Eminent Bhajan Singer Arabinda Muduli To Be Cremated At Swargadwara In Puri

Bhubaneswar: The mortal remains of renowned Odia bhajan singer, lyricist and music director Arabinda Muduli will be cremated at Swargadwara in Puri in the late afternoon on Wednesday.

An ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath, Muduli passed away following a massive cardiac arrest late on Wednesday night. He was 56.

He breathed his last at around 3.30 AM at Aditya Care Hospital here.

Talking to media persons, Krupasindhu Muduli said his father had gone asleep after attending a marriage reception in the night.

“After I reached home at around 11.30 AM, he woke up and told me that he has gastric problem. Though I gave him jalzeera and Gelusil antacid medicine, it did not work. Later, he told me to take him to a nearby clinic for an injection. But the doctor after a diagnosis advised me to admit my father at a hospital as he has problems in his heart. Acting on his advice, we took him to Aditya Care Hospital in an Ambulance van at about 2 AM. While we were about to admit him, he passed away,” he said.

Born on September 1, 1961 at Khanati village of Khurda district, Muduli had a penchant for songs since his childhood days. Later he learnt music under the tutelage of eminent singer Bhikari Charan Bal.

During his 34-year-long career, Muduli has sung more than 3000 songs most of which have been devoted to Lord Jagannath. He was a regular artist in Akashvani and Doordarshan.

Some of his famous bhajans are Bali Kheluthile, Jaga pain niti mallifula, Jagata janjale mohini mayare, Mita ehi para khira chora, Tulasi kie se kuha tara mahima, Pindaru prana mora, Nirmalya jala mo bhagyara, Bhaja niribeda ehi sariraru etc.

Eminent singers Santilata Das, Geeta Das, Rabi Mohapatra, Laxmikant Palit, Pranab Patnaik, Rabi Mohapatra, Lipika Mohanty, Sarat Barik, music director Manmath Mishra and others rushed to Muduli’s residence at Bhimtangi to have a last glimpse of the departed soul.

Expressing profound grief over the sad demise of Muduli, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

Several leaders including Sura Routray, Baijayant Panda, Basant Panda have also deeply condoled the death of Muduli.

From Bhimtangi, the body of Muduli was taken to his native village Khanati at 11.30 AM from where it would be taken to Swargadwara in Puri for cremation later in the day.

During his career, Muduli has been felicitated with a number of awards between 1981 and 2013.

The first award of his career was Piyusha Kantha in 1981 followed by Swara Shrikhetra Samman in 1986, Palli Pratibha Samman-1989, Chalapatha Puraskar-1991-92, Bhanja Kalpataru Samman-1992, Darpan Samman and Banadurga Samman-1993, Kaibalya Kantha Samman-1994, Daru Deean Samman-1996, Bhakti Sagar Samman and Swara Gandharv Samman-1997, Mahapurusa Arakhita Das Samman-2000, Sukanika Samman and Bhaba Ratnakar Samman-2001, Amruta Kantha Samman, Pratibha Samman, Maudamani Samman and Jana Swikruti Samman-2002, Shrestha Kanthashilpi Samman-2003, Bhajan Samrat Bhikari Bal Samman, Swarna Shree Samman, Bolagada Ratna Samman, Bhajan Rasa Ratnakar Samman, Utkala Samman and Sangeet Sudhakar Samman-2004, Lion International Award-2004-05, Bansadhara Shree Samman and Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Samman-2005, Bhakti Ratna Samman-2006, Shri Jagannath Samman, Kanchi Kaveri Samman, Bhakti Puspanjali Samman, Sripada Swara Sevak Samman, Bhava Samudra Samman and Bhajana Birakarna Samman-2007, Ranga Basanta Samman, Bhajana Rath Samman, Guru Krupasindhu Srumati Samman, Shrikhetra Pratibha Samman, Rangam Samman and Shri Jagannath Chetana Samman-2008, Sri Radhakrshna Samman-2009, Chandan Pratibha Samman, Samman Award, Rangam Samman, Gurukrupa Samman and Bhubaneswar Festival Samman-2010, Kumar Kabi Samman, Abhinandanika Samman, Banichitra Samman and Suryakhetra Samman-2011, Krupajala Samman-2012 and Chalachitra Samman in 2013.