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 Margazhi Utsavam - Morning saga - Chandra Anand e-mail: chandra6267@yahoo.co.in February 8, 2025 Margazhi is the month when temples get active from the wee hours of the day. Devotees gather for early morning group prayers, and they walk around the vicinity of the temple singing bhajans which ends with singing Thiruppavai of Andal and Thiruvempavai of Manickkavasagar at the temple shrine. Both these saintly poets and their compositions advocate community prayers during Margazhi. In order to give an understanding about this activity carried out by the ancient saints and devotees to the present generation, and to commemorate the Margazhi month, various music and dance institutes have started organizing events to that effect. The month of Margazhi is special to both Vaishnavites and Saivites. Lord Krishna, in Bhagavat Gita, says that among the months he is Margazhi, indicating its auspiciousness. The Vaikunta Ekadashi also falls in this month. Andal’s Thiruppavai is recited in Vishnu temples in Margazhi month while Manickkavasagar’s Thiruvempavai and Thirupalliezhuchi is sung at Shiva temples. His Thiruvasagam also is sung at times during this month. It is believed that it was in this month of Margazhi, when the Arudra star shone in its full brightness, that Lord Nataraja showed his divine dance to sages Vyagrapada and Patanjali. It is also said that Nandanar also had got darshan of the Lord of Chidambaram in this month.  Hema Balasubramanian On 12th January 2025, Swaralasika Sangeetalaya, Hema Balasubramanian’s school of Carnatic music, in collaboration with some of the renowned gurus of Mumbai, held their second annual edition of ‘Margazhi Margam’, a devotional walk to the temple, offering prayers through sangeetam and natyam (music and dance) along the route. The walk commenced, at 0645 hrs, with a prayer at Ambedkar Garden, Chembur, and ended at Shri Ahobila Mutt, Chembur. At the temple entrance, senior students sang the Thiruppaavai and dance teachers of younger generation performed natya samarpanam of a Thiruppaavai in Bharatanatyam and a song on Lord Krishna extolling the greatness of Krishna in Mohiniattam. In the temple premises, at the Shri Ahobila Mutt hall, the group presented Sri Krishna Charitam, a sangeeta natya expression of Sri Krishna’s life before a houseful audience. The gurus, training students in dance, music and musical instruments, all collaborated by making their students perform various episodes from Lord Krishna’s life.   Dancing along the way A grand morning walk, all dressed in finery, singing and dancing devotional content, was truly a meaningful gathering for one and all. One could see the enthusiasm of the children and their parents too, as they walked, singing and dancing, through the designated path - margam. As they also chatted along the way, one came to know the enthusiasm of the children taking part in the activity. There was a mother relating how in spite of her daughter having prelims for board exams, decided to join the saga. Another little girl, who showed determination to join the walk, as soon as she finished dancing, cutely yawned and was seen sleeping in her father’s arms. It was also an eye opener to many parents and audience as to how one dance could be choreographed to a song in many ways. Finally, this energizing and spiritually motivating experience, found all desiring to come together for this event again next year. Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai, also had their first edition of this Margazhi celebration on 30th December 2024 from 8am to 9.30am at the first floor of the sabha building. Here the idea was to celebrate the spirit of margazhi thingal - a day in the month of Margazhi. The event named ‘Margazhi Vaibhavam’, with bhakti and a tapestry of tradition, music and dance, was organized jointly by the Women’s Wing and the Sangeetha and Natya Vidhyalaya, under the helm of Subhalakshmi (President, WW) and Shyamala Sajnani (Principal of Sangeeta and Natya Vidyalaya). The celebrations commenced with a pooja, performed by S Hariharan, who explained how the morning prayers in Margazhi month had its importance in the life of individuals. It is said that 365 days of humans is equal to one day life of gods/devas. Dividing the year into two parts becomes the duration of morning and evening for the gods. Thus significantly the auspicious “brahma muhurtham” for the celestials to do their prayers falls during the month of Margazhi. It is surmised that humans, when they pray along with gods to the Ultimate Being, will get a lot of material and spiritual benefits. Thus, this activity of community prayers done during this month of Margazhi, are supposed to help all, for even those who hear these songs just for a minute, to connect to god and raise their potential for better growth and environment.  Jaianusika, Varshalakshmi and Kajolini Students from the Sangeetha Sabha, Varshalakshmi, Kajolini and Jaianusika sang harmoniously and in rhythm the pasurams 16, 15 and 25 from the Thiruppavvai. Saini Ramesh with her children Advait and Arundati performed the story of Andal. Saini informed about the goodness of Margazhi month and gave commentary in background as her son Advait as Vishnuchitttar and 4-year-old daughter Arundati as Andal, with aid of required props, vividly enacted the story of Andal’s birth till her union with Lord Ranganatha. Little Arundati also sang the first pasuram from the Thiruppavai spreading sweetness and cuteness of Thiruppavai and herself respectively.  Advait & Arundati Andal kavuthvam, where Andal is praised as one who was found in tulasi grove on the auspicious day by Vishnuchittar, as one known for her deep love for the Lord, known for connecting to him through her ritual with the garland for the temple idol and as bride of Lord having thousand names, and who carries the shankha, and wields the chakra, and reposes on the vata patra, were performed by Bharatanatyam students of the Natya Vidyalaya of the Sabha with great verve and aplomb.  Sruti Natanakumar Sruti Natanakumar performed with a great sense of devotion, a Thiruvempavai, “paasam paranjoti” (Arabi, adi) written by Manikkavasagar (one of the 63 Nayanmars). In this Thiruvempavai, the saint poet establishes the kind of bhakti one needs to have towards the Lord, Ananda Nataraja Murthy of Tillai Chidambaram, through a dialogue between friends who are young maidens. Vijayalakshmi Suryanarayanan and Vaishnavi Suryanarayanan traced the life story of Andal through a shabdam, “Maalai mannadha vallaam” (Ragamalika, mishrachapu) written and composed by RS Iyengar, choreographed by Vijayalakshmi Suryanarayanan. Andal and her composition Thiruppavai is celebrated in the month of Margazhi, by singing the 30 pasurams on each day. In these verses, she calls upon her friends to think of Lord Krishna and sing his various names and deeds. In the charanam of the shabdam, Andal’s story was recreated by them. Their experience and understanding the art of Bharatanatyam shone through. Finally, the natyalaya students danced kummi and kolattam with good coordination. Various formations were done with neatness and synchronization. Overall a good presentation was provided. Sadly, the acoustics didn’t work well for compering work and speeches couldn’t be heard clearly. A befitting prasadam of vadai and sarkarrai (sweet) pongal was distributed to all present.  Chandra Anand is a Bharatanatyam artiste and teacher. She has an MA in Bharatanatyam from Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, and her series on 'Education in spiritual values through Bharatanatyam' is featured in narthaki.com. |
