When Srishtika Sriram was born, all her mother wished was to make her a ‘chamathu’ girl. But she surpassed all expectations and is now going places with her talent to render soulful ‘upanyasams’.
News Today caught up with this class 12 girl to find out more…
* For how long have you been doing this?
Upanyasam is a lecture about shastras, puranas and scriptures. I have been involved in this from the age of ten. My mother Rekha Sriram used to teach me slokas right from when I was two. As a five-year-old, I knew most of the important ones. Since I am good at public speaking, I began participating in sloka competitions.
* When did you identify your talent?
At the age of ten, I had been a part of one such upanyasam competition, in which I did not come first. I was placed fourth as I did not follow the pattern. But the judge specifically called and told my mom that I will do well, pointing out to my pronunciation, modulation, diction and confidence.
* Tell us about this WhatsApp broadcast that you do.
It is called Indriya Thagaval. I started off as bits and pieces of information of our shastras and Sanatana dharmam. Everyday, I talk about one value that is said in our dharma. On festival days, I share the importance of that day. For example, last Margazhi, I spoke about Andal Vaibhavam everyday and on Navarathri, I talked about Ambal’s ‘perumai’. So far, I completed 150 episodes and I have 300 listeners.
* How do you learn?
Since I am interested in all this, I read and listen a lot. I take a topic, do some research and my mom also helps in formatting the script. It comes out as one-and-half hour script with sloka quotations in between.
* What are your favourite topics?
Andal kalyanam, Thirupaavai, Ramajananam, Mahaperiyava Mahimai and Sudharshana vaibhavam.
* What do your friends think about your work?
Many in my school do not know what upanyasam is. I am just the girl with a bindi and braided hair. I did not want to let go of my identity, as I am not ashamed of it. Peer pressure cannot affect me.
She can be reached at 97900 97910.
| Srishtika Sriram hails from the Paani’s family, who have been pioneers in transliterating Sanskrit slokas in Tamizh in the name of P T Paani Publications, Triplicane, Chennai. She is the great granddaughter of late P T Paani Iyer. |
| A recipient of Shri Manavala Mahamuni All Rounder Award (2011) and Shri Yamunucharya All Rounder Award (2013), she been also been conferred with the title of ‘Yuva Kala Bharathi’ and ‘Nandhaa Deepam’ |