The Blissful Shambho Mahadeva - Tyagaraja's master piece in Pantuvarali

Maha Shivaratri is the festival of Lord Shiva. The trishUla or the trident is his chosen instrument with a two-fold intent: as a weapon it removes evil; and as a decorative adjunct it reassures good.

Viewed as a decorative adjunct, three renditions are offered as the three prongs of the trident.

1. The rendition in pantuvarALi highlights that aspect of the whole
being larger than the sum of the parts.

2. The rendition in kEdAram highlights the delight of joyful
rendition.

3. The rendition in kANaDa highlights melodious wholesomeness.

For each of the above, my esteemed friend, Shri. T K Ramkumar (TKR) has presented a narrative of his reflections from his intent listening sessions and we hope this would help all the listeners to enhance their joy while listening to these songs.

Let me share the reflections of TKR on "The Blissful ShambhO mahAdEva".

" The magic of krShNa traya is back in this excerpt from a live concert of 1963.

An elaborate delineation that is different from the typical pantuvarALi in which BMK, explores the different contours leisurely and MSG supports showing the same contours in a matching yet different light. The rendition of the composition and the following svara prastAram is "classic" to say the least. The lyrical phrases of Tyagaraja magically acquire a liberating lusture, thanks to the clarity in diction and adherence to melody and music. MSG and TVG nicely wrap up the kriti rendition with a detailed follow-up to BMK's intricately woven svara patterns that all through oozes pantuvarALi. 

Balamuralikrishna takes 18 minutes to carve out a majestic pantuvarALi revealing all its vital contours. MSG takes another ten minutes to emphasise certain of the already revealed contours and reveals a few more! It is like the stage is set for the installation of Lord Shiva as the presider of the occasion.

The kriti is taken up and presented by Balamuralikrishna, handling every word in the composition like it alone determined the overall feeling that Tyagaraja felt and wanted to convey to us in the entire composition.

In the svara prastAram, is a masterly collaboration of krShNa traya or the three Krishnas. One articulates with feeling, another bows with the same feeling, and the other neither strikes nor strokes but cajoles.

Who shines most is not the question; was there anyone among the three who did not shine at all, is the question. The answer is none, rather all the three have shone to bring out the shine that Tyagaraja cast upon Shiva, at Kovur, as shambhO mahEdEva.

It is truly blissful. Partake of it and be blessed."