Bhadrachala Ramadasa – Dance Drama by Brindavan Students…

The glory of the Lord was sung yet again. Unflinching faith and absolute surrender had made Gopanna turned Ramdas of Bhadrachalam of the 17th century one of the most illustrious devotees of Lord Sri Ramachandra. As the Sports and Cultural Festival of Sri Sathya Sai Institutions reached day – 3 today, students from the Brindavan Campus of SSSIHL presented a Musical Dance Drama on the illustrious life of Bhadrachala Ramdas this evening here, in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Bhadrachala Ramadas was one of the well-known Carnatic music composers of South India during 17th century. Born in 1620 A.D., Ramadas lived during the pre-trinity period, before the times of Thyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri.

After his initial days of growing devotion to Lord Sri Ramachandra, when he was initiated into Sri Rama Mantra, Gopanna had to endure severe tests in later part of his life. After being appointed as the Tahsildar of Bhadrachalam, Gopanna could not bear with the sight of the dilapidated condition of the Rama temple at Bhadrachalam. Moved by his unflinching faith and heartfelt devotion, Gopanna dared to spend his revenue collection for the construction of a new temple sans any permission from the ruler Nawab Abul Hasan Qutb Shah. . This resulted in the arrest of Ramadas by the officials of the Nawab and as an aftermath he was kept at the Golconda fort for years, facing severe tests and punishment.

During those dark days, Ramadasa turned a complete recluse, engaged  in constant prayers while composing songs on Lord Rama, pleading for Divine mercy.

God Is the Saviour! At the end of the trial the Lord finally decided to call it quit.  Moved by his unflinching faith and devotion, Lord Rama along with brother Lakshmana went to Golconda in the guise of twin servants of  Ramadasa, paying the entire dues to the Nawab, thus seeking Ramadasa’s release. The extraordinary magnetism of the twin servants and their sudden disappearance after paying the money made Tana Shah believe that they were indeed Rama and Lakshmana in disguise, Whom Ramadasa had constantly been worshipping. …And thus the release of Ramadasa. Adding to it Ramadasa had a ‘strange visitor’ at his prison cell that night, Lord Rama in the guise of Nawab, informing him of his imminent release the next morning.

His greater devotion to Lord Sri Rama and the devoted pain that he underwent with his unwavering faith in His master in rebuilding the house of the Lord earned him the name Bhadrachala Ramadas, a name that is synonymous with pristine love and dedication to the Divine.

The hour-long drama was studded with beautiful dance and song sequences.

Earlier, commencing the proceedings, the ‘blossoming’ Brindavan Brass Band played a collection of four compositions that include, “HumKo TumSe Pyaar Kithna…”, Rhythm Of Life, Allaho Akbar…

Bhajans continued and the session ended with Mangala Arathi at 1830 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II