Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (MS)

Bantwal, Sep 27: Yakshaguru Thenkabailu Thirumaleshwara Shastri (76), who was revered by Yakshagana lovers because of his unique style of singing died in a private hospital of Mangaluru on the morning of Sunday, September 27 due to a brief illness.

Shastri leaves behind three daughters, one son (amateur bhagavath Muralikrishna Shastri) and scores of his fans, admirers and disciples.

Shastri was conferred with several awards including Udupi Yakshagana Kalaranga, Dakshina Kannada Rajyotsava award, Kuriya Vittala Shastri award, Sampaje Dr Kilaru Gopalakrishnaiah Prathistana award, Padyana, Pattaje and Divana awards.

Thirumaleshwara Shastri had many disciples as he was the background teacher at Shri Padre Chandu Yakshagana training center at Perla. He was amateur as well as professional bhagavath for some years.

Shastri hails from Thenkabailu of Karopadi village of the taluk. He was born in 1944 in the renowned Chakrakodi household as the son of Thenkabailu Krishna Shastri and Savitriamma couple. He was residing at Thenkabailu of Karopadi village.

Shastri got interested in Yakshagana Bhagavathike due to the encouragement of his relative Rama Bhat. He was proficient is playing the Yakshagana instruments like Chende, Maddale and flute, apart from singing. He learnt Bhagavathike from Mambadi Narayana Bhagavatha and classical music from Bajakkala Ganapathi Bhat.