Akshayalingavibho - A Continuum I Dikshitar 250 I Smt Vegavahini Vijayaraghavan I From the Archives

As we mark the completion of the 250th birth year of Muthuswami Dikshitar, BrindaMukthi offers this valedictory presentation of Akṣayaliṅgavibhō in the serene and luminous rāga Sankarabharanam, rendered by Smt Vegavahini Vijayaraghavan. This curation stands as a quiet closing gesture not of conclusion, but of continuity honouring a composer whose music remains inexhaustible in depth, structure, and spiritual resonance. Within the lineage of Veena Dhanammal, Dikshitar’s compositions occupy a place of profound reverence. Their handling is marked by uncompromising fidelity to sahitya, microscopic attention to gamaka architecture and a deliberate avoidance of excess.The transmission of Dikshitar’s kritis within the Dhanammal school is part of a larger śiṣya paramparā that traces its roots to the composer himself. Over generations, these compositions were preserved through rigorous oral tradition, shaped by musicians who valued precision over proliferation and depth over variation. This rendition by Smt Vegavahini Vijayaraghavan stands within a living continuum that includes the iconic interpretations of Smt T Brinda and Smt T Muktha. From Brindamma’s deeply internalised phrasing to Mukthamma’s luminous stillness, Akṣayaliṅgavibhō has travelled across generations without losing its essential character. In Vegamma's voice, one hears not imitation, but continuity; a natural extension of the same aesthetic principles, carried forward with care and conviction.What stands out is her ability to combine technical precision with aesthetic restraint never allowing the voice to overshadow the composition. In Akṣayaliṅgavibhō, this results in a rendering that is both structurally sound and emotionally resonant, aligned closely with the values of the Dhanammal tradition. Hence , Akṣayaliṅgavibhō is not approached as a display of rāga or technique, but as a slow-unfolding meditation, where each phrase is allowed to settle with weight and stillness. The bāni preserves not only the structure of the composition, but its inner tempo with a sense of time that resists haste and invites contemplation. Smt Vegavahini Vijayaraghavan - Vocal Smt Mira Sivaramakrishnan - Violin Sri Karaikudi K Jayaraman - Mridangam Excerpted from an AIR programme relayed on 25th August 1995 recorded in their Madras Studios and sourced from the personal collections of Smt Vardhini Prem , a niece of the artiste. 00:00 - Opening Credits 00:06 - AIR Announcements 00:33 - Sankarabharana Raga Alapana 08:20 - Violin Alapana 12:28 - Pallavi 14:10 - Anupallavi 16:44 - Charanam 20:46 - Neraval at Badari Vanamula 22:21 - Kalpana Swaras at Badari Vanamula 26:14 - Thani by Sri Karaikudi K Jayaraman 29:43 - Closing Credits Note: This recording has been taken from Family archives. It does not claim ownership of the content whatsoever. This is part of a two part curation, the entire AIR programme will be uploaded at a later date. Please listen to the iconic rendition by Smt T Brinda & Smt T Muktha excerpted from a Music Academy performance from 1965 here.    • Smt T Brinda & Smt T Muktha I Raga Sankara...   Also , listen to a rendition as part of an AIR Trichy broadcast from 1963 here.    • Akashvani I Smt T Brinda & Smt T Muktha I ...   Headphones are recommended for optimum sound quality. Curated by BrindaMukthi BrindaMukthi's Blog : https://brindamukthi.blogspot.com/ BrindaMukthi's Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/brindamukth... BrindaMukthi's YouTube Channel :    / @brindamukthi   BrindaMukthi's Facebook Page :   / brindamukthi