On Navaratri find the Shakti within you
Premium
Five artistes share how they discovered themselves through the Shakti of art and the need to recognise one’s inner strength
Several decades ago, as a young boy, when I was asked to sing a kriti for Lakshmi pooja, I sheepishly declared that a school prayer was all I knew, only to be reminded by my teacher that the famous geetham ‘Varaveena’ is on Mahalakshmi. This led me on a path of imbibing the nuances of the lyrics. Students of Carnatic music usually learn a song even before grappling with the concepts of Bhakti and Shakti. The quest still continues, especially when I sing kritis of Muthuswami Dikshitar on Devi, ranging from the simple tunes of the nottuswaras like ‘Shyamale Meenakshi’ and ‘Kamalasana’ to the exceptional ‘Kamalamba Navavarnam’. The last is more esoteric with tantrik, geometric and religious details of the Sri Chakram and its nine enclosures. The beauty of the lyrics of the Navavarnam comes through in the 11 ragas they are set in. Equally beautiful are the works of Syama Sastri, especially his ‘Ratna Thrayam’. I experience a sense of surrender when singing it. Ragas Bhairavi, Thodi and Yadhukulakamboji help convey the magnificence of Kanchi Kamakshi as described in the lyrics. Swati Tirunal and Papanasam Sivan have also shared with us their musical and spiritual fervour. Muthiah Bhagavatar’s creation in raga Niroshta is unique – it omits the only two swaras ‘ma’ and ‘pa’ where the lips touch. All this for a kriti on Vagdevi, no less!