Chamundeshwari Ashtottara Shatanaama Kritis – Release of the audio series
-Dr.Ragini Sanath.
Video Link of the program:
The Vanamala Center for Art and Culture, as part of the 25th series of Bharatiya Samskrita Darshana, presented the audio release of “Chamundeshwari Ashtottara Shatanaama Kritis”, composed by Harikeshanelluru Dr. L. Muttaiah Bhagavathar, at the Indian Institute of World Culture on Saturday, March 8th 2025.
The event commenced with an inspiring and warm welcome to the chief guests- Maharajakumari Smt. Kamakshi Devi Wadiyar, Maharajakumari Smt. Indrakshi Devi Wadiyar, Sri Rajachandra, artists and patrons from the energetic Master of Ceremonies, Vid. Nagashree Narayanan, who set a lively tone to the evening .
The Mysuru state anthem “Kayou Sri Gowri” was soulfully performed in unison by the Vanamala team and the children who had learned it during the Mysuru Chinnari Sangeeta workshop hosted by the Vanamala Center a few months ago.
Following this, the founding members of Vanamala Center, Dr. Meera Rajaram Pranesh and Dr. Pranesh, along with the invited guests of honour, proceeded with the ceremonial, traditional lamp-lighting.
The audience was treated to an engaging documentary film on Vanamala Center for art and culture, showcasing a range of activities dedicated to promoting art and culture. The center actively contributes to this mission by producing musical documentaries which are available on its youtube channel in both audio and video formats, publishing books, organizing research trips, hosting workshops for children, conducting regular lectures by subject experts, and nurturing a robust team of research scholars, details of all these which are available on its website.
Dr. Meera then presented an engaging overview of Dr. Muttaiah Bhagavathar’s life and his contributions to Karnatak music. She captivated the audience with a blend of anecdotes, photographs, recordings of his voice, personal artifacts, and insights from Vid. Sri Belakavadi Srinivasa Iyengar which she had gathered during her research journey. The presentation seamlessly transitioned into a musical interlude, with Vanamala artists performing select Chamundeshwari ashtottara compositions as a prelude to the release, accompanied by esteemed artists- Ganakalashree Vid. Sri ASN Swamy on Mridangam, Vid. Sri Vishwajith Mattur on violin, and Vid. Sri Raghu Simha on flute, resulting in a synchronized, lovely and energetic rendition of some rare and popular compositions:
● Buddhi Devi in Raga Malahari set to Mishra chapu tala,
● Sampatprade Sri Chamundeshwari in Raga Kalyani set to Adi tala,
● Devi Sri Mahalakshmi in Raga Harinarayani set to Rupaka tala,
● Sahasrakara mandithe in Raga Vachaspathi set to Adi tala,
● Ratnakanchuka dharini in Raga Kambhoji set to Mishra Chapu,
● Haridra kumkuma Priye in Raga Suruti set to Mishrachapu
Each and every composition enthralled the audience who were equally encouraging and engaged. The event then continued with Dr. Meera honoring the chief guests and unveiling the project’s audio release,
featuring a vibrant rendition of the ever-popular composition “Bhuvaneshwariya nene” set to MohanaKalyani Raga.
Following this, Dr. Ragini Sanath, a research team member of Vanamala Center, shared insights on behalf of the entire team, reflecting on collective effort, team spirit and experiences working on the project, effectively highlighting the effort involved in imparting and acquiring the knowledge and gearing it up to production.
As the evening unfolded , the chief guests of the event expressed their delight and appreciation.
Maharajakumari Smt. Kamakshi Devi Wadiyar spoke highly of the project commending Dr. Meera for her unwavering dedication. In his speech, Sri Rajachandra revealed some of the interesting aspects of the Mysuru royal patronage and offered enthusiastic support for the project .
The event drew a full house with an engaged audience, further enriched by the presence of distinguished artists, including Padmashri awardee Vidwan Sri R. N. Tyagarajan, Vidushi Smt. Roopa Sridhar, Vidushi Smt. Sudha V. Murthy, Vidushi Smt. Kamala Balaji, Dr. Vidya Rao, Vidwan Aakash Narasipure, and patrons.
The evening wrapped up with a vote of thanks extended by research team member, Dr. Karthik who expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who contributed to the project, aptly describing the project as a labor of love and a blend of dedication and collective effort.
With strong support from the venue’s infrastructure throughout the event, the artists’ vibrant attire, soulful singing, and remarkable synergy vividly brought to life the dynamic essence of Devi Chamundeshwari, evoking a profound and divine connection.
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