Bhadrachalam’s new-age Ramadas is a Muslim

BHADRACHALAM: At the stroke of dawn, every day, melodious Nadaswaram
wafts through the air as devotees fold their hands in prayer reciting
the Suprabhatam at the famous Sitarama temple here in this town.

For over half-a-century, it has been a tradition to conduct the various
rituals from Suprabhata Seva to Melukolupu and Pavalimpu Sevas to the
accompaniment of Nadaswaram. And offering this unique service are a
Muslim father and son duo. ‘‘My father, Gosaveedu Hasan Saheb, has been
playing Nadaswaram and serving the Lord since 1953, although he was
officially appointed the temple Nadaswaram player only in 1981,’’ says
Kasim Babu, Hasan Saheb’s son, who is also the official Nadaswaram
player of the temple.

Hasan Saheb is a well-known Nadaswaram artist in South India and had
played for the Lord in Tirumala way back in 1978 itself. His steadfast
devotion to the Lord is such that he never plays the Nadaswaram at any
other function.

Kasim, to whom his father has bequeathed the tradition, regrets that
the Endowments Department pays the barest minimum for their services.

But like his father, he says he will not, for anything in the world, give up the service.

The father-son duo’s daily service begins at 4.30 a.m. when they bring
a potful of water for the Lord’s Abhishekam and play Nadaswaram at the
Suprabhata Seva and Melukolupu.

Later on, they render their musical prayers for the Sahasranama
Archana, Nitya Kalyanam, Kacheri and Pavalimpu Seva till 9 p.m. when
the Lord is put to sleep.

By doing so, the father and son are keeping the unique identity and
history of the Bhadrachalam temple alive. The temple was constructed by
Ramadasu during the reign of Tanisha, who according to folklore, had
the darshan of the Lord.

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