A BELATED TRIBUTE to our special M.S Amma..


Dear Friends and well-wishers,

We are pleased to inform you about the inception of this blog on this most auspicious day of Jenmaashtami, as a belated tribute to India’s own Divya Gaanaamruthavarshini, Shrimati M.S.Subbulaksmi, who attained parama padham in the month of December in 2004.

In this first post, we would love to share our experiences that got us to appreciate the exemplary qualities inherent in M.S amma’s voice.

We consider M.S amma to be a person born in this world not under the influence of Karma but due to the samkalpa of Narayana!

It is with genuine grief that I write this belated tribute, for just a couple of months before her becoming critical I wanted to meet her and receive her blessings. I did not have the fortune of seeing someone who introduced me to the sublime through her divine voice. She is best regarded as a being manifested on earth for providing spiritual solace to millions through the natural medium of music.

I cannot relate anecdotes and stories as I have not been fortunate enough to know her. However I can attempt to give subjective descriptions of what her music means to me and in the process hope to pay obeisance to an almost divine figure in the history of music.

I was first introduced to M.S amma’s voice as an infant or more reasonably a toddler perhaps. My grandfather had the habit of playing those old records on an equally old player and on most days I woke up to the sounds of ‘Bhavayami Raghuramam’ or ‘SriRangapuravihara’. The latter is one of my favourites. After I moved away from Chennai I didn’t hear her voice for a couple of years. When I finally returned to Chennai it proved to be unfortunate as my grandmother passed away and I was left without any close relationships save my parents. During the days following my grandma’s demise I came to know of the fact that her favourite song was ‘Kurai Onrum Illai’ by Rajaji. I also came to know that this song had come to be associated with M.S amma and was her favourite too. Again fate intervened and I resumed my duties as a student moving into science fiction, academics and books. I neglected my initial musical inclination and was content with humming the latest melody if I felt the need for any music. I continued in this state for several years until my father got me a cassette of Sri Balaji Pancharatnamala, which had the song Kurai Onrum Illai and was rendered by M.S.Subbulakshmi.

The rest is almost magical (and I attribute it again to Narayana’s samkalpa).

From the single song I listened to out of love for my grandmother I plunged into the nectarine ocean of carnatic music. I knew (and continue to know) very little of this but I had no qualms about this as I began to appreciate the subtle things in life. M.S. Subbulakshmi became my teacher in absentia as I started listening to her songs with the fervour of a disciple. Each new song I heard renewed my interest in music and in this person who was described gloriously by one and all ( mind you that’s a distinction none can achieve easily in a world such as ours!).
I started reading about her in magazines and watched a couple of those documentaries on great musicians.

When you listen to the Bhaja Govindam in her delectable voice the truths contained in it are made infinitely sweet. They say the truth is bitter. Not if sung by M.S.AMMA.

Her renditions of SriVishnuSahasranama Stotram and Sri Venkateshwara Suprabhatam are remarkable for their clarity and the effect they have upon the listener.

When you are in a low mood listening to ‘Dolayam’ in khamas rendered zestfully by M.S can be rejuvenating experience. Her Meera Bhajans and songs in the 1945 film MEERA are so fantastic that I will refrain from trying to describe them using the limited adjectives known to language.

Apart from songs her excellent and soulful rendition of Shlokas and Stutis cannot be surpassed. Her flawless recitation of the SriRanga Gadyam is amazing. It conjures up an image of Sri Ramanuja crying out to Lord Ranganatha in patent supplication. Her ‘andha naalum vandidadho “is a moving piece which brings to us the heartfelt longing of a Rajasthani poetess in Tamil!

I cannot think of a better benedictory song than ‘Maithriim Bhajata’ composed by the most revered Paramcharya of Kanchi. It was to become M.S. amma’s concluding song in many a recital. For all those who feel a spiritual mindset is unpragmatic “naam japan quon chod diya?” is an eye-opener. Her rendition of the Ganesha Pancharatnam is the best way to celebrate Ganesha Chaturthi. No one can miss the inexhaustible sweetness of SriVallabhacharya’s Madhurashtakam when rendered by our beloved M.S.amma.

As for her popularisation of Talapakka Sri Annamacharya’s kritis I have no words to express my gratitude and admiration. It is said that Annamayya has written the songs and mentioned the Raagam but not the style in which the songs were sung by him. It is my humble opinion that if he were to come back to earth he would be more than happy with the rendition of the songs which he composed in moments of divine inspiration. Annamayya is a guiding light in the ocean of Vishnu Bhakti; his songs encapsulate the very essence of the word bhakti! M.S. amma is Bhakti in human form. When the latter sings the songs of the former what else can result except an inexhaustible fountain of devotion which can save us from the spiritual dehydration so characteristic of modern life.

I can go on and on till the keyboard breaks and my fingers hurt and still feel that my objective of paying a tribute to M.S.amma (I have refrained from using any titles because of her immense personal importance to me) remains unfinished.

I have thought of a simple way of summing up her life!

M- MUSIC
S- SELF-SACRIFICE

THAT’S MS FOR YOU!

Her compassion and service to all noble causes are so well known that I hope Narayana confers those virtues upon all those who listen to her songs including myself.

Music when sung by extremely talented musicians is BHOGA or pleasure of the highest order.
Music when sung by M.S.SUBBULAKSHMI is YOGA (a means for uniting with the absolute!).
I do not wish to conclude this but I have to by letting Krishna share his thoughts on our very own divine diva of carnatic music.

Also, I request all readers to leave comments in honour of this legend


Dear blogger-friends,

Krishna here :)

I see this as a poignant moment in time to express my thoughts on the great Naadayogi, Shrimathi M.S. amma, who reached the abode of Krishna after leading an exemplary life as a gifted carnatic musician. I’d like 2 share some of my experiences with you folks, in regard.

It was when I was a young high school boy; my ears were gifted to hear from the divyavaani when my mom used to play Vishnu Sahasranaamam, Venkatesha Suprabhataham, Bhaja Govindam, Madhuraashtakam etc. My salutes and thanks for them.

For me, carnatic music and bhakthi are inseparable or should I say that they are best when they are united, just like Sri and SriYa:Pathi, where the former is eternally comprehended in the being of the latter.

Having been exposed to carnatic music at a young age, I had the chance to listen to a number of talented musicians. But, I guess none other than M.S amma could have done justice to this form of music by projecting this divine aspect of Saptha Swaras. No wonder she was given the grandest of applauds when she performed at Carnegie hall and became the most popular ambassador of Carnatic Music to the West.

I thought of listing some of my favourite songs but I ended up stranded :) I’ll rather have some of them played in this blog :).

I would love to have u people share ur experiences here in this blog.

"Is there a sacred path than music and bhakti?” "O Mind, salute the gods of the seven notes (and Smt M.S Subbulakshmi :)". "The knowledge of music, O Mind, leads to bliss of Union with the Lord”- Shri Tyagaraja

Sarve Janaahaa sukhino bhavanthu!

Sarvam Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu!!

P.R. KRISHNA MOORTHY
R.ANAND