Thread by @jeysundhar_d

Since today is #NarasimhaJayanti, I thought I'd do a thread on the raga #SimhendraMadhyamam

Why this raga on this occasion? #Thread

We know the story behind #NarasimhaJayanti. To summarise:
a. Hiranyakashipu, wants to avenge the killing of his brother Hiranyaksha by Lord Vishnu.
b. Does a long penance and gets a lot of boons from various Gods, the most important being from Brahma.

c. Predictably, Hiranyakashipu (HK) asks for immortality, but Brahma refuses. So, HK asks for the same thing (he thinks), but in a convoluted manner.
d. What is that? HK asks that he not be killed by ANY living entities created by Brahma (who created practically everything)

He's not satisfied with such an overwhelming umbrella coverage. So, he continues...
To not die in the residence or outside it.
During daytime or night.
Not on the earth, nor in the sky.
No weapon, human or animal created by Brahma.

To not die at the hands of a Deva or Danava or Sarpa (Snake) or human or animal (as we've seen before).

With this, HK thinks he has covered all ground and is practically immortal.

#BigMistake

e. We know how Lord Vishnu appears from a pillar as Narasimha, and kills HK.
As always, the details are important.

But let's take a short break and look at Simhendra Madhyamam.

Simhendra - the Lord of Lions
Madhyama - Middle.

What connection does this raga hold to #NarasimhaJayanti?

The Lord of Lions, the Simhendra, in our case, Narasimha, finds the glorious middle ground Madhyamam, between the extremes covered by HK in his boon from Brahma.

How?

a. To not be killed by any entity living or non-living created by Brahma - The man and the lion are created by Brahma. The Narasimha is NOT.

b. To not inside or outside the residence - Narasimha takes him on the step at the entrance to the residence. The step which is neither inside the residence nor outside it.

c. To not die during day or night - The incident happens during the evening, which is neither day nor night.

d. To not die on earth or sky - Narasimha rips HK apart by placing him on his thigh - neither earth nor sky.

e. To not die by any weapon created by Brahma - Narasimha uses his fingernails, which just like Narasimha are not Brahma's creation.

f. To not die at the hands of a Deva or Danava or Sarpa (Snake) or human or animal - Narasimha being a compound entity does not fall under any of these individual categories.

HK should have known how to use Or/And better in his wish for a boon. Too bad.

So, HK's supposedly all-encompassing boon, like a modern insurance scheme did not cover it all. There was a fine print that he did not read.

The Lord of Lions, Narasimha, finds the proverbial Madhyama middle ground and completes the task.

While there are several stunning sculptures capturing this story, my favorite would be from the Chennakesava temple.
Look how HK's intestines form a garland around Narasimha now.

So, as a dedication to #NarasimhaJayanti, a thread of popular compositions in the raga #SimhendraMadhyamam

Let's start with Dr. Balamuralikrishna's Marakata Simhasana. I think it's the only song dedicated to Narasimha in this raga.

A slightly more elaborate exploration of SimhendraMadhyamam by KJ Yesudas- Needu Charanamule

Switching to violin, Nata Jana Paripala by the inimitable MS Gopalakrishnan #SimhendraMadhyamam

What's a #SimhendraMadhyamam thread without a kriti on the Simhavahini!
Kamakshi Kamakoti Peetavasini, by Dikshithar, sung by Sudha Raghunathan

How does it feel when your kid goes on a long tour and comes back wearing a bright, jubilant hat he bought in North India?
Simhendra Madhyamam by Ravi Shankar

Ragam Thanam Pallavi in #SimhendraMadhyamam by Jayanti Kumaresh on the Veena.

We should probably do a separate #SimhendraMadhyamam thread on film songs another day.
I'll make an exception and close this thread with this wonderful song from Thiruvilayadal by TR Mahalingam.


Thank you for reading.
@threadreaderapp please compile.