‘Adi Ashtakam’ performance at Saptaparni, Hyderabad

Adi Shankaracharya’s Ashtakams are not merely spiritual teachings; They also have great potential for performing arts. Dance expert Usha RK performed recently Adi AshtakamA captivating visual interpretation of Shankaracharya’s spiritual teachings in the newly opened auditorium at Saptaparni, Hyderabad. This performance was particularly significant as it was Ashtakam’s eighth performance after a successful tour to several other cities.

Conceived and composed by Usha, Ashtakam was performed by Shreyasi Gopinath (Sharda Bhujanga Ashtakam), Arundhati Patwardhan (Pandurang Ashtakam), Prachi Sev Sathi (Ganga Ashtakam), Mithun Shyam (Kalabhairav ​​Ashtakam) and Kirtan Ravi (guruvashtakam), composed and performed by Vidya Harikrishna.

After the performance in Hyderabad, Usha told that this eighth performance happened naturally. “We started our journey in Mumbai with the premiere at Nalanda Mahavidyalaya, then moved to Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. Meanwhile, given the strong presence of Shankaracharya devotees in the area, Chembur Fine Arts in Mumbai invited us to exhibit. We did two performances in Mumbai before going to Kashi and finally reaching Hyderabad.

Performing in Kashi on Vinayak Chaturthi was an interesting coincidence, says Usha, who was there for personal reasons when she met someone organizing the event at the famous Assi Ghat. “This gentleman was familiar with my work and asked what I focused on. When I mentioned Ashtakam he suggested I do it in the Vishwanath temple. It was a tremendous honor, especially since the performance involved Ganga Ashtakam; It felt like a significant moment in our lives. The venue, Shankaracharya Chowk, made the event even more significant. For the first time, we were presenting the works of Shankaracharya – especially kaalbhairav And Ganga Ashtakam – At this historic site.”

Usha RK Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

From corporate to culture

Former director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Center (JNCC) of the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Dehradun-based Usha comes from the corporate world. “In 2006, after moving from Mumbai to Bangalore, I shifted from corporate-sponsored classical shows to a new focus on dance. Festivals had become common and I wanted to create something unique. So I began developing thematic performances where dancers created pieces specifically for a story. My first project was on Bhadrachal Ramdas, with seven male dancers narrating his journey and imprisonment through his compositions.

While discussing her confidence in transforming the entire poetic content of Ashtakam into dance, Usha emphasizes that traditional dance forms are inherently descriptive. They express words and emotions visually, whether through varnam, padam, or javali.

Eager to discover more Ashtakams from Shankaracharya’s works, Usha explains, “Adi Shankaracharya composed over 30 Ashtakams, each dedicated to different deities, both male and female, as well as rivers. like we broke into pieces YamunashtakamAnd in this next presentation, we plan to revisit some pieces and present others in a similar manner Sharda Ashtakam and this Guru Ashtakam, Guru AshtakamIn particular, it holds special significance for me because it reflects reverence for teachers – a concept that is fading in the age of institutional education.

From ‘Adi Ashtakam’ performance at Saptaparni, Hyderabad

Usha, whose father is from Visakhapatnam, has learned Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, but no longer performs. “My parents did not allow public performances after our Arangetram – I kept my connection to dance alive in other ways. My father used to say, ‘If you can’t perform, you can still contribute through research, writing and more.’ So, although I studied journalism and worked in corporate roles, dance remained a part of me. I organized events, did research and nurtured my passion from the background.”

Usha’s love for dance led her to work in the Ministry of Culture and as a cultural director in Russia; The experiences gave him insight into preserving art in different cultures.

Usha shared that Ashtakam performances will continue based on audience demand and sponsorship support. “There is a possibility of demonstration Mahakal In Ujjain. These projects are more abstract, so we stay open and go with the flow. When an opportunity arises, we will be ready to bring it to life.”