CHENNAI: From shopping for golu dolls, dancing to dhol beats and soaking in music that celebrates ‘Shakthi’, Chennaiites are celebrating Navaratri with full fanfare. To create awareness about the musical significance, Sundari Silks is curating a nine-day Navarathri music fest until Sep 29. “To sing the Navavarna kritis during this time of the year is very significant. We are conducting this fest to create awareness among youngsters about these traditions,” shares Radha Lakshmi, Sundari Silks.
The Kamalamba Navavarana Kritis of Muthuswami Dikshitar are a set of 11 compositions praising the goddess Kamalamba of the Tiruvarur temple. Singing these compositions during navaratri is auspicious, as it is considered to be equivalent to worshipping the goddess as enshrined in the Shri Chakra. “It is a rather overwhelming task to try and share the beauty of these compositions in words — it is something that just has to be experienced!” says Vidhya Raghavan, who will be performing today.
The name signifies ‘Nava-avaranam’ — wherein avaranam means enclosure. Breaking down the kritis, musicologist, Sumathi Krishnan explains, “Muthuswami Dikshitar composed these nine songs worshipping the three Devi’s, and each composition has a form of devi,” she shares. The entire collection of 11 kirtanas has nine compositions, one Dhyana Kirtana (beginning) and the Mangala Kirtana. “In terms of language, spirituality, description and musicality, it’s an experience,” she adds.
Dhyana kriti in thodi raga and the next set of kritis correspond to the eight vibhakthis or cases. “All nine songs are composed in correspondence with the nine avarnas of the Shri Chakra and each avarna has been explained in detail in each kriti. Dikshitar also explains the characteristics and devathas associated with each chakra,” explains T Kalaimagan, vocalist and grandson of villupattu exponent Subbu Arumugam.
Gushing about the works of Muthuswami Dikshithar, Kalai says that music and lyrics are cohesive in his compositions. “When you sing, the music and lyrics are felt together. It creates an electrifying ambience and that’s the most important characteristic of Dikshithar,” he adds.
Dikshithar has used popular ragas like Kambhoji, Thodi, Shankarabharanam, and Bhairavi while also the rarer ones such as Ghanta. Rithvik Raja, a renowned name in the music circle, will be signing the eighth kriti — Sambodhana vibhakthi, as part of the music fest. “This kriti is probably rare, because of the raga — Ghanta. There are very less materials available in this raga and is considered sacred by musicians for its rarity and complexity,” he shares.
The kirtanas offer a glimpse into the ‘Advaita Vedanta’ of Hindu philosophy and contain elements of tantric rituals. The number nine also symbolises the nine layers of the Shri Chakra yantra, a very powerful form of worshipping Devi. “The invisible layers of depth and intellect in lyrical meaning and philosophical content is still being discovered by Vedanta, while the musical nuances and its usage depending on the lyric and the raga are still studied and unearthed by musicians today,” he adds.
The music fest is being held at Sundari Silks, T Nagar, until September 29 from 6 pm to 7 pm