BHADRACHALAM - THE HEAVENLY ABODE

Bhadrachalam the abode of Lord Rama, the incarnation of Mahavishnu, placed on the hill surrounded by the holy Godavari river. This place where Rama and his consort Sita and brother Laxman had spent their vanavasa period.

Also history dates back that Maharshi Bhadra performed penance for years at the banks of the river Godavari and got the grace of Mahavishnu who manifested himelf as Vykunta Rama with four hands with Shanku – Conch, Sudarshana Chakra – the weapon of Vishnu, Dhanurbhana – bow and arrow.

Hence, this shrine has been transformed into Bhadrachalam.

SAINT BHAKTA RAMADAS

Gopanna was born to Linganna in 1620 in Nelakondapalli, a small village in Khammam district in Andhra Pradesh. He composed several keertanas on Lord Rama. His devotion to Vaikunta Rama at the temple of Bhadrachalam, a small village in the middle of the jungle on the northern banks of the holy river Godavari, earned him his name Bhadrachala Raamadasu.

Ramadas was appointed as the Tashildar under the Quatub shahi dynasty. Bhadrachalam a place of natural beauty amidst serene atmosphere on the banks of river Godavari. His intense love for Lord Rama made him construct the temple at Bhadrachalam using the money from the revenue department.
Ramadas was sentenced to prison for a period of 12 years. He was pleading god and composed some of the beautiful keerthanas in the prison. Rama and Lakshmana in the guise of two young men paid the dues and released Ramadas from his debt. The coins had the scene of Rama Pattbhishekam – coronation ceremony to the throne, on it.
Ramadas a great saint composed songs which inspired SAINT TYAGARAAJA .was gave life to the written script.

SAINT TYAGARAJA

Saint Thyagaraja was instrumental in the composition of devotional songs. Most of his songs were dedicated to the Hindu God Rama. Out of his works, there are five compositions, which are more popularly referred to as the "five gems" or the Pancharatna Krithis.

He was born in Thiruvarur, a small town in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu, on May 4, 1767 as the son of Kakarla Ramabrahmam and Seethamma. He derived his name Tyagaraja after the presiding deity Tyagaraja of the Thiruvarur temple.

There are quite a number of ragas in which he has composed just one kriti. It is a revelation to note the daintiness and delicacy on one side, sublime splendor on the other, the simplicity at one end and ornamentation of the use of words at the other; each of his works is a perfume without a name but a fragrance ever perfume fragrance felt, godliness and eternity gazing at itself in a mirror where the soul is united with the supreme.

The dexterity in the use and combination of melody with rhythm and the adroitness in the fusion of bhakthi and bhava is a form of genius, a sensible image of the infinite.

Music is the best means to reach God and finally attain Moksha. His songs, so beautifully crafted and sung was primarily for spiritual reasons. It is such songs which binds one with the divine.

It is not easy to compose songs that will stay on for generations. Sri Thyagaraja’s greatness lies in composing songs in all these ragas and making them immortal. He gives the special sancAram of a raga in the opening lines of many of the songs.

VEENA - THE QUEEN OF INSTRUMENTS

Veena an instrument of music notably called the Queen of instruments.It has an interesting character. It is a four feet long, carved and hollowed structure made of wood, generally, jackwood. Good quality Veenas are carved from a single block of wood. Its tapering hollow neck contains metal frets set into wax on wooden tracks. One more resonator is present on the top of the long neck of the Veena. This is used as a stand in the positioning of the instrument.

The technique of playing a Veena involves the left hand playing on the frets, controlled pulling on the strings to achieve higher tones and glissandi through increased tension and finger flicks, all to reflect the characteristics of various ragas and their ornamentation (gamaka).