EMBAR- MUSICAL DISCOURSE MASTERIO

EMBAR- MUSICAL DISCOURSE MASTERIO




( Embar Vijayaraghavachariar is still the legend in Musical Discourse Field. Gifted
voice, extraordinary and in-depth knowledge in literary, cultural and religious fields – He dominated the stage for more than 3-decades. He made the Musical Discourse as an art. He formed the trio-Kirupanandha Variar, Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshathar and Embar-in 20th Century. )


Born in 1909 to Mr. Chidambaram Rengachariar- the then famous Musical Discourse
Master Embar inherited the rich tradition from his father and grand father. At that time Music, Musical Discourse, Instrument Music etc were all called Oriental Studies. After finishing matriculation Embar joined- the present Annamalai University- previously Meenakshi College and passed the degree in Vedantam, Sahithyam, Grammer, Sanskrit and Tamil literature.

Professor Dandapani Dikshathar was so impressed with the extraordinary knowledge of
Embar arranged to improve his skill further. Embar had his musical lessons from
Sundaram Pillai- father of the famous Singer Chidamabaram Jayaraman. Embar’s brother
was also well-versed in music. Thus the two joined together and carved out a path for
themselves- Sangeetha Katha kalakshebam or Musical Discourse.

Subjects flowed fluently for Embar- be it Vaishnavite or Saivite or about Thyagaraja or Social. No distinction, no set of principles – all are equal for Embar- be it Ramanujar, Swami Desikar, Ramakrishna Parmahamsa, Nandanar. People sat more than 3-hours-spell bound when Embar discoursed. I was 16 when I first attended Embar’s discourse. On that day the subject was- Drowpathi Vasthrabaharanam.

When Embar was enacting the scene of Drowpathi’s cries and her emotional appeal to
Lord Krishna- the entire crowd-more than 1000-people gathered cried and wept- such
was the impact of Embar discourse. Embar’s repertory includes Story of Ramalinga Swamikal, 63- Saivite Nayanmars, Naalayiram Divya Prabhandam and Sree Bhashyam by Periavachan Pillai, Mahabharatham, and Ramayanam, Thiagaraja, Bhagavatham and other Vaishnavite and Saivite literature.

Embar was awarded scores of titles by many organizations and Governments. Kanchi
Acharya conferred on him the title of Thiagamani. Embar formed a team with his brothers Mr. Raghunathan and Mr. Narasimhan and invariably they accompany him in his discourses.

Started as a schoolteacher in a School at Sirkazi- Tanjore Embar made the way as the
foremost exponent of Hari Katha and gave to this art the dignity and poise.
Embar spent his wealth in renovating many temples in South India. He went abroad to
collect money for renovating the Tiruvarur Temple. To keep the tradition and protect this unique art he trained many people under him.

To day Hari -Katha is helping many young people to have a decent living. Postgraduate
students have started spreading Hari-katha- thanks to the effort of Embar and the trios.

Analysis:
Hari Katha is an Oriental Art and is divine. Sage Narada is the exponent of this Art.
Embar followed his family tradion by sticking to this line. He enhanced its glory by
studying deep in the subject of Oriental Languages and mastered them. Along with
proficiency in languages he underwent training in Carnatic Music to make the Hari Katha a successful career.

· Family tradition is a valuable treasure.
· Proficiency in Languages and cultures
· Liberal at heart and partaking of wealth.
· Exploiting the rare field.

R.Jagannathan.