Chitra...You have interviewed and covered the continuous journey of a person, Priyadharshini, otherwise an academically well qualified individual to choose the profession of vocal music. It can be observed how the vocal music is developed by her natural desire for learning music and continued it under different periods blessed by gurus and she became an accomplished vocalist It is a gift that one possesses having melodious voice which is made use fully by learning music and practicing it and singing enabling others to listen, enjoy and accrue the medicinal soothing effects of the music. It is felt necessary in India for any woman or man to possess an ability to sing well as one of the required qualities of a woman/man..Generally we send our children for learning music or learning other instruments like mridangam, veena, etc,, from the age of 4 or 5 till they desire continuing it. The presence of persons with musical background in their families also provides opportunities for children to follow them and get guidance in lessons and continue the same Incidentally I have my sisters in law and daughter in law from families of such musical backgrounds and the progeny continue to enjoy the benefit of learning music. and continue practicing Of course my son and daughter also were sent to gurus for learning Mridangam and Veena plus vocal music for a number of years from the age of 6 in Chennai,Tiruchirapalli,etc,..They learnt vocal music, veena, and mridangam, practiced and pleased us but could not find time to continue after they pursued with their professional studies. My daughter still with limited time available plays Veena at home now and then in USA where she is stationed. It is definitely an asset for any man or woman to know music..Sing it well or play and allow all to enjoy the benefits either for medical purposes or for others.
In this connection I may state that we have a large number
of Ragas in Karnatic and Hindustani Music say over a hundred...each having some
effect. We would have heard rags like
Sivaranjani,Sankarabharanam,Thodi,Virali,Kalyani,Lalita,Mohana,Kanda,Kapi,Nattai,Ananadhabhairavi,Bilahari,Gourimanohari,Harikambhoji,Mohanam,Shanmukhapriya,Vakulabharanam
etc etc..Amruthavarshini raga song suppresses any stomach pain for men and
women.Charukesi raga is useful for heart ailments.Hamsadhwani releases
tension.Mahar...Hindustani raga is useful for treatment of asthma. Similarly
each of the raga has some health benefits and there are ample ragas Karnatic or
Hindustani or others to relieve us of our health problems. There is some raga
for getting rains in a place ...Amrithavarshini..Etc...Being not much
proficient in music I am unable to explain further about the ragas.,etc.With
the modern cyber world with easier facilities to learn music through You tube,
online teaching, minute storage devices
like pen drives, and gadgets like smartphones,etc it would be easier for
children or elders to learn /listen music,
In Bangalore it is a pleasure to listen to music concerts
during Sri Ramanamavi at Seshadripuram High School premises, Chamrajpet, etc.
Chennai it is more a musical or cultural capital of India with more sabhas,
programmes, etc regularly allowing all to enjoy the benefits thereof.
It is our duty to remember the musical trinity namely Saint
Thiagraja, Shyama Sastry and Muthusami Deekshithar on this occasion. Of course
the ocean of music is growing larger and being searched into unfathomable
depths by the successors including the present day generation of musicians.
My granddaughter is named after one raga Hamsadhwani as
desired by her mother musician and liked by us.
In conclusion, it is obvious knowledge of music is
absolutely essential to any man or woman and would be useful to all members of
family in various matters. Of course the melodious voice of Chinnakkuyil
K.S.Chithra or K.J Jesudas or S Janaki or SPB and others in Karnatic as well as
Film songs are also basically founded on ragas, thalas, etc of karnatic music.
It is desired all children learn music in some form either vocal or through
various instruments and pass on the benefits to the humanity for perpetual
happiness and benefits.
We enjoy music. Music is an eternal asset possessed by
humans for sharing with the universe.. The listening of good music has both
active and passive effects ...Let us listen to more such music and feel
blissful being in heaven on earth....
As matter of respect to the sage and composer
Thiagaraja I give below a write up on
Pancha ratna kritis of Thiagaraja swami…
Thiagaraja was a saint who lived in Thiruvayyaru, Tamilndau
during 18th to 19th Century. He was an ardent devotee of
Lord Sri Rama. He has composed a large number of keerthanas and are considered
t be the finest.
Pancharatna kkritis are five in number four of them being in
Tamil and he fifth in Sanskrit. These kritis are set to ragas…Nata, Gauta,
Arabhi, Varali and Sri. The keertis praise Hindu Deity Rama They are set to Adi
Thala. The style followed is ragam, Thanam and Pallavi,
The Pancharatnakritis are….
1, Jagadananda karaka… Natai raga…
2. Dudukhu Gala,,Goula
3. Kanakana…Ruchara….Varali
4. Endaro Mahanubhavulu…Sri Ragam
5. Sadinchana ..Arabhi….
During Thiyagaraj Aradhanai day every year musicians and
others come to Thiruvaiyaru and sing together the Kritis which are marvelous...
feeling blessed at 
feeling happy at 
