SriRangaNrityam - readapted dance form of the Arraiyars of Srirangam

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Sri:

Sri Ranganayaki Sametha Sri Ranganatha Parabrahmane

Nama:

Srimathe Ramanujaya Namaha

 

 

SriRangaNrityam - readapted dance form of the

Arraiyars of Srirangam

(to be held Oct. 13, 2001 at the Livermoore Temple,CA)

 

http://www.geocities.com/dehee_arts/

 

 

The "Arraiyar Sevai", a visual enactment of the

passionate expression of Bhakti by the Azhwars, is

a kind of worship of the Lord Sriman Narayana through

dance for divine music called deva ganam, and is

performed solely by temple priests called Arraiyars,

in the privacy of the inner sanctum for the exclusive

pleasure of the Lord alone. Such dances are not even

watched by devotees in the temple, as they are part of

the private rituals of the daily "seva" of the Lord.

This tradition of the dramatic rendering of the poetry

of the Tamil Veda through music and dance is only passed

on to the sons in the 'Arraiyar' family - decendents of

the well known Saint, Sri Nathamuni of Kattu mannar.

 

According to Koil Ozhugu, Thirumangai Azhwar started

the practice of presenting before the Lord of

Srirangam, his work known as "Thirunedunthantakam"

to the accompaniment of music and dance. But

it was Sri Nathamuni who instituted the art in its

present form in temples in the Tamil month of

"Margazhi", during the "Thiruvadhyayana Uthsavam".

 

Shri Ramanuja was also known for promoting the

arraiyar's dance behind closed doors for the recreation

of the Lord and he was further instrumental in

nurturing this form of worship at the Srirangam Temple.

 

Smt. Usha Narayan, a distinguished exponent of the

Pandanallur style of Bharata Natyam is a well-known

choreographer and teacher, has dedicated a large part

of her dancing career to the research into Arrayar

sevai tradition and its readaptation and performance

in the Divya sthalas and on stage. Her main aim

besides enjoying dancing the Divya prabandham is that

of taking the message of the greatness of this form

existing at the SriRangam temple. All this was done

only after a thorough study of the Natya Shastra and

other texts for finding the origin of this dance form

and placing this dance style.

 

In the strong foundational Bharathnatyam style she

received senior expert training (in the various

elements of Bharathnatyam), under the likes of

Pandanallur Guru Nana Kasar, Guru Swarna Saraswati,

Kalanidhi Narayanan and Guru Kittappa Pillai since

1972.

 

A recipient of Sahitya Kala Parishad Certificate of

Eminence and Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship, she has

been active in the cultural framework of New Delhi for

over 20 years now. Presently she has been awarded the

Senior Research fellowship for classifying this dance

form.

 

After thorough research, with the guidance and

blessings of Sri Rangam Arrayars, Shri Vaak Amrita

Varshi Velukkudi swami, Shri Annangarachar swami,

Mudaliandan swami, Vanamamalai Jeer and Muna Swamigal,

Smt. Usha has adapted the elements of Arraiyar Sevai

for the stage which she calls it the Sriranga Nrityam.

 

As 'Arrayar' IS A TITLE and not a name of a dance form

she prefers to name it as the dance form mentioned as

per the Natya shastra. Secondly she does not wear the

head gear of the Arrayars as it is the cymbol of their

crown like a king and none other than decendants have

the right to that crown.However she has widened the

scope of the dance form and the dancing of the Divya

Prabandham based on the tenets of Sringa nrittyam as

mentioned in the Natya shastra. Her research work in

the rare dance form 'Arraiyar Sevai', has been

acclaimed and even featured on the cover of Limca Book

of Records (1980). She has performed all over India,

giving performances and educative workshops in various

parts of the country. She has about twenty troupe

productions to her credit. Smt. Usha has also actively

contributed to the implementation of Performing Arts

as part of the structured curricula at the school

level.

 

Smt.Usha and her troupe of dancers, all dressed in

dhotis and angavastras, will be presenting this rare

art at the Shiva-Vishnu Temple in Livermore CA as a

fund raiser on October 13th, 2001.

 

This recital by her troupe of senior disciples will

highlight some of the differences between Sriranga

Nrityam and the Bharata Natyam style. The performance

is meant to introduce the Bay Area to the basic

elements and delightful nuances of this mystic dance

form dedicated to Emperumaan.

 

Smt. Usha is dedicating this performance to the memory of

Shri Nathamuni Arraiyar of Sri Rangam who has recently

left us at a loss on his way to the abode of Shri Vaikunta.

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.geocities.com/dehee_arts/

 

 

or email dehee_arts

 

Nathamuni thiruvadigale sharanam

||Sarvamsreekrisnaarpanmasthu||

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