About My Guru - Kalyanapuram Veeraraghavan, Embar Kalyanapuram Veeraraghavan, Embar-s Kalyanapuram Veeraraghavan, Harikatha vidwan, Singer, Drama Artiste, Harikatha vidwan Kalyanapuram Veeraraghavan, Harikatha vidwan Veeraraghavan,Singer Veeraraghavan, Drama Aritiste Veeraraghavan, Sangeetha Anjali Nadaka Kuzhu, Krishnam Vandhay Jagad Gurun, Embar Veeraraghavan.

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My “Harikatha” Guru

Harikatha Guru Sangeetha Kalanidhi Embar S.Vijayaraghavachariar

He was the greatest artiste in harikatha during yesteryears, having programmes round the year. His predecessor “Embar” was the brother and disciple of Bagavath Ramanujar (Emberumanar) belonged to acharya parampara. Govindan, as his original name, was also called Emberumannar, but to differentiate between Ramanujar and his disciple “govindan” his name was abridged as “Embar’.

My guru belongs to that order.

Sri.Embar Vijayaraghavachariar’s father was Chidambaram Sri Rangachariar from whom he learnt harikatha and gave vocal support till he became a full-fledged harikatha artiste.
He is Siromani (Double MA) in Vaishnavism and Saivam from Chidambaram University. As such he was able to give Harikatha both in Vaishnavam and Saivam.

He was till his end. “Adheena Vidwan” of “Dharmapuram Mutt” the biggest one in South India nurturing Saiva Cult.

As the “adhina Vidwan” of the mutt, he had traveled far and wide to all the Siva temples and the mutts coming under the above, in South India, and gave his Harikatha on Nayanmars and related stories.

As a scholar in Vaishnavam, he also visited many Vishnu temples and mutt and propagated stories related to Lord Vishnu and thus he spread the Bakthi-Cult

He was instrumental to rebuild the steps in ‘kamalalayam’ tank in Tiruvarur, by giving benefit programmes, as ordained by H.H the Paramacharya of Kanchi; He has also donated Ambal (Thayar) vigraham to a temple near Mannargudi.

He was conferred with many titles and one for his melodius rendering music in harikatha is “Keerthana Kulasekara”.

He lived a happy full life duly assisted by his brothers as vocal support and mridangam.

I had the unique opportunity to be blessed by him. I had associated with him right from 1954 when I shifted to Chennai.

I had the golden period regularly attending his harikatha in all the sabhas and used to remain with him after performance to enlighten myself with the subjects.Also,I had the rarest opportunity to part with him his eatables ( as Uchishtam) that no one of his disciples had.

To keep his memory, he presented his photo and I think, I had the good fortune. As a true disciple, I am following his footsteps by giving programmes in vaishnavam and Saivam as he did. I am also giving benefit performances for noble causes.

I visit old age illam to give nama sangeerthanam and harikatha as ordained by H.H.Paramacharya of Kanchi.

I am blessed by the Sankaracharyas of Kanchi, The sage of Kanchi, Srirangam Srimad Andavan, H.H.Jeer of Ahobila Mutt, Vanamamalai Mutt, H.H.Santhanantha Swamigal, Sankaranantha Swamigal of Murugasramam and other religious heads.