Pure Carnatic classical music
The Prathishtanam was established with the single aim of popularising Carnatic classical music in its pure form — the purity of the music taught here is what first drew students and rasikas to Perla.
Since 30 October 1999
About the Trust
Ballapadavu Swargeeya Narayana Upadhyaya Samsmarana Sangeetha Prathishtanam was founded to popularise Carnatic classical music in its pure form — and has since grown into two Vidyapeetams, four centres and a campus of its own.
Our story
Founded on a birth centenary, in a small village
Ballapadavu Swargeeya Narayana Upadhyaya Samsmarana (BSNUS) Sangeetha Prathishtanam is a trust established with the aim of popularising pure Carnatic classical music. It was inaugurated by the eminent Mridanga Vidwan Late Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair, retired Professor of Sri Swathi Thirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, on 30 October 1999 — the birth centenary of Late Ballapadavu Narayana Upadhyaya. The Prathishtanam was registered in the year 2005.
In the beginning, classes in Carnatic music were conducted at Agalpady for interested students. Later, as a milestone of the Prathishtanam, ‘Veenavadini Sangeetha Vidyapeetam’ was established at Perla on 1 May 2005, where regular classes in vocal, mridangam and violin were conducted. Within a short span of time, enthusiastic students and music lovers were drawn by the purity of the Carnatic classical music taught here, and the Vidyapeetam opened a new branch in Mangalore city as well. The Prathishtanam then extended its interest towards studies and research related to Vaidic and Thanthric vidya: as another milestone, the ‘Vaidic-Thanthric Vidyapeetam’ was established under the Prathishtanam on 23 February 2014. The Prathishtanam has thus been putting a large effort into popularising and upgrading music, the Vedas, Thanthra, Jyothishyam and Sanskrit.
Alongside its regular classes, Veenavadini Sangeetha Vidyapeetam conducts a range of programmes, workshops and camps in Carnatic classical music. ‘Rasikapriya’, ‘Veenavadini Sangeethothsavam’ and ‘Nadopasana’ are the concert series; ‘Muraleeravam’ and ‘Ganamadhuryam’ are orientation camps held from time to time. ‘Muraleeravam’, conducted exclusively by H.H. Sri Prince Rama Varma, has been recorded and telecast by the SVBC channel of Hyderabad. Festivals such as Thyagarajothsavam, Onam, Deepavali and Vidyadashami are celebrated in the institution with the enthusiastic involvement of the students, and ‘Sadhaka’ classes are conducted once a week.
Ballapadavu
A campus of its own, and the person behind it
Sri Ballapadavu Shankaranarayana Upadhyaya, one of the well-wishers of the Prathishtanam, donated 1.38 acres of valuable land at Ballapadavu in Kasaragod district to the trust. With the big dream of a well-established campus, a building was constructed here in the year 2010, the foundation stone of which was laid by H.H. Sri Keshavananda Bharathi Swamiji of Edneer Mutt on 6 May 2009. That dream has been set in motion under the name ‘Narayaneeyam Music Campus’, with many aims and objectives still ahead.
The leading power and the struggling person behind the whole institution is Ganapraveena Sri Yogeesha Sharma Ballapadavu. Disregarding all personal fame, he has put a large effort into developing pure music and into popularising the Vedas and Thanthra in their original form from this small village. Encouragement and financial support from music lovers, vaidics and well-wishers is needed to fulfil the big dreams ahead.
1999
Inaugurated on 30 October 1999
26
Years of unbroken service
4
Centres across Kerala and Karnataka
2
Vidyapeetams — Sangeetha and Vaidic-Thanthric
7
Disciplines taught
1.38
Acres of donated campus land
What we exist to do
Four commitments
Pure Carnatic music, the Veda and Thanthra kept in their original form, students trained to perform, and a campus worthy of both — the four things the trust states in its own words.
Guarding Veda and Thanthra
The Vaidic-Thanthric Vidyapeetam exists to retain and protect the richness of the Vedas, Thanthra, Manthra, Jyothishyam and Sanskrit, and to carry them forward through study and research.
Performers, not just students
The focus of the Vidyapeetam is on making its students good performers and skilled artists — trained for the Government of Karnataka grade examinations and for the concert stage alike.
A campus worthy of the music
Narayaneeyam Music Campus at Ballapadavu is the trust’s long dream: a home where classes, camps and festivals can be held, and where visiting artists and music lovers can be received with real hospitality.
Milestones
From 1999 to today
Inauguration, registration, the two Vidyapeetams, the campus and the branches — every date here is taken from the trust's own record.
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The Prathishtanam is inaugurated
BSNUS Sangeetha Prathishtanam was inaugurated by the eminent Mridanga Vidwan Late Mavelikkara Velukutty Nair, retired Professor of Sri Swathi Thirunal Music College, Thiruvananthapuram, on the birth centenary of Late Ballapadavu Narayana Upadhyaya.
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Registered as a trust
The Prathishtanam was registered in 2005, putting the Carnatic music classes first held at Agalpady on a formal footing.
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Veenavadini Sangeetha Vidyapeetam opens at Perla
Established at Perla as ‘Kedara’ on 1 May 2005, the Vidyapeetam began regular classes in vocal, mridangam and violin. Enthusiastic students and music lovers were quickly drawn by the purity of the music taught here, and a new branch soon followed in Mangalore city.
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Foundation stone laid at Ballapadavu
Sri Ballapadavu Shankaranarayana Upadhyaya donated 1.38 acres of land at Ballapadavu to the trust. The foundation stone of the campus was laid there by H.H. Sri Keshavananda Bharathi Swamiji of Sri Edneer Mutt on 6 May 2009.
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Narayaneeyam Music Campus is inaugurated
The building raised on the donated land was inaugurated in 2010 by H.H. Sri Prince Rama Varma. It brought the class and camp hall, kitchen, guest room, instrument room, library and office together on one campus, with the ‘Ashwathi’ mantapam standing in front.
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Vaidic-Thanthric Vidyapeetam is established
Established on 23 February 2014 for studies and research in Vaidic and Thanthric vidya, and inaugurated by Jagadguru Sri Sri Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamiji of Sri Sharadapeetam, Sringeri. It remains a singular centre for Vaidic and Thanthric study in north Kerala.
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A new home for the Mangalore branch
The relocated Mangalore class, at the Avishkar Yoga Centre on Bejai-Kapikad Road, was formally opened on 14 July 2019 — one of four centres alongside Ballapadavu, Perla and Madhur.
Shruti is the mother, Laya is the father
The board
Our trustees
Seven trustees carry the work of the Prathishtanam, listed here in the order the trust itself names them.
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Ballapadavu Radhakrishna Bhat
President
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Mungila Krishna Bhat
Vice President
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Ballapadavu Yogeesha Sharma
Secretary
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Jagadeesha Bhat K. M.
Joint Secretary
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Jagadeesha Korekkana
Joint Secretary
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Smt. Sandhya
Joint Secretary
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Alangaru Govardhana Bhat
Treasurer
Support the trust
Support the work of the Prathishtanam
Encouragement and financial support from music lovers, vaidics and well-wishers is what carries the teaching, the concerts and the campus forward.
80G — donations to BSNUS Sangeetha Prathishtanam (R.) are eligible for income-tax exemption.
