"Are the signs of spring (vasantham) surging around?" It was the feeling of the audience at the Chinmaya Maruti in Andover on the evening of the March 11th. The occasion was a fundraiser Bharathanatyam dance recital by the duo Jeyanthi Ghatraju and Prakruti Mavanur. Talented in their inimical style of learning this fine art form, each artist exhibited a wide range of their skill in their rendering, both individually and collectively. A delightful treat to the learned audience indeed!

The resident Acharya of the Chinmaya Mission Boston, Bhamathi Chaitanyaji, introduced the artists of the evening. The program started with a Panchamurthy Anjali, the traditional prayer to the Almighty. It was composed of pleasing steps to the perfectly timed beats, a warm-up to the forth-coming items. Next, "Yaar aadinaar" - a padam was the question. The answer was "Prakruti aadinaar". The rendering had the fine blend of speed and rhythm. The central piece of the recital was "Sakhiye indha jaalam" varnam, a time old composition by the Tanjore Quartet, delivered by Jeyanthi. She dealt at length the vivacious expressions of a girl aspiring for her union with the Lord, urging her sakhi (friend) to proceed on a santhesam to the Lord. Jeyanthi embellished this varnam with navarasa in their fullest exposure. No wonder it turned out to be a favorite item of the audience. A mother's affection to her child is natural, but how about her adoration to a divine child? This was vividly illustrated in dancing terms by Prakruti in the Purandaradasa keerthanam, "Jagadodhaaranaa". The nuances of little Krishna and the motherly experience of Yashoda were exhibited very well.          

"Alarulu kuriyaga", a composition by Saint Annamacharya followed then. Jeyanthi portrayed the dancing of the goddess, charming Lord Venkareshwara, with all grace. The program concluded with contemporary thillana in Ragam Desh, a composition by Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman of the Saraswathi Gana Nilayam, Chennai. The thillana's sahityam was in praise of Lord Rama and was crisp and compact in delivery. The result was unity in diversity - to be more precise - though the two artists differed in their schools of learning, they were adept in merging and complementing each other in exhibiting their mastery. "Could there be a more welcoming act to the oncoming spring?" was the question in everybody's mind at the end. One vociferous spectator even expressed, "how wonderful that this dancing duo is performing again!"         

Chinmaya Mission Boston, a spiritual non profit organization, has its “Chinmaya Maruti” located at 1, Union Street, Andover, MA. Its programs provide for and spread the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness to individuals of all age groups, and all backgrounds. They include Balavihar to teach the core values of successful living with fun to children, Chinmaya Yuva Kendra for the college students and young adults to harness the youth potential through Vedanta study classes, seminars, retreats and social community projects. Its Adult forum includes Satsangs on Bhagavad Geeta, Vedanta Study groups, Spiritual talk series called Yajnas, and Family retreats which are conducted by Swamis, Brahmacharis and Sevaks of the Mission.

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