ARAYER SEVAI and KAISIKI NATAKAM

[Guest guest]

To all devout Sri Vaisnavas on the net:

 

I am involved in a five year project - initially supported by a senior

fellowship from the Government of India and now continued with

personal resources - to reserch the performance ritual of ARAYER

SSEVAi and trace its links to modern day Bharatanatyam in the areas of

religion, theology, social studies, performance and faith.

 

I have completed a major portion of my work and presented the first

lecture at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London on March 12 this

year. It was very well received specially from many Sri Lankan tamils

who were astounded by the poetic and evocative poetry in the

Prabandham. British scholars and dance students were amazed to hear

the slow chanting of the arayers and the unbroken tradition of almost

1000 years of performance practice.

 

It was during my research that I met the senior arayer in

Srivilliputtur and Alwar Tirunagari and saw the pitiable plight that

they are in. They receive a meagre 300 rupees every month as

government salary since they are past their prime and the salary does

not come sometimes for six months. They are nort considered as

artistes and although they continue to serve the Lord as their life's

mission, they are living in total penury. Only the families in

Srirangam are in good condition but these two temples are also a vital

part of the Sri Vaisnava Heritage.

 

As part of my research, I began a sustained suport for the families of

one arayer in Alwar Tirunagari and five artistes in my ancestral

temple town of Thirukurungudi.

 

The senior Arayer in Srivilliputtur Srinivasa Iyengar is very ill and

needds a cataract operation. He is totally bed ridden and his family

are on very hard times. Last year Arayer Sarangachari of Alwar

Tirunagari died en route to hospital. His elder son is continuing the

tradition although in a very anaemic manner. their plight is really

terrrible and needs to be highlighted to Sri Vaisnavas everywhere.

 

KAISIKI NATAKAM: This is the only remaining temple threatre ritual

which has direct connections with the 1st centur text called th NATYA

SASTRA revered by all Indian performers of classical dance. The form

exists only in the temple town of Thirukurungudi and is in the process

of total extinction. A five year research and revival process in

underway details will be available on our website www.arangham.com in

the next two weeks under the category RITUAL AND REVIVIAL.

 

So much needs to be done for both forms. I strongly feel that the

government takes far too long to act and requires endless reams of

paperwork and xeroxs sent to New Delhi.

 

I do not want to feel alone in this battle. I feel that this is OUR

tradition and hope that I can hear from some of you with suggestions.

 

as always,

 

anita ratnam

[Guest guest]

Dear Srimathi Anita Rathnam :

 

First of all thanks very much for your initiative

on the rigorous study of the performance rituals

of the aRayar sEvai at the divya desams , where the aRayars

are struggling hard to stay alive . Your dedicated

efforts to map the links between the aRayar sEvai

and Bharatha Naatyam in the overlapping

areas of temple rituals , religious observances ,

fine arts and faith are a great joy to learn about .

 

I recognize that it is a stupendous task

that needs to be undertaken by experts , who undertand

the nomenclature of Bharatha Naatyam and are practioners

of this divine art dedicated to serving the Lord

in an unbroken tradition going back to Nathamuni .

I am delighted further to hear that the Eelam Tamilians

and the scholars of dance in UK are responding well

to lecdems on this esoteric topic .Unfortunately , Our own people

are not too familiar with aRayar sEvai and its

rigors and rich traditions .last October , during

the samarpaNam of AabharaNams for ANDAL at

SrivilliputthUr ,I had opportiunity to have

a good discussion with the senior aRayar of

SrivilliputthUr and the Junior aRayar .I was

saddened to hear about the deep economic difficulties

that they were facing .

 

We can and should do some thing to help them so

that these families steeped in tradition can help

future generations appreciate and understand the

unbroken traditions that these families have played

for one thousand years . Please let us know your assessment

of the need to help them at SrivilliputthUr and

AzhwAr Thirunagari . It is possible that you are

related to the TVS family hailing from Thirukkurungudi

with whom our family has a long term relationship .

You probably are going to take care of the aRayars

of Thrukkurungudi . Let us therefore come up with

a plan to help the two families at SrivilliputthUr and

AzhwAr Thirunagari , who serve the divya dampathis

inspite of all the hardships .

 

Those who come forward to help can benefit from

your studies greatly ( Videos , audios and descriptive

texts on thes ancient temple rituals ).

 

Professor VasudhA NaarAyaNan of University of Florida

has done some earlier studies on aRayar sEvais

and she might be intersted to join in this project

of helping to preserve this ancient art form and

help . The natives of Srirangam, SrivilliputthUr

and AzhwAr Thirunagari and the AchAryAs

of Ahobila Mutt, VaanamAmalai mutt and

Andavan aasramams could also be requested to help

in this project .

>KAISIKI NATAKAM: This is the only remaining temple threatre ritual

>which has direct connections with the 1st century text called th NATYA

>SASTRA revered by all Indian performers of classical dance. The form

>exists only in the temple town of Thirukurungudi and is in the process

>of total extinction. A five year research and revival process in

>underway details will be available on our website www.arangham.com in

>the next two weeks under the category RITUAL AND REVIVIAL.

 

I look forward to browsing this URL to learn more

about this rare ritual of kaisiki Naatakam .

>

>So much needs to be done for both forms. I strongly feel that the

>government takes far too long to act and requires endless reams of

>paperwork and xeroxs sent to New Delhi.

 

We can forget about the Government's slow grinding

wheels and let us put our shoulder together to help

in meaningful ways that recognize and thank these

illustrious families struggling to keep these traditions

alive .

>

>I do not want to feel alone in this battle. I feel that this is OUR

>tradition and hope that I can hear from some of you with suggestions.

 

These are my suggestions and I feel confidentthat

members of the Bhakthi list would generously come

to help in supporting this noble effort as they

have done in the past .

>

Best Wishes and looking forward to your response

on the concrete steps to be taken based on your

assessment of the situation and links to aRayar

families on ground ,

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari SadagOpan