PART-3.......RETURN FROM KAASI TO MANALI



3

The vINa and back to Manali
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One day, Chidambaranatha Yogi and Muttuswami went for a bath in the Ganga. The Yogi asked Muthuswami to descend a few steps and put his hands into the water. When Muttuswami did so, his hands closed upon a vINa. Surprised, the lad turned towards his guru who beckoned him up the steps. Chidambaranatha Yogi informed Muttuswami that this was Ganga Mata's prasad to the lad and that She had blessed him. The unusual feature of this vINa is that its yali faces upwards and has the word 'Rama' inscribed on it in Devanagari script. Providence had directly presented Muttuswami this unique instrument which was to partner him in his renaissance work.

Chidambaranatha Yogi further informed the lad that he had attained mantra siddhi, was progressing well spiritually and that he had also attained further maturity in music. The Yogi instructed Muttuswami to return to his parents. The wide world now awaited his services and it was time the disciple took leave of the guru. Muttuswami was reluctant to leave the presence of the Yogi as he had become very much attached to him. He said that he had a lot more to learn from his guru and that the Yogi should guide him until he, Muttuswami, reached the fruition of his tapas. 
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The Yogi softly and affectionately told Muthuswami that he had taught him whatever he knew and hereafter his grace and that of Ganga Devi would guide him in life. The Yogi further said that Lord Subramanya was Muttuswami's natural guru and that the lad should seek His grace. The Yogi also blessed Muttuswami and told him that the time was not faraway when destiny would seek out Muttuswami in order to further the cause for which he was born.
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The Yogi then revealed to his shocked disciple that his own earthly sojourn was over. Leaving Muttuswami on the banks, the Yogi plunged into the Ganga and left this world.
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The body was recovered from the river and was buried in the Hanuman Ghat where his Samadhi stands (the National Book Trust Biography by TL Venkatarama Iyer testifies to this. But "Marina" in his Tamizh version written in the 1980s laments at his lack of success in identifying the memorial). Muttuswami was sorrow stricken at the loss of his revered guru.
After completing the final obsequies, Muttuswami left Kashi and started his journey back home. The future bard was now about twenty years old. The stay at Kashi was the seed that resulted in the sprouting and subsequent flowering of a genius, a master who was instrumental, along with his illustrious contemporaries in developing the art of Carnatic music along new lines, solidifying it with fresh perspectives, thus assuring for it a status and glory that neither age can wither, nor custom stale.
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Meanwhile things were happening at Manali. Muthu Venkata Vaidyanatha, grandson of the uncle of Venkatamakhin, visited Manali and was entertained by Venkatakrishna Mudaliar. He was pleased to find that Ramaswami Dikshitar and his sons were following the raga scheme as set forth by Venkatamakhi. Ramaswami Dikshitar took the opportunity to request Muthu Venkata for the caturdaNDi prakAshika and for the Raga Lakshanas manuscript which was in the latter's possession. Muthu Venkata, who was reluctant to part with what he considered as the intellectual property of his family, decided to test Ramaswami Dikshitar. He sang a rare raga and asked Ramaswami Dikshitar to identify it. Highly displeased at this unwarranted test, Ramaswami Dikshitar, nevertheless, asked his two sons Chinnaswami and Baluswami to identify the raga, which they easily did. A stunned but satisfied Muthu Venkata parted with the caturdanDi prakAshika and the manuscript of Raga Lakshanas. Ramaswami Dikshitar then composed a kriti, nannu parikShincu ela, referring to the uncalled for test. But for this visit of Muthu Venkata and Ramaswami Dikshitar's request, the caturdanDi prakAshika might have been permanently lost to the world.
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It was also during this period that Ramaswami Dikshitar's second son Chinnaswami suddenly lost his vision as has been told in an earlier part. The family went on a pilgrimage to Tirupati and there, Ramaswami Dikshitar composed the kriti inkA daya in vEgavAhini and a rAgamAlika in 48 rAgAs in praise of Lord Venkateswara. These two songs were prayers to Lord Venkateswara to restore Chinnaswami's eyesight. It is said that Chinnaswami regained his eyesight after this. Ramaswami Dikshitar and his family further visited Kalahasti, where he composed the Sahana kriti vAshi vAshi.
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 After returning to Manali, Ramaswami Dikshitar, in recognition of the patronage afforded to him and his family by Venkatakrishna Mudaliar, composed the 108 rAga tALa mAlikA in the latter's honour.

 A grateful Venkatakrishna Mudaliar performed a kanakAbhiShEkam (showering with gold coins) for Ramaswami Dikshitar. Thus, the family's stay at Manali was full of events and musically fruitful. It was to a fulfilled home that Muttuswami returned with his two wives.


Muthuswami's parents and brothers were overjoyed. Five years had elapsed and it was celebration time. They were delighted to hear about Muttuswami's experiences at Kashi. 

His knowledge of Vedanta and complete mastery of music earned their respect. Venkatakrishna Mudaliar was extremely distressed that his guru, the Yogi was no more, but was consoled by the fact that Muttuswami had inherited his mantle and had returned, musically and spiritually mature. 

Muttuswami spent sometime with his parents sharing his experiences. He also spent time at Manali studying the caturdanDi prakAshika and the manuscript on Raga Lakshanam. He however, was not content with remaining at Manali.

 His guru, Chidambaranatha Yogi had told him about the glory and grace of Lord Subramanya. Propelled by an inner urge Muttuswami decided to visit Tiruttani, one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya. It might have been during this period that Muttuswami visited Tirupati and Kalahasti. This possibility notwithstanding, his compositions on these temples would have been later creations, for, the beginning of his life's work had to await the grace of Lords Subramanya at Tiruttani.
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continued  in  part-4 at


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