it was an interesting session at the Sri Parthasarathy Swamy sabha with the musical presentation of ‘Aditya Hrudayam’, by the glory of Surya bhagavan, by viocalist Vasundhara Rajagopal, with an exposition made by T A Srinidhi. The interesting part of the entire programme was the ‘quiz’ progamme organised on the ocassion on ‘surya’ (aadhthiya hrudayam). The presidential evaluation by Swami Buddhidananda, senior monk of the Ramakrishna Math, that the ‘sun god’ is the only ‘prathyaksha deivam’ common all over the world, while outlining the efficacy of ‘surya namaskaram’, was enlightening indeed.
The absorbing musical presentation by Rajagopal on the glory of the sun god, featured ten songs, including compositions by Bharathiyar, Swarna Venkatesa Dikshitar, Oothukadu Venkatakavi, Suryashtakam, Suryopanishad, Adhithya Hirudayam and Valmiki Ramanayam among others. They were presented with divinity, ensconced in lyrical exposition.
With content in the programme handled by this eloquent artist, no comment is needed about the aesthetic grandeur of the concert. It was so well matched, that the programme, of one song after another looked like a majestic march past. More than the erudition, Rajagopal has to be congratulated on the selection of songs.
She commencd with ‘Bhaskarayathae namo’ of Venkatesa Dikshitar in the raga Bouli followed by ‘padmini vallabha’ of Oothukadu Venkata Kavi in the raga Dhanyasi. Certainly the ‘suryashtakam’ that was taken up next, a divine prayer in ragamalika, draped us in divinity. ‘Surya murthae’ of Dikshitar in the raga sowrashtram movied like a meteor, leaving a melliflous trajectory. When it settled in perfect alignment in sruti, opening out a world of tranqutlity, there was all around abbrobation.
The explanatory speech by Srinidhi Swami on adhitya hirudayam and surya sathakam was thoroughly absorbing. The quiz session that followed was a brain teaser. For example, a famous cricketer’s first name is one of the more popular names of Surya, his middle name is that of a mythological warrior, whose death was linked to the setting of the sun. What is this cricketer’s full name? - The answer is Ravi Jayadrath Shastri. Another question that was posed was, “In which state in india does the sun rise earliest?” The simple answer is Arunachal Pradesh (the very name of the state reflects the feature).
Needless to mention, for the first time, a four-in-one vocal concert of this kind was conducted. I appreciate the efforts of the Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, an age old organisation of repute.