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UNESCO has
declared the Thanjavur Temple of Peruvudaiyar (Tamil) or Brihadeeswara (Sanskrit)
meaning Cosmic Lord Siva as a World Heritage Monument. Built by Emperor
Rajaraja Chola and consecrated in the year 1010 AD, the temple is unequalled
in its size, majesticity, architecture, sculpture and serenity with an aura
of divine beauty. It is here in the first tier of the compelling tower that
the 108 Karanas (dance movements) of Bharatamuni's Natya Sastra was given
sculptural codification for the first time in India. 81 such Karanas are
seen as Siva figures. Rajaraja's longest Tamil Inscription gives details
of his having employed 400 dancers and 240 musicians to perform regularly
as part of rituals. For celebrating the 1000th year of this monument cum
living temple, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam has compiled, scored choreographed
three dance numbers to be performed in unison by 1000 Bharatanatyam dancers
at the Brihadeeswara Temple, Thanjavur on Saturday, September 25, 2010 organised
by Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) of which she is
presently the President and Brihan Natyanjali Foundation, Thanjavur with
the support of Government of Tamil Nadu. The numbers are Ganapathi Kauthwam,
Thiruvisaippa of Saint Karuvur Thevar, the spiritual Guru of Rajaraja and
Siva Panchakshara Sthuthi of Adi Sankaracharya. Each verse of Karuvur Thevar
addresses Lord Siva as the presiding deity of the temple complex called
Rajarajeswaram. These verses were probably his outpourings at the time of
consecration 1000 years ago. This DVD is a documentation of the choreography
danced by disciples of 15 Gurus.
Disc 1
- Preparation
- Devaram By Odhuvaars
- Performance By 1000 Dancers
Ganapathi Kauthwam (Traditional)
Karuvur Thevar's Thiruvisaippa
Adi Sankara's Siva Panchakshara Sthuthi
- Speech by Dr Padma Subrahmanyam &
other Stalwarts about the making
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Disc 2
- Practice Video of Rajarajeswaram 1000
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Part of the proceeds from Sale of this DVD goes to Bharatha Ilango Foundation of Asian Culture
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