Shadkala Govinda Marar was a famous Carnatic Musician of Kerala. He is also popularly known Govinda Marar. He was one of the luminaries of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma`s court and was an exceptionally brilliant singer. While the best concert singers can handle only three tempi - fast, medium and slow, tradition claims Govinda Marar as the only one who could sing in six. Thus, the expertise in singing in six degrees of speed earned Govinda Marar the title of Shat Kaala.
Early Life of Shadkala Govinda Marar
Shadkala Govinda Marar was born in the year 1798 in the village of Ramamangalam in Kerala. His parents belonged to the Marar community, which performed the traditional singing in the various temples of Kerala. Govinda Marar took to singing and music from a very young age. He used to receive lessons of music from Haripad Ramaswamy Bhagavathar. When Govinda Marar was of 21 years age, he left home in order to start a life of wandering. Govinda Marar is said to have sung in several significant temples throughout the state.
Meeting of Shadkala Govinda Marar with Saint Tyagaraja
One of the most inspiring episodes in the chronological records of Carnatic music is the meeting of Govinda Marar and Saint Tyagaraja. Tyagaraja was so profoundly impressed by Marar that he paid homage to him and to all the great men in the world in whom the divine gift shines forth in splendour in the composition Entero Mahanubhavalu in Sriraga.
Death of Shadkala Govinda Marar
After leading a wandering life for a long period of time, Govinda Marar reached Panduranga temple in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. The temple records that this great musician attained Samadhi in the year 1843.
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