WHAT: Thiruppugazh Devotional Bhajans
WHEN: Sunday, November 15^h, 2015, 5:00-7:00 PM
HERE: Hindu Temple of New Hampshire, 525 Broad St, Nashua, NH 03063
COST: FREE. All are welcome.

Evening of Music

The Hindu Temple of New Hampshire invites you to attend an evening of devotional music on Sunday, November 15^th, to mark the festival of Skanda Sashti. The music will consist of bhajans in Tamil drawn from “Thiruppugazh” – beautiful and divine poetry from the 15^th century, composed by the revered Tamil saint Sri Arunagirinathar Swamigal. The bhajans are set to popular Carnatic music ragas, and the music can be appreciated even without a knowledge of Tamil. The bhajans will be performed in chorus by the “Boston Thiruppugazh Anbargal”, and led by Smt. Malini Ramakrishnan, daughter and disciple of the eminent Thiruppugazh exponent Guruji Raghavan. Percussion support will be provided by Sri Sivaharan on the mridangam.

Thiruppugazh

“Thiruppugazh” (Praise of the Divine), one of the most revered literary works in Tamil in praise of Lord Muruga, is divine poetry composed by the great 15^th century Tamil poet and saint Sri Arunagirinathar Swamigal from Thiruvannamalai, who legend asserts was blessed with his creative powers by Lord Subrahmanya himself. Sri Arunagirinathar Swamigal is accorded the same position in poetic expression, as Arjuna is accorded in archery, i.e., the ultimate in their fields. His prodigious number of compositions are known for their beauty of expression, choice of words, and rhythm. 

Guruji Raghavan

Forgotten for almost 450 years, Thiruppugazh was rediscovered in 1871 by Munsif Subramania Pillai and brought into popular worship in the 1910’s by Sri Satchithananda Swamigal. In the 1950’s Thiruppugazh started gaining a new mass popularity when Guruji Raghavan set to tune more than 500 of the songs in over 100 ragas, selecting the tala of each song to be consistent with the meter of the corresponding verses. His efforts have evolved into a popular movement with an international following called “Thiruppugazh Anbargal” whose goal is to spread the message of love, brotherhood, self-discipline and unity through music. Guruji Raghavan who passed away in May 2013 at the age of 85, counted among his supporters the then President of India Mr. R. Venkatraman, and was recognized and decorated with titles such as “Thiruppugazh Gana Ratnam”, “Thiruppugazh Thondar”, and “Bhakta Ratna” by eminent and highly revered personalities including Sri Kanchi Paramacharya, Sri Abhinava Vidyateertha Swamiji of Sringeri, and Sri Chidanandji Maharaj of Sivananda Ashram.

முத்தைத் தரு பத்தித் திருநகை            
அத்திகிறை சத்தி சரவண
முத்திக்கொரு வித்து குருபர என ஓதும்
muththaith tharu paththith thirunagai
aththikkirai saththi saravana
muththikkoru viththu gurupara ena odhum

(This is the first verse, according to legend, that was composed by Sri Arunagirinathar Swamigal, after he was blessed with creative powers by Lord Muruga.  The verse stands out for its poetic and rhythmic beauty)

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