The entire classical dance community is in a state of shock with the recent Padma awards! And the @MinOfCultureGoI, @kishanreddybjp@KishanReddyOfc, @M_Lekhi have much to answer, some uncomfortable questions from a community that was neglected the last seven years.
A thread.
The recent awardees in dance were sisters Nalini and Kamlini for Kathak. Padmaja reddy for Kuchipudi.
While those Kathak sisters are old members of the Sangh and hence not too difficult to get with in-house recommendations, the Kuchipudi candidate surprised many.
Padmaja Reddy, a rich and influential socialite, but a highly mediocre dancer, from Hyderabad is the daughter in law of a Telangana minister. She has at times used names of popular Gurus and said she was their student. She was briefly a student of Shobha Naidu.
My beloved Guru Garu, Pouranika Sarvabhouma, Pravachana Chakravarthy, Veda Brahmasri Malladi Chandrashekhara Sastry Garu makes his final exit on this auspicious day! At 5.15 PM. There will never be another like him!
न भूतो न भविष्यति!
Atma Shanti 🙏
In his long and illustrious lifetime of 97 years, Sastry Garu has done over a lakh Saptahams of Srimad Bhagawatam, Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam and Mahabharatam. In addition to others like Srinivasa Kalyanam etc. He was an authority on the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads!
🙏🙏🙏
Like Bheeshma Pitamaha, he observed Vaikuntha Ekadasi yesterday, and exited today. He lived a full life! So inspiring!
The heavens must be ringing with his voice!
His Pravachanams are available for all of us to listen and learn!
Today is the Jayanthi of Sri Bellamkonda Ramaraya Kavi (1875–1914), a prolific writer and scholar from Andhra. He authored over 148 works in Sanskrit including Kavyas, Tikaas, Stotras! Only 45 remain with us now.
A forgotten literary personality with phenomenal contribution!🙏
Ramaraya Kavi lived only for 39 years. But his literary output was phenomenal!
Born into a Niyogi Brahmin family and initiated into Visishtadvaita, he wrote a number of works in Sanskrit inspired by Adi Shankara's Advaita Vedanta.
His Sanskrit is not easy at all!🙏
He was a Hayagreeva Upasaka. He composed a number of works in praise of Lord Hayagreeva and the Hayavadana Shatakam. You can download it here.
Absolute honour and pleasure spending time with Veda Brahmasri Parameshwara Deekshitar in Chidambaram. He is a master of 6 Veda Shakhas!
-Rig Shalaka Shakha
-Krishna Yajur Taittreya & Maitrayani Shakhas
-Sama Kauthuma Shakha
-Shukla Yajur Kanva
-Atharvana Shaunaka Shakhas
🙏🤩
He is training a number of disciples in all these Veda Shakhas and passing on this precious ancient knowledge to them.
Almost no awards or honours have come his way. But he doesn't care. He is here to serve our Dharma.
Because of people like him, our Vedas are still safe! 🙏
It is unbelievable how much the human memory can retain! Six Veda Shakhas completely ascribed to the memory is no mean achievement!
When we have doubts, we call him and from memory he corrects us, be it swaras or uchhaarana. He scolds us when we open books to refer! 😂