Musical Compositions of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Saraswathi

South Indian saint-composers sang bhajans in Telugu, Karinada, Tamil and Malayalam languages. They enriched the Carnatik musical tradition. This is a heritage shared commonly by all language units of South India since 16th century. A.D. Meera Bhajans and Bhajans of Maharashtriyan saints have also formed a part of this legacy gradually.

Most of these South Indian saints composed lyrics in Sanskrit along with those composed in their mother tongues. Some of them composed lyrics only in Sanskrit All those lyrics were sung all over South India and books containing them were printed in Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam scripts. This prevented the North Indians from knowing and understanding this rich legacy. Script has been a real hurdle since an average North Indian cannot read a South Indian script.

Sanskrit Academy has made a small beginning in this direction by publishing the Sanskrit bhajans of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Sarasvati (17th Century. A.D.) in Nagari Script with a brief life sketch of the saint, and forty five verses composed by Sri Narasimha Bharati Swamy of Sringeri Sankara Muth on Sri Sada siva Brahmendra Sarasvati.

It is hoped and sincerely believed that this publication brings North Indian sahridayas closer to South India and make the cultural and spiritual integration India more meaningful. I thank Prof. V. Kutumba Sastry, Vice-Chancellor, Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan (Ministry of H.R.D., Govt. of India), who Has revived Sanskrit Academy by recognizing this as nit Adarsh Shodh Sansthan and has extended all necessary support. I thank Sri C.S. Kaniyal and Sri k;ijput, I)y. Directors, R. S. Sansthan for extendening support.

I thank Prof. J. Ananta Swamy, Chairman, Managing Committee, Sanskrit Academy, Vice Chancellor, Osmania University as well as the members of the managing committee, who have extended all necessary support for the revival of Sanskrit Academy. During the tenure of Prof. Ananta Swamy, Sanskrit Academy’s land became secure with a compound wall and gate. I thank him and the consulting engineer- Sri V. Raghavan as well as Sri Phanindra Prasad and Sri S.K. Suithanuddin, University Engineers and Smt. B. Rajitha Reddy, Asst. Engineer, O.U.

A limited number of copies of this text were published in the year 2004. The text was released in the seminar conducted by Sanskrit Academy on Ayurveda and yoga” on 2-2-2004. This same book is printed and presented to the readers by adding critical data about the date and ‘works attributed to Sri Sadasivabrahmendra Saraswati presently.

I thank Prof. Suleman siddiqi, the vice-chancellor, Osamnia university and Registrar and other administrative officers of Osmaina University for extending all help to Sanskrit Academy.

The life Sketch of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Sarasvati is printed in a Tamil book named Nerur Sri Sadasiva Barahmendra Surukkam’ by Neruru Tavattiru Sadasiva Swamigal Aruliad, Smt. Jayamina Narasimhan Who comes form a scholar’s family into Telugu for me. On that basis I could render it into English. I thank Smt. Jayamani garu for the same.

Sri Krishna Mohan garu has acquired the forty five verses written on the saint by Sri Sivabhinava Narasimha Bharati. I thank him for supporting and encouraging me in this work.

While this small book was ready for print, I came to know form Prof. S. Lakshmana Murthy, Kakatiya University (Retd). That he has acquired many more Sanskrit compositions of the saint in Telugu script, published by Sadhana Grantha Mala, Tenali, some sixty years ago. I thank the learned professor and Sanskrit Academy will subsequently publish all the available works of the saint in Nagari script.

Sadguru Sri Sivananda Murthy garu who has established Anandavanam ashram at Bhimunipatnam is a great spiritual leader and a patron of literature, art, music, history and archaelogy. His inspiring resulted in the publication of books. Sanskrit Academy has proudly releases this book on the occasion of the Amritotsava (75th birthday) of Sadguru Sri Sivananda Murthy garu. It is a pleasant co-incidence to note that the Amritotsava of Prof. P. Sriramacandrudu and Prof. P. G. Lalye, Ex-directors of Sanskrit Academy was celebrated during the year 2003. I offer pranama to this Amritotsava Murtitrayam.

All the three celenbrities were honoured on 2-2-2004 during the seminar.

Dr. P. srinivas, Lecturer in Sanskrit, Sri Venkateswara Vedanta Vardhini Sanskrit College, Hyderabad has always supported all my academic pursuit in teaching and research work of Sanskrit Academy. I convey my good wishes to him.

Dr. Penna Madhusudan, Lecturer in Sanskrit, Department of Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra, has lent me references on the five yogas acquired by Sri Sadasiva Brahmam. I thank him for the same.

Finally, I thank Dr. V. Srinivasa Sarma, Editor and K. V. Surya Prakash, Research Assistant, Sanskrit Academy for their unfailing services in this publication work.