The history of "Bhikshatanapoorvaka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsava Sabha" The origin of "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsav a Sabha " was the dream vision of Late Sri.Sripathi Panditharadyulu Sambamurthy, a famous Harikatha Singer of Nellore and father of the most
popular Cini Play Back Singer, Padmasri S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, which was brought to reality by the v oluntary co-operation and encouragement extended by Late Dr. Y. Sastry (Yanamandra Venkateswara Sastry), a well -known homoeopathic physician and a man with philosophical bent of mind and integirity. The two gentlemen together with Late K. Raja rao - Violinist, Late D. Srinivasa Rao - Harmonist, Late Janakiramaiah - Mrudanga vidwan and Sri Prakasam - Kanjeera Player formed "Sri Thyagaraja Smaranovtsav a Sangham" and embarked upon the esteemed project. They started going round the streets of Nellore from 6.30 a.m. daily, from the onset of "Dhanurmasam" in 1965 till the ev e of Utsav amulu, Sri Samba Murthy singing Thyagraja's kruthis, accompanied on instruments by the abov e four artists, with Sri Y.V. Sastry as the guide and co-ordinator, performing uncha v ritti (bi ksha) to raise funds for their endeav our, as great thyagaraja lived his whole life solely on biksha.. Hence, the name “Bhikstanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsav a Sabha”.The alms collected were in form of cash and rice, rice was sold to turn into cash. This became the base for running the utsav am. The first "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsav am" started on "Phalguha Bahula Panchami in 1966" and was run for five days. This practice of Bikshatana and celebration of utsav amulu continued ev ery year like this till 1975. In 1976 "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsav a Sabha" was formed with Sri Samba Murthy as Founder President and Sri Y.V. Sastry as Founder Secretary with some elite members of Nellore joining this Sangham with the aim of raising a permanent trust to meet the increasing expenditure of the celebrations. As his won t and interest, Sri Samba Murthy, Dr. Y.V Sastry continued performing bikshatana together with other members and as before the organization and conduct of the utsav amulu was the responsibility of Dr. Y. Sastry which he accepted heartily and managed
efficiently and appreciably. It was also resolv ed to celebrate the utsav amulu for sev en days. The celebration of the utsav amulu is a herculian task, w hich inv olves er****on of pendal s in the open air auditorium in the premises of Late Raobahadur Rebala Lakshminarasa Reddy's Public Hall (Town Hall) in the heart of Nellore town, making luminous lighting arrangements and symphonic sound system. Invitation of eminent Carnatic musicians and artists accompanying them on instruments as well as solo instrument players, receiving them, providing them with accommodation and food and seeing them off is no easy task. The main architect of all these activities is the Secretary. Dr. Y.V. Sastry was the man who used to shoulder the entire responsibility and after the depart ure of his sacred soul, his son Dr. Y. Nagadev i Prasad as permanent Secretary runs the entire show. Incidently it is most worthy of mention that Sri S.P. Bala Subrahmanyam is the permanent President of the Sabha, after his father's attainment of eternal life. At the start of the utsav amulu, the holy waters of the river Penna were brought in a "Kalasam" together with a portrait of Sri Rama's Pattabhishekam and were installed on an elev ated stage behind the dais on which music performances were giv en. A lif e size portrait of Sri Thyagaraja and photos of other "Vaggeyakaras" and different gods were also set on the stage in the open air auditorium in the premises of Late Raobahadur Rebala Lakshminarasa Reddy's Public Hall (Town Hall). In 1983 Dr. Y.V. Sastry who had an ardent desire that Nellore should be called a "Second Thiruv ayyur", constructed a temple for Sri Thyagaraja Swamy in Vedayapalem, Nellore. In the sanctum sanctorium (Garbha Gudi) Sri Thyagarajaya's Statue in sitting posture was installed at the feet of the statues of Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana and the idols of Sri Vighneswara and Sri Hanuma were installed in the Antaralayam.Arrangments had been made for the performance of daily pooja in the temple and celebration of the utsav amulu like Mukkot i Ekadasi, Sri Ramanav ami and Sri Thyagaraja Aradhana. Since the construction of the temple Panchaloha Vigrahams of Sri
Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuma and Sri Thyagaraja are being brought from the temple in a procession accompanied by Nadaswaram and are kept in the hall near the dais of the open air auditorium in the premises of Late Raobahadur Rebala Lakshminarasa Reddy's Public Hall (Town Hall) at the outset of the utsav amulu. The arrangement in the open air auditorium consists of three parts, - the elev ated stage for the idols of gods, the dais for music concerts and sitting place for audience. Pooja to the gods is performed in the morning and in the ev ening ev ery day. The program s on the dais are of three kinds. In mornings and afternoons Harikathas are sung by Haridasulu. In the ev enings local musicians and instrumentalists giv e their performances. In the nights from 7 p.m. onwards, concerts of outside artists are arranged. It may be earnestly and proudly claimed that "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Sm aranotsav amulu" had been marked by the performances of all eminent and prominent musicians and instrument players of Karnatic music of Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh all these years. They hav e won the hearts of all pious men and lov ers of Karnatic Music in Nellore, who v ery eagerly await the arriv al of The Annual Music Feast and who are the main support to the Sabha and the utsav amulu through their alms and further financial contributions and donations. "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranots av a Sabha" wishes to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of "Bhikshatanapoorv aka Sri Thyagaraja Smaranotsav amulu" in befitting manner for its successful and grand existence for the last 50 years and hope the same to last long and long. -
Excecutive committee. Founders Late Sripathi Panditharadyula Sambamoorthy garu Late Dr. Yanamandra Venkateshwara Sastry garu
President PadmaSri Padmabhushan Dr. S P Balasubramanyam
Permanent Secretary Y Nagadevi Prasad. Honorable President Machav olu Rajashekara Sastry
President Chiv akula Satyanarayana Murthy Vice Presidents T V Raghav a Sastry G Audinarayana Sastry N Sriniv asa Murthy T Srihari G Satya Narayana Treasurer T R ChandraMouli Organizing Secretary R.V. Mallikarjuna Rao Joint Secretary Chaturv edula Sri Rama Murthy Dr. S Sai Nath Members: Dr. P Madhusudhana Sastry, A RadhaKrishna Murthy, I.C.V Narasayya ,D Sri Ramachandra Murthy. V Srinivasa Murthy,
V Harihara Sarma ,Dr. J Vani RamMohan
V.V. Srinvasa Rao, A Ramprasad A Satyanarayana Dr S Ajay Kumar D Narasimha Rao P V Leela Mohan R Hanumantha Rao P V Prasad A V Vara Pras
