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 Guinness Record- Vazhuvoor Saravanane-mail: vazhuvoorsaravanan@gmail.com June 19, 2026  Today, one frequently sees performances of our traditional music and dance being staged under the banner of "Guinness World Records." It is evident that students, parents, and - even more so - their teachers and organizers are keenly interested in showcasing these events. Does this seem sensible? Our ancient traditional arts, preserved and cherished for centuries, form the foundation of our esteemed Indian culture. These arts are the identity of this land; language and art are like our two eyes. Until a few centuries ago, these art forms were practiced primarily as a means of worship. History tells us that such performances took place solely within the precincts of temples as an integral part of worship. In those times, they were never performed in royal palaces or other public spaces. Over time, this tradition has shifted, and today, these rare art forms are viewed largely as a form of entertainment. The legendary dance maestro 'Bharatham' Nallur Narayanasamy Iyer - a proponent of the 'Melattur Bhagavata Mela' tradition - performed dance solely as an act of worship in the sanctum of the Melattur Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, right before the presiding deity, Lord Narasimha Swamy. Even in more recent times, the veteran Bharatanatyam artist V. A. K. Ranga Rao - a prince of the Bobbili estate in Andhra Pradesh and a distinguished disciple of the dance maestro Vazhuvoor Samraj - performed dance as an act of worship exclusively at this same Narasimha Swamy shrine. It is true that, in keeping with the changing times, certain modifications may have occurred in dance techniques and the manner of their presentation. However, it is the duty of us all to ensure that our ancient art forms never stray from their traditional values. Those who have long revered and cherished these arts expect dancers to perform the noble art of Bharatanatyam while holding devotion and socially uplifting thoughts close to their hearts. One might undertake feats such as running for days on end or swimming across the ocean to set Guinness World Records; however, for those aspiring to achieve greatness in our revered traditional arts, success is possible only by mastering the craft, attaining a state of excellence, and thereby delighting the Divine who resides within the hearts of the people. Guinness World Records may be related to our body and mind! But our traditional arts are linked to our inner soul involved in a spiritual communion with the eternal!  Vazhuvoor Guru Saravanan is the grandson of Guru Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai and a Facility Administrator in IT corporate by profession. He is also a freelance writer on Arts, Tradition and Spirituality. His articles have been featured both in Tamil and English press media including Times of India, Daily Thanthi, Kumudam Bhakthi etc. Post your comments Pl provide your name along with your comment. All appropriate comments posted with name in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
