Yathiraja Gaana Amruthavarshini is a tribute to a sparkling milestone

As many as 75 musicians are participating in a devotional concert in homage to Yathiraja Jeeyar Swami

An ensemble of 75 musicians are slated to perform at the 75th birthday celebrations of Yathiraja Jeeyar Swami. To be held on August 23, Yathiraja Gaana Amruthavarshini is a tribute to the pontiff of Yadugiri Yathiraj Mutt, Jeeyar, who is a renowned musician.

While speaking about the upcoming event, Jeeyar said, “My life has been a celebration of music, devotion, Sanskrit and literature, and since Sanskrit Day is also celebrated this month, I requested the musicians to opt for compositions in Sanskrit. They have selected a few of my works as well as those by Shatavadhani Ganesh who has penned a few for the occasion, apart from a few of my favourites.”

Although Jeeyar is an accomplished violinist and vocalist, he says, “I continue to be a student of music and am grateful for the associations and influences from litterateurs, poets, spiritual leaders and scholars as well as my family’s cultural background which made melody an intrinsic part of my life.” 

Jeeyar, whose biography, Sujana Jeevana is also under way, adds that his foray as a lyricist was incidental. “Once, soon after a darshan at Tirupathi, I was soaking in the spiritual atmosphere at the temple grounds, when my friend asked me to write a few lines. Moved by the ambience there, I adapted my signature ankita ‘Sri Charana’ (surrender to the Lord) and penned my first composition, ‘Sri Venkateshwara’. It was followed by others on different subjects, mostly devotional and on nature, with the same ankita.”

“It humbles me that ace mridangist and music composer Anoor Ananthakrishna Sharma who set quite a few of my compositions to music is helming this show.”

Jeeyar, earlier known as Tiru Swami, was born in Melkote, Karnataka on August 25, 1949, and spent his childhood listening to music and Sanskrit prabhandas. “My sister was a violin student and my house would be filled with songs from the radio, and my father would discuss the nuances of the ragas and composers.”

After advanced Hindi, Sanskrit and music studies, he went to Mysore for his Intermediate and was mesmerised by the musical environment the Mysore Royals had nurtured and patronised there. “I enrolled at the Ayyanar College of Music for violin classes and got to see the best of yesteryear musicians from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra perform there.”