As many of us might realize, I have named this Blog "Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini" keeping in mind the Grantha Written by Subbarama Dikshithar. The motto of this blog is to share information related to Carnatic music' that would help us widen our learning horizons.. "The More We Share, The More We Learn" "
Jagadhodharana is one of the Most well known Compositions recorded and crafted into a sparkling Gem..By some of the greatest Artists of all time...Kapi lowing like a cascade..The Dasar sahithya's beauty taking a dip into it..Just Pristine...Not much to do write about this..Because I dont want to pester the Bhava and beauty of the Krithi in the name of speaking about it..I rather believe that this is one krithi u can jus sit back and Listen..Etching the feeling of having lived a life jus or this...!!!
Yashoda and her "Son"-"The Sun" of the Universe
How true...!!!!
The composer "Sangeetha Pithamaha" Purandaradasar brings out the Beauty in every word..Sivan's Enna Thavam in the same Kapi has a similar Touch.:)
Lyrics and Meaning (I have'nt elaborated anything here..The mind is throbbing to write more but the heart just says "Nope")This is one Composition that I can Classify as "Better Heard than Told"
The rendition by MSS the diva who took this very krithi to the World Platform at the United Nations..We are actually blessed to have a video of it here...!!!!
And another rendition by Sri KV Narayanaswamy..Soaked in Kapi...And the Melody of it Amazing...!!!! The irony here is that Smt Mss learnt this Krithi from Sri KVN himself..!!!
After having taken a long gap of 10 days.. We continue our journey with a soothing Neelambari (Dont doze off before reading..!!).. A master piece Ennaga Manasu by Thyagarajar with the best rendition available ,That of SSI AND MSS..No other Rendition according to me captivates the listener as this one..!!!! Indeed a Divine Unison..
What for such eyes which could not nicely behold the Lord reclining on the couch of Sesha – the snake – whose elegance could not be comprehended even when pondered? What for such eyes and what for the sparkle of such eyes?
What for the body which could not embrace passionately the Lord Sri Hari who puts to shame the splendour of dark-bluish rain cloud – carrier of water? What for the body and what for even this house?
What for the hands which could not worship the Lord with flowers like lotus, jasmine, double jasmine, parijata etc and sacred thulasi leaves? What for such hands and what for even this household?
What for the tongue which could not praise fondly the Lord who has affectionately governed Thyagaraja in the form of Sri Rama? What for the tongue and what for even this rosary of thread?
Review:
The Raga Neelambari is set to have the effect of inducing sleep in the lsitener...The fact is that the Sacharas of the Raga a are filled with Melody and grace that the listener is elevated to a higher plane of purity...The sanchras descending from the upper shadjam to the panchamam touching the beautiful nishadam is just enough to fill your day..
As for the Krithi it has a structure perfectly apt for the Lyrical content.. Thyagaraja Swamigal establishes the fact that The eyes,the body,the ears,the Mouth and the hands should be used for Hari Seva..
Here I am reminded of the lines "NadanthAnai Ethatha NAvenna NAve ! NArAyanA enna nAvenna nAve !" of Ilangovadgal in the immortal "Vadavarayai mathakki" the sole property of Smt MSS which conveys a similar meaning...About that..Some other day..Hope not to take another Break..
For today It is the Unison of the Guru and his sishya (SSI & MSS) that mesmerizes the listener..That One...!!! Ahh..!!
Monday, May 16, 2011
A long break of 4 days due to some personal engagements...
The Krithi is Of Shri Thyagaraja Swamigal in the raga Dhenuka ,the 9th Melakartha Raga
Arohanam :S R1 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S: Avarohanam:S N3 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S Pallavi teliya lEru rAma bhakti mArgamunu
O srI rAma! People are not (lEru) aware (teliya) of the path
Roaming (tirugucunu) all over (antaTa) the Earth (ilanu) (ilanantaTa),they babble as if in a dream (kaluvariJcedaru);but (gAni), O Lord zrI rAma! they are not aware of the path of bhakti.
Charanam vEga lEci nITa mungi bhUti pUsi vELLan(e)Jci veliki zlAghanIyulai bAga paikam(A)rjana lOlul(a)irE gAni tyAgarAja vinuta
Getting up (lEci) at dawn (vEga), taking bath (munigi) (literally dip) in water (nITa), smearing (pUsi) sacred ash (bhUti) on the body, performing japa by counting (eJci) the fingers (vELLa) (veLLaneJci),presenting externally (veliki) as praise-worthy (zlAghanIyulai),excepting (gAni) that they became (airE) much (bAga) coveteous (lOlulu)(lOlulairE) of earning (Arjana) (literally acquiring) money (paikamu)(paikamArjana),
O Lord Praised by this tyAgarAja (tyAgarAjanuta)! they are not aware of the path of bhakti.
T S Balkrishna Sastrigal
I always remember Sri T S Bala KrishnaSAstrigal's laughter filled discourse on the Matter..He beautifully says that Thyagaraja Swamigal sings this song when every one in the Village complain that thyagaraja has neither undertaken any theertha yatra nor has he mastered the Veda Shastras..And Thyagaraja Swamigal answers their queries in this song..
In today's age people dont even remember to murmur Bhagawan Nama..Busy workers.. we are..Then what were they..? We chase Money throughout and what Do we Gain..?
Not even a Peaceful Death..
And to the Composition's side..It is quite Simple dressed Grandly by The Saravalaghu Swaras by the Pithamaha..He made the song his own..Nothing More to say Just enjoying the Krithi...
We have seen 10 krithis in this Blog and to make a difference It is a javali this time.. Javalis are generally poems which have a colloquial Word Usage and are simple to understand..They have a very strong feeling of Love towards the Lord..It is one of the 9 ways to do Bhakthi..It is Prema Bhakthi that centres the krithi..
Krishna and his Flute
Parulanna MAta flows in our ears in the form of Prema Bhakthi..The Viraha Taapa of the Nayaki being seperated from the Nayaka..the lord Of Dharmapuri..
This Composition was popularized the Most by the Pithamaha Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer..So here is the Video Link..
PS: We can also find My Guru Sri Trichy K Ramesh (Right Tambura)Giving him vocal Support..Also In this rendition he precedes the javali with a shloka from Shri Krishna Karnamritham describing the beauty of Shri Krishna..And the Beautful Kapi flowing from the Mouth of the pitamaha is More like a perennial Brahmaputra..
Lyrics and Meaning of the Shloka
ayi murali mukunda smera vaktra aravinda
shvasana madhura saMgne tvAM praNamya adya yAce
adhara maNi samIpaM prAptavatyAM bhavatyAM
kathaya rahasi karNe mad dashAM nanda sUnoH
I am aware, oh, flute, that you are well aware of the sweetness of the breath of that smiley and lotusy face of mukunda; as such I reverently beg you to whisper sweetly and sub rosa into the ear of the son of nanda about my wretched state, whenever you are closely drawn to his jewelly lower lip for fluting.
I always feel the beautiful Imagination of the poet whenever i hear this Shloka...Probably a Flute vidu Thoothu..!! lol"
ragam: Naayaki (22) Aa: S R2 M1 P D2 N2 D2 P S Av: S N2 D2 P M1 R2 G2 R2 S
I am not going to debate on the subtle difference between Durbar and Nayaki since my knowledge is very limited..But I wish to get into the Deep serene mode of Nayaki which Dikshithar has created..Yes a world Of Sangeetham Filled with "Sowkyam"
Pallavi
Ranganayakam bhAvayEham ranganAyakI samEtam
I mediate ("bhavaye") on the lord RANGANAYAKA, who is with goddess RANGANAYAKI ("Sametam")
He is the father ("tata") of Cupid ("angaja") and is the infinite("mananta") one.He transcends ("matitim") everything ("anta").He is the eternal one ("satatam") who is praised ("nutham") by the immortal ones ("amara") like Indra ("ajendra").He has the great bird GARUDA ("uttunga vihangam") for the mount ("turangam") and his eyes ("paangam") shower compassion ("kripa")
His divine ("divyavimanam") VIMANA is the form ("aakaara") of PRANAVA("pranava").
He is adored ("abhimanam") by devotees ("bhakta") like PRAHLADA.VISVAKSENA occupies ("samana") the foremost place as lord GANAPATI does for PARAMASIVA.His army ("senam") consists of elephants ("gaja"), horses ("turaga") and infantry ("padadi").He is worshipped ("aradhanam") by Lord RAGHAVA who was born in the solar dynasty ("dinamani kula").He is my source ("mamaka videha"), for the attainment (" sadhanam") of salvation.("mukthi")His abode ("sadhanam") is bedecked with gems ("manimaya").His face ("vadhanam") resembles that of a moon("shashi") and he rests ("sayanam") on a serpent couch ("phanipati").His eyes ("nayanam") are like lotus ("padma"). He is worshipped by VIBHISANA who has countless good virtues ("aganita suguna ganata").He is adorned ("vibhushanam") with inestimable ("ghanatara") KAUSTUBHA gem ("mani").His ardent devotees ("gunijana krta") recite ("paaraayanam") VEDAs constantly.He is SRI NARAYANA, the delight ("mudita") of GURUGUHA.
Now for my version:
The entire Krithi is filled with sowkhyam since the raga is by nature devoid of Brigas.It reminds me of the small wavery ripples on the Cauvery..Probably Dikshithar had this in his mind as well..
The Cauvery River and a Glimpse Of the Rajagopuram
The pallavi has a meditative structure and flows just like a river cutting across smooth caverns..And the Swara transition from Da to Pa at "NAyaki" is simple Bliss...A simple Pallavi that paves way for a more complex content..
The anupallavi lines have the famous yet unique sa sa sa Ri* Sa* Sa* combination that we also saw in Chetah Shri..The place "Satatham" (Da pa da ma pa) is cute and worth mentioning,..The lines "kripa pangam ramantharangam"(Pa da ma pa ma) have a pleasing effect apt to the lines that he is in the heart of Rama..
The Charanam goes little closer to the "Dikshithar's stamp" where he goes further to describe the structure of the Vimana --That it is in the shape of pranava in oher words "OM" .The sangathi at pranava (Ri Ma pa Da Ni Pa) is beautiful.."Ganapathi samana" brings a (Ga Ga Ri sa) different mode..He uncovers a new arena at "Mukthi sadhanam" (ni sa* Ni sa* Sa*)/..The prayoga at "Mani maya" (da Ri* sa* Sa* ri* ni)..And as every time he stps down from the top at "Padma Nayanam"(ma Pa Da pa ma ri ) the lines "Gunijanakritha.." resemble a mountain Climbing in the first half and getting down in the second half..
"PranavaaKara Divya Vimanam"
The entire Krithi is filled with Sowkhyam adapting to the position of the Lord Ranganatha and i Often feel atleast when i sing it..That the whole Krithi is silently accompanied by the Cauvery river moving graciously kissing the feets of the Lord..
Over all One krithi that can transform u into a completely different world ...
Some problem with my Blog kept me away from posting this.. Firstly Sorry for the Delay of Today's post..
Today's Composition is in the Raga Sama ...A soothing Raga with great prayogas...Famous compositions include Annapoorne Visalakshi and Maravkave O manasa ..Also the all time favorite Varuvaro varam Tharuvaro Ayyan where the Composer waits for the arrival of his lord..
The Composition that we are going to see is One composition That deals with our own Minds.."manasa"
Ragam : Syama or Sama Thalam : Adi Aro: S R2 M1 P D2 S Ava: S D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Pallavi mAnasa sanchara rE brahmaNi mAnasa sanchara rE Oh Brahman( Supreme spirit of the universe),ramble in my mind
Your wavy hair is decorated with peacock feathers.Your excellent cheeks reflect like mirror.
charaNam SrI ramaNee kucha durggavihArE sEvaka jana mandira mandArE paramahamsa mukha chandra chakOrE paripooritha muraLee ravadhArE
Oh Krishna,your looks roam about the fort like bosom of beautiful gopikas.You are the celestial 'Mandara'tree for the devotees serving you..Your face is like the divine 'chakora' bird which thrives on moon's beams.You are the Supreme Yogi.You play the most enchanting music on your flute.
The composer prays to the Supreme Yogi..The greatest Bramhan To fill his mind..In other Words he asks Krishna Paramathma to remove all other thoughts except the good name of the Lord...
When It comes to the beauty of the Raga I must say the raga in its essence has an effect..One effect that cannot be described in a single word..I would describe it as standing near the tip of a huge Cliff and looking at the vast endless ocean..Music is itself a similar case..
.
The raga is filled with Grace..There isnt one place that you can point out and say "This is the best" when it comes to this composition..The entire Krithi exemplifies a saga of Devotion to the lord..
And for the recording part...Yes..we have three versions today..
