The Bliss Within

Students of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, led by their guru, Ananda Shankar, gave a splendid performance marked with perfection in the art form, combined with aesthetic grace as they presented “Sri- The Goddess Within”.

There couldn’t have been a better time for the premiere of “Sri-The Goddess Within “, an ensemble production of the renowned danseuse, Ananda Shankar Jayant. The venue, Ravindra Bharathi was packed on October 4, on the eve of Dussehra, with the audience getting ready for the ten day worship and adoration of the Mother Goddess. The dance production has rightly set the mood for the celebration, with a renewed dedication to the Divine Feminine, in her myriad forms.

The ballet opened with young girls in elegant costumes, depicting the churning of the celestial ocean of milk, from where Goddess Lakshmi ais born. Seated on a pink lotus, she personifies wealth, beauty, grace, charm, splendour and happiness. With nimble foot work and graceful movements, Lakshmi (Srinidhi Narasimhan) danced to Muthuswami Deekshitar’s “Hiranmayi Lakshmi... Sadaa... Bhajami” in the Raagam Lalitha. The lasya aspect of the dance was well portrayed bringing out the delicate grace of the bejewelled goddess in all her resplendence. When Ananda entered, welcoming the auspicious deity of prosperity with Purandara Dasa’s “Bhagyada Lakshmi Baaramma”, most of the audience could feel the presence of the divinity in the air. The setting, an aesthetically decorated idol in the corner, further added to the ambience and the mood.

Next comes Saraswati, the Goddess of learning, who sits on a white lotus and plays the divine veena. The seven notes of the Indian classical music are associated with the call of a specific animal or bird, The choreography was exceptionally good here, with the little girls acting as the ‘swaras’ and later, dancing to the “sarali swaras”, “janta swaras” and “alankaras”, the gradual steps in undergoing formal training in music. Vijayadashami is also the auspicious day for starting formal education and here young girls seek the blessings of Saraswati to grant them musical skills. A svelte Saraswati (Sneha Magapu ) in an elegant costume of white, with her flowing movements danced to “Maamavathu Sree Saraswathi....” a Mysore Vasudevachar’s composition in Hindolam. Ananda took from there, with a Papanasanam Sivan’s composition in Tamil, “Naan oru velayaattu bommayaa ?” Here she questions the Divine Mother, “Am I doll, that you play with me ?” An ardent devotee has every right to ask the Divine why he/ she is being slighted. Her admirable abhinaya matched the song loaded with emotion and a deep meaning.

The highlight of the evening was the emergence of Durga, The Sree Chakra set on the stage was not just a prop but a strong symbol of creation. Not only is Shakti - the Supreme Power, responsible for creation, it is also the agent of all change. Shakti is cosmic existence as well as liberation, its most significant form being the ‘Kundalini Shakti’. Dressed in red, Ananda was very convincing as Shakti, while the serpents behind her with raised hoods, denoted her Power and Potent Life Energy. “ Maathe.....Malayadhwaja Pandya Sanjaathe...” a beautiful “Daru Varnam” composed by Muthiah Bhagavathar in the raaga Khamas, was the most befitting tribute to the Omniscient, Omnipresent Devi. The ‘Simhanandini’ piece, performed by Ananda Shankar was very well appreciated. It is an ancient Kuchipudi temple ritual offered by the Devadasis. Originally a very complicated108 akshara taala called ‘Simhanandini’, these days it is presented, as a picture drawn by a dancer with her feet on a screen placed over coloured chalk. At the end of the dance, when the screen is lifted, the result is the image of a lion, which is an imprint of the dancer’s adavu pattern.

The orchestra was outstanding with Renuka Prasad’s powerful Nattuvangam complemented by Swetha Prasad’s melodious voice, The pleasant notes of veena, venu and violin blended well, supported by commanding percussion. Costumes were pleasing to the eye and impressive.

“Sri- The Goddess Within”, was a highly gratifying experience. It appeared as though all those divine dolls in the “Dussehra Bommala Koluvu” got up and danced !