Pushya Bahula Panchami happens to be the most sacred day to musicians to pay rich tribute to the most revered and popular Saint composer Sri Tyagaraja. Music to him was a way to experience God. His keerthanas, which are an expression of his deep devotion to his favourite Lord Sri Rama, stand testimony for this. Hundreds and thousands of his compositions, including the famed Pancharathna Keertanas echo from Thiruvaiyaru to every nook and corner of the country during his Aradhana. This commemorative music festival goes on through February.

Tyagaraja was influenced by Purandaradasa, the Pitamaha of Karnatak Sangeetha at a very young age. Incidentally, Purandaradasa’s death ceremony too falls on Mouni amavasya, close to that of Sri Tyagaraja’s. Hence, both are combined and celebrated. Almost all the music Sabhas celebrate this aradhana with fervour and devotion. Music concerts, Goshti Gayana and honouring senior musicians, musical plays are some of the features of this aradhana mahotsava. Ganabharathi emphasises on bringing out unheard padas of different Haridasas and celebrates two days of Haridasotsava every year apart from the Goshti Gayana of Pancharathna Kruthis.

Haridasotsava was held on the 2nd and 3rd of February at Veene Seshanna Bhavana.  Nearly 50 artistes participated with full enthusiasm and enthralled the rasikas with many Devaranamas. Shylaja Bhat, Srinath,  R.N. Srilatha, Nithin Rajarama Shastry sang on the 2nd evening. M.A. Jyothi, Niranjan, Sunitha Hiremath, Ramesh Kolkund, Rajalakshmi Sridhar, Sharada Bhat Kattigi, M.S. Bhaskar, Sukanya Prabhakar, T.P. Vaidyanathan and G.S. Rajalakshmi performed on the 3rd of February.

Violinists M.A. Jyothi, Veena Suresh, Tandavamurthy, H.K.Narasimhamurthy, C.A. Nataraj, Keshava and C.N. Tyagaraju and Percussionists like Kumaraswamy, J.T. Swamy, H.L. Shivashankaraswamy, Saishivu Lakshmi Keshava, G.S. Ramanujam, A. Radhesh, Bheemashankar, Parameshwara Hegde, Ramesh Dhannur and Harmonium players like Veerabhadriah Hiremath, Sriram Bhat and Deepak Nagannanavar and Nithin Rajarama Shastry accompanied the singers. Few unheard compositions of Haridasas came to light on the occasion.

Tyagaraja Sangeetha Sabha celebrated the aradhana on the 10th of February at Sri Prasanna Parvathi Kalyana Mantapa. Uncha vruthi was followed by honouring the senior musicians and music promoters.

Vidu. G.N. Nagamani Srinath, G.S. Vijaya Sitaram, Bhagyalakshmi Chandrasekhar, H.L. Gopalakrishna and A.R. Sridhar were honoured. This was followed by Goshti Gayana lead by Vidushis and Vidwans of Mysuru like H.K. Narasimhamurthy, R.S. Nandakumar, R.N. Srilatha, Nagamani Srinath, Koviladi Kala, Veena Suresh, G.S. Rajalakshmi, N.R. Prashanth, Manasanayana, Rajyasri Josyar, Neeraja Achyutha Rao, A. Radhesh and many more.

Starting from the Pillari Geethas of Purandara dasa, all the five Pancharathna keerthanas were sung in unison.  Thus, the salutations to Puranadara and Tyagaraja goes on and on.

By Dr. Rama V. Bennur