In 1912, Muthiah Bhagavathar came to Chennai along with his uncle where he gave many Harikatha performances. “Thyagaraja Charithram” and “Valli Kalyanam” were some of the greatest hits of Muthiah Bhagavathar.
Role as a teacher
"Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidhyalayam"
Muthiah Bhagavathar was very keen in teaching music to all interested people. He did not want any interested student to struggle as he did in his early years. He decided to start a music school in Madurai and sought the help of many rich people and zamindars whom he knew. In 1924, he established the “Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidhyalayam” and appointed teachers which included great musicians like Madurai Rajam Bhagavathar and Madurai Narayana Iyengar. Many students joined the school with interest. The famous musician Madurai Mani Iyer was also a student of this music school. However, Muthiah Bhagavathar could run the school only for three years. But still he continued giving private lessons and Harikatha performances. Late Ramanathapuram Shri C.S.Shankara Sivam (my guru’s guru) was one of the foremost disciples of Muthiah Bhagavathar who accompanied him in performances.
In 1927, Muthiah Bhagavathar visited Rangoon, where he was respected and felicitated for his Harikatha performance.
Life at Mysore
Mysore played an important role as a seat of music in the 18th century. Many musicians visited Mysore during festival time and got awards and rewards from the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Madurai Sri Ponnusami pillai was a famous Nadaswara vidwan, who was invited by the Maharaja every year. Shri Ponnusami pillai played a piece in Shanmukapriya which the Maharaja enjoyed very much. He enquired the vidwan about the new song and its composer. He came to know that it was “Valli Nayakane” composed by Muthiah Bhagavathar.
Shri Ponnusami Pillai met Muthiah Bhagavathar after a few months and narrated the incident. He also asked Bhagavathar to visit Mysore during Navarathri festival. During Navarathri festival, Muthiah Bhagavathar went to Mysore and he was also given a slot in the concert series to perform before the Maharaja. The Maharaja used to listen to all the concerts and present the vidwans with gifts based on their performances.
When Bhagavathar sang for the first time in front of the Maharaja, he was indisposed and hence the recital was not one of his best. The Maharaja gave him gifts as he would do for any ordinary vidwan. Muthiah Bhagavathar was very disappointed and tried to find the reason behind the problem with his throat that happened when he was singing. He soon realized that he had forgotten to remember the Goddess (Muthiah Bhagavathar’s Guru Shri Sambasiva Iyer was a Devi Upasaka and had asked Muthiah Bhagavathar to pray to Goddess Parvathi before the commencement of his concerts). Muthiah Bhagavathar went to Shri Chamundeshwari temple situated on a beautiful hill in Mysore.
"Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidhyalayam"
Muthiah Bhagavathar was very keen in teaching music to all interested people. He did not want any interested student to struggle as he did in his early years. He decided to start a music school in Madurai and sought the help of many rich people and zamindars whom he knew. In 1924, he established the “Thyagaraja Sangeetha Vidhyalayam” and appointed teachers which included great musicians like Madurai Rajam Bhagavathar and Madurai Narayana Iyengar. Many students joined the school with interest. The famous musician Madurai Mani Iyer was also a student of this music school. However, Muthiah Bhagavathar could run the school only for three years. But still he continued giving private lessons and Harikatha performances. Late Ramanathapuram Shri C.S.Shankara Sivam (my guru’s guru) was one of the foremost disciples of Muthiah Bhagavathar who accompanied him in performances.
In 1927, Muthiah Bhagavathar visited Rangoon, where he was respected and felicitated for his Harikatha performance.
Life at Mysore
Mysore played an important role as a seat of music in the 18th century. Many musicians visited Mysore during festival time and got awards and rewards from the Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar. Madurai Sri Ponnusami pillai was a famous Nadaswara vidwan, who was invited by the Maharaja every year. Shri Ponnusami pillai played a piece in Shanmukapriya which the Maharaja enjoyed very much. He enquired the vidwan about the new song and its composer. He came to know that it was “Valli Nayakane” composed by Muthiah Bhagavathar.
Shri Ponnusami Pillai met Muthiah Bhagavathar after a few months and narrated the incident. He also asked Bhagavathar to visit Mysore during Navarathri festival. During Navarathri festival, Muthiah Bhagavathar went to Mysore and he was also given a slot in the concert series to perform before the Maharaja. The Maharaja used to listen to all the concerts and present the vidwans with gifts based on their performances.
When Bhagavathar sang for the first time in front of the Maharaja, he was indisposed and hence the recital was not one of his best. The Maharaja gave him gifts as he would do for any ordinary vidwan. Muthiah Bhagavathar was very disappointed and tried to find the reason behind the problem with his throat that happened when he was singing. He soon realized that he had forgotten to remember the Goddess (Muthiah Bhagavathar’s Guru Shri Sambasiva Iyer was a Devi Upasaka and had asked Muthiah Bhagavathar to pray to Goddess Parvathi before the commencement of his concerts). Muthiah Bhagavathar went to Shri Chamundeshwari temple situated on a beautiful hill in Mysore.
He prayed to Goddess Chamundeshwari singing “Manamu kaavalanu” in the raga Sahana and “Thapulanniyu” in the raga Bowli. The Maharaja happened to hear him sing in the temple and made him the Asthana Vidwan.
Gayaka Shikamani and Sangita Kalanidhi
During a Navarathri festival function Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar enjoyed the performance of Muthiah Bhagavathar for five consecutive days. On the sixth day of navarathri, the Maharaja felicitated Muthiah Bhagavathar and presented the title “Gayaka Sikhamani”.
In 1927, the Madras Music academy was established and Muthiah Bhagavathar played a key role in developing the Academy. He was awarded the title “Sangita Kalanidhi” in 1930 by the Madras Music Academy. He composed a lot of krithis including the Ashtotara krithis between 1927 and 1932.
In 1936, Muthiah Bhagavathar received an invitation from the Travancore palace. At the request of Maharani Sethu Parvathi Bai, he stayed there for two years. He was appointed the first Principal of the Swati Tirunal Music Academy and Muthiah Bhagavatar systematized the notations of about 300 krithis of Swati Tirunal and also set tunes to many krithis. He wrote and published a book in Tamil on the theory of music, entitled “Sangeetha Kalpadrumam”. In recognition of his invaluable contributions, Travancore University honored him with a doctorate. He later returned to Mysore where he spent his last days. He passed away on June 30, 1945.
The great stalwart is still living through his compositions and sishya parampara.
Coming soon…
Muthiah Bhagavathar’s works and his sishya parampara
[Note: Readers can listen and enjoy the great Master’s voice through the following link
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/nvn/Harikeshanallur-Muthaiah-Bagavathar/ ]
Coming soon…
Muthiah Bhagavathar’s works and his sishya parampara
[Note: Readers can listen and enjoy the great Master’s voice through the following link
http://www.sangeethamshare.org/nvn/Harikeshanallur-Muthaiah-Bagavathar/ ]
