BHAAGAVATA KAINKARYAM
NãmaSmaran 2014
Sri D. H. Viswanathan, popularly known as Bombay Hari Mama, is the son of Late Sri H Devaraja Iyer and Late Smt. Kaveri Ammal. Professionally, he was with LIC and retired in 1988 as Secretary (OS) (Dy. Zonal Manager) but his love for ‘Bhajans’ took him to a higher plain of esoteric spiritual values. No wonder therefore, that he has been giving Bhajan programmes all over India and abroad spanning over five decades. Even in his retired life he imparts regular lessons to a large number of students in Tharangams, Krithis and Abhangs through capsule courses or as visiting faculty at Universities for Post Graduate and Doctorate students in Music. He is a repository of krithis composed by Ramdas, Purandara Das, Sadashiva Brahmendra, Meenakshi Sutha, Abhangs, Tharangams, and other Hindi compositions in addition to his mastery over the Dakshina Sampradaya Paddathi. Sri Viswanathan has performed abroad extensively under banners like the Chicago Thyagaraja Utsavam Committee, USA and also in countries like Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Dubai. His programmes have been/are being aired over TV channels like “Amrita” and “Kairali” in addition to his features through AIR, Trivandrum.
He has been conferred the title of “Ganamritha Varshini” by the Kanchi Kamakoti Chandrasekara Swamigal Aaraadhana Committee, Palakkad and “Bhajan Samrat” by Hariharaputhra Bhajan Samaj. He was felicitated by NADA BRAHMAM, Chembur and Hariharaputhra Bhajana Samaj, Chembur in 2014 for his lifelong achievement and service in the field of Bhajans.
While reminiscing his experiences with the greats in the Bhajan field, he recalls how one day he had sung Ashtapathi (in Saaranga) alongside the greatest of the greats Gopalakrishna Bhagavathaswamy during an Unchavrithi. As for Sanjeevi Bhagathaswamy, he had met him for the first time in Hyderabad one night when he taught him Dolotsavam (with no audience or accompaniments). On his suggestion that he should visit Pudukkottai, Sri Viswanathan started attending the Uthsavam regularly every year. Sri Viswanathan’s Guru, Bhagavatha Rathnam Delhi Sri P Subbarama Bhagavathar has been primarily responsible in grooming him in the field of Bhajans.