| Sant Bhadragiri Achyutdasji remains one of the foremost exponents of Harikatha in Karnataka, writes Mirle Karthik. |
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The tradition of narrating epics like the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha and the Bhagavatha, is known as Harikatha. It is also known as Kathakalakshepa, Kirtan and Kathakirtan.
The great saint-philosopher Narahari Thirtha composed a few songs on the lines of the Pasurams of the Alwars (in Tamil). His disciple Sripadaraja had composed many hymns under the banner Rangavitthala. The tradition continued with his disciple Vyasa Thirtha and his follower Purandaradasa, who took it to the peak during the Vijayanagar Empire.
Kanakadasa, Vijayadasa, Gopaladasa, Jagannathadasa and Vadiraja and many others of the Haridasa Parampara added to the rich repertory of Bhakti compositions, stressing on total devotion and surrender to the Lord. The compositions of the Haridasa saints forms an integral part of the Harikatha tradition.
One of the foremost exponents of this art today is Sant Bhadragiri Achyutdasji of Karnataka. Achyutdasji's father Venkataramana was an accomplished Yakshagana artiste, belonging to the Badaguthittu school. Mother Rukminidevi was a melodious singer of the Padas and Devaranamas of the Haridasas. Young Achyutdas imbibed these rich cultural influences early in life. His innovative abilities were first seen when he adapted the Padas of the Haridasas to the Yakshagana mode and successfully performed them much to the delight of the predominantly rural audiences.
In 1951, on the Shivarathri he gave his first solo performance in the ancient temple of Kameshwara in Bhadragiri. He hasn’t looked back since then.
The depth of Achyutdasji's scholarship is apparent in his discourses where he extensively quotes from the Gita, the Dasa literature and the Bhakti Saints. His discourses are popular for his mellifluous rendering of the passages in classical ragas such as Tilang, Desh Malkauns etc. In fact, it is he who coined the term Kathakirtan, a combination of text (Katha) and music (Kirtan).
Besides his mother tongue Konkani, he is also fluent in Marathi, Kannada, Tulu and Hindi and regularly gives discourses in these languages.
Blessed with an ability to gauge the intellectual level of his audience Achyutdasji enthralls his listeners with his masterly renditions, with a carefully planned presentation sprinkled with liberal doses of humour and anecdotes drawn from everyday life, he gradually leads his listeners towards higher philosophical levels without boring them with incomprehensible statements.
But for all his orthodoxy, he is surprisingly liberal in his outlook. He feels that today's generation is not averse to time honoured values and ethics. He says it is only a matter of putting it across properly without any undue bias or lofty preachings.
An avid reader, this septuagenarian has a huge collection of books, some of them rare ones. He occasionally lends them out as reference.
With a zeal and zest belying his age, he's always engaged in writing or teaching, during his spare time. He regularly conducts interactive workshops at various places for aspiring as well as senior vidwans.
He has written more than twenty books, including the much acclaimed Geethartha Chintana, a treatise on the Bhagavad Gita and incorporates ideas of the Haridasa saints.
He has also composed numerous kirtanas under the name of Moolanarayana, a name conferred upon him by his Guru, Sudheendra Thirtha in recognition of his achievements.
To mention a few of the awards— Kanaka-Purandara Award from the Government of Karnataka and the Nadoja Prashasthi from the Hampi Kannada University, Keertanagresara, Keerthanacharya, Haridasa Kulabhushana and awards from the state and Central Sangeet Natak Academies.
The great saint-philosopher Narahari Thirtha composed a few songs on the lines of the Pasurams of the Alwars (in Tamil). His disciple Sripadaraja had composed many hymns under the banner Rangavitthala. The tradition continued with his disciple Vyasa Thirtha and his follower Purandaradasa, who took it to the peak during the Vijayanagar Empire.
Kanakadasa, Vijayadasa, Gopaladasa, Jagannathadasa and Vadiraja and many others of the Haridasa Parampara added to the rich repertory of Bhakti compositions, stressing on total devotion and surrender to the Lord. The compositions of the Haridasa saints forms an integral part of the Harikatha tradition.
One of the foremost exponents of this art today is Sant Bhadragiri Achyutdasji of Karnataka. Achyutdasji's father Venkataramana was an accomplished Yakshagana artiste, belonging to the Badaguthittu school. Mother Rukminidevi was a melodious singer of the Padas and Devaranamas of the Haridasas. Young Achyutdas imbibed these rich cultural influences early in life. His innovative abilities were first seen when he adapted the Padas of the Haridasas to the Yakshagana mode and successfully performed them much to the delight of the predominantly rural audiences.
In 1951, on the Shivarathri he gave his first solo performance in the ancient temple of Kameshwara in Bhadragiri. He hasn’t looked back since then.
The depth of Achyutdasji's scholarship is apparent in his discourses where he extensively quotes from the Gita, the Dasa literature and the Bhakti Saints. His discourses are popular for his mellifluous rendering of the passages in classical ragas such as Tilang, Desh Malkauns etc. In fact, it is he who coined the term Kathakirtan, a combination of text (Katha) and music (Kirtan).
Besides his mother tongue Konkani, he is also fluent in Marathi, Kannada, Tulu and Hindi and regularly gives discourses in these languages.
Blessed with an ability to gauge the intellectual level of his audience Achyutdasji enthralls his listeners with his masterly renditions, with a carefully planned presentation sprinkled with liberal doses of humour and anecdotes drawn from everyday life, he gradually leads his listeners towards higher philosophical levels without boring them with incomprehensible statements.
But for all his orthodoxy, he is surprisingly liberal in his outlook. He feels that today's generation is not averse to time honoured values and ethics. He says it is only a matter of putting it across properly without any undue bias or lofty preachings.
An avid reader, this septuagenarian has a huge collection of books, some of them rare ones. He occasionally lends them out as reference.
With a zeal and zest belying his age, he's always engaged in writing or teaching, during his spare time. He regularly conducts interactive workshops at various places for aspiring as well as senior vidwans.
He has written more than twenty books, including the much acclaimed Geethartha Chintana, a treatise on the Bhagavad Gita and incorporates ideas of the Haridasa saints.
He has also composed numerous kirtanas under the name of Moolanarayana, a name conferred upon him by his Guru, Sudheendra Thirtha in recognition of his achievements.
To mention a few of the awards— Kanaka-Purandara Award from the Government of Karnataka and the Nadoja Prashasthi from the Hampi Kannada University, Keertanagresara, Keerthanacharya, Haridasa Kulabhushana and awards from the state and Central Sangeet Natak Academies.
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