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Dear BhakthAs :
 
It is my pleasure to let you know about the release of
a delightful and significant audio CD ROM  by The Ahobila Mutt of
North America on the most important  topic of  Saranagathi .
 
It is a Musical CD ROM , a Naadha NaivEdhyam by
Srimathi Sumati Ramesh of New Jersey and Mumbay .
 
Sumati is a gifted musician , who has assembled an exquisite 
garland of " flowers " from AzhwAr , AchArya Sri Sookthis
and NaadhOpAsakaas like Saint Annamayya and ThyAgarAja
SwamigaL . She  is placing this garland at the sacred feet of her AchAryan
(Srimath Azhagiya Singar) and MalOlan with great bhakthi . It is indeed
a Naama KusumAnjali by her .
 
This  SaraNAgathy garland presented by Srimati Sumati Ramesh
is a veritable Vyjayanthi Maalai and carries the eternal fragrance
associated with the uplifting message of SataNagathi in all its aspects .
 
This is an audio CD ROM that all Sri VaishNava Families and
Music lovers should enjoy and reflect upon . Please send e-mail to
Sriman Rajaji , the President of Ahobila Matam NA to acquire your copies
 
This Outstanding CD from many aspects ( Sacredness of the subject ,
significance in our lives , Musical acumen displayed , AchArya anugraham
that it contains) is a most desirable treasure to have in your family's library 
and listen to often .
 
This CD has been prized at $ 15 to recover the costs invested ahead
to prepare and release it .
 
Your support for this kaimkaryam beyond $15 for each CD
is also most welcome to cover the expenses incurred . May Sriman
Narayana's blessings be with you and your Family always !   
 
Let us start now with the enjoyment of the Saranagathi CD ROM .
 
1. Anugraha BhAshaNam
********************************
Prakrutham Azhagiya Singar , HH Sri Narayana Yathindhra Maha Desikan
blesses this CD with a seven minute long anugraha BhAshaNam on
the importance of SaraNAgathy anushtAnam in Sri VaishNava SampradhAyam .
 
HH Srimath Azhagiya Singar reminds us of the MahOpakArams of
our AzhwArs and AchAryAs to show us the secure means of SaraNAgathy
to gain Moksha Siddhi and enjoy nithya Kaimkaryam and ParipoorNa
BrahmAnandham at Sri Vaikuntam . 
 
2. AchArya Vandhanam
******************************
The musical portion of the CD Rom statrs with the invocatory piece
( Taniyan ) in Sanskrit that offers its obesiance to HH Sri Narayana
YathIndhra MahA Desikan , the current  revered Jeeyar of Sri Matam .
It is sung in a very pleasing  early morning Raagam .
 
3. Guru Parampara anusandhAnam
*********************************************
The second piece is from Swamy Desikan's tribute to Sri VaishNava
Guru Paramaparai . This Tamil Paasuram is from AdhikAra Sangraham
of Desika Prabhandham and is sung in Raagam AabhOgi (Known for its
Janta Svara PrayOgam , which matches the brisk Chantham of Swamy
Desikan's Paasuram ) in the Viruttham style .
 
Here , Swamy Desikan  pays his praNAmams to his immediate
AchAryan for the sadhupadEsams that he has recieved . Srimathy Chitra
Malolan says in her sleeve notes : " Sri VaishNava SampradhAyam
is grand and rich in glory , as it has been passed on to us from Lord
Sriman Narayanan Himself . Swami Desikan venerates this unbroken
chain of Acharyas "  from his immediate Acharyan (AatrEya Raamanuja )
to the PratamAchAryan , Sriman Narayanan .
 
After the salutations to the AchArya GhOshti , Sumathi selects
an elaborate piece to pay her tribute to the Naayaka MaNi in
the necklace (haaram ) of  AchAryAs , Swami Ramanuja .  
 
4. Bhaja YathirAjam in Raaga Maalikai format
********************************************************* 
This Sanskrit  piece has been bequeathed to us 
by Sri RanganAthAchAr Swamy considered  as
a disciple (?) of AchArya RaamAnuja . 
 
Sumati selects thirteen beautiful  ragams to bring out
the reverential salutation of Sri RanganAthAchAr's
extensive coverage of the Life and Vaibhavam of
AchArya Ramanuja . Ninteen minutes have been
dedicated to this Krithi . 
 
These raagams in their exquiste sequence are:
 
1) Hamsadhvani ( A Raaga created by the 18th Century composer
     Sri Ramaswamy Dikshithar ).
 
2) DhanyAsi ( a Janya Raagam of  8th MeLam , Hanuma ThOdi
    known for its Maadhuryam and mood of Bhakthi ; Morning Raaga ).
 
3) HamsAnandhi ( a Beautiful Evening Raagam).
 
4)SahAnA ( a tender Raagam ideal for humble prayers with pathos
and nirvEdham seeking  the boon of  BhagavAn's anugraham)
 
5) SaavEri ( another tender Raagam with its exquisite gliding between
shadjamam and Rishabha svarams :  " SaavE ReeyAha irukkum ") .
 
6) The Soaring and Majestic KedAra Gowlai (Veera Rasam)
 
7) The pleading Hameer KalyANi  (usually used in nindhA sthuthi
to remind the Lord that he has not done his duty of Bhaktha RakshaNam ).
 
8) The delectable Aanandha Bhairavi dear  to VeNu and Naadhasvara VidhvAns.
 
9) Tilang ( Evening 6-9P.M Raaga known for the mood of VisrAnthy/Saanthi ).   
 
10) Bage Sri ( another auspicious Raagam dear to MahA Lakshmi ).
 
11) BehAg ( late night Raagam / 9-12 Midnight )
 
12) Sindhu Bhairavi ( Noted for its  Karunaa Rasam )
 
13) Desh ( a Luminous Raagam like Chandra Kauns , Madhuvanthy ).
 
Srimathy Sumati Ramesh's brilliant rendering of the tribute to
AchArya Ramanuja and His message of SaraNAgathi is a wonderful
accomplishment . You must hear this Bhajan style item with the hand cymbals
echoing the beat in the background .
 
5. Thirumangai Mannan's outpourings on SaraNAgathi
*********************************************************************
The nirvEdham of Klaiyan and His UpadEsamfor us  to clelebrate
the power of AshtAkshara Manthram to get freedom from
the cycles of births and deaths ( Moksham) is a very personal
message .
 
The first Paasuram " VaainEn Vaadi VarunthinEn " ( Periya Thirumozhi 1.1.1)
is sung by Sumati in the Raagam Revathy dear to Lord RanganAtha.  
The closeness of Revathy svarams to Vedic svarams used in
Saama Gaanam make this rendering of the Paasuram very moving .
 
Sumati follows the First Paasuram of Periya Thirumozhi
with the ninth Paasuram of the same decad ( Kulam Tarum )
in the morning Raagam of Bilahari . Here , Kaliyan points out
the greatness of the dhivya Naamam of NaarAyaNa and its
power to grant all the worldly riches as well as the Parama
PurushArTam of  Moksham .
 
6. Tribute to Lord Narasimha
*************************************
In this Bilahari Raaga Krithi composed by Saint ThyagarAja
at Sholingar and set in Misra ChApu TaaLam , Lord Narasimha
is the object of  his SaraNAgathi . The sleeve notes by Smt. Chitra
Malolan says : Saint ThyagarAja says : " Only with the benevolence of
Lord Narasimhan we would have the bhAgyam of chanting his name ,
meditate upon Him and be in the company of His devotees , which are the ideal
values for a Sri VaishNavan ".Sumati's rendering of this krithi brings out
the mood and mind set for SaraNAgathy .
 
7.Tribute to Lord VenkatEsa by Saint AnnamAchArya: BhavamulOna --
******************************************************************************************
The next krithi chosen by Sumati is the famous Suddha DhanyAsi
Krithi of the srEshta VenkatEsa BhakthA , AnnamayyA of TaaLappAkkam .
AnnamayyA was a key sishya of the First Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt ,
Sri Aadhi VaNN SaThakOpa Jeeyar . The spirit of SaraNagathi is
evoked by AnnamayyA in this krithi and the dhvani of it echos
are heard still in the sanctum of the Lord of the Seven hills .
 
8. Swamy NammAzhwAr's SaraNAgathy to Lord SrinivAsa at Thirumala
******************************************************************************************
In the classical ThiruvAimozhi Paasuram ( 6.10.10) , Swamy NammAzhwAr
performs his moving SaraNAgathy at the sacred feet of Sriya: Pathi at
ThiruvEnkatam hills ( agalakillEn Paasuram) . It is the SaasthrOktha
SaraNagathi following the way shown by Dhvaya manthram . Its tight links to
Dhavya Manthram has been extensively commented upon .
 
Here , Swamy NammAzhwAr , who is eager to have his SaraNagathy fulfilled
quickly approaches the Lord through MahA Lakshmi  as PurushakAram ;
next he describes clearly his svaroopam ( yennai AaLvAnE !) and performs
SaraNAgathi( adiyEn unnadikkeezh puhunthEnE ).
 
AchArya RaamAnuja took his cues from this Paasuram to perform
his SaraNAgathi in front of the dhivya dampathis of Srirangam through
his SaraNAgathy Gadhyam , where  Acharya Ramanuja eulogized
the nithya yOgam ( nithyAnapAyini , agalakillEniRayamenRu ) .
As ananya SaraNan and akinchanan , Swamy NammAzhwAr perforemed
his SaraNAgathy ( Unn adikkeezh adiyEn amarnthu puhunthEnE/ NaarAyaNa
charaNou SaraNam prapadhyE ) and AchArya Ramanuja followed that ancient path .
 
Swamy NammAzhwAr is our ParamAchAryar with unshakable links to
our PrathamAchAryan , Sriman NarayaNan . This Paasuram is the sheet
anchor for SaraNAgathy in that it is an exact vivaraNam of SaraNAgathy
anushtAnam as per the dhvya Manthram .
 
At ThiruviNNagar , Swamy NammAzhwAr revealed through his Ukthi
( ThiruviNNagar mannu PirAn kazhalkaLanRi maRROr kaLaikaNilam
kaaNminkaLe) . Here at ThiruvEnkatam , Swamy NammAzhwAr performed
his SaraNAgathi anushtAnam . Swamy NammAzhwAr performed SaraNAgathi
at ThiruvEnkatam not for himself alone but for all of us and showed us
the way through this anushtAna Paasuram .  
 
Sumati has etched the anubhavam of Swamy NammAzhwAr through
the use of KaambhOji raagam ideal for elaboration of the spirit and
substance of SaraNAgathy. Saint ThyagarAja was inspired to perform
his SaraNAgathy in front of Lord RanganAtha with his elaborate KaambhOji
krithi ( Oh RangasAyee) with its many sangathis in the Pallavi . Sumati has
followed this rich tradition . It is appropriate that her CD is going to be released
at Sri RanganAtha Temple during AchArya Dinam celebration ( Sep 3-4, 2005).
 
9. Swamy Desikan's NyAsa Dasakam : Description and AnushTanam of SaraNAgathi
***********************************************************************************************************
Sumati now moves from Swamy NammAzhwAr's Paasuram to the Sri Sookthi of
NyAsa Dasakam , where Swamy Desikan instructed us about the mood behind
the SaraNAgathy , the five angams of SaraNAgathi and performed the SaraNAgathi
before his Ishta Dhaivam , Lord VaradarAjan of Hasthi Giri at Kaancheepuram .
 
The detailed meanings of Sri NyAsa Dasakam recited by us every day is
 
Sumati has used Siva Ranjani and Subha PanthuvarALi to bring out
the inherent beauty and sacredness of this precious Sri Sookthi of
Swamy Desikan with great Vaathsalyam and prEmai . adiyEn was deeply
moved by listening to the rendering of Sumati with great care to the uccharaNam
of the Sanskrit words and the BhAvam behind the slOkams of this  Sri Sookthi .
 
Lord Sivan is none other than Ahirbudhnyan , who performed His SaraNAgathi
at the sacred feet of  Sriman Narasimhan ( MlaOlan) through the illustrious
Manthra Raaja Padha SthOthram . This NyAsa Dasakam should be very
pleasing ( Ranjani)  to this Special Nrusimha Bhakthan .The Raagam of
Subha PanthuvarALi is dear to Sathya NaarayaNan , the SaraNAgatha
Vathsalan , who accepts our SaraNAgathi with Svaroopa, Bhara and
Phala SamarpaNams  through our AchAryans .
 
9. MangaLam in MadhyamAvathi : Vandhanam to Sri Vaikunta Naathan
******************************************************************************************
As a fitting finale , Sumati has chosen the MadhyamAvathi krithi of 
VidhvAmsini-Saahithya KarthA , Srimathy SanthAna Lakshmi of
Mumbay to evoke the bliss of arival of the Mumukshu at Parama Padham
and the performance of Nithya Kaimkaryam to the dhivya dampathys
there . This is the ultimate experience for one , who has been blessed
with Moksha Siddhi through the anushtAnam of SaraNAgathi .
 
In the Subhakara Raagam of MadhyamAvathi with its many ranjaka prayOgams,
Sumati invokes the mood of AchArya RaamAnujA's Sri Vaikunta Gadhyam ,
KurEsar's Sri Vaikuntta Sthavam and Swamy Desikan's Parama Padha
sOpAnam 's PrApthi parvam . with great bhAvam (emotional appeal) .
 
Sumati sings this krithi set in a thristhAyi  raagam known for its concordance
of scales (Symmetrical plain scales)  that portrays exquisitely the Bhakthi and
KaaruNya rasams . The  many ranjaka prayOgams  of this raagam are at the emotional
rather than the cerebral level , which fits very well with the mood of SaraNAgathi .
One has to enjoy this whole CD  ROM with one's eyes closed and it is superlative
aanandha anubhavam .
 
Concluding observations on the Musical aspects of the Raagams chosen
********************************************************************************************
Sumati's choice of RaagAs are striking . Her selections are eclectic :
 
There are RaagAs with symmetrical plain scales : AbhOgi , MadhyamAvathi ,
HamsAnandhi and AbhOgi .
 
There are RaagAs with asymmetrical plain scales : Bilahari , DhanyAsi , SaavEri , KedAragouLai and KaambhOji .
 
There are the RaagAs with Vakra Scales : SahAnaa , Aanandha Bhairavi ,
Hameer KalyANi and Behag and there is the 45th Parthimadhyama  MeLa
Raagam of Subha PanthuvarALi . 
 
The Raagas and their svaroopam are revealed in a manner that enhances
the RasAnubhavam for the Listener .Please acquire this CD and experience
the outpourings of AzhwArs and AchAryAs to help one and all to practise
SaraNAgathy as a direct and immediate means to Moksham irrespective of 
Caste , Creed , Colour , Language or Gender .   
 
DaasOham , Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam ,
Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
 
  
 
   
 
 


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