Bhagavatam

One of the biggest contributions to our Sanskrit literature has been Vyasa's epic creation, Bhagavatam. This epic focuses primarily on Bhakti (devotion) to the incarnations of Vishnu, particularly Krshna. Daksha yagam, Dhruva charitram and Prahlaada charitram are also part of the Bhagavatam.

Many of the songs that are available in this opera have been published as part of the Krshna ganam publications over 3 volumes. The notation for some of these compositions have also been published. But scores of songs are yet to be published. The opera seems to start with the song, Terodum veedhiyile, in Nattai, which describes the wedding of Devaki and Vasudeva and continues upto the Krshna-Rukmani wedding, from the songs discovered till now. There are also a series of songs on the Radha-Krshna wedding.

Many of the songs in vogue today such as aadaadu ashangaadu, ashaindaadum mayil onru, alaipaayude kanna that have been rendered as one-off songs in music and dance concerts are actually part of this opera.

There are several songs which cover different themes that have been beautifully visualized by the composer as given below

1. Gopi conversing among themselves

• Anname idu enna maayam (Sama)

• Aayiram tan sholladi (Khamach)

• Engum illadoru pillai (Athana)

and many others . . .

2. Yashoda admonishing Krshna, lulling him to sleep, waking him up and other incidents
   

• Adatti urutti (Athana)

• Aadina mattukkum (Mohanam)

• Gokula maamaniye (Neelambari)

• Kannaa ezhundirum pillaai (Bhoopalam)

3. Krshna- Rukmini wedding

• Kanhalum podaade (Shankarabharanam)

• Kalyaaname (Kuranji)

• Roopa mangala kishora (Anandabhairavi)

4. Radha-Krshna wedding

• Edir kondazhaittu vandaar (Bilahari)

• Jagamengum puhazhum (Athana)

• Kalyaana kolaahalame (Kedaram)

A probable prelude to this opera could have been a song in Chenchurutti –

sholla kidaittade bhaagyam nara-
tudiyinai sholli naavu kooshaamal
tona tona enrulahu vambu peshaamal
tati vidhi ena sholli alaindu shaahaamal
kannan kadaiyai kanamum veenaakkaamal

Abridged Bhagavatam

Apart from the garland of songs in the opera, he has also composed an abridged version of the entire Bhagavatam in one single song, Shree Govinda naama sankeertanam (Ragamalika). This piece starts from Krshna's birth and covers the best highlights of the entire story. Interestingly the composer has included his signature in this piece.

keezhezhodu melezhu bhuvanangalum kidaitta tavamena nadakkalaanadu
getti melangal kotti muzhakkalaanadu krshna-rukmini vivaahamadaanadu
mazhai muhil ena varnam konda hari maadhava mohana geetamidaanadu
vaakkinil Venkata Kaviyum manandadu mangala gaana paramparaiyaanadu

Extolling the signifance of the Bhagavatam

The composer has also composed a few pieces extolling the greatness of the literary wonder and these include pieces like Dharmameva shree bhaagavata (Shuddhasaveri/Manirangu), Pesha keleero (Mohanam), Patita paavanam bhaagavatam (Shuddhasaveri), Pazhamo pazhamo (Gowrimanohari), Sholli terivadillaye (Shreeranjani).

Given below is a list of published and unpublished collection of songs belonging to the Bhagavatam opera. The ragam and talam information for some of the songs taken from Needamangalam Krishnamurthy Bhagavatar's hand-written book are not available and require further research.