ಹರಿಕಥೆಯ ಭದ್ರಗಿರಿ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾರು ಬದುಕಿನ ಕಥೆ ಮುಗಿಸಿದ್ರು

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಅ.23: ಹರಿಕಥೆಯ ಹರಿಕಾರ/ಕೀರ್ತನಕಾರ, ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹರಿಕಥೆಗೆ ವಿಶೇಷ ಮೆರುಗು ನೀಡಿ, ಪೋಷಿಸಿದ ನೈಜ ಕಲಾವಿದ ಭದ್ರಗಿರಿ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರು ಮಂಗಳವಾರ ರಾತ್ರಿ ಹೃದಯಾಘಾತದಿಂದ ನಿಧನರಾದರು.

ಮೂಲತಃ ಉಡುಪಿ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯವರಾದ 85 ವರ್ಷ ವಯಸ್ಸಿನ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ರಾಜಾಜಿನಗರ 5ನೇ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್‌ ನಲ್ಲಿರುವ ಸ್ವಗೃಹದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಧನರಾದರು. ಭದ್ರಗಿರಿ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರು ಒಂದೂವರೆ ತಿಂಗಳಿನಿಂದ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಒಳಗಾಗಿದ್ದರು.

1951ರಲ್ಲಿ ಭದ್ರಗಿರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲ ಹರಿಕಥೆ ನೀಡಿದ ಕೊಂಕಣಿ ಕಲಾವಿದ 'ಕಥಾ ಕೀರ್ತನಕಾರ' ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರು ನಂತರ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಹಿಂದಿರುಗಿ ನೋಡಲಿಲ್ಲ.

ಭದ್ರಗಿರಿ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರ ಮೃತದೇಹದ ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆಯಲು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರಿಗೆ ಅವಕಾಶ ಕಲ್ಪಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಅದರಂತೆ ಬುಧವಾರ ಬೆಳಗ್ಗೆ 7 ಗಂಟೆಯಿಂದ 11ರವರೆಗೆ ರಾಜಾಜಿನಗರ 5ನೇ ಬ್ಲಾಕ್‌ನ ದೋಬಿ ಘಾಟ್ ಬಳಿಯಿರುವ ಮೈದಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾರ್ಥಿವ ಶರೀರವನ್ನು ಅಂತಿಮ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಇಡಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನಂತರ, ಚಾಮರಾಜಪೇಟೆಯಲ್ಲಿರುವ ರುದ್ರಭೂಮಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಂತ್ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರ ನೆರವೇರಲಿದೆ.

ಮೃತರಿಗೆ ನಾಲ್ವರು ಗಂಡು ಮತ್ತು ಮೂವರು ಹೆಣ್ಣು ಮಕ್ಕಳು ಇದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅಪಾರ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿದ್ದ ಕಂಚಿನ ಕಂಠದ ಅಚ್ಯುತದಾಸರ ನಿಧನಕ್ಕೆ ನಾಡಿನ ಅನೇಕ ಗಣ್ಯರು, ಕೀರ್ತನಕಾರರು ಕಂಬನಿ ಮಿಡಿದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.

Santh Bhadragiri Achyut Das: Sant Bhadragiri Achyutdasji of Karnataka was one of the foremost exponents of art of Harikatha. Achyutdasji's father Venkataramana was an accomplished Yakshagana artiste, belonging to the Badaguthittu school. Mother Rukminidevi was a melodious singer of the Padas and Devaranamas of the Haridasas.

Young Achyutdas imbibed these rich cultural influences early in life. His innovative abilities were first seen when he adapted the Padas of the Haridasas to the Yakshagana mode and successfully performed them much to the delight of the predominantly rural audiences.

In 1951, on the Shivarathri he gave his first solo performance in the ancient temple of Kameshwara in Bhadragiri. He hasn't looked back since then.

The depth of Achyutdasji's scholarship was apparent in his discourses where he extensively quotes from the Gita, the Dasa literature and the Bhakti Saints. His discourses were popular for his mellifluous rendering of the passages in classical ragas such as Tilang, Desh Malkauns etc. In fact, it was he who coined the term Kathakirtan, a combination of text (Katha) and music (Kirtan).

Besides his mother tongue Konkani, he was also fluent in Marathi, Kannada, Tulu and Hindi and regularly gives discourses in these languages.

Blessed with an ability to gauge the intellectual level of his audience Achyutdasji enthralls his listeners with his masterly renditions, with a carefully planned presentation sprinkled with liberal doses of humour and anecdotes drawn from everyday life, he gradually leads his listeners towards higher philosophical levels without boring them with incomprehensible statements.

But for all his orthodoxy, he was surprisingly liberal in his outlook. He felt that today's generation is not averse to time honoured values and ethics. He said it was only a matter of putting it across properly without any undue bias or lofty preachings.

An avid reader, this septuagenarian had a huge collection of books, some of them rare ones. With a zeal and zest belying his age, he was always engaged in writing or teaching, during his spare time. He regularly conducted interactive workshops at various places for aspiring as well as senior vidwans.

He has written more than twenty books, including the much acclaimed Geethartha Chintana, a treatise on the Bhagavad Gita and incorporates ideas of the Haridasa saints.

He has also composed numerous kirtanas under the name of Moolanarayana, a name conferred upon him by his Guru, Sudheendra Thirtha in recognition of his achievements.

English summary

Bangalore Udupi Bhadragiri Achyuta Das has died of cardiac arrest on Tuesday Oct 22. He was One of the foremost exponents of art of Harikatha. Achyutdasji's father Venkataramana was an accomplished Yakshagana artiste, belonging to the Badaguthittu school. Mother Rukminidevi was a melodious singer of the Padas and Devaranamas of the Haridasas.