HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

To all Music Rasikas and Bloggers,

Here is wishing you all a very HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR :-)

Let us all pray to the Almighty that the ensuing years be filled with peace and harmony.

Kapali Fine Arts - 22/12/09

Venue: Srinivasa Sastri Hall, Luz
















Accompanists:

V.Sanjeev - Violin
B.Sivaraman - Mridangam

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.srI mAtrubhUtam-kannadA (S)
2.pArvati nAyakanE-shanmukhapriyA
3.innudaya bAradE-kalyANavasantam-kantacApu-purndaradAsA (R,N,S)
4.santatamu ninnE-valaji-Adi-G.N.Balasubramanian
5.mOhanavalli-mAnji-misracApu-kavikunjarabhArati
6.bhajana sEyavE-kalyANi-rUpakam-tyAgarAjA
7.sukhi evvarO-kAnadA-Adi-tyAgarAjA (R,N,S,T)
8.viruttam(orumaiyudan-ArutpA verses-reethigowla,tilang,bhavAni)
followed by unnai andri utra thuNai-BhavAni-rUpakam-dandapANi dEsikar
11.muddugAre yasOda-kurinjI-Adi-annamAchAryA
12.chandana charchita-basant bahAr-Adi-jayadEvA ashtapadi

Meenakshi Sundararajan Educational Trust - 21/12/09

Venue: Meenakshi College,Kodambakkam































Accompanists:

B.U.Ganeshprasad: violin
Padmasri.Sri.Haridwaramangalam A.K.Palanivel: Tavil
J.Vaidyanathan: mridangam.
Dr.Karthick: ghatam

Song list: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.swAminAtha paripalaya-nAtai (S)
2.viruttam followed by puLLum silambinakkAN-tiruppAvai-sankarAbharaNam-misracApu
3.Munduvenuga-darbAr-Adi-tyAgarAja
4.sadAnanda tAandavam-bahudAri-achyutadAsar (R,S)
5.Emani pogadudhurA-veera vasantam-tyAgarAja
6.ninnE neranammi-pantuvarALi-rUpakam-tyAgarAja (R,N,S)
7.rathna kanchuka dhAriNi-kAmbOdi-harikEsanallur muthaiah BhAgavatar
8.RTP-abhEri-kanta triputa(nee padamule gatiyani nammiti rAma rAamachandra)
followed by Ragamalika swaras in Desh, Hameer, Sivaranjani (R,N,S,T)
10.tum bina morE-misra hindOlam-meera bhajan
11.mangaLam

Chennayil tiruvaiyAru - 19/12/09

Venue : Kamaraj Memorial Hall

Conducted by Lakshman Sruti Musicals





























Accompanists:

V.Sanjeev - Violin
B.Ganapatiraman - Mridangam
Adambakkam Shankar - Ghatam

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.Varnam-Begada-Adi
2.NeedayarAdha-Vasantabhairavi-rUpakam-tyAgarAjA (S)
3.Virutham followed by Azhi Mazhai kannA-varALi-tiruppAvai
4.manavyAla-naLinakAnti-Adi-tyAgarAja (R,S)
5.vazhi maraittirukkudhE-nAtaikurinji-misracApu-gOpAlakrishna bhArati
6.srikAnta neeyeda-bhavapriyA-Adi-tyAgarAjA (S)
7.yArO ivar yArO-sAvEri-Adi-aruNachala kavi (R,N,S,T)
8.varuvAi varuvAi-darbAri kAnadA-Adi-Subramanya bharatiyAr
9.needAn thuNai-rAgamAlika-N.S.Chidambaram (S)
10. kAkkai chiraginilE-brindAvana sAranga-Adi-Subramanya bhAratiyAr

Kalarasana - 17/12/09

(Vishruthi sitting behind me)









Accompanists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Ganapathiraman - Mridangam
Anirudh Athreya - Kanjira

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.Valachi Vacchi-navarAgamAlikA varNam (S)
2.vaiyathu-tiruppAvai-Gaulai
3.gAnamurthe-gAnamurti
4.charaNam vijayasaraswati-vijayasaraswati (R)
5.pArvati kumAram-nAttaikurinji (S)
6.karuNa jUdavamma-varALi (R,N,S,T)
7.chalamElarA-mArgahindOLam (S)
8.RTP-brindAvana sArangA-misra triputa 2 Kalai
9.viruttam(from Ramalingaswamy's arutpa)-nAdanAmakriyA,pIlU,senjurutti,yamunAkalyANi followed by pibarE rAmarasam-yamunAkalyANi
10.parulanna mAta-kApi
11.kAvadi chindu
12.tambUri meetidava-sindubhairavi
13.mangaLam

Nungambakkam Cultural Academy - 12/12/09

Accompanists:

Kandadevi Vijayaraghavan - Violin
Shertalai Ananthakrishnan - Mridangam
Papanasam Sethuraman - Kanjira

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.varNam-AbhOgi-Adi
2.yOchana kamala-darbAr-Adi-tyAgarAja (S)
3.teliyalEru-dEnukA-Adi-tyAgarAja
4.**virutham(tAzh sadaiyum,pEyyAzhwAr) followed by mAramaNan-hindOlam-pApanAsam sivan
5.sri chAmundEshwari-bilahari-Adi-mysore vAsudEvAchAr (R,N,S)
6.bruhadambikAyai-vasantA-misracApu-muttuswAmi dIkshitar
7.ennAlu oorake-subhapantuvarALi-misracApu-tyAgarAja (R,N,S,T)
8.Virutham(sEnthanai kandanai)-brindAvanasArangA,sAvEri,valaji
koovi azhaithAl-valaji-Adi
9.sadA enna hrudaya-behAg-rUpakam-vijayavittala dAsa
10.tillAna-sindubhairavi-Adi-UthukAdu vEnkatasubbier


**
Here are the lyrics and meaning of the pAsuram verses that I sang in the concert before the kriti mA ramaNan, a composition of pApanAsam sivan. (The meaning of the kriti is very much similar to that of the verse given below.)

தாழ் சடையும் நீள் முடியும் ஒண் மழுவும் சக்கரமும்,
சூழ் அரவும் பொன் நாணும் தோன்றுமால் சூழும்
திரண்டு அருவி பாயும் திருமலை மேல் எந்தைக்கு,
இரண்டு உருவும் ஒன்றாய் இசைந்து !

Meaning:
தாழ்ந்த சடையும், அழகிய மழுப்படையும்,சுற்றி அணிந்துள்ள பாம்பணியும் வாய்ந்த வடிவும்,நீண்ட திருமுடியும்,திருவாழிப் படையும்,பொன்னரைஞாணும் வாய்ந்த வடிவம் இரண்டும்,அருவி பாயும் திருவேங்கடம் உடையானுக்கு ஒரு சேரப் பொருந்திப் பொலியும்.

In the hills of TiruvEnkatam, the Lord seems to have both matted hair and crown, he wields both the axe and the discus, wears both a snake around his neck and the sacred thread. Two images blended into one- what a wonder !

Karthik Fine Arts - 7/12/09

Accompanists:

Sri.V.Sanjeev - Violin
Mannargudi Sri.Easwaran - Mridangam
Sri.B.S.Purushothaman - Kanjira

It was a great honor for me to have alongside me on stage, a senior Mridangam Vidwan like Sri.Easwaran.


Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.Varnam-sahAna-Adi
2.parAsakti-sAvEri-Adi-tyAgarAja (S)
3.nAda muraLigAna-hamIrkalyANi-Adi(tisra)-UthukKadu vEnkatasubbier
4.azhagA azhagA-sudhdhadhanyAsi-kantacApu-ambujam krishnA (R,S)
5.sarasa sAmadAna-kApinArAyaNi-Adi-tyAgarAja
6.kamalAmbAm bhajarE-kalyANi-Adi-muttuswAmi dIkshitar (R,N,S,T)
7.petra thAi-rEvati-Adi-rAmalinga swAmi arutpA
8.virutham(siru viralgaL),kaNNA vA-rAgamAlikA-ambujam krishNa
9.tiruppugazh-surutti

unnati and SGBS Trust - Bangalore-6/12/09

Accompanists:

B.K.Raghu - Violin
Jayachandra Rao - Mridangam

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.VarNam-srIrAgam-Adi
2.vara vallabha-hamsadhwani-Adi-G.N.Balasubramanian (S)
3.rAgaratna-reetigowLA-rUpakam-tyAgarAja (R,S)
4.santAnamanjari-santAnamanjari-Adi-muttuswAmi dIkshitar
5.ratnakanchuka-kAmbhOji-misracApu-harikEsanallur muthiah bhAgavatar
6.ninnE nammitI-simhendramadhyamam-misracApu-mysore vAsudEvAchAr (R,N,S)
7.telisi rAma-pUrnachandrikA-Adi-tyAgarAja
8.dAsarati-tOdi-Adi-tyAgarAja (R,N,S,T)
9.slOkam,pravisha rAdhE-misra sivaranjani-kantacApu-jayadEvar
10.sadA enna hrudaya-behAg-rUpakam-vijayavittala dAsa
11.slOkam,mangala mUruti-madhuvanti-Adi-tulsidAs
12.tillAnA-sindubhairavi-Adi-UthukkAdu vEnkatasubbier
13.MangaLam

Jaya TV mArgazhi mahA utsavam - 4/12/09

Accompanists:

V.V.S.Murari - Violin
R.Sankaranarayanan - Mridangam

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)


1.mArubalga-srIranjani-Adi-tyAgarAja(S)
2.swAgatam krishnA-mOhanam-Adi(tisram)-oothukkAdu vEnkatasubbier
3.AlOkayE sri bAlakrishnam-chArukEsi-Adi-nArAyaNa teerthar (R)
4.saravana bhava-pasupatipriyA-Adi-harikesanallur muthiah bhAgavatar
5.meenAkshi mEmudam-pUrvikalyANi (R,N,S,T)
6.irakkam varAmal-behAg-rUpakam-gOpAlakrishna bhArati
7.slOkam,pravisha rAdhE-misra sivaranjani-kanta cApu-jayadEvar
8.tillAna-sindubhairavi-Adi-uthukkAdu vEnkatasubbier

Jayadharini Trust - 2/12/09

This concert was held at R.K.Swamy Hall, Mylapore.

Accompanists:

B.U.Ganeshprasad - Violin
Mannarkoil.J.Balaji - Mridangam
Adambakkam Shankar - Ghatam















Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)



1.Varnam-nAtaikurinji
2.teliyalEru rAma-dEnukA-Adi-tyAgarAja
3.marivEre-Anandabhairavi-MisracApu-syAmA sAstri (R,S)
4.vAnchathOnu-karNaranjani
5.vEnkataramanA-latAngi-rUpakam-pApanAsam sivan (R,S)
6.sarasa sAmadAna-kApinArayaNi
7.bAlagOpAla-bhairavi-Adi-muttuswAmi dIkshitar (R,N,S,T)
8.needAn thuNai-rAgamAlika-N.S.Chidambaram
9.pazhani ninra-kApi-rUpakam-periasAmi tooran
10.mangaLam

Sri Krishna Gana Sabha-29/11/09

This concert was on the auspicious occasion of the inauguration of srI kAmakOti gAna mandir, within the premises of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha,T.Nagar.

The inauguration was done by His Holiness Jagadguru Sri.Jayendra Saraswati swAmigaL of kAnchi kAmakoti Mutt and this was followed by the concert.

The hall has been very tastefully constructed and with wonderful acoustics..








Accompanists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
Neyveli Skandasubramanian - Mridangam
Papanasam Sethuraman - Kanjira









Song List:(R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)


1.siddivinAyakam anisham-shanmukhapriya-rUpakam (S)
2.slOkam,dinamani vamsa-harikAmbhOji-tyAgarAja-Adi
3.Enna Perum thavam-SahAna-periasAmi thUran-Adi (R)
4.slOkam,neerajAkshi kAmAkshi-hindOLam-rUpakam
5.ninnE nammiti-simhEndramadhyamam-misracApu (R,N,S)
6.vanadurgE vanaspati-vanaspati-rUpakam-Harikesanallur Bhagvatar
7.sri chandrasekhara yateendram BhajE-sankarAbharaNam (R,S,T)
8.Virutham (kandar anubhUti),kArthikeyanai kannAra-kApi-rUpakam-mAyuram viswanAtha sAstri
9.gAna mazhai pozhiginrAn-rAgamAlikA-ambujam krishnA
10.gOpi gOpAla-gamanAshramA-sUrdAs
11.ponnAr mEniyanE-kurinji-rUpakam
12.Mangalam

rAmalingar paNi manram-tirunAvukkarasar tEvAram-28/11/09

rAmalingar paNi manram conducts seminars and concerts every year, on various topics pertaining to Tevarams,Divya Prabandams,tiruppugazhs and so on.

This year I was given the theme of tirunAvukkarasar (appar)'s tevAram hymns.

Accompanists:

Anayampatti Venkatasubramanian - Violin
Neyveli Skandasubramanian - Mridangam






Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)

1.virutham (dEvarellam tozhum)followed by nanru nAL torum - hamsadwani-Adi (S)
2.padaigaL pOl (virutham-tirunErisai)-pantuvarALi followed by talayE nee vaNangAi (R)
3.sonmAlai-Arabhi-rUpakam
4.mattuvAr(tirukkurunthogai)-mAyAmALavagowLa-Adi
5.mUvilai(virutham-harikAmbhOji)followed by gnAnathAl-harikAmbhOji-Adi
6.viNda mAmalar-kalyANi-Adi
7.kuniththa puruvamum(virutham) followed by vAnaNai-keeravANi-misra cApu (R)
8.mAsil veenayum-pUrvikalyANi-misra cApu (R,N,S)
9.sottruNai vEdiyan-kEdAragowLa
10.petra thAi-rEvati
11.tirunAvukkarasar thuti,mangaLam

shivAnugrahA utsav - 25/11/09

This was part of the annual series conducted by Smt.Rukmini Ramani.
Venue :Narada Gana Sabha Mini Hall

Compositions of Smt.Rukmini Ramani were presented.







Accompanists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
B.Sivaraman - Mridangam
Madipakkam Murali - Ghatam

Song List:(R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)


1.bAla gaNapati pAhimAm-valaji-misra cApu (S)
2.karuNA sAgari kapAlishwari-gAnAmoorti
3.tirupativAsA srinivAsA-kAnadA (R,S)
4.yadukula tilakane-chenjurutti
5.upAsanai seidhAl-vitapi (R)
6.ninnai pAdi ninnai vaNangi-dwijAvanti (R)
7.KarpagAmbikai prANa-madhyamAvati-misra cApu (R,S,T)
8.pArthasArathy-sumanEsaranjani-Adi
9.Mangalam virutham-latAngi,surutti

vAnaprasthA,Coimbatore - 11/11/09

It was wonderful to perform at vAnaprasthA, a senior citizens' community in Coimbatore.




(Accompanists: Sri.Palakkad T.P.Subburaman on Violin and Sri.Kovai Prakash on Mridangam)


The entire atmosphere was very peaceful and singing there gave me a lot of contentment.

Here are a few snaps taken inside the community:










(That is adorable little Diya,the organizer's grand daughter.)


Thanks to Mrs.Akila, the organizer's daughter, for the photos :-)

Carnatica's Bharat Sangeet Utsav 2009 - 2/11/09

Venue : Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai
Carnatica (in association with Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha) has organized the Bharath Sangeet Utsav this year from 31st October to 9th November.

















Accompanists:

Mysore Srikanth - Violin
B.Ganapathiraman - Mridangam
Anirudh Athreya - Kanjira

Song List: (R-Raga Alapana,N-Neraval,S-Kalpanaswaram,T-Tani Avarthanam)


1.vanajAksha - reethigowlA - ata
2.nAdasudhA - Arabhi -rUpakam - tyAgarAjA (S)
3.bhOgachchAyA - bhOgachchAyAnAttA - Adi - muttuswAmi dIkshitar
4.needu mahima pogada - hamsAnandi - Adi - harikesanallur muthiah bhAgavatar (R,S)
5.thuNai purindaruL - varamu - Adi - pApanAsam sivan
6.srinivAsa tava - kharaharapriyA - rUpakam - pApanAsam sivan (R,N,S,T)
7.pAyum oLi - rAgamAlikA - Adi(tisra) - subramaNya bhArati
8.kazhai muthu mAlai - jOg - tiruppugazh

KVIIT'ians meet over lunch...

How does it feel to meet schoolmates after a gap of 15-20 years? Well, it did feel great...Nostalgic memories..

Yesterday, four of us decided to meet for lunch at Flamingo restaurant,Besant Nagar,Chennai. Nalini,Vani,Jayashree and myself. I was eagerly expecting to see Fathima too- the last I met her was in 1990. She called up and said she was busy at office and hence couldn't join us.




(Sitting in front: L to R:Jayashree,her daughter Pragya,Vani.
Sitting at the back: Nalini on the right and myself on the left.)









Thanks to Jayashree for co-ordinating and arranging this small get-together..
We are hoping to meet a lot of our other classmates too whenever it is possible and also try and have occasions for all of us to meet our teachers too..

The irony is that Jayashree, Vani and I live just fifteen minutes away from each other in Chennai,but get to meet only when one of our friends from the US or London lands up here in Chennai :-). Life has become hectic for each one of us and such occasions help us re-living those wonderful memories of school life, college life etc..

It felt nice to share our experiences, how each of our careers has progressed over the years in different areas..Nalini is a software professional at Atlanta, Vani practises Pediatric Neurology, Jayashree is into Counselling and Clinical psychology and I am into a totally different profession :-)

When I thought of posting the photo taken yesterday, it struck me that it would be nice to recollect how we looked in our schooldays :-)

Hence here comes a photo of us taken in Class 5:-). ( I have labelled Jayashree,Nalini,Fathima and myself in this photo. Srihari joined KVIIT in Class 7 and Vani joined only in Class 11.)







(Sitting on bench, from L to R: 6th student in the row is Nalini (with a badge) and to her left is Fathima.)
(Sitting on ground,from L to R: myself, to my left is Jayashree.)





Through Jayashree, I got to talk to another classmate of mine,Srihari,who is based in Bangalore. When I told him that I was planning to post our class group photo here, he asked me to try and identify our classmates in the photo and mention their names ! I shall try as much as I can. A memory test of a different kind for me ! My apologies to those friends whose names I have not been able to recollect readily..

(Following photo was taken in Class 8 with Mrs.Shyamala as our class teacher.)



(Standing: Top Row: L to R: Raghuram,Kirubainathan,Peter(?),----,Srihari,Ramaiah,----,Amit Shukla,Charles,Vivek,Sanjay.
Standing: Second Row from Top: L to R:Venkateswara Rao,Deepak,Jaiganesh,Suresh,----,----,----,Vinoo,----,Sriram,Azeemuddin.

Standing: Third Row from Top: L to R:Priya,Jayashree,Sumitra,myself,----,Rosary,Yuvarani,Subhaja,Jayapradha,Jayalakshmi and Sonali.
Sitting on bench:From L to R: Sangamaheshwari,Sujatha,Srivani,Nalini,Mrs.Shyamala,----,Fathima,Jacqueline,Suchitra,Devi.)


Here is a photo taken in Class 11 in which Vani is present:






(Sitting on ground: 2nd from L is Vani and Jayashree is on the extreme right.
Standing: Second row from Top:6th from L to R is Fathima,8th from L to R is Nalini.
Srihari and I were shifted to the other section in Classes 11 and 12, away from our buddies of 10 years :-(,hence we are absent in this photo.)




Well, this is pretty much what I could gather together and post now..
Any friends who happen to see this post and can fill in the gaps in the names are most welcome:-)

Looking forward to more and more such occasions to meet up with old friends.

diwAli Greetings !!

Dear Friends,

Here is wishing you all a very Happy and safe Diwali !!

May all lives be filled with joy and prosperity !!

Gayathri.

akhilANdEshvari - jujAvanti lyrics

Here are the lyrics of the kriti akhilANdEshvari, as requested by Shrinath:

rAgam: jujAvanti (dvijAvanti)
tALam: Adi
Composer: muttuswAmy dikshitar


Pallavi:


akhilANdEshvari rakSa mAm

Agama sampradAya nipuNE shrI


Anupallavi:


nikhila lOka nityAtmikE vimalE

nirmalE shyAmalE sakala kalE


caraNam:

lambOdara guruguha pUjitE lambAlakOdbhAsitE hasitE
vAgdEvatA ArAdhitE varadE varashaila rAjasutE* shAradE

(madhyama kAla sAhityam):
jambhAri sambhAvitE janArdananutE jujAvanti rAganutE
jallI maddaLa jharjhara vAdya nAdamuditE gnAnapradE

(* some people sing it as rAjanutE)

पल्लवि:
अखिलाण्डेश्वरि रक्ष माम्
आगम सम्प्रदाय निपुणे श्री

अनुपल्लवि:
निखिल लोक नित्यात्मिके विमले
निर्मले श्यामाले सकल कले

चरणम्:
लम्बोदर गुरुगुह पूजिते लम्बालकोद् भासिते हसिते
वाग्देवता आराधिते वरदे वरशैल राजसुते* शारदे

(मध्यमकाल साहित्यम्)
जम्भारि सम्भाविते जनार्दन नुते जुजावन्ति रागनुते
झल्ली मद्दल झर्झर वाद्य नादमुदिते ज्ञानप्रदे

(* some people sing it as राजनुते )

Handicrafts made for this year's Kolu

After my earlier posts giving a detailed description of the dolls and theme, here are some of the handicraft items that my kids Vishruthi and Vishvesh did for this year's Kolu :

1. minAkAri painting done by Vishruthi:




















2. Tray decorated by Vishvesh:





Vishvesh's main source of inspiration is his Akka !! He has about 10% of the patience that she has (which I think is typical in most boys), but nevertheless does these items with a lot of enthusiasm and interest. (Veena,are you reading this??!!)







He has decorated this tray with glitter colors, has placed a CD at the center, decorated with beads around it and pasted an idol of Venkatachalapathy at the center.


3. suvAsini kOlam:




This kOlam idea was given by my mother. The items used in this are the regular items like bangles, cosmetic items like comb, mehendi, mirror, kumkum, chandan etc. Using these items, any design can be done for this kind of a kOlam.









4. Decorative plates:




These are again ordinary plates painted and decorated. In the plate on the right, the leaf at the center is a real one, painted in golden color by Vishruthi.









5. Variety of kOlams:





kOlams are my mother's and daughter's work zone:-). I must admit that my knowledge of kOlams is very basic:-(. Vishruthi comes up with a lot of innovative designs.(As Amma and Vishruthi were doing these kOlams, I was busy writing and cutting out labels that I used for the theme. Labels were about 40 in number and took a lot of time.)






In the above photo, the top left kOlam is the hrudayakamala kOlam. In the second row, the kOlam in the middle is done with javvarisi. The one on its right is the kundan kOlam, done with transparency sheets.To the left of the javvarisi kOlam are terracotta diyAs painted by Vishruthi and Vishvesh.



6. Decorations on Terracotta items:







This tray contains terracotta Puja items, again painted and decorated. On top left is a decorated coconut:-). Other items include a bell, agarbatti stand in terracotta and a decorated water jug.





7. marapAchi dolls decorated:

tirupati is famous for marapAchi dolls.







The base for the dolls as seen in the photo is handmade. The small kumkum containers that we see in front of the dolls have been decorated with rAkhi thread, done by Vishruthi.





8. Terracotta diyAs:







The terracotta diyAs seen in the picture were painted by Vishruthi and Vishvesh. Vishruthi has used clay to do the girl doll and the sunflower.






9. Top-water rangOli and under-water rangOli:

Vishruthi did these too, befitting to this year's theme. (Photos of these are on a different camera, I shall post them in a few days.)

Kolu 2009 Prizes

More Kolu updates:

1. Adyar Times: Our Kolu was adjudged as one of the top 10 Kolus in the contest conducted by Adyar Times.










2. Bank Of Baroda: Bank Of Baroda conducted a Kolu contest in 12 zones all over Chennai. Our area came under the Perungudi Branch. In this zone, our Kolu was adjudged as one of the Top 3 Kolus.

3. World of Titan: Titan conducted a Kolu contest in which we won a prize. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to go today and collect it.

4. Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial Foundation: This Foundation in Chennai is well-known as one of the premier institutions in promoting Indian Art and Culture. Their panel of judges too had come home to see the Kolu. We won a prize. I couldn't attend that function either on 4th October, to collect the prize.

Thematic Kolu featured in Hindu Downtown - 4th Ocober 2009

Our thematic Kolu was covered in the Hindu Downtown Adyar Edition, dated 4th October 2009 and 4 other editions (Mylapore,Tambaram,T.Nagar and Annanagar) on 27th September,2009.

Navarathri 2009 - Tirupathi Ula and Brahmmotsavam - Part 4

காலையிலிருந்து இரவு வரை பெருமாளுக்கு நடக்கும் சேவைகள்:

sEvAs that are done for the Lord from morning to night:


1. சுப்ரபாத தரிசனம்:

1.suprabhAta darisanam:








சந்நிதிக்குள் விளக்கையெல்லாம் ஏற்றுவார்கள். சுப்ரபாதம் பாடி முடித்ததும் கதவை திறப்பார்கள். இது தான் சுப்ரபாத தரிசனம். விச்வரூப தரிசனம் என்றும் சொல்வார்கள்.

(Lamps are lit inside the sanctum-sanctorum. After reciting the suprabhAtam, the doors are opened.This is called the suprabhAta darisanam or vishvarUpa darisanam.)



2. அபிஷேகம்:

2.abhishEkam:


போக ஸ்ரீனிவாஸருக்கு (உத்ஸவருக்கு) அபிஷேகம் செய்வார்கள். அதற்கு பிறகு மஞ்சள் கலந்த தண்ணீர், பசும்பால், சந்தனம், தேன் என்று வரிசையாக அபிஷேகம் நடக்கும்.

(AbhishEkam for bhOga srInivAsar (the utsavar deity)is done. Then,abhishEkam with turmeric water,milk,chandan,honey etc is done.)


3. தோமாலா சேவை:
3.tOmAlA sEva:








தோள் மாலை, மற்றும் பூலாங்கி, வேங்கடாசலபதிக்கு சாத்திய பூக்களை பூ கிணற்றில் போடுவார்கள்.

(Flowers offered to the deity are put inside the "flower-tank".)



4. கொலுவு தர்பார்:

4.goluvu darbAr:








கொலுவு மண்டபத்தில் அமர்ந்து முதல் நாள் உண்டியல் பணம், தங்கம், வெள்ளி கணக்கு பார்ப்பார்கள். பக்தர்களுக்கு இந்த தரிசனம் கிடையாது.

(Inside the goluvu mantapam, the amount of money,gold,silver inside the Hundi is counted daily. This place is not open for public.)





5. அர்ச்சனை சேவை:

5. archanA sEva:


சஹஸ்ர நாம அர்ச்சனையின்போது 20 நிமிடம் மூலவரை தரிசிக்கலாம்.

(During the sahasranAma archana, devotees can see the Lord for 20 minutes.)

6. ஏகாந்த தரிசனம்:
6.EkAnta darisanam:






இரவு 11 மணிக்கு ஏகாந்த சேவை போக ஸ்ரீநிவாஸருக்கு மெத்தை போட்ட படுக்கை இட்டு பால் நெய்வேத்யம் செய்து லாலி கீர்த்தனைகள் பாடி பகவானை உறங்க வைத்து கோயில் கதவை பூட்டுவார்கள்.

(At 11p.m,a bed with pillows is laid for the Lord.Then after doing paal neyvEdhiyam and singing lAli songs,the temple doors are locked.)




7. திருக்கல்யாண உத்ஸவம்:
TirukkalyANa utsavam:







கோயில் முன் மண்டபத்தில் உற்சவருக்கு திருக் கல்யாண உத்ஸவம் நடக்கும். பின் லட்டு, வடை, சித்ரான்னங்கள் ப்ரசாதமாக வழங்கப்படும்.

(In the mantapam in front of the main mantapam,kalyAnOtsavam is done. After that, laddu, chitrAnnam etc are distributed.)




8. ஸஹஸ்ர தீப அலங்காரம்:

8.sahasra deepa alankAram:






பிரதி வெள்ளியன்று மூலவருக்கு திருமஞ்சனம் என்னும் அபிஷேகம் நடக்கும். 1000 விளக்கு
நடுவில் மலையப்பருக்கு ஸ்ரீதேவி, பூதேவியுடன் ஸஹஸ்ர தீப அலங்கார சேவை நடைபெறும்.

(Every Friday,abhishEkam called tirumanjanam is performed for the moolavar. Amidst 1000 lamps,sahasra deepa alankAra sEvai is done for the Lord with BhUdEvi and srIdEvi.)



9. ஊஞ்சல் உத்ஸவம்:
9.Unjal Utsavam:

பெருமாளுக்கு ஸ்ரீதேவி, பூதேவியுடன் ஊஞ்சல் சேவை நடைபெறும்.

(Unjal sEvai for the Lord,with SridEvi and BhUdEvi is done.)


10. திருப்பதி உண்டியல், திருப்பதி லட்டு பிரசித்தம் பெற்றவை.


10. The Tirupathi Hundi and laddu:
















11. அங்க ப்ரதக்ஷிணம்:

11. angapradakshiNam:







அனேக பக்தர்கள் திருப்பதியில் அங்க ப்ரதக்ஷிணம் செய்து வருவார்கள்.
(Many devotees do anga pradakshiNam in the TirumalA temple.)








12. தசாவதார பெருமாள்:

12.dasAvatAra perumAl:








கோவிந்தா என்ற நாமம் பத்து அவதாரங்களையும் குறிக்கிறது. அந்த சப்தத்தை ஆராய்ந்தால் பத்து அவதாரங்களும் அறியலாம்.

(gOvindA refers to all the ten avatArs of the dasAvatAra. We can study in detail about each avatAra on studying the meaning of the term 'gOvindA' carefully). All the 10 avatArs have been incorporated in a single doll,as seen in the picture.

Navarathri 2009 - Tirupathi Ula and Brahmmotsavam - Part 3

திருப்பதி ப்ரம்மோத்ஸவம்:

Tirupathi brahmmOtsavam:




திருப்பதியில் ப்ரம்மோத்ஸவம் விமர்சையாகக் கொண்டாடப் படுகிறது. இந்த உத்ஸவம் 9 நாட்களுக்கு நடைபெறும். ப்ரம்மா முதன் முதலில் இந்த உத்ஸவத்தை ஆரம்பித்து தானே முன் வந்து நடத்தியதால் இதற்கு ப்ரம்மோத்ஸவம் என்று பெயர். இது September/October மாதங்களில் சூரியன் கன்யா ராசியில் நுழையும் பொழுது நடைபெறும்.
(The brahmmOtsavam at Tirumala-Tirupathi is celebrated in a grand manner every year during September/October, for a period of nine days.Since this Utsavam is said to have been started by Brahma, it is called brahmmOtsavam.)




சகல வாத்யங்கள் முழங்க, குடைகள் நிழல் செய்ய, சாமரங்கள் வீச, மாதர்கள் நாட்டியம் ஆட, சங்கீத கோஷம் முழங்க, வித்வான்கள் கவிதைகளைப் பாடித் துதிக்க, வேதங்கள் முழங்க, அன்னம், சிங்கம், ஆஞ்சனேயர், ஆதிசேஷன், கருடன், யானை முதலிய வாகனங்களில் பகவானை எழுந்தருளச் செய்து நாள்தோறும் திருவிழா நடக்கும். இந்த உத்ஸவத்தை காண்பவர்களுக்கு வைகுண்ட அனுபவம் கிடைக்கிறது. 5வது நாளும், 9வது நாளும் கருட சேவை, ரதோத்ஸவம் நடைபெறும்.

(With all pomp and grandeur, the Lord goes on different vAhanAs, like on the lion,horse,elephant,hanumAn,garudA etc,on these nine days.On the 5th day is the garuda sEva and on the 9th day is the rathOtsavam.)


சக்கரத்தாழ்வார்:

chakkarathAlwAr:

ஆண்டவன் அபிஷேகத்திற்க்கு உபயோகப்படும் தீர்த்தத்தை ஸ்ரீ சக்கரத்தாழ்வார் வருடத்துக்கு ஒருநாள் புறப்பாடாக வந்து நீரில் நீராடி புனிதப் படுத்திச் செல்வார் என்பது ஐதீகம். இந்த தீர்த்தத்திற்கு ஸ்ரீ சக்ர தீர்த்தம் என்று பெயர்.

(Sri chakkarathAlwAr is said to purify the water in the tank by bathing there. Then this water is used for abhishEkam to the Lord on the nine days during the Utsavam.This teertham is called Sri chakra teertham.)


ப்ரம்மோத்ஸவம் ஆரம்பிப்பதற்கு முன் ஆகம விதிப்படி ஆலய சுத்தி செய்வார்கள், பின்பு கோவிலிலும், அதனை சுற்றியுள்ள இடங்களிலும் பூக்களாலும், மாவிலை தோரணங்களாலும் நன்கு அலங்காரம் செய்வார்கள்.
(It is customary to thoroughly clean the temple premises and decorate the temple with flowers and mango leaf tOraNams before the brahmmOtsavam starts.)

ம்ருத்ஸங்க்ரஹணம்: முதல் நாளன்று பூமாதேவியை வேண்டிக்கொண்டு சிறிது மண் எடுத்துப் பரப்பி ஒண்பது வித தானியங்களை விதைப்பார்கள். இதற்கு அங்குரார்பணம் என்று பெயர்.

(mruthsangrahaNam: On the first day, after praying to bhUmAdevi,seeds of 9 varieties of grains are sown.This is called ankurArpaNam.)


த்வஜாரோஹணம்:
dwajArOhaNam:

கருடன் போட்ட கொடியை வேத கோஷங்களுடன் கோவில் நிர்வாகிகள் ஏற்றுவார்கள். அதற்கு பின் வாஹன சேவை நடைபெறும். இறைவன் ஊர்வலமாக வீதி உலா வருவார்.

(The flag put by Garuda is hoisted by the temple authorities,to mark the beginning of the utsavam.Then the Lord comes on different vAhanAs on each day.)


முதல் நாள்:
First day:

த்வஜாரோஹணம் கோயிலுக்கு அருகில் நடைபெரும்.
(The flag is hoisted - dwaja ArOhaNam.)







இறைவன் இரவில் பெரிய சேஷ வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார்.
(In the night,the Lord comes on the big sEsha vAhanam.)









இரண்டாம் நாள்:
Second day:

காலையில் சின்ன சேஷ வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார்.
(In the morning,the Lord comes on the small sEsha vAhanam.)










இரவில் ஊஞ்சல் மண்டபத்தில் ஊஞ்சல் சேவை நடைபெறும்.
(In the night, Unjal sEvai takes place in the Unjal mantapam.)






மூன்றாம் நாள்:
Third day:

காலையில் இறைவன் சிம்ம வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார். இரவில் முத்யால பன்றி வாஹனம் முத்துகளால் அலங்கரிக்கப் பட்டிருக்கும்.

(In the morning, the Lord comes on the lion vAhanA. In the night,the Lord comes on the muthyAla panri vAhana.)


நாலாவது நாள்:
Fourth day:








காலையில் கல்பவ்ருக்ஷ வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம்.
இரவில் ஊஞ்சல் சேவை.

(Kalpavruksha vAhanam in the morning;Unjal sEvai in the night.)






ஐந்தாவது நாள்:
Fifth day:









இது முக்யமான நாளாகும். இறைவன் மோஹினி அவதாரத்தில் கருட வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார்.

(The Lord comes in the mOhini avatAram, on the garuda vAhanam.)




ஆறாவது நாள்:
Sixth day:









காலையில் ஹனுமத் வாஹன ஊர்வலம், வஸந்தோத்ஸவம் நடக்கும்.
இரவு கஜ வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம்.

(Hanumath vAhanam and vasantOtsavam in the morning, gaja vAhanam in the night.)



ஏழாவது நாள்:
Seventh day:







காலையில் சூர்யப்ரப வாஹனம், இரவில் ஊஞ்சல் சேவைக்கு பிறகு இறைவன் சந்த்ரப்ரப வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார்.

(sUryaprabha vAhanam in the morning, Unjal sEvai and the Lord on chandraprabha vAhanam in the night.)





எட்டாவது நாள்:
Eighth day:








இதுவும் முக்ய நாளாகும். இறைவன் ரதத்தில் ஊர்வலம் வருவார். இந்த உத்ஸவத்தை தரிசிப்பவர்களுக்கு மோக்ஷம் கிடைக்கும் என்று ஐதீகம்.

(The Lord comes on a chariot.It is believed that devotees who witness this sEva get mOkshA.)









இரவில் அச்வ வாஹனத்தில் ஊர்வலம்.

(Horse vAhanam in the night.)







ஒண்பதாவது நாள்:
Ninth day:

சக்ராஸன மஹோத்ஸவம்:
ChakrAsana mahOtsavam:










இறைவனுக்கு எண்ணெய், மஞ்சள் அபிஷேகம் செய்வார்கள். த்வஜவரோஹணம் நடைபெறும். கொடியை இறக்குவார்கள். அதனுடன் ப்ரம்மோத்ஸவம் முடிவு அடைகிறது.

(Oil and turmeric abhishEkam is done for the Lord.The flag is brought down (dwaja avarOhaNam) to signal the end of the brahmmOtsavam.)



(To be continued...)