Shyama Sastri Clay Golu Bommai - 6 x 4 Inches | Giri Golu Doll/ Navaratri Golu Bomma/ Gombe/ Bommai
Enhance your festive celebrations with this beautifully crafted Clay Golu doll, a perfect addition to your Navaratri Golu display. This classic golu bommai, with its elaborate details and vivid hues, reflects India's rich cultural legacy. Every Golu doll has a distinct charm that adds life to your festive arrangement, whether it represents gods, mythological figures, or scenes from a mythological story. This beautiful sculpture, which is perfect for collectors and believers, gives your golu décor a touch of tradition, grace, and dedication.
Syama Shastri, born Venkata Subrahmanya, was a prominent composer and musician in Carnatic music and the eldest member of the Carnatic music Trinity, alongside Tyagaraja and Muthuswami Dikshitar. Born in Tiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, to a Telugu Brahmin family, Syama Shastri was well-versed in traditional subjects such as the Vedas and astrology, with his initial music training coming from his maternal uncle. He later studied under Adiappayya, a renowned musician in Thanjavur.
Although Syama Shastri didn’t compose as prolifically as his contemporaries, his works are admired for their literary, melodic, and rhythmic sophistication. He is believed to have composed around three hundred pieces, many of which are revered for their deep spiritual and musical qualities. His compositions were primarily in Telugu, but they feature a more formal dialect influenced by Sanskrit, making them particularly appealing to scholars. This contrasts with Tyagaraja's more colloquial Telugu style.
In addition to Telugu, Syama Shastri composed several kritis in Tamil, focusing largely on the worship of Goddess Kamakshi. One of his significant contributions was the development of the svarajati form, which he adapted from being a dance-based genre to one suitable for vocal and instrumental performance. His famous set of three svarajatis, known as "Ratnatrayam" (Three Jewels), are Kamakshi Anudinamu, Kamakshi Padayugamé, and Rāvē Himagiri Kumāri, composed in the ragas Bhairavi, Yadukula Kambhoji, and Todi. These compositions are revered for their complex rhythmic structures and are typically sung in concert, rather than danced.
Syama Shastri had many talented disciples, including Alasur Krishna Iyer, who became a musician at the Mysore royal court, and Porambur Krishna Iyer, who popularized his works. Other disciples, such as Talagambadi Panchanada Iyer and Dasari, also contributed to his legacy. Syama Shastri’s son, Subbaraaya Shastri, was a distinguished composer in his own right.
Golu is celebrated during Navaratri to honor the divine feminine energy and showcase the rich traditions of storytelling through beautifully arranged kolu dolls. Deities, saints, and legendary golu figures are arranged in levels to represent the cosmic order and the journey from spiritual ignorance to enlightenment. Additionally, this festival is a time for devotional singing, cultural performances, and social gatherings. Families invite guests to view their Golu bommai display, exchange gifts, and share prasad, fostering community and devotion. Future generations can inherit customs, values, and stories by participating in Golu celebrations.
