Sankar Vaidyanathan
Namaskaram,
I’m Sankar Vaidyanathan, and I’ve been blessed to walk the path of devotional music from a very young age. Born on Thaipoosam day, January 17th, 1995, music has always been a divine companion in my life.
By the age of two, I began singing Thodaya Mangalam and a few Namavalis, and before I turned three, I was able to recite the entire Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam from memory. The grace of the divine and the environment I grew up in deeply shaped my early devotion and musical inclination. I am also lucky to be born as the great grand son of Shri. P.R.Sankara Iyer, one of the doyens of Sampradaya Bhajana in Thiruvananthapuram and who was the pioneer compiler of "Sampradaya Bhajana" in Malayalam.
At the age of six, I formally began learning Carnatic classical music under the guidance of Padmasri Dr. K. Omanakutty, whose mentorship laid a strong foundation for my musical journey.
Although I was never formally trained in Harmonium, I developed a strong flair for it, especially by closely watching the great Harmonium exponent of Thiruvananthapuram, (late) Shri Bhagawateeswara Iyer. I have since earned a B High grade from All India Radio (AIR) and have appeared for the A grade audition. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of performing classical music on various prestigious stages.
As I progressed, my heart naturally leaned towards the profound tradition of Sampradaya Bhajan. Alongside classical music, I began performing Bhajans, gradually immersing myself in the depth and beauty of this devotional path. My Gurus in Sampradaya Bhajan--Erode Rajamani Bhagavathar, Tripunithura Ramachandra Bhagavathar, and Thiruvananthapuram V. Sankar Bhagavathar—have each been instrumental in shaping my understanding and expression of this art.
I am fortunate to be well-versed in all segments of the Sampradaya Bhajan paddhati, including:
Guru Dhyanam | Ashtapadi, Tharangam, Panchapadi | Devatha Dhyanam, Shodashopachara Pooja | Divya Nama Sankeerthanam, Dolotsavam, Kalyanam | Abhangam, Anjaneyotsavam, and Pavvalimpu
By God’s grace, I’ve had the opportunity to present these components in various Bhajan melas and cultural platforms. I’ve also conducted and performed several sacred Kalyanams such as Seetha Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Siddhi Budhi Kalyanam, Meenakshi Kalyanam, Lakshmi Kalyanam, and Andal Kalyanam, which are deeply cherished experiences for me.
In addition to my musical pursuits, I hold a B.Tech degree from Kerala University. My life is a confluence of devotion, discipline, and dedication to keeping this sacred tradition alive and accessible to all who seek it.
If my journey resonates with you, I invite you to join me in exploring this timeless tradition through music, devotion, and shared learning.
I’m Sankar Vaidyanathan, and I’ve been blessed to walk the path of devotional music from a very young age. Born on Thaipoosam day, January 17th, 1995, music has always been a divine companion in my life.
By the age of two, I began singing Thodaya Mangalam and a few Namavalis, and before I turned three, I was able to recite the entire Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam from memory. The grace of the divine and the environment I grew up in deeply shaped my early devotion and musical inclination. I am also lucky to be born as the great grand son of Shri. P.R.Sankara Iyer, one of the doyens of Sampradaya Bhajana in Thiruvananthapuram and who was the pioneer compiler of "Sampradaya Bhajana" in Malayalam.
At the age of six, I formally began learning Carnatic classical music under the guidance of Padmasri Dr. K. Omanakutty, whose mentorship laid a strong foundation for my musical journey.
Although I was never formally trained in Harmonium, I developed a strong flair for it, especially by closely watching the great Harmonium exponent of Thiruvananthapuram, (late) Shri Bhagawateeswara Iyer. I have since earned a B High grade from All India Radio (AIR) and have appeared for the A grade audition. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of performing classical music on various prestigious stages.
As I progressed, my heart naturally leaned towards the profound tradition of Sampradaya Bhajan. Alongside classical music, I began performing Bhajans, gradually immersing myself in the depth and beauty of this devotional path. My Gurus in Sampradaya Bhajan--Erode Rajamani Bhagavathar, Tripunithura Ramachandra Bhagavathar, and Thiruvananthapuram V. Sankar Bhagavathar—have each been instrumental in shaping my understanding and expression of this art.
I am fortunate to be well-versed in all segments of the Sampradaya Bhajan paddhati, including:
Guru Dhyanam | Ashtapadi, Tharangam, Panchapadi | Devatha Dhyanam, Shodashopachara Pooja | Divya Nama Sankeerthanam, Dolotsavam, Kalyanam | Abhangam, Anjaneyotsavam, and Pavvalimpu
By God’s grace, I’ve had the opportunity to present these components in various Bhajan melas and cultural platforms. I’ve also conducted and performed several sacred Kalyanams such as Seetha Kalyanam, Radha Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Siddhi Budhi Kalyanam, Meenakshi Kalyanam, Lakshmi Kalyanam, and Andal Kalyanam, which are deeply cherished experiences for me.
In addition to my musical pursuits, I hold a B.Tech degree from Kerala University. My life is a confluence of devotion, discipline, and dedication to keeping this sacred tradition alive and accessible to all who seek it.
If my journey resonates with you, I invite you to join me in exploring this timeless tradition through music, devotion, and shared learning.