Navaratri notes: How Syama Sastri’s iconic swarajatis are an intimate dialogue with the goddess

Syama Sastri belonged to a family of hereditary archakas at the Kamakshi Temple in Kanchipuram. During a period of political turmoil, his ancestors left Kanchipuram, carrying with them the golden vigraha of Kamakshi (Bangaru Kamakshi). They travelled through several places before finally settling in Thanjavur. It was during this period of migration that Syama Sastri was born in Tiruvarur. He later made Thanjavur his home, living beside the Kamakshi temple and regularly performing puja to the goddess.

Kanchipuram occupies a cherished place in India’s cultural, spiritual, philosophical, historical and religious heritage. Its sacred temples, particularly the shrine of Kamakshi, have inspired generations of poets, saints and composers. The Trinity have celebrated the goddess through their music, dedicating many compositions to Her. Tyagaraja’s ‘Vinayakuni valenu brovave’, and Dikshitar’s ‘Nirajakshi Kamakshi’, ‘Kanjadalayatakshi’, ‘Kamakshi Varalakshmi’ and several other compositions are among the well-known works dedicated to the goddess.