

…………………………………….

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Shreekantham Nagendra Shastry is the flag bearer of the ‘Chintalapalli Parampara’ of music which has an 800-year lineage. The ‘Chintalapalli Parampara’ itself belongs to the disciple-lineage of two of the three ‘Sangita Trimurthis’ of Karnatic music, Saint Thyagaraja and Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar.

Dr. Shastry may be said to be the lone exponent of ‘Pallavi singing’ in 16 ‘Kalas’ today.

Dr. Shastry has been teaching and demonstrating music and rendering innumerable music concerts for over three decades. He is currently professor of music in the Maharani Music College, Bengaluru.

Dr. Shastry has produced over 5000 pages of literature including books and articles on music and musicology.

Dr. Shastry has received innumerable honours and awards including ‘The Pandit Adibhatla Narayana Das Memorial Award’, instituted by ‘Sangitha Jagruthi’, a cultural, literary and music organisation of Bengaluru.


Daśa Vidha Rāga Navati Kusuma Manjari Performed After 83 Years


ADIBHATLA NARAYANA DAS’
DASA VIDHA RAGA NAVATI KUSUMA MANJARI
(PANCHAMUKHI & SHANMUKHI) PERFORMED AFTER 83 YEARS

***

Dr. Shreekantham Nagendra Shatry, (Professor of Music, Maharani's Music College, Bengaluru) performed Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Das' musical tour de force, DASA VIDHA RAGA NAVATI KUSUMA MANJARI at Sri Venkateswara Devasthanam, Brindavan Gardens, Guntur on January 21.

Dr. Shastry and his troupe presented Panchamukhi and Shanmukhi (singing a 'Kriti' to five and six talas) while singing the 'raagamaalika' comprising 90 Karnatic ragas. It was a rare and unique performance, performed nearly 83 years after Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Das composed the 'Literary and Music Prabandham' and performed it in 1933.

Performing 'Shanmukhi'
Dr. Shreekantham Nagendra Shastry (Centre). From Left to Right:
Smt. Sobhana Ayalasomayajula, Kum. Ambica Shastry, Kum. Naga Deepthi Shastry, Kum. Naga Pranthi Shastry
Sri H. S. Karthikeya Sharma, Smt. Choodamani Sridhar, Sri Saiganesh Shastry & Shri Samartha V. Hegde 
At the commencement of the programme, Dr. Shastry explained in detail the musical aspects and literary values of the 'Manjari'.

A group of five noted musicians participated as observers for the rendition of each of the five/six talas.

Sri Malladi Ramprasad (famous Karnatic vocalist), Sri Bhusurapalli Venkateswarlu (famous mridangam and ghatam player), and Sri Kota Sachitananda Sastry (famous Harikatha artiste) who were among the observers spoke applauding the performance.

Connoisseurs of music were transported with delight on viewing the performance and repeatedly applauded it.

After the rendition of the 90-raga Manjari, Dr. Shastry continued with a solo music concert in which he sang a number of Adibhatla Narayana Das' 'Kritis'. These included a 'Keertana' from 'Janaki Sapatham' acclaimed as another masterpiece of literature and music as it employs 36 rare ragas.

Dr. Shastry was accompanied on the violin by Smt. Durgabhavani and on the mridangam by Sri Sadguru Charan.

Sri Kallam Haranadha Reddy, an industrialist and connoisseur of arts and literature was the Chief Guest.

The Parishat had the concert (both the performance of the Manjari and rest of Dr. Shastry's music concert) recorded on DVD which will soon be released for the public.

The grand music concert was part of the Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Das' commemoration celebrations being organised by 'Srimadajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasa Katha Gana Kala Parishat', Guntur.