Post by Amritha Varshini on Aug 11, 2013 10:54:05 GMT 5.5
Sri Krishnamurthy Iyer – A tall exponent of Nama Sangeerthan
Article by Sri V. S. Krishnan (vsk_tiruppugazh@yahoo.com)
When Friday comes, it is meant to be a day with SriKrishnamurthy Iyer for all us. As we enter the Sadhana Sadan hall, located in the Coimbatore suburb, Vadavalli, we hear the sounds of Nama Sangeertan, resonating the air. Many persons, young and old, men and women, assemble there to be immersed in the shower of Nama Sangeertan and the one who leads the Bhajan is none other then Krishnamurthy Iyer.
Krishnamurthy Iyer is heading the Bhajan group not only in Calcutta. He quite frequently visits Chennai, Bangalore, Palakkad, Thrissur, Cochin, Tiruvanandhapuram and many other places. The foundation for the Nama Sangeerthanam tradition was laid by stalwarts like Sri Madudhanallur Sri Sadguru Swamigal, Sri Bhodendra Swamigal and Sri Sridhara Ayyaval. Later, Sri Pudukkottai Sri Gopalakrishna Bhagawathar continued the tradition from Unjavritti Bhajan to Dolothsavam and Krishnamurthy Bhagawathar is one among the many luminaries who foster this divine tradition. What makes Krishnamurthy Bhagawathar unique is the fact that he takes centre-stage not only in Nama Sangeertanam but also in performing Carnatic music composed by Sri Thyagaraja Bhagawathar.
I met Iyer almost a decade ago in the course of a Bhajan session and ever since he remained as my friend, guide and philosopher. When Iyer sings we are all transcended to a new world of devotion and music. SRK, as he is commonly known, is a pleasing and pleasant personality. Apart from appearing in Doordarshan and Tirupathi Devasthanam channel, he has performed music recitals in over 3000 stages. He has been honoured with Kalaimamani awrd by T.N. Government, Sangeertha Bushana Aware by Karnataka Sangetha Academy, "Limbless Titan of Music" by the Commissioner for Endowments, Andhra Pradesh, "Best Vocalist Award" by Music Academy, "Laya Lakshya Vidwan" award by Shanmughananda Sabha Mumbai, and it goes on.
He has been honoured with the Kalai Mamani Award by the Tamil Nadu Government and Sangeeta Booshana Award by Karnataka Government. He is an 'A' grade artist in All India Radio. He has also acted in movies. In 2007, he performed music before the then president APJ Abdul Kalam and thereafter Krishnamurthy's positive approach became a favourite topic for Kalam to convey to his audience.
Now comes the most startling part of the story. When Krishnamurthy was born in 1946 in Mettupalayam in Coimbatore District, his relatives thought that there was no worth in having such a baby and it was better for the baby to die. They even wished that the baby was born dead because the baby just born was only half in form; only up to the waist. Below the waist, there was nothing, no hip, no legs. The two shoulders ended up there itself and there were no hands. Only the head and the heart remained intact but that was enough for Krishnamurthy Iyer to face life, to succeed, to achieve and live in peace and happiness. Thanks to his mother, Namagiri Ammal who brought him up with courage and confidence, Krishnamurthy Iyer now lives as a model for all others to know how to live happily. The deformed Krishnamurthy Iyer serves as a role model for happy living for all those born healthy. Some even envied the positive way he takes life and how he manages to remain brimming in joy and smile, despite the terrible physical deformities.
Music was the great passion of Krishnamurthy Iyer. Music ran through his veins. He said even his heart beat in concordance with music. Perhaps, it was music that gave him the first notes of happiness. He started singing at the age of seven and continues to perform in different parts of the country. Wherever there is music recital, his brother used to carry Krishnamurthy Iyer, just as one carries a small baby. But once Iyer occupies the stage, his music captivates the heart of the audience. SRK is a many splendoured personality. He is also an accredited Homeopathy Doctor. As the morning dawns, he becomes very busy. There are students waiting in his room to learn music. There are patients to seek his advice on health. There are Sabha Secretaries waiting to seek an appointment. He is so actively engaged and so happy that he is even unaware of his deformities. There are people endowed with everything in life and still complaining about life and the spirit of confidence displayed by Iyer would put all them to shame. Sri Krishnamurthy Iyer seems to give a message to all of us: We have been given all the powers by God. We are self-sufficient in all respects. There is nothing lacking in us. If only we realize this, we can remain in peace.
PS. My article on Sri Krishnamurthy Iyer which appeared in THE HINDU can be seen in the following website:
www.srkrishnamurthy.com/HONOURS.htm