A Cottage in Swami Hills - 22. Bangalore Krishna Bhagavathar

A COTTAGE IN SWAMI HILLS *

22. BANGALORE KRISHNA BHAGAVATHAR

One day when I came from school, I saw an elderly person sitting along with my grand father and discussing things in a loud and authoritative tone. i was told that he was a Harikatha exponent and his name was Bangalore  Krishna Bhagavathar. He was to perform at the Venkata Rayar Chathiram for 15 days every evening between 7 to 9 PM. his stay was arranged in the frst floor and from next morning, he became friendly with me. 

He was a born storyteller. He would attract every one's attention in a few minutes. During day time, he would practice for the evening lecture. By 6 PM , he would get ready for the katha kalakshepam and all the three of us would depart by 6.30 or so. Soon, his co artistes a violinist and the Mridangam player would arrive. He would clear his throat and say his prayers. The crowd would start arriving by 7. He would be in full swing in five minutes. 

He was good in Kannada and he used to intersperse all events with the Dasar nama or some Bhajan. This was liked by the Madhwa crowd. By 830 or so, I would take a plate and go around the crowd. Some would put 1 Rupee and some would put half a rupee. By 9 PM, he would perform arathi and close the lecture. The entire collection would be counted and given to the Bhagavathar next day.

He would draw me into some argument or other and sometimes quote my words (without revealing my name) in the katha. For instance if I told that Rasam was "pramadam" you will find that he would somehow bring the incident in that day's kathai and say ," என் கொழந்தை பிரமாதம்  அப்படீன்னு சொன்னான் ".

Bangalore krishna Bhagavathar had fantastic memory. He performed fluently for three hours without referring notes and that was commendable by any standard. He was of the view that Katha is better than music in terms of its mass appeal. I did not agree with him on  this point but he was a great artiste.

It seems he visted Kumbakonam earlier when my younger uncle was in school. During that trip, he went to a drama where my father acted in a girl's role and  it seems he came home and asked my grandmother whether she had a daughter. I am sure he must have said it on purpose to appreciate my father's acting but my grandmother related this incident many times as if krishna Bhagavathar was not aware.

Krishna Bhagavathar with his splendid kacham and silk angavasthram and garland performing while standing and with the chapla kkattai  is still green in my memory. One day he completed his Rama pattabhishekham and packed his bag and hold all and left for Bangalore. I thought that we would meet some time later. We did not. not atleast till now. I salute him as an artiste without parallel and one who mesmerised the audience for three hours every day.

I recall an  occasion when my grandfather gave a talk appreciating the then upcoming speaker by name Thiru. Keeran. he had then just passed out of Karanthai Tamil College and was looking lean. He used to speak very clearly and with a lot of articulation.

My grandfather at that time told that Veena was the most ancient instrument and soon after he finished, a person came and argued that Mridangam was the most ancient because mridangam was made of animal hide and for veena one required metallic strings.(so, it must have been more recent). Even after my grandfather gave him some explanation through Vedic references, He kept on arguing and in the process came to our house along with us and was in no mood to go till some one accepted his thinking.
 

ottage in swami hills refers to the house in which we lived in Kumbakonam. This phrase was used once by my grandfather when I asked him that as some  people go in summer to Kodaikanal and Ooty where they have a cottage whether we would also be able to go and stay like them one day. My grandfather replied that he already has a cottage near swami Hills (swamimalai) and he referred to his house as the cottage.