Vishaka Hari - AnDAL kalyANam - 8 - Ceremony - Arabhi - mArgazhi mahA utsavam 2008

[aditnarayan]

I love how she describes the wedding scene from 3:58 onwards....and when the mridangam joins in along with her divine voice, it feels as if a real marriage is going on! I am longing for darshan of Vishakha Devi!

[rarunadri]

In Karnataka it is also called Hari katha meaning stories about Hari (Vishnu). In the North I have heard stories about Rama and Krishna told with the singing of bajans (light songs in praise of the God whose story is being narrated. Another Stalwart in Tamil Nadu was Anantha Rama Deekshithar. In street corners I have heard Krupananda Wariaar preaching about the virtues of Rama. He will sing worses from Ramayanam by Kambar in Tamil.

[IpsaPaphum]

I love carnatic music very much, but can anyone refer me to a good source of information on this peculiar mix of singing and preaching? How traditional is it? Does it go under a specific name? Is it performed on special occasions? Does the Hindustani tradition have an equivalent?

[rarunadri]

@IpsaPaphum This style is called katha kalakshebam. It is the traditional way of spreading the words of Bhagavatham, Ramayanam etc. It used be mostly by men and they were called Bhagavathars. It can be performed any time. Usually it used to go on even for years. I remember a Soma sundara bhagavathar who gave these recitals once a week for 2 years on Bhagavatham (Krishna's story)

[IpsaPaphum]

@rarunadri Thnx!

[rarunadri]

@IpsaPaphum Another important lady I left out was Vijayalakshmi. She used to recite from the Ramayanas written by Valmiki in Sanskrit, Kambar in Tamil and Tulsi Das in Hindi. It was called triveni Ramayanam (tri meaning three)

[balajiachar]

can I get the entire series of this artist in a cd. format..if so please reply..

[tmlakshmi]

Varanamayeram describing t the dream of Andal-her thirukalyanm with Sri Ranganathan is my favorite song. Cngratulations Vishaka, What a lovely katha kalashebam! Thank you

[tmlakshmi]

I just have one question -how is it she is wearing the sari on the opposite side, not the usual way we wear sari. A gifted young woman. I will listen to the entire story. So a woman is a gem. I like that.

[chandu71088]

it s a 9 yards saree where the brahmin womens wear after their marriage..while wearing this the pallu ll come in the opposite side..

[neerajamb]

What a voice! She switches so effortlessly between her story telling and singing.

[mokshashree]

the raagam is sindhu mandhari,a sub close to janya raagam..vishaka is superb.god 's gift to music and devotion...such classy and emotive story telling..

[vardhangayathri]

this song is excelent superb

[tanapp]

There are some people from whom Divinity just flows unstoppably. Vishaka Hari is one such person. What an energy and involvement in doing the katha?!! She just raises the audience's energy level spontaneously. She is a blessing to all of us.

[ninyamousie]

What ragam is Maalai Maatrinaal? I tried looking it up and couldn't find it and it didn't appear on your annotations either. Thank you so much for putting these up - I have heard this Andal Kalyanam almost 3 times now :)

[carnaticopia]

The closest approximation is shankarAbharaNam, I suppose. I shall annotate accordingly, until someone suggests a better match. Cheers.

[carnaticopia]

On further research, there is a ragam called "sindhu mandAri" which is a closer match.

[ninyamousie]

Oh really? Cool..Thanks :) Yeah I don't know if Sankarabharnam is that close - maybe sindu mandari is a derivative. I shall look into it too ;)

[arunkvc]

ultimate, excellent, is there any other way to comment.