By Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan

On the concluding day of Ramotsava at Alamma’s Choutry, Vidyabhushana sang devotional songs. Pradeshachar accompanied him on violin, H.L. Shivashankaraswamy on mridanga, his disciple Nagaraj on tabla and M.R. Manjunath on ghata.

Devaranamas and bhajans were sung only in temples and at homes before. Their concert appearance is comparatively a recent phenomenon. Vidyabhushana has conquered the hearts of people all over the world through his simple spiritual singing, proving that spiritual salvation is attainable to anyone who has pure and selfless love for God.

Series of ugabogas and devaranamas were presented on the day, enchanting the devotee audience. Ugaboga  ‘Kadukaruni neenendu herodala namisuve ninnadige,’ followed by Purandara Dasa’s ‘Jaya jaya jaya Janakikanta’ , ‘Jana neenahudu, mukhya prana neenahudu’ on Lord Hanuman in Kalyani, ‘Vadarasane Satatam’ by Huligi Shreevatsacharya, ‘Ishtu dina ee Vaikuntha’ by Kanakadasaru in Shuddha Dhanyasi, Bannanje Govindacharya’s ‘Iva namma kanna dwaparada anna navilagari banna banna’, ‘Saku saku manujaseve Rangayya Ranga’ in Natikuranji, his very famous ‘Nammamma Sharade’ in Hamsadhwani (on request), Dasa Dasara maneya dasanudasa prefixed by an ugaboga ‘Shankudasara maneya’, ‘Elliruve tande Baro Maruti’ in Behag by Sheshagiri Dasa, ‘Keleno Hari Taleno’ rendered without tala like ugaboga leading onto ‘Govinda Govinda nanna tayi tande’ by Prasanna Venkata Dasaru and the concluding Marulu Mdaikondeyalle Mayadeviye’ in Madhyamavati regaled the listeners.

Vidyabhushana also presented a couple of pure classical compositions in the beginning of the concert — ‘Needu Mahima Pogadanatarama’ in Hamsanadi by Muthiah Bhagavataru, which also saw a neraval at ‘Moda hrdaya samadeva roopamaya’ and a short ragalapana of Bahudari followed by Tyagaraja’s popular ‘Brovabarama Raghurama’ were received well by the audience.

Thus concluded the 129th Ramotsava concert series of Rambhyudaya Sabha at Alamma’s Choultry.

Dr. Sriram of the Sabha should be applauded for the grand and neat organisation of the event series, which went successfully  with no hassle. The concerts attracted a huge number of listeners from all over Mysuru every day. The prasadam served sumptuously everyday was an added attraction. May such Sabhas and music organisers, connoisseurs increase in hundreds, in thousands! ‘Santati Hecchali Saviravagali.’