ENNAPPADAM VENKATARAMA BHAGAVATAR

MUSICAL LINEAGE
Venkatarama was born in a musically inclined family in the year 1880 on the 21ST of
February. (1055 M.E.Kumbha month) at Ennappadam village in Cochin, Kerala to
Sri Padmanãbhayyar and Sitalakshmi ammal. His father and grandfather were both
experts in singing Arunacala Kavirayar’s Kritis, Tyagaraja Kritis, Dikshitar Kritis and
others to the accompaniment of ‘Gettuvadyam’, they used to play this
instrument themselves while singing.
Hence he belonged to the tradition of great
bhagavatars and exponents in the
field of music and katha prasangam.

MUSICAL TRAINING
In his childhood Venkatarama was taught Tamil, Malayalam, and Granthaksharam,
both, to read and write. Venkatarama Bhagavatar, along with his brother
Ratnagiriswara Bhagavatar started learning music systematically under Nochur
Ayyabhagavatar -their paternal uncle who at that time was the Aastana Vidwan of
Kottakkal Samuddiri Kovilakam. .Venkitarama Bhagavatar who started learning
music six months later than his elder brother ,was quicker in learning, and he
mastered the complex art of rendering Ragam Tanam Pallavi It was his elder
brother, Ratnagiriswara Bhagavatar, who made Venkitarama practice music strictly
and taught him the nuances of singing rãga alapanas. Venkitarama Bhagavatar had
great respect and regard towards his elder brother. During this four years stay with
Ayyabhagavatar, the two brothers sang in concerts, accompanying their guru
Ayyabhagavatar and thereby gaining experience in “Cucheri Dharma”
Subsequently during 1895-1901, they traveled widely to Coimbatore, Madhurai,
Pazhani, Ramanatthapuram, Devakottai, Raameswaram and other places giving
concerts and listening to great masters of their time.. Venkitarama Bhagavatar and
his brother were a popular duo performing in the same venues as these veterans.
They imbibed a lot of performing skill by these tours.

LONE BARD

At the height of their fame, Venkitarãma Bhagavatar became all on his own
because of the sudden untimely demise of his brother Ratna Giriswara Bhagavatar
in the year 1901.Lonely, forlorn, crestfallen and despondent,
Venkitarama Bhagavatar with the persuasive coaxing and encouragement of
Vidwans recovered from the shock of his sibling’s brother’s death, and up to the age
of thirty five gave solo Karnatic music performances. He was fortunate enough to
have listened to the great vidwãn Ennappadam Fiddle Krishnayyar accompanying
Maha Vaidyanatha Sivan and Coimbatore Raghava Bagavatar. During travels,
Venkitarama Bhagavatar had the privilege of hearing great exponents of karnatic
music like ‘Venuganam Sarabha Sastrigal’, ‘Palakkad Anantaramabhagavatar’,
Ramanatha puram Poochi-Srinivasa Iyengar, Pattnam Subramanya Iyer. Though by
listening to great doyens, he acquired performing skills, for singing he had adopted
his brother’s and Anantarama Bhagavatar’s style.

POPULAR HARIKATHA PERFORMER

Story telling has been an integral part of ancient Indian socio-religious
gatherings. Religious festivals or social occasions such as weddings etc. were
considered simply incomplete without a story telling session. As each region
developed its unique style of story narration, South Indians developed the art to suit
their society and interest. Kathakalakshepa is the famous art form in South India in
which one single performer entertains an audience with tales and anecdotes putting
his musical, acting and story rendering skills to best use. The themes were
borrowed from the ever popular religious epics, the Puranas and Hindu religious
mythology. Musical accompanists supported the performer in dramatizing the
performance and keeping the interest of the audience piqued up. In Kerala, story
telling developed into three different art forms – Patanam, Harikatha and
Kathaprasangam. By the end of the nineteenth century, ‘Harikatha’ became very
popular and all music vidwāns used this medium to communicate to the masses.
Venkitarāma Bhāgavatar also came under this influence and is said to have
composed many songs and niroopanas –story line - based on Ramayana .As an
exponent of Harikatha his fame spread far and wide. . He received many titles and
honours from kings of Travancore, Cochin, Mysore, and Baroda etc. during this
time. He traveled widely to far off places like Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, etc doing
Harikatha, thus getting more and more fame. Traveling to different places he got
acquainted with languages Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit in addition to
Malayalam and Tamil. This would have given him opportunity to adapt to the
different styles of story telling in various regions.
TURNING POINT:
When Venkatrama Bhagavatar was fifty one, he had a severe attack of ‘Vasoori’
disease. The bhakta in him composed five Kritis on his family goddess
Parukkancheri Amman and continued singing them, with great difficulty. Slowly he
began recovering and within one month he was completely cured, without even a
trace of mark on his body. After this miraculous recovery, he
wrote ‘Sri Krshnāshtottara Sata nāmā keertanas’. There are 108 kritis in 108
different rāgās, a proof of his mastery over Sanskrit, Puranas and Music.
MUDRA
Venkatarama Bhagavatar has signed almost all his kritis with his own
name “Venkataramana” or “Venkatarama”-hence he is a Swanaama mudra kaaraka
Vakgeyakaara.
PUBLISHED KRITIS
1. Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy has published “Venkataramaneeyam” a
compilation of 146 kritis of Venkataramana Bhagavatar in Malayalam script notated
with the help of Ennappadam Ramachandra Bhagavatar –his son and disciple.
2. “VENKATARAMANIYAM” Pub.by Smt.Gita Subramaniam Chennai -41, Jan
2005, Tamil edition of 60 of these kritis
UNPUBLISHED KRITIS:
Apart from the songs published in “Venkataramaneeyam”, the authoress has come
across other kritis in rare talas from the manuscript obtained through his
descedants. The talas used are named as Nuti, Preeti, and Devaranjanam. These
are proof of his mastery in rhythm.
The Kritis in rare rāgās like Sumukhi, Prakāsini, Sridhari, Rāsa bhauli, Murali
nādam, Vrindāvana Kutūhalam, Priyadarsini, and Rasa varaali show his musical
propensity.
DISCIPLE LINEAGE
He is said to have a lineage of disciples through his son Ramachandra Bhagavatar
a popular musician of his time, grand daughter Smt. Thankam; and Smt.Omana and
Smt .Jayamani. Of these devoted students, the latter still continues to perform
Harikatha in Kerala
LIST OF THE KRITIS
1 Maatthanga Mukham Sumukhi Roopakam
2 Eedae Girija Thanujam Saveri Aadhi
3 Sri Rajatha Chaleshwaram Rishaba priya Aadhi
4 Guham Aashrayami Prakashini Aadhi
5 Kamala Pathae Hemavathi Aadhi
6 Vanaja nayana Dharbar Aadhi
7 Laavanyaamrutham Sahaana Aadhi
8 Sri Raajagopalam Bairavi Kandachapu
9 Jaivaathruka nibha vadhana Naata kurinji adhi
10 Gopaala Pranatha Gowrimanohari Roopakam
11 Mohana Muralidhara Mohana Aadhi
12 Raamachandram Bhaja Thodi Kanda thriputa
13 Sriram Raghurama Begada Kanda Chapu
14 Radha ramanam Kamaas Aadhi
15 Yamuna theera vihaari Mukhari Kanda Thriputa
16 Palayamaam Bhalahari Aadhi
17 Maam kim upaekshyase Malahari Aadhi
18 Maathanga Thanayae Punnaaga varaali Aadhi
19 Marakathaangi Saveri Misra Chapu
20 paraasakthim akaharaam Kedara Gowla Aadhi
21 Vaarija dhala Nayanae Udaya ravi chandrika Chapu
22 Neeraja nayanae Vasantha roopakam
23 Suprabhadham Indholam Aadhi
24 Jagadhguro Kamaas Aadhi
25 Sankara bagavath natakurinji Aadhi
26 Srikaantham Anuchinthaya Sahaana Chaapu
27 Aadhi paraashakthim Kaamboji Aadhi
28 Raajathi raajam Kalyani Aadhi
29 Sri janakI Ramanam Madhyamaavathi Roopakam
30 Chinthayaamyaham Sudha Saveri Aadhi
31 Innum Paraamukham Yeno Sridhari Aadhi
32 Nalamae Kidaikkum Bhairavi Misra Chapu
33 Alokayamaam srimahalakshmi Bhairavi Misra Chapu
34 Sree vidya ganesam Todi Nuti
35 Vaasudeva maam ihaasu Balahari Preeti
36 RaamaLokaabhiraama Naatakurinji Devaranjanam
SREE KRISHNA ASHTOTHARA SHATHA NAAMA KRITI S

Sri Krishnam Maasrayae Hari Kamboji Roopakam

Kamala Naatham Maayamaalavagowla Aadhi
Vasudhevam Baavayami Aarabhi Aadhi
Sanaathana Kaanada Roopakam
Vasudhevathmajam Udhaya Ravi Chandrika Aadhi
Punyam Yadukula Kaamboji Aadhi
Leela Maanusha Vishraham Balahari Aadhi
Srivatsa Kausthubha Dhara Malayamaarutham Kanda Chaapu
Yashodha Vathsalam Reethi Gowla Roopakam
Harimeedae Navarasa Kannada Aadhi
Chathurbujaatha Chakra Boori Kalyani Roopakam
Devaki Nandhana Kedhaara Gowla Aadhi
Srisham Sarvesham Shyama Roopakam
Nandha Gopa Priyathmajam Atana Aadhi .
Yamuna Vegha Samharinam Raasa Bowli Aadhi
Bhala Bhadhra Priyaanujam Surutti Aadhi
Poothana Jeevithahara Sarasaangi Roopkam
Sakatasura Bhanjanam Shanmugha Priya Aadhi
NandhavrajaJanaanandhitha Huseni Roopakam
Sachidhanandha Vighraha Mukhari Adhi
Navaneetha Viliptanga Dvijavanthi Adhi
Navaneethanatam Sahana Aadhi
Anaghamanavarthanam Natakurinji Aadhi
Navaneetanavahara Kapi Khandachapu
Muchukundha Prasodaka Vakula Bharanam Aadhi
Shodasa Todi Chapu
Tribangi Madhurakruthae Hindolam Aadhi
Sukavagam Chakravakam Roopakam
Govinda Gopala Saveri Khandachapu
Yoginam Patim Latangi Adhi
Vatsavata Chara Sreekra Sreedhari Aadhi
Anantam Anandham Ananda Bairavi Aadhi
Dhenukasura Bhajanam Dhenuka Aadhi
Truneekrutha Trunaavartha Pantuvarali Roopakam
Yamalarjuna Bhajanam Muralinadam Aadhi
Uttalatala Bhettaaram Behag Khandachapu
Tamalasyamalakrutae Devamanohari Aadhi
Gopagopeeswaram Neelambari Chaturasrajati Ata
Yoginam Krisnam Mohanam Aadhi
Kodisoorya Samaprabham Kedaram Aadhi
Ilapatae Jagatpatae Ramapriya Roopakam
Paramjyothisham Poornachandrika Aadhi
Yadavendram Bhaje Vegada Aadhi
Yadoodvaham Sankaraabharanam Chapu
Vanamalinam Devagandharai Aadhi
Peetavasasam Asaveri Chapu
Parijatapaharakam Keeravani Aadhi
Govardhana Vachaspati Aadhi
Gopala Revagupti Roopakam
Sarvapalaka Bhairavi Chapu
Ajam Asritavatsalam Sudhseemantini Aadhi
Niranjana Saranga Roopakam
Karmajanakam Natakapriya Aadhi
Kanjalochanam Charukesi Aadhi
Mudugnam Manasa Kuntalavarali Aadhi
Madhuranatham Simhendramadhyamam Roopakam
Dwarakanayakam Vasanta Khanda Chapu
Bhalinam Abheri Aadhi
Vrudhavanantha Sancharinam Kokiladwani Aadhi
Tulasidhamabhushanam Kurunji Chapu
Syamantakamanae Punnagavarali Chapu
Naranaarayanatmaka Navaroj Aadhi
Kubjakrishtambaradharam Chenjuruti Roopakam
Mayinam Gowrimanohari Roopakam
Paramapurusham Kalyani Chapu
Mushtikasurachanura Dhanase Chapu
Samsaravairinam Jayamanohari Aadhi
Kamsare Hemavati Aadhi
Murarimasraye Ravichandrika Aadhi
Narakantakam Gaula Aadhi
Anaadhibrahma Charinam Vrindhavankutoohalam Jampa
Krisnavyasana Bahudari Aadhi
Sisupaalasiraschettaram Bhowli Roopakam
Duryodanakulaantakam Sumukhi Roopakam
Vidhuraakrooravaradam Prakasini Aadhi
Viswaroopapradarsakam Suddhasaveri Aadhi
Satyavachamasrayami Malahari Aadhi
Satyasankkalpamsatatam Sauraashtram Aadhi
Satyabharnaratam Kamalamanohari Aadhi
Jayinambhaja Satatam Khamas Adhi
Subhadrapoorvaja Hamsadwani Roopakam
Jhishnum Bhaje Nagaswaravali Aadhi
Bheesmamukhthi Suddhabangala Aadhi
Jagadguro Darbar Aadhi
Jagannatham Sreekantam Kannadagowla Roopakam
Venunadavisaradam Kharaharapriya Aadhi
Vrushabhasuravidhwamsinam Vrushabhapriya Aadhi
Bhanasurakarantakam Andolika Aadhi
Yudhishtraprathishtaaram Nayaki Roopakam
Barhibarhavatamsakam Shadvidamargini Aadhi
Parthasarathim Kamboji Roopakam
Avyaktam Manirangu Aadhi
Geethamruthamahodadim Mandari Aadhi
Kaaliyaphanamanikya Naatta Aadhi
Dhamodhara Abhogi Roopakam
Yajnabhoktaram Sreeraga Aadhi
Dhanavendhra Vinasaka Sreeranjani Aadhi
Narayanam Namamyaham Jaganmohini Aadhi
Parabrahmane Sindhubhairavi Roopakam
Pannagasanavahanam Nathanamakriya Aadhi
Jalakreedasamasaktha Gamanasrama Roopakam
Punyaslokam Parasu Chapu
Teerthapadam DeenamasrayeBalahamsa Aadhi
Vedavedyamvibhavaye Priyadarsini Aadhi
Dayanidhe Jayantasri Aadhi
Sarvateertatmakam Dharmavati Aadhi
Sarvagraha Roopinam Rasavarali Aadhi
Paratparam Madhyamavati Aadhi.