The Joy Of Bhajanai!
I was thinking of Bangalore and our family when I suddenly was hit by memories of Bhajanais. I realized they are just so integral a part of our family. The family songs from Pazhani Malai Kovilile, Thechi Mandaram, Sree Chakra Raja, Seetha Kalyana and the Ayyappa Bhajani songs - most of us identify with it and so many occasions in our lives are linked by these special songs.
Going back to bhajanais, Bhajanais in Cement Nagar would happen every Friday night in the temple and were the high point of the week. Later, when Sabari Malai became popular, the Ayyappa bhajanai used to be held in the temple on Saturdays. The nice thing about the Bhajani was about Amma and Vijayan, both of them sing very well and were asked to sing during the Bhajanais. Vijayan is especially good at imitating people and he would imitate Sesham Raju sir, so well. Appa would occasionally join in with 'Nataraja Narataraja Narthana Sundara Nataraja" or "Ashta Sidhi Nava Nidhi Ke Datha" and we would all erupt with laughter. The bhajanais ended with Rama Sharma Mama singing "Selava Rama Selava". And of couse followed the prasaadam, the much awaited sweet pongal and puliyodarai, Pujari's special.
During the Ayyappa Bhajanais, Amma and Vijayan would sing "Van Puli Meethinile".
[Sekar would not sing the line 'Anudinam Puja Cheyvom" from Van Puli Meethinile, because he explained to me, we might not be able to do so.]
The Ayyappa bhaktas converted the lyrics "Pampa lo snanam chesi papalu kadige" (bathing in pampa to cleanse our sins) became "Pumpu lo snanam chesi papalu kadige"(bathing in the pump to cleanse our sins), much to all our amusement!
Later when we moved to Trichur, the bhajanai saga continued. Amma, Appa and I got to hear Pitukuli Muruga Das - 'Skanda Muruga Varuvaye', 'Karthikeya Kaliyuga varada' etc and we were enthralled. Also, Andathu Ramesh's bhajanai - Ramesh rendering 'Vizhi Kidakyuma', 'Ayya endr azhaykya va unnai', 'Irumudiyay thangi vandom iraakam illay', 'Velava Velava Vel Muruga va va' and other soul-stirring melodies. He is the best!
Raji and I once went to the Gana Mela held in Kuttangulangara temple and we heard this singer called Chacko sing 'Palli Kattu Sabari Malaku" - it was jus so amazing!
The best of the memories though come from Bangalore - from our own family. Kalyanam Chitappa, Geetha Chithi, Ramani Chitappa would hold the bhajanai satsangs and it was just so amazing and so much fun. Srikanth would play the mrudangam, creating a great beat. In between Kalyanam Chitappa and Chithi would argue - albeit in a lovely and funny way. Once Ramani Chitappa was singing and he had to do a loud note, suddenly in between he just stopped singing. Later he told us the dentures had come off. Ramani Chitaapa is such a great sport.
Also the yearly Shastha Preethis at Goodwill - the Calcutta group was great as was Ramesh's group. I remember how Radhai Athai, Kalpana and I had to go out of the Pandal, fo we were scared we would start dancing.
The Ayyappa season must be starting and hope we all get to participate in more Sastha Preethis and bhajanais!
Going back to bhajanais, Bhajanais in Cement Nagar would happen every Friday night in the temple and were the high point of the week. Later, when Sabari Malai became popular, the Ayyappa bhajanai used to be held in the temple on Saturdays. The nice thing about the Bhajani was about Amma and Vijayan, both of them sing very well and were asked to sing during the Bhajanais. Vijayan is especially good at imitating people and he would imitate Sesham Raju sir, so well. Appa would occasionally join in with 'Nataraja Narataraja Narthana Sundara Nataraja" or "Ashta Sidhi Nava Nidhi Ke Datha" and we would all erupt with laughter. The bhajanais ended with Rama Sharma Mama singing "Selava Rama Selava". And of couse followed the prasaadam, the much awaited sweet pongal and puliyodarai, Pujari's special.
During the Ayyappa Bhajanais, Amma and Vijayan would sing "Van Puli Meethinile".
[Sekar would not sing the line 'Anudinam Puja Cheyvom" from Van Puli Meethinile, because he explained to me, we might not be able to do so.]
The Ayyappa bhaktas converted the lyrics "Pampa lo snanam chesi papalu kadige" (bathing in pampa to cleanse our sins) became "Pumpu lo snanam chesi papalu kadige"(bathing in the pump to cleanse our sins), much to all our amusement!
Later when we moved to Trichur, the bhajanai saga continued. Amma, Appa and I got to hear Pitukuli Muruga Das - 'Skanda Muruga Varuvaye', 'Karthikeya Kaliyuga varada' etc and we were enthralled. Also, Andathu Ramesh's bhajanai - Ramesh rendering 'Vizhi Kidakyuma', 'Ayya endr azhaykya va unnai', 'Irumudiyay thangi vandom iraakam illay', 'Velava Velava Vel Muruga va va' and other soul-stirring melodies. He is the best!
Raji and I once went to the Gana Mela held in Kuttangulangara temple and we heard this singer called Chacko sing 'Palli Kattu Sabari Malaku" - it was jus so amazing!
The best of the memories though come from Bangalore - from our own family. Kalyanam Chitappa, Geetha Chithi, Ramani Chitappa would hold the bhajanai satsangs and it was just so amazing and so much fun. Srikanth would play the mrudangam, creating a great beat. In between Kalyanam Chitappa and Chithi would argue - albeit in a lovely and funny way. Once Ramani Chitappa was singing and he had to do a loud note, suddenly in between he just stopped singing. Later he told us the dentures had come off. Ramani Chitaapa is such a great sport.
Also the yearly Shastha Preethis at Goodwill - the Calcutta group was great as was Ramesh's group. I remember how Radhai Athai, Kalpana and I had to go out of the Pandal, fo we were scared we would start dancing.
The Ayyappa season must be starting and hope we all get to participate in more Sastha Preethis and bhajanais!