Narayan Ravi - Mumbai

Pavanapuresha-Series

Pavanapuresha series part 15: Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar.

Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar was a great Carnatic musician and the guru of Dr. K.J. Yesudas. On January 7, 1952, when he was giving a concert at Suchindram in Tamil Nadu, all of a sudden his vocal chords got stuck and his voice failed him. In desperation, he came to Guruvayur in 1954 on the occasion of Guruvayur Ekadasi and cried out silently to the Lord to help him sing His glories again. A brahmin standing a few feet away from him somehow read his mind & promised to help him. By the Lord's grace, Chembai regained his voice. He kept giving concerts till the day he breathed his last - October 16, 1974.

On September 7, 1974 on his 81st birthday (which was his last visit to Guruvayur), he completed his 41st Udayastamana Puja offering at Guruvayur. This is a special offering of a series of pujas from dawn to dusk (Udaya - Sunrise, Astama - Sunset). That day he prayed to the Lord - "My mother's death anniversary is nearing. At such an age, how can I perform all the rituals? Please take me to thy feet soon!" That evening he gave his last performance before the Lord. A few weeks later, in another Krishna temple, after an excellent performance, Chembai became one with the Lord.

Even today, the Chembai Music Festival is held on every Guruvayur Ekadasi day in his honour, in which scores of musicians from all across & even beyond the country participate. May the Supreme Lord Jaganmohana, the universal charmer and enchanter, bless one and all.

Hare Krishna