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Vid. Mannargudi A Easwaran is among the top percussionists of India. Born on 1st April, 1947 to Sri Appayya Dikshitar and Smt Janakiammal, he belongs to the illustrious family of the famed Sanskrit scholar Appayya Dikshitar. He stepped into the world of rhythm at the tender age of 8 under the guidance of Vid. Kuniseri U. Krishnamani Iyer. He has also been under the tutelage of Mridangam maestro Vid. Guruvayoor Dorai. With 49 years of performing experience behind him, he is among the most sought after percussionists of the country today. He lives by the principle that respect to the main |
artist, saha pakkavdya artists and the audience is crucial for a successful percussionist.
The name Mannargudi Easwaran, came into vogue with the blessings of non other than the Paramacharya of Kanchi Jagadguru Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi. The seer heard the young Easwaran play mridangam, and impressed by the music, called the child near him and asked him his name to which the child replied as Master A Easwaran. Upon learning that he hailed from Mannargudi, Sri Paramacharya rechristened him, saying henceforth you will be called as Mannargudi A Easwaran instead of Master A Easwaran. The maestro fondly recalls this incident: "On the same day after naming me as Mannargudi Easwaran, Sathguru Sri Paramacharya of Kanchi mattam took my right hand on his palm and stroked gently and blessed me". |
An arts graduate from the University of Madras, Mannargudi Easwaran was a staff artist of All India Radio, Chennai, for 23 years. He retired as a "grade one" Instrumentalist. He is a top rank artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan.
10-12 years of dedicated learning under a Guru followed by 7200 hours of rigorous practice is Mannargudi Easwaran's prescription for musical mastery, 7200 hours being the average time a child spends in the mother's womb before it is ready to take on the world. Easwaran feels that a Guru provides the basic framework and it is left to the disciple to build it up further through sadhana. He emphasizes the need for "athmasadhakam", practice that goes on in the mind constantly irrespective of whatever else that we might be doing.
His mother has been a very positive influence in Mannargudi Easwaran's life and career. He considers the blessings of mother as most important for a successful life. With your mother's blessings on your side, you can be assured of achieving your goal even if God himself tries to intervene, says the maestro. For the students of music, he advices reverence to other elders and seniors in the field, an ideal he himself has followed in life.
Easwaran ascribes equal responsibility for his success in the field to his wife Smt. Kamakshi, who has single-handedly managed the family responsibilities, and let the artist-husband to live music to the fullest. The couple are blessed with three children: Anandi, Sangeetha and Krishna Prakash. The daughters have received training in vocal from Vid P S Narayanaswamy. A chip of the old block, Krishnaprakash is a name to reckon with among the bright upcoming Mridangam artists in the Carnatic music scene, even as he manages a parallel career as a chartered accountant with a MNC.
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