Swagatham Krishna
25th February, 2017
Dr. Yashoda Thakore, Kuchipudi
Smitha Madhav, Bharatnatyam
Sree Dharmapuri Kshetram, Miyapur
On 25th February, the much awaited Gudi Sambaraalu celebrated at Sri Dharmapuri Kshetram saw a huge audience witnessing a variety of classical dance styles of South India. The invocatory vedic chanting was followed by Dr. Yashoda Thakore’s Kuchipudi nrityam – a vivid potrayal of Swagatham Krishna, a kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Subba Iyer. Executed in thishra jathi, Adi tala, the dancer depicted young Krishna’s confrontations with the demons Mooshikasura and Chanooramalla, and then with the elephant Kuvalayapeetom, at the entrance of King Kamsa’s palace. She also interpreted seven incarnations of the Lord, who finally appears before his fervent devotee much to her elation. Next was Bhavana Gauri who performed a Bharatanatyam repertoire. The grand finale of the evening saw Smitha Madhav and group performing the Shiva Thandav – an apt offering to Lord Shiva.
Each of them entranced the audience with their own style as they delved into the bhavams of each of the compositions eliciting thunderous applause from the audience at the end.
Artists

Dr. Yashoda Thakore

Smitha Madhav
Venue
Sri Dharmapuri Kshetra, in the shade of a large neem tree in Miyapur, is an embodiment of light to the people of the surrounding villages. It is said that in 1986, a robber took the hundi from the temple and disposed it off. Nobody realized it. Aften a few days, the robber admitted to his crime and surrendered himself. He confessed that the hundi had Rs 600 and promised to work hard to earn and return that amount. Owing to the change in the robber – from a path of “Adharma” to “Dharma”, the temple has been christened as “Sri Dharmapuri” from this day onwards. The temple prospered to be a centre of inspiration and a center of energy!
In addition to being a home to several Goddesses, several sadhgurus, Avadhuttas, Yogis and Jagadgurus are worshipped here. Adjacent to the temple of Saraswati Devi is the “Vyasa Maharshi” shrine, in front of which is a large book with 4 Vedas weighing about 20 kg. It is a belief that if students touch this and get blessings of Saraswathi Devi, they will excel in education.