Buddhi rādu - Shankarābharanam - TBC 1967 - M Balamuralikrishna - Track 7 of 13

Tyagaraja Bicentennial Concert - 1967 - MMA 29 Dec 1967
M Balamuralikrishna - T Keshavulu - Tanjore Upendran.

To mark the bicentenary of Tyagaraja Swami, in 1967, Madras Music Academy held a Tyagaraja Festival. It is said that this concert was recorded by an American company called Pan Orient Arts Foundation in stereo. The audio collected from several sources has been used in reconstructing the concert and the same has been remastered.

The following concert is Dr. M Balamuralikrishna’s tribute to his foremost Guru. Being one of the Tyagaraja Shishya-parampara, he certainly has a special place in his heart for that great Saint.

This concert encapsulates all the prominent works of Saint Tyagaraja – Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam (PBV), Divya Nāma Sankeertana (DNS), Utsava Sampradaya Keertana (USK) and other kritis. The concert, spanning about 2h 20 minutes, is like a circle of music. Beginning with a kriti from PBV, then exploring the reflective kritis, then a verse by Valajpet Venkataramana Bhagavatar, then to USK and DNS to eulogise Rama, and concluding with a kriti from PBV again.

There are 13 tracks in this album and have attempted to provide a short synopsis in the hope of providing you a wholesome listening experience.

There is a detailed narrative written about this concert by Sri. Ramkumar, which is available in the comments section.

Track 7 : Buddhi rādu - Shankarābharanam - Mishra chāpu

Tyagaraja is seen contemplating. He says in this kriti, one cannot obtain wisdom if one doesn’t heed to the advice of great saints. Mere mastery, charity, knowledge of scriptures, yoga, all these will lead one nowhere, if he doesn’t heed to the advice of great souls.
With this rendition, we complete half of the circle of music, so how does BMK transition from the first half to the second? The answer lies in the next track.