Message to Thiruppugazh Anbargal from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

An invitation to the Golden Jubilee celebration was sent to former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

He has responded with a letter. The letter can be viewed here.

One of the first performances in Bangalore....

Photograph taken ~30 years ago during the initial stage performances by thiruppugazh ladies in Bangalore. [Click on the photo to enlarge it]

Golden Jubilee Celebrations invitation

The growth of the Thiruppugazh mission

Soon after its conception in the early 1970’s, the Thiruppugazh Anbargal mission spread all over India. Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore were the three main regional centers while its headquarters was located in Delhi. Guruji Raghavan acted as the first President. Every 3 years, elections were held to choose the people to direct the various programs associated with the mission.

The first Thiruppugazh classes in Bangalore began 1974 at Vyalikkaval under Sri Govindarajan and Sri Chidambaram. Later, classes were initiated in Guttahalli. These classes were soon successful enough to allow the students to attend the sixth centenary celebrations of saint Arunagirinathar. The highlight was the rendering of Thiruppugazh by Guruji Raghavan and some of his students in All India Radio – Delhi’s, National Programme. Similar celebrations were held in Mumbai and Chennai as well.

Three years later, in 1977, Sri R.Venkatraman started Thiruppugazh classes in Malleswaram, which became very popular. Soon afterwards, celebrations were organized for Padi vizha during the first Sunday in January of every year, in Bangalore and Delhi as well. Anbargal in Mumbai also celebrated padi vizha on the 26th of January.

Other celebrations included Arunagiri anjali (organized in August 15^th or October 2^nd) at all the regional hubs. Vaikasi Visakham and Skanda shashti are other main functions celebrated by Thiruppugazh Anbargal. During Skanda shashti celebrations, Isai vazhi padu is performed for 6 days.

The mission slowly spread to other countries with significant south Indian immigrant populations including the USA, CANADA, UK, and Singapore. Classes were directed by Thiruppugazh Anbargal who had learned the songs in India. One notable person in this cause was Smt Tara Krishna, in Canada, who was among the first batch of students that learnt from Guruji Raghavan himself.

Guruji Raghavan has successfully taught 501 Thirupugazh songs in the last 50 years since the beginning of the Thiruppugazh mission. In consideration of this great accomplishment, Thiruppugazh Anbargal are commemorating the Golden Jubilee with a celebration on a grand scale. The Golden Jubilee celebrations are to be held in Bangalore in mid-July, 2008. The details of this program will soon follow.

Thiruppugazh Golden Jubilee Celebrations

Thiruppugazh are the songs on Lord Senthil Andavan. When you hear it, you will have peace of mind and your body is energized. It is very divine. It gives us a chance to learn and educate ourselves.

The main thing is anbu and avirodham. The identity of a thiruppugazh anbar is that he or she is very soft and will show their kindness to all. It is indeed a beautiful experience to hear over a 1000 people singing in same tone and sruthi layam. How is this possible? It is all thanks to one great man's vision and passion.

In 1958, a young man in Delhi started teaching thirupugazh to a few members. This young man hailed from Tirunelveli. His birth place was near Thiruchendur. As a child, he was unable to walk because of a polio attack. His father was a devotee of Lord Senthil Andavan. He would take the young boy to the kovil and would make him walk in the sand. [While we have cement pathways around the kovil today, in those days the kovil was surrounded by sea sand.] The young boy was blessed by the Lord and soon started walking. He went to North India for further education and work. He started his career in Mumbai and learned Carnatic Music. Later, he went to Delhi. He got involved in Tamil dramas and music. He started building a large circle of good friends.

Slowly, the circle of people learning thiruppugazh expanded and lots of people started learning this divine music. Lord Muruga was kind to him and gave him the ability to sing beautifully. He utilized this to create the various songs. By this time he started becoming known to all. People started calling him Sri Guruji A.S.Raghavan. He had students all over India and the appreciation of thiruppugazh spread to the corners of the country. The students started organizing padivizha, and Arunagirianjali in their respective cities in a grand manner. On skandashashti the anbargal did six days of bhajanai. There were also bhajans on krithigai and visakham. The first edition of thiruppugazh Isai vazhipadu came in 1992. Since then the bhajans were known as Isai vazhipadu. With the help of some students, Guruji released cassettes of 425 songs. Included were Vel mayil virutham, vaguppugal and anuboothi. These started to spread in the US, Australia, London. Guruji also visited London and the US and did isai vazhipadu.

In 2008, the Golden Jubilee of Thiruppugazh has arrived. Guruji has also completed 501 songs. The 8^th edition is about to be released. This is indeed a milestone for the mission that was started by one man in 1958.

The Golden Jubilee is going to be celebrated in a grand manner in Bangaluru. A committee has formed and members are making arrangements for the programme. A complete detail of all the programmes will appear over time in this blog .