Sri Rama Navami Music & Tyagaraja - A memorable concert by M Balamuralikrishna (1980)

When I went to a Sri Rāmanavami music concert some 45 years back, I had then wondered why and how Sri Rāmanavami, music and Tyāgarāja were interconnected in such a harmony that it uplifted the human spirit to soar in experiencing the bliss.

This inherent and essential character of necessary connection between Sri Rāmanavami music and Tyāgarāja has been explored by several researchers and biographers and I sincerely believe that it would be quite relevant to revisit some of these historical facts while we are about to enjoy listening to a memorable live concert of Sri Rāmanavami held exactly 39 years back, i.e., on 13th April 1980. We offer this concert with utmost reverence on this sacred day of Sri Rāmanavami, which has also come on the same day (13th April) in this year (2019) too.

“When Rāmabrahmam, father of Tyāgarāja, shifted his family to Tiruvārūr about 250 years ago, there were no temples dedicated to Lord Rama in the Tiruvārūr or Tiruvaiyaru region. That region called by the name “Pancha-nada-kshétra”, had several Shiva temples. How then did Tyāgarāja became a devotee of Lord Sri Rāma? Where did he worship his beloved Lord? How did music become associated with Sri Rāmanavami? When did all this happen? Whom do we owe the bliss of Sri Rāmanavami concerts to?”

Many may wonder how did Tyāgarāja become so close to his Rāma? Maybe it was something that came to him from his birth or maybe it came to him from his family; maybe both! Rāma-bhakti and the Rāma Panchāyatana was all the heritage that Tyāgarāja received from his ancestors. When Rāmabrahmam performed the Brahmópadésham to Tyāgarāja, it is believed by the biographers that, he instructed the Rāma-tāraka mantra to his son.

Even as a toddler, Tyāgarāja had a keen ear for music and had learnt many compositions of Bhadrāchala Rāmadasa from his mother in his childhood. After his initiation, Rāmabrahmam on observing his son’s interest and devotion towards Rāma, gave the complete responsibility of performing the worship of the family heirloom (Rāma Panchāyatana) to Tyāgarāja.

Though living in a region filled with Shaivite traditions, Rāmabrahmam did not shy away from continuing to perform and conduct the Sri Rāmanavami Utsavams. Sri Rāmakrishnānada, who was a regular at these Utsavams, instructed the young Tyāgarāja with “Namó namó rāghavāya” mantra. This may have been the foundation for the very first composition of the Saint!

These Rāmanavami Utsavams and the Rāma Panchāyatana (Sita seated on Rāma’s lap) reflect the traditions of the Bhādrachalam Rāma temple. The Utsavams which were conducted by Rāmabrahmam were probably the only Sri Rāmanavami Utsavams in the Tanjavur region at that time. With the guidance of his father and with his own interest and devotion, Saint Tyāgarāja performed these Sri Rāmanavami Utsavams with great care and love. He continued to do so as long as he lived. Many of the Utsava sampradāya kritis are also believed to have been composed for these festivals. As the love for Tyāgarāja and his music spread, many people began to also conduct such music festivals.”

If we could say “Saint Tyāgarāja is the gateway for Sri Rāmanavami music, Dr. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna then becomes the gateway to Saint Tyāgarāja’s music”.

The concert that is being offered was held as a part of Sri Rāmanavami music festival in Bangalore and BMK is accompanied on the violin by Sri. Mysore M Nagaraj, Sri.Tanjore Upendran on Mridangam and Sri. Bangalore K S Manjunath provides support through his Ghatam.

I am very grateful to Sri. R Mohan, who has curated the audio spools of this concert and has delightfully came forward to contribute for the posterity of Muraligānam.

I am also thankful to Sri. T K Ramkumar for his announcement tags and support in restoration of the audio.

My special thanks and appreciation to Smt. Vinaya S Pai for her help in writing a narration for this album.

Album Navigation
00:00 🌹 Concert Announcement : Sri T K Ramkumar
00:48 💎 Varnam - Ramapriya - BMK
07:31 💎 Sadinchane - Arabhi - Tyagaraja
18:33 💎 Evarre ramayya - Gangayabhushani - Tyagaraja
37:58 💎 Ramachandrulu - Asaveri - Bh. Ramadas
43:03 💎 Nidhi chala sukhama - Kalyani - Tyagaraja
1:32:40 💎 Tharaka mantramu - Dhanyasi - Bh. Ramadas
1:35:57 💎 Devadi deva - Sunadavinodini - Mysore Vasudevaachar
2:04:14 💎 Kashta pattaru illa - Karaharapriya - Kanakadasa
2:09:29 💎 Mamava pattabhirama - Manirangu - Muthuswami Dikshitar
2:13:32 💎 Natha hare - Darbari Kanada - Jayadeva Ashtapadi
2:20:26 💎 Ramududbhavinchinadu - Janjuti - Prayaga Rangadas
2:24:01 💎 Salalitha raga (film song) Narthanashala - Kalyani - S.R.Samudrala
2:28:44 💎 Tillana - Pancha-gati-bheda - BMK
2:35:06 💎 Nagumomu - Madhyamavathi - Tyagaraja
2:37:46 💎 Mangalam - Navaroj - Bh. Ramadas

May Lord Rāma bless you all. Wishing you a blissful time in listening to this beautiful concert on this Sri Rāmanavami – Lord Rāma’s birthday.