M.D.Ramanathan (MDR) was a disciple of Sri Tiger Varadachariar. MDR’s bhakthi for his Guru is legendary. He gets very emotional talking about Tiger. It’s no wonder he pays obeisance to his Guru in whatever way possible.

I recently listened to a moving Manasa Guruguha in Anandabhairavi.  To hear him sing it, it’s almost as if Dikshithar sings it. The composition itself is a very beautiful one. In particular, the last part of the charanam goes like this:

Nathwa Sree Guru Charanam

Kruthwa Namasmaranam Jithwa Moha varanam

Mathwa Thwadeka Sharanam

Prostrate (“nathwa”) on His feet (“guru charanam”) ;

Mediate (“kruthwa”) on His name(“namasmaranam”);

Conquer (“Jithwa”) the veil of illusion(“Moha”),

and Think (“Mathwa”) of Him as your (“thwa”) sole (“eka”)  refuge (“sharanam”).

Source: http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/manasaguruguha1.htm

He sings those lines and proceeds to meditate on those lines. He was a person who really lived those words. I could sense the emotion in his voice when he sings those lines. Truly a great soul!!