Re (Re): On the NJ/NY Sataavadhaanam'- Reply
Prabhakar Vissavajjhala (vissa@cortex.neuro.mssm.edu)
Mon, 9 Sep 1996 18:57:58 -0500
Parigi Madan Mohan gaaru wrote on 9/9/96
>> "Ramana R. Juvvadi" <juvvadi@horizoncomp.com 09/09/96.01:08pm
>> writes:
>>I know that it is not easy to get hundred (actually 108) pRichchakas even
>>for a crowded place like New York area.
>This is where I have an issue with. I posed the question on this forum
>previously but there were no takers. Let me try again.
>Even if you can get 108 pRchchakulu, the avadhaani is not going to take all
>the questions and keep in his memory and simultaneously work on them.
>I have seen Sree Sarma perform the sahasraavadhaanam in Hyderabad
>this Jan (or Feb ?) continuously for 21 days. The pRchchakulu were
>asking the questions one after another. The avadhaani proceeded to the
>next one only after finishing the one on hand. (He had very few in
>pending). So isn't this effectively Ekaavadhanam or utmost
>ashTaavadhaanam embedded in a grand 108/1116 avadhaanam ?
As I am aware of something on the side of the organizational negotiations
in this recent Sataavadhaanam (first time for me to attend one), the
avadhaani Sri naaga phaNi Sarma wanted this in a regular time period of 2/3
days. As I know, it would generally go like 'one line of the poem of each
item would be completed in the first round, and it goes for the next round
for the other line of the poem and so on'. But the organizers could impress
upon him to complete it in one day. That is how it ended up in one day
(approximately 14 hours), at least in this event in NJ/NY.
(Indeed, strictly speaking, subjectwise, a 'Sataavadhaanam' should confine
to only one aspect and an 'ashTaavadhaanam' can be as diversified as it can
be.)
Hence, to save time, the avadhaani took up one question at a time and
completed it at the same time on this occasion. However, in this event he
first started with 'dattapadi'. To save time he completed 'two' lines of
each poem. This was intercepted by the 'meepraSnaku naa paaTa', after
every 5 'dattapadis'. He completed the intended 15 items of 'dattapadis' (2
lines of each) amidst of 'paaTa'. By that time itself, it didn't look like
going to be completed in time as intended. So, he chose to complete the
full poem for 'samasyaa pUraNaas'. Like in 'dattapadis', after every 5
samasyaas, the other category intercepted this too. He completed all the
pUraNaas at the same time (basically to fit the time schedule). Same as the
case with 'varNana' (15 of them 'and 'aaSuvu' (15). (Of course, 'aaSuvu is
always completed at a stretch and is not an item in 'dhaaraNa').
As Mohan gaaru said, it would have appeared like 'Ekaavadhaana', but for
his *'dhaaraNa'*.
At the end of 108 items, (once again may be due to the time sense), the
'dhaaraNa' was specified for 'dattapadis' (15), 'samasyaas' (15), varNana'
(15). So, altogether****45 poems he recited out at the end, exactly in the
same order he was asked, without any change in the order*****. As I myself
was the witness, I can't just keep wondering about his amazing 'dhaaraNa
Sakti'.
So, I don't think it ca be termed as 'Ekaavadhaanam', exclusively because
of the 'dhaaraNa' at the end.
Also, during the conversation with Sri (Dr.) pudoor jagadeeSvaran (one of
the pRccaka in this event and an avadhaani by himself), I came to know
that in general, while 'Sataavadhaanam' was done in the regular time
schedule (3 days), the 'avadhaani' could refer to a dictionary in the
nights and can come up with poems the next morning. (Hence, indeed, an
'ashTaavadhaanam' is much tougher than a Sataavadhaanam'.) So, he felt that
this is quite remarkable and unique, as Sri Sarma completed it in one day
without getting out of that place. Of course, understandably, the standard
of the 'pRccakaas' may be average on the whole on this occasion. However,
this should not take away any credit from Sri Sarma, as he certainly made
it altogether a delicious literary feast rather than a mere gymnastic
literary feat.
Of course, I don't know about 'sahasraavadhaanam', whether there is
'dhaaraNa' at the end, at least for the specified items.
With regards,
Prabhakar Vissavajjhala