Rigveda Thrissanda:
Thirunaavaaya Brahmawam Madhom is planning to
conduct a Rigveda Thrissanda in April-May, 2004, after a gap of 35
years.
It is a programme for enhancing the Rigvedam
chanting skills and memory retention capacity by chanting the Padapaadda
& Kramapaadda of each Varkam in Rigvedam. It will take 8 months to
complete one round of Rigveda chanting in that way. Each day needs atleast
20 expert chanters. Currently, there are only around 25 Namboothiri expert
chanters of Rigvedam (in that high level) and this programme is intended
to increase the number of expert chanters at least by 3-fold. As you know,
by conducting the Thrissur Somayaagam ? 2003, the number of Namboothiri
yaagam experts was increased from 5 to 20. The upcoming Thuravoor
Somayaagam (April-2004) will increase it to 40, it is expected.
In order to attain perfection and quality, the
proposed Rigveda Thrissandda will allow only good chanters to participate
in it and will be completed only in four years (that means, 2004 to 2007)
due to the non-availability of experts for 8 months, continuously. That
means, 2 months each in 2004, 05, 06,& 08. So, chanters will be forced
to enhance their skills in order to participate in this event. Dr. Mannoor
Jathavedan Namboothiri, a practicing psychiatrist and twice winner of
?Katavalloor Katannirikkal? will be the technical head of this event. All
the existing Rigveda experts have offered their support and many young
chanters have come forward, enhancing their skills to participate in
this event. All of them will be paid properly depending on their expertise
and level of participation.
Each day requires Rs. 5000/=. In 2004, there
are 60 days of chanting and the organisors have already got a few
sponsors. They are searching for more. Hope they?ll get sponsors for all
the 60 days. We, the people behind namboothiri.com, give them full
support.
In the light of UNESCO's 2003-declaration
that Vedic chanting is an "Intangible Tradition", this project has
far reaching consequences. |