Syama Sastri (1762-1827), the eldest among the Carnatic Music Trinity, was born on Kritika star of Tamil month Chitirai. This year the janma Nakshatram fell on May 6. Syama Sastri was the hereditary Pujaka of Bangaru Kamakshi Amman temple in Thanjavur Mela Raja Veedi. He is the composer of soul stirring compositions on Devi, especially Kamakshi.
It would be appropriate to look at the background here. Originally, Bangaru Kamakshi Amman, now in Thanjavur, was at Kanchipuram. It is said that Adi Sankara himself appointed the ancestors of Syama Sastri for Puja Kainkaryam. Due to the volatile political situation, they had to leave Kanchipuram with the idol. For about two centuries the deity travelled to different places before settling down in Thanjavur, on an invitation from the Maratha ruler, Tulaja. Meanwhile Syama Sastri was born.
Tulaja built a temple for Kamakshi at the present place, gifted a house and enormous lands to the family. The family also had Ardha Meru, Panchaloka replica of the Moola vigraha of Kanchi Kamakshi, Panchaloka idols of Narthana Vinayaka and Syama Krishna. They are still worshipped.
In course of time, the puja rights came down to Syama Sastri. It is said that after the daily puja, he would sit before her and songs flowed fluently. Soaked in bhakti, the tone is that of a child seeking the protection of its mother. Though they are on intricate tala patterns they never disturb the flow or tone of the compositions.
Music workshop
Every year Thillaisthanam Marabu Foundation conducts workshop on the compositions of Syama Sastri at Thillaisthanam and arranges a concert at the Kamakshi Amman temple on his Janma Nakshatra day. This year it was decided to perform Sangeetanjali at the house of Syama Sastri, which is situated in Kamakshi Agraharam behind the temple. Mudradhikari Kunchithapadam, auditor Sundar and Harikatha expert Vishaka Hari were the pillars of strength for the programme.
It was a small gathering but charged with emotion at Syama Sastri’s house, where the concert took place. A modest structure built on traditional lines with pyols and a hall at the end of which a puja room is situated, the house lent the perfect ambience for the concert, presented by Archanasri and Swetha. Both the girls had their training on the compositions of Syama Sastri at Marabu Foundation. After a brief prelude to Syama Sastri, Sangeetanjali began.
There was no mike or any accompanying instruments. The atmosphere was pristine and the girls had realised how fortunate they were to get this rare opportunity. ‘Himachala Tanaya,’ ‘Meenalochana,’ ‘Enneramum,’ ‘O Jagadamba’ — the compositions came one after another. The audience had been transported to a different realm by the soulful singing of the duo. It was a special moment for this writer, a member of Marabu Foundation, for the aim of the Foundation is to preserve and propagate the rich treasures of this land’s heritage. Visalam, a descendant of Syama Sastri living in that house, helped a great deal with the conduct of the programme.
Chaitra Sairam’s evening concert at the Kamakshi Amman temple was no less appealing. ‘Himadrisuthe Pahimam’ (Kalyani) and ‘Enneramum’ (Purvikalyani) were presented conveying the essence of the compositions. The niraval and kalpanaswaram for the Bhairavi ‘Kamakshi’ Swarajati was scholarly. Dr. Govindarajan on the violin and Thanjavur Sankarasubrahmanyan on the mridangam gave good support. So powerful are the lyrics of Syama Sastri that the words Talli, Kamakshi, Pavani, Taye, Brova, Rave, Pahimam, Sada and so on reverberated like Mantras — long after the day faded into night.