Narayana Teertha
Encyclopedia
Sri Narayana Teertha (c. 1650 - 1745 CE) was a composer
of Carnatic music
.
in the region covered by the present-day Andhra Pradesh
. He lived in Kaja near Mangalagiri in Guntur district
. They belonged to Tallavajhula family. His birth name was Govinda Sastrulu. They eventually moved to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
.
While there is significant dissention as to his exact time, historians
place him between 1610 and 1745 AD. An extensive research done with the help of archives preserved in Saraswati Mahal Library has helped place the time closer to 1650 AD – 1745 AD, and he reportedly lived a long life.
He mastered music at a very early age and studied Puranas, Bhagavata Purana
and other Sanskrit
works. He renounced family at a very early age and took on a life of a religious devotion. He went to Varanasi to spread his philosophy.
Teertha was very well versed in Music
and, Natya Shastra
, and a great scholar in Sanskrit
. He used at least 34 popular raga
s. He used Triputa, Adi, Rupaka, Chapu, Jampa, Matya, Vilamba, Eka and Ata taalams
. Many of the songs are structurally well set for direct use as nritya or natya padams. He carefully avoided complex usages and utilized easy expressions. His Gadyams and Padyams are exquisite in beauty. He used 17 different Chandas or meters such as Anushtup, Arya, Indravajra, Bhujangaprayadam, Sardoola vikreeditam, Vasanta tilaka, Pritvi.
He wrote 15 books and some of them are available in Benares Hindu University and Parijatapaharanam at Saraswathi Mahal in Tanjore. He is also credited with composing two other operas, Parijatha Apaharanam and Haribhakthi Sundarnavam.
Sri Narayana Tirtha attained Siddhi in 1745 at a nearby village called Tirupoonthuruti under a huge mango tree, on the banks of river Kudamurutti, on the Masi Sukla Ashtami, Guruvaram, Krithika Nakshatram day. It is said that he attained `Jeeva Samadhi' (even while alive).
opera called Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini on the life of the Hindu god Lord Krishna
. It deals with the life story of Krishna starting with his birth, childhood pranks and ending with his marriage to Rukmini
. Narayan Theertha uses various literary and musical forms such as songs, prose passages, Slokas (praises in verse), Dwipadis (couplets), etc. The songs are popularly called "Tarangas" means waves. The lyrics are simple yet beautiful and effective. The Astapadis of Jayadeva
are said to be the inspiration.
Legend has it that the inspiration to compose this piece occurred when he was along the banks of Naducauvery. He was suffering from a serious stomach ailment and prayed that he should be given the strength to go back to Tirupati, where it all started. A divine voice asked him to follow a boar (varaha) to wherever it led him. The varaha led him to Bhupatirajapuram, which came to be known as `Varahur' later. The people of the village knew that a maha-purusha was coming. With their help, he raised the temple for Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Lord Venkateswara and settled down on the banks of river `Kudamurutty' the name by which the Cauvery was known at this place.
Tarangini
is an opera highly suitable for dance drama and it has been very well utilized by Indian classical dancers over the last two centuries. Tarangini consists of 12 Tarangams and encapsulates 153 songs, 302 slokams and 31 choornikaas. Teertha followed Veda VyAsa’s Bhagavatam and concentrated on the 10th skandam.
, at the birth place of Saint Narayana Teertha celebrated his 264th aradhana. As a part of the celebrations, guru pooja, morning worship, sahasranama chanting, vedic renditions and tarangam singing were conducted. Bhajan troupes from various parts of the State rendered tarangams with devotion.
The devotees of Thirupoonthuruti have been organising music festivals at the Samadhi shrine for over 300 years, at Tirupoonthuruti on Masi Sukla Ashtami Day. A regular Aradhana Committee was formed in 1965. They annually organises programmes consisting of music concerts, lecture-demonstrations, bhajans, musical discourses and unchavriti.
The Thirupoonthuruti Sri Narayana Tirtha Swamigal Trust was established at Chennai
in 1986. The inaugural function was held at the Krishna Gana Sabha, with a memorable recital by M. S. Subbulakshmi
. K. J. Yesudas
produced a 13-part serial on Sri Narayana Tirtha for Chennai Doordarshan. The most significant achievement of the Trust is the construction of the "Nama Sankirtana Mani Mandapam" near the Jeeva Samadhi temple.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
of Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
.
Brief lifesketch
Narayana was born in South IndiaSouth India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
in the region covered by the present-day Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
. He lived in Kaja near Mangalagiri in Guntur district
Guntur district
Guntur district is located in Andhra Pradesh along the east coast of Bay of Bengal. The district has a coastline of around 100 kilometers. Guntur City is the largest city in the district and administrative center of Guntur District. The district is a major center for learning.-Etymology:There are...
. They belonged to Tallavajhula family. His birth name was Govinda Sastrulu. They eventually moved to Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
While there is significant dissention as to his exact time, historians
place him between 1610 and 1745 AD. An extensive research done with the help of archives preserved in Saraswati Mahal Library has helped place the time closer to 1650 AD – 1745 AD, and he reportedly lived a long life.
He mastered music at a very early age and studied Puranas, Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata purana
The Bhāgavata Purāṇa is one of the "Maha" Puranic texts of Hindu literature, with its primary focus on bhakti to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krishna...
and other Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
works. He renounced family at a very early age and took on a life of a religious devotion. He went to Varanasi to spread his philosophy.
Teertha was very well versed in Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and, Natya Shastra
Natya Shastra
The Natya Shastra is an ancient Indian treatise on the performing arts, encompassing theatre, dance and music. It was written during the period between 200 BC and 200 AD in classical India and is traditionally attributed to the Sage Bharata.The Natya Shastra is incredibly wide in its scope...
, and a great scholar in Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. He used at least 34 popular raga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
s. He used Triputa, Adi, Rupaka, Chapu, Jampa, Matya, Vilamba, Eka and Ata taalams
Tala (music)
Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion...
. Many of the songs are structurally well set for direct use as nritya or natya padams. He carefully avoided complex usages and utilized easy expressions. His Gadyams and Padyams are exquisite in beauty. He used 17 different Chandas or meters such as Anushtup, Arya, Indravajra, Bhujangaprayadam, Sardoola vikreeditam, Vasanta tilaka, Pritvi.
He wrote 15 books and some of them are available in Benares Hindu University and Parijatapaharanam at Saraswathi Mahal in Tanjore. He is also credited with composing two other operas, Parijatha Apaharanam and Haribhakthi Sundarnavam.
Sri Narayana Tirtha attained Siddhi in 1745 at a nearby village called Tirupoonthuruti under a huge mango tree, on the banks of river Kudamurutti, on the Masi Sukla Ashtami, Guruvaram, Krithika Nakshatram day. It is said that he attained `Jeeva Samadhi' (even while alive).
Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini
Narayana Teertha was the author of a SanskritSanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
opera called Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini on the life of the Hindu god Lord Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. It deals with the life story of Krishna starting with his birth, childhood pranks and ending with his marriage to Rukmini
Rukmini
In Hinduism, Rukmini is the principal wife and queen of Krishna at his city of Dwarka. Krishna heroically kidnaps her from an un-wanted marriage at her request . Of Krishna's 16,108 queens, Rukmini is the first and most prominent...
. Narayan Theertha uses various literary and musical forms such as songs, prose passages, Slokas (praises in verse), Dwipadis (couplets), etc. The songs are popularly called "Tarangas" means waves. The lyrics are simple yet beautiful and effective. The Astapadis of Jayadeva
Jayadeva
Jayadeva was a Sanskrit poet circa 1200 AD. He is most known for his composition, the epic poem Gita Govinda, which depicts the divine love of Krishna-an avatar of Vishnu and his consort, Radha, and it is mentioned that Radha is greater than Hari, and is considered an important text in the...
are said to be the inspiration.
Legend has it that the inspiration to compose this piece occurred when he was along the banks of Naducauvery. He was suffering from a serious stomach ailment and prayed that he should be given the strength to go back to Tirupati, where it all started. A divine voice asked him to follow a boar (varaha) to wherever it led him. The varaha led him to Bhupatirajapuram, which came to be known as `Varahur' later. The people of the village knew that a maha-purusha was coming. With their help, he raised the temple for Sri Lakshmi Narayana and Lord Venkateswara and settled down on the banks of river `Kudamurutty' the name by which the Cauvery was known at this place.
Tarangini
Tarangini
* Tarangini is the most prominent musical compositions of Narayana Teertha.* INS Tarangini is a tall ship of the Indian Navy....
is an opera highly suitable for dance drama and it has been very well utilized by Indian classical dancers over the last two centuries. Tarangini consists of 12 Tarangams and encapsulates 153 songs, 302 slokams and 31 choornikaas. Teertha followed Veda VyAsa’s Bhagavatam and concentrated on the 10th skandam.
Other works
- Subhodinee – treatise (in Sanskrit) on Brahma Sutra Sankara BhAshyam;
- VivaraNa Deepika (in Telegu), a treatise on PancheekaraNa vartika of SureswarAchArya;
- ParijAtApaharaNam, the well known Yakshaganam in Telegu
- Hari Bhakti SudhArNavam, and
- ChaAndilya Bhakti Sutra vyAkyAnam
Popular Compositions
Some of the popular compositions are listed here:- jaya jaya swAmi
- jaya jaya ramA nAtha
- Saranam bhava
- nArAyanAya
- mangaLAlaya
- jaya jaya durgE
- mAdhava mAdhava
- Ehi mudam dEhi
- Ehi mudam mama
- kriShnam kalaya
- kalaya yaSOdE
- dAmOdara tAvaka
- gOvinda ghaTaya
- AlOkayE
- paSyata paSyata
- jaya jaya gOkula
- dEva dEva praseeda
- neela mEgha sareera
- pAhi pAhi jagan
- dEva kuru Siksham
- Sree gOpAlaka
- AyAhi vraja
- gOvardhana
- nanda nandana
- parama purusha
- poraya mama kAmam
- vada kim karavANi
- mAdhava mAmava
- gOvinda miha
- nanda nandana
- kathaya kathaya
- bhAvayE
- vijaya gOpAla
- pAhi pAhi mAm
- vEdAdri
- veekshE kadA
- rE rE mAnasa
- gOpAla mEva
- kaLyAnam bhavatu
- jaya jaya bAla gOpAla
- AlOkayE
- rukmiNi kaLyAnam
- jaya mangaLam
- kshEmam kuru gOpAla
Aradhana
Sri Narayana Teertha Trust of KajaKAJA
KAJA may refer to:* KAJA , a radio station licensed to San Antonio, Texas, United States* K68DJ, a television station licensed to Corpus Christi, Texas, United States, unofficially known as KAJA...
, at the birth place of Saint Narayana Teertha celebrated his 264th aradhana. As a part of the celebrations, guru pooja, morning worship, sahasranama chanting, vedic renditions and tarangam singing were conducted. Bhajan troupes from various parts of the State rendered tarangams with devotion.
The devotees of Thirupoonthuruti have been organising music festivals at the Samadhi shrine for over 300 years, at Tirupoonthuruti on Masi Sukla Ashtami Day. A regular Aradhana Committee was formed in 1965. They annually organises programmes consisting of music concerts, lecture-demonstrations, bhajans, musical discourses and unchavriti.
The Thirupoonthuruti Sri Narayana Tirtha Swamigal Trust was established at Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in 1986. The inaugural function was held at the Krishna Gana Sabha, with a memorable recital by M. S. Subbulakshmi
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi , also known as M.S., was a renowned Carnatic vocalist. She was the first musician ever to be awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. She is the first Indian musician to receive...
. K. J. Yesudas
K. J. Yesudas
Kattassery Joseph Yesudas is an Indian classical musician and playback singer.Yesudas sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music. He has recorded more than 50,000 songs in many languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Oriya, Marathi, Punjabi,...
produced a 13-part serial on Sri Narayana Tirtha for Chennai Doordarshan. The most significant achievement of the Trust is the construction of the "Nama Sankirtana Mani Mandapam" near the Jeeva Samadhi temple.