Koteeswara Iyer

 And the last day of the workshop referred to earlier. Was taught Maravathiru Maname in Kedaram( Deshadi) by Dr Nanditha Ravi. Excellent, precise, crystal clear teaching . I had heard her only once before singing with her mother during Navratri at Isha. Was a pleasure to attend a teaching session. Incidentally, this was a song I have heard just once before by Sanjay.

Kedaram is not a raga I am too familiar with. Have learnt precisely three pieces in this. Ananda Natana( a Dikshithar pancha bhoota krithi), Chidambara Natarajam( also Dikshithar) and Paramanananda( of Swathi Thirunal). There is interestingly a Adi thala varnam of Walajpet Venkatrama Bhagavathar( one of Thyagaraja's foremost disciples) in this. While it is not a Pada Varnam, the Chittaswaram has Sahithya. I want to revisit the three krithis once again at the earliest. There is one thing, which strikes me. Two of the three Kedaram krithis I have learnt are on Shiva( both by Dikshithar). Of course, it is understandable, given that Kedarnath is a prime Shiva abode. But what is interesting is that of the three krithis I have learnt, two have jatis( both Ananda and Paramananda) . Also observe the similarity in Sahithya. Dikshithar composed Ananda Natana Prakasham.. Swathi Thirunal, who was born in 1813, a dozen years before Dikshithar attained Samadhi composed Paramanandanatana.. similar thoughts.

A little on Koteeswara Iyer, a post Trinity 20th century composer. Incidentally, his vaggeyakara mudra is a tribute to his grand father, Kavi Kunjara Bharathi. I have learnt just one other composition of his Een Maname in Namanarayani and listened to his Mohanakara( Neethimathi) and Arul Seiya by one of S Rajam's foremost students. He was of course apparently known for his felicity with Vivadi ragas. 

Incidentally, it is interesting that if you Google Maravaathiru Maname you might get Maravaathe Maname Deva Suthane( a song on Jesus)!!!

Nice session and kudos to the principals and hosts behind this Samarpanam series.