MAyamma---A soul stirring Cry

Shyama Sastri and The Jaganmatha

With a Happy Mother's Day Wish to every Mother across the World....Today We'll deal with a composition that glorifies the MOTHER OF THE UNIVERSE -Jaganmatha....

When it comes to Krithis on Ambal -No one matches the Heights reached by Shyama Sastrigal..

So here is one such Composition Where he cries to Ambal to save him --Mayamma in the Raga Ahiri..a Composition from the Meenakshi Navarathna Mala..

Nyama Meenakshamma..!! Ninnu Vina Vere Gathi Evarunnaru..!!

Before that..Yes the downloads..

This time (specially for mother's Day Renditions by Gana Saraswati Smt.D.K.Pattamal and Bharat Ratna Smt.M.S.Subbulakshmi)

Mayamma-Ahiri-MSS.(Preceded by a verse from Meenakshi Pancharatnam)

Mayamma-Ahiri-DKP

Pallavi:

mAyamma yani pilachitE

mATlADa rAdA nAtO amba ||

Oh Amba,I address you as 'Mother'. Why don't you speak with me?

Anupallavi:

nyAyamA SrimeenAkshamma minAkshikidi

ninnu vinA vEre dikkevarunnAru 

Oh Mother Minakshi,is this fair? Do I have any one else to seek refuge?

Charanam :

sarasija bhava hari hara nuta sulalita nee pada pankajamula

sthiramani nammiti nammiti nammitini

karuNa jooDavE kAtyAyini kALikA bhavAni 

paramEswari sundarESu rANi bAlAmbA madhura vANi

Brahma,Vishnu and Maheswara adore you. I believe that your delicate lotus feet are the most dependable  for me. Oh Katyayini,Oh Kalika, Oh Bhavani,Oh Parameswari, you are the queen of Sundaresa.You are Balamba with sweet speech.

vinuta jana pApa vimOchani Oh janani ghana neela vENi

vidaLita dAnava manDala damani

vanaja lOchana sudhAkarAnana vara dAyaki

anayamu ninnu kOri yunnAnammA bangAru bommA 

You dispell the sins of your devotees.Oh Mother,you have beautiful black tresses.You annihilated many demons.You are lotus eyed. Your face is beautiful like the moon.Oh golden Kamakshi,you bestow us boons profusely.I request you always with utmost faith.

abhaya mosagi nannu brOvumu oh varadA nera dATavugadA

ambikA biDDapai goppaga daya rAdA

anETi birudu gAdA

vaibhavamu gala SyAmakrishNa sOda

akhila lOka janani 

ananta rakshak

iri veera Sakti tripura sundari

Please assure me all protection.I know that you are very magnanimous. Oh Ambika,why don't you shower mercy on your dear child? You are the protector of the whole universe.You have the reputation that you are the eternal protector.You are the glorious sister of SyamaKrishna.

The Raga Ahiri has a Myth attached to it...

It is that the person who sings The ragam in the morning will not get Food Till day-break 

But a Great Musicians remarked

"Sapadu kedaikathu nu illa-antha ragam padina Pasi theriyadu "

That is to say

"It is not that you wil not get food but the fact is that you will not feel hungry immersed in the raga"

The Raga Has The structure:

Aro: S R1 S G3 M1 P D1 N2 S  |

Ava: S N2 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

• Shyama Sastrigal has chosen the Right Raga as Ahiri is full of Karunyam...
• The gist and the content of the Lyrics is quite simple .
• The Phrase at "Nyayama (Is it right?) is beautful
•  "Ninnu vina vere..(Who else can save me)" brings out the actual meaning
• The phrase at "Karuna Joodave" (Show Mercy...!!!) elevates the song higher...
• The sangathis and combinations at "Sthiramani nammiti ni" give a very classy flavour..
• The song has been Crafted over a period of 200 years..
• Today it is sung in Vilambitha kalam--Suiting the compositions's mood.. 
• The Antara Gandharam is carefully used and is fully pronounced very rarely..

Overall A composition that will take a person to a meditative status....

Happy Mothers Day..!!

Emani Vegintune - How Long should I wait..?

A striking tukkada piece popularized by Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer 
Here you go : 
Emani Vegintune-Huseni



In the krithi Emani vEgintunE in raga Huseni of Thyagaraja Swamigal's Immortal work "Prahlada Bhakthi Vijayam" Swamigal depicts the feelings of young Prahalada as to how long should he wait..It is "Viraha Tapa"
that centres the krithi..




An apt raga Huseni that depicts the feeling of seperation has been chosen by Thyagaraja Swamigal..It is filed with Karunyam

 It has the following structure

Aro: S R2 G2 M1 P N2 D2 N2 S |

Ava: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

Pallavi

Emani vEgintunE zrI rAma rAma

O Lord rAma! With what Hope shall i keep Awake(Vegintune)?

Anupallavi
Emani vEgintun(e)ntani sairintu
nA muddu dEvuDu nanu bAsen(a)yyayyO (Emani)
With what hope (Emani) shall I keep awake (vEgintunu)? How long

(entani) (vEgintunentani) shall I endure (sairintu)?

Alas (ayyayyO)! my (nA) charming (muddu) Lord (dEvuDu) has

abandoned (bAsenu) me (nanu).

Charanams:


pAliJci lAliJci palumAru kaugiliJci
tEliJci nanu para dEzi sEya tOcenO (Emani)
Having nourished (pAliJci), fondled and pleased (lAliJci tEliJci) and

embraced (kaugiliJci) me many a times (palumAru),

now did it occur (tOcenO) to Him to treat (sEya) (literally make) me

(nanu) as an alien (para dEzi)?

ADina muccaTa nAd(a)ntaraGgamu niNDan-
(I)Du lEd(a)ni(y)uNTin(i)ndAka sarivArilO (Emani)
As my (nAdu) heart (antaraGgamuna) was filled (niNDanu) with the conversations (ADinamuccaTa) with the Lord,

so far (indAka) I remained (uNTini) content that (ani) there is none

(lEdu) (lEdaniyuNTinindAka) equal (IDu) (niNDanIDu) to me among my peers (sarivArilO);

eDa bAyaka tyAgarAjun(E)lu zrI harini tolli
baDalikal(A)rci nA ceyi paTTinadi talacucu (Emani)
As the Lord is separated (eDa bAyaka) from me, with

what hope shall I keep awake thinking (talacucu) of zrI hari (harini) – one who

governs (Elu) tyAgarAja (tyAgarAjunElu) –

about how earlier (tolli) He held (paTTinadi) my (nA) hand (ceyi)

relieving (Arcina) my weariness (baDalikalu) (baDalikalArci) ?

Review:

The composition depicts a solo melancholy of a sad Bhaktha who has waited too long For Hari Darshan..Thyagaraja Swamigal ascertains the fact that there is no better boon than Hari Darshanam and no Happiness as ultimate Bliss (Moksha)..One can imagine the plight of Prahladha and the Hardships that he came through with the karuna Kataksa Of his lord "Hari"

The raga Embodifies all these values in the prayogas that involve the rishabam and gandharam to merge thus producing a Nadam that sounds like Pleading to the lord Himself..Best of all the climax by the Pitamaha-By repeating the sangathi at emani Thrice,thus making it a worth hear song..!!!

One of those hundred songs that leaves you speechless even after hearing it once..!!

Enchanting...!!!

Hamsadhwani-The Best Starter

I wanted to write about a few Ragas as well along with the Compositions..And I was thinking as to what would be the most apt Raga...And here we have the Voice of the Swan-Hamsadhwani--Which is the Best Starter for a full meal..

Lord Brahma In His Hamsa

Taking the name Hamsadhwani One think that immediately strikes us is the Beautiful Krithi- VatapiGana Pathim


Now for the structure:
arohaṇa      : S R2 G3 P N3 S
avarohaṇa : S N3 P G3 R2 S

• The raga Involves Chatushruthi Rishabam, Antara Gandharam, Panchamam, Kakali Nishadam and Shadjam.
• It is an Audava Audava Raga (5:5) 
• It has the Veera Rasa Thus setting a brisk Platform for a concert. 
• Hence most of the Krithis on Lord Ganesha are in this raga.
• Brisk Swara Prayogas Like :Sa ga Ri Pa Ga Ni pa sa and other such combinations are easily possible giving it a very wide scope.

Famous Krithis Include:

• Raghunayaka and Sree Raghukula by Thyagaraja
• Vatapi ganapathim by Muthuswami Dikshitar 
• Varanamukha vaa by Koteeswara Iyer
• Mooladhara moorthi and Karunai seivai by Papanasam Sivan
• Gajavadana beduvae by Purandaradasa
• Vinayaka by Veena Kuppayyar
• Varavallabha ramana by G. N. Balasubramaniam
• Gam ganapathe by Muthiah Bhagavatar.

Will soon Upload More gems..!! 

___

Chetah Shri Balakrishnam - The Epitome of Grace and Love

"Nalina patra nayanam vata patra sayanam"-

One of the Greatest :Lullabies of all time

Lord Krishna Probably wondering at the beauty of Dikshithars compostion 

To Write on Muthuswami Dikshithar's Works is not easy since it needs Indepth knowledge on the Raga ,the composition, and more than anything the background scenario..!!

Dikshithar was an untiring Traveller having visited and sung at more than a 1000 temples..

So here is one of my Favourite compositions (It took me two long days to bring this up)

First Three different versions of the Krithi by three Maestros --

Semmangudi srinivasa Iyer, Madhurai Mani Iyer and T Brinda.

Chetah Sri Balakrishna-Jujavanthi-SSI  (for the swaraprasthara at the end)

Chetah Sri Balakrishna-Jujavanthi-MMI (the beauty in the MADHURA voice)

Chetah Sri Balakrishna-Jujavanthi-TBR (Pure melody)

Before We move on to the composition (which is an ocean) some briefing on the Raga  Dwijavanthi which was transplanted in Carnatic music from Hindustani music. In the north, it is known as Jaijaivanthi. In the princely state of Travancore, it was part of Kathakali music. It is said that even Kunjan Nambiar, known in the name of Ottan thullal, had composed a song in this raga. Though Swathi Thirunal too had composed a Krithi in Dwijawanthi, it was Muthuswami Deekshitar who popularized the raga in the South through krithi's like `Akhilandeswari' (I personally believe it) and ` Chethasri Balakrishnam'. But Jujavanthi is one rare raga  which transmits bhakthi rasa in both lower and higher octaves. (From The Hindu)

A short alapana By Semmangudi The Pitamaha for better understanding..

Important Prayogas:

Ri Ma Ga Ri Sa RI GA Ri sa Ni. Da. Pa. Ri ga Ma Pa ma Ga ma ri Sa 
Ni.Da.Pa.Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Ni Da Pa Ri*

Ri* Ga* Ma* Pa* Ma* Ga* ma* Ri* Ga* Ri* Sa* Ni Da Pa Ma Ga Ri* Sa

Ni Da Pa Ma ga  Ri Sa* Ni da  Pa  Ri,, Saa

Now on the Composition :

Raga : Jujavanthi or Dwijavanthi

Arohanam : S R2 M1 G3 M1 P D2 S' 

Avarohanam  S' N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G2 R2 S

Tala: Rupakam

Kshetra: Guruvayur

Pallavi

Chetah Sri BalaKrishnam krshnam bhaja re

cintitartha prada caranaravindam mukundam 

Anupallavi

Nutana nirada sadrsa sariram nanda kisoram

pita vasana dharam kambu kandharam giri dharam

Putanadi samharam purushottamavataram

Shitala hrdaya viharam sri rukmini daram

Charanam

Navanita gandha vaha vadanam mrdu gadanam

nalina patra nayanam vata patra sayanam

nava campaka nasikam atasi suma bhasakam

natendradi loka palakam mrga mada tilakam

Nava tulasi vana malam naradadi muni jalam

kuvalayadi paripalam guru guha nuta gopalam

Meaning:

O mind ! Worship the auspicious child Krishna! The lotus-feet that grants all that one 

desires. The one known as Mukunda.

The one whose body resembles the dark-hued rain cloud. The child of Nanda the cow-herd. The one wearing yellow-robes. The conch-necked. The one who bears the mountain. The one who killed the demoness Putana and others. The incarnation of Purushottama. The one whose abode is in serene hearts. The one who has Rukmini as a consort.

The one whose mouth smells of butter; the sweet-voiced. The one whose eyes resembles the lotus leaf. The one who sleeps on the banyan leaf. The one whose nose is like the young campaka flower. The one whose hue is like the Atasi flower. The one who is worshipped by Indra and the rulers of the quarters. The one who has the Kasturi tilaka. The one who wears the fresh Tulasi garland. The one who is praised by sages like Narada. The one who protects the universe the Gopala praised by guruguha.

My thoughts :

In this compostion I dont think one can seperate the lyrics and the raga.They go hand in hand with each other..

To be precise the whole poetry seems to be so pleasing to the ear as though welcoming BalaKrishna Of Guruvayur.The pallavi lines begin in a slow mellow and step forward at "chintithartha" Hearing the krithi one can imagine a small Little tiny boy being welcomed in such a beautiful tone..

The anupallavi takes us by surprise when dikshitar gives us the line "Noothana Neeradha"(Sa Sa Sa ;Sa* Sa* Sa*) and the lines "Nanda Kishoram" appear as if they are cuddling BalaKrishna Himself..And the lines "Kambukandharam Giridharam" have a mystic touch..The Madhyama Kala Sahithya is swift and brisk giving it a change in mood..

Dikshitar slowly moves further at "Navaneetha vaha.." calling him the one who always smells butter and the one who is so sweet and then there come the lines.."nalina patra nayanam vata patra sayanam" describing the Chinni Krishna sleeping on the "vata patra" as if singing a lullaby..The immortal lines Nava Champaka Nasikam atha Seesuma Bhaskam (sa sa ri* sa* ri*)  elevate us to a different plane towards the lord .I personally feel like flying high in the sky..The way it climbs the summits ...Just Immortal...And after having climbed such a step hill Dikshitar sets foot Down beautifully at Mrgamadha Thilakam (Da Ni da Pa da Pa ma Ga ri..) followed by a Brisk Madhyama Kala again and a beautiful end at "Guru Guha Nutha Gopalam"

I havent put too much light on the history here and there as I dont want to indulge in the argument regarding the compositions of Dikshithar in Jujavanthi (whether as to who composed the krithi "Akhilandeshwari")

Best to Enjoy them rather than argue..

To sum up : Dont Miss the summits at Nutana nirada (The climb through the octaves) nalina patra nayanam (a close darshan of BalaKrishna Himself) nava campaka nasikam atasi suma bhasakam (attaining the ultimate mukthi) mrga mada tilakam (stepping down quietly) Over all this is one composition that has ultimate Grace apart from the beautiful poetry woven by Dikshitar draped by Jujavanthi.. A great way to start a day..!! Happy Friday...!!!

Eppo Varuvaro-The yearning of a saint-Madurai mani Iyer

Madurai Mani Iyer or Madhura (sweet) Mani Iyer Presents one of his most embellished Tukkada piece Eppo Varuvaro by Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar..


Eppo Varuvaro-Jonpuri- Madurai Mani Iyer (Click to download)



EppO varuvaaro
in ragam Jonpuri
20 naTabhairavi janya
Aa: S R2 M1 P D1 N2 S
Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

pallavi


eppOvaruvArO-enthan kalithIra-eppOvaruvArO
seppiyathillai cithampara thEvan (nAthan)


caraNam 1
n-aRparuvam van-thu n-Athanaith thEdum
kaRpanaikaL muRRak kAtchi than-thAn

caraNam 2
aRpasuka vAzvil Anan-tham koNdEn
poRpathaththaik kaaNEn ponnampalavANan

caraNam 3
bAlakirushNan pORRip paNin-thidumIsan
mElE kAthal koNdEn veLippadakkANEn


Writing something on the composition My Instincts Direct me towards Nandanar, The  Immortal work of Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar "Nandanar Charithiram".


Here the composer yearns for his Lord The King Of Chidambaram..He questions as to  When Lord Shiva would  liberate him from the worldly attachments..? After having acquired the right age and having searched the Lord Here and there he sees him in his imagination.the composer then feels that he has wasted his life in Material Attachments and he is waiting to reach to Golden Feet of PONNAMBALAVAANAN..!!


The Raga has an essence of Yearning in itself thus enhancing the composition


As to Madura Mani Iyer's Style..I would Just Say "IMMORTAL"
The sangathis at Nadanai Thedum (Ri ga ma ga Ri Ga Ma Ga Ga GA Ri Sa) and the ending after the Charanam with phrase "Ni Ri Sa Ni Da Ni sa" thrice sends Chills along my Spine..!!


Well Folks..!! A video is also available on youtube (But the .mp3 file has better audio quality)

Still  mesmerized by The beauty of the Lyrics,The Raga,The Composer and above all MADHURA Mani Iyer 

Dinamani Vamsa-Harikambhoji-Tribute to the King of the Solar Dynasty

Here is a clip from a memorable concert of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer-Click on the song to Download..!

Dinamani Vamsa-Harikambhoji-SSI

Something about Dinamani Vamsa in the ragam Harikambhoji by Thyagaraja Swamigal

28 harikaambhOji mela

Aa: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

pallavi

Dinamani vamsha tilaka lAvaNya dIna sharanya

anupallavi

manavini bAguga madini dalancucu canavuna nElu cAlugA jAlu

caraNam

sharva vinuta nanu samrakSincanu garvamu Ela gAcu vArevarE
nirvikAra guNa nirmala karadhrta-parvata tyAgarAja sarvasvamau

Meaning:

Gem of the solar dynasty of unmatched beauty! Refuge of the meek and oppressed! You have shown me sufficient indifference and disregard already ! It is time for you to make amends. Consider my appeal for you grace compassionately and respond with affection. O Worshipped by Shiva! Why be proud in spite of being indifferent to this helpless devotee? What is it that you have scored? Who else will protect me? O abode of virtues! O spotless one! You lifted by hand the Govardhana hill , you are everything to Tyagaraja.

1. The swaraprasthara at the end is the icing in the cake
2. Harikambhoji flows like a cascade
3. The pitamaha gives us his all time famous Sarvalaghu Prayogas
4. Visesha sarvalagu Prayogas : ga ga ma;ga ga pa;ga ga da; ga ga ni; ga sa* ni da pa da ni da da..
5. In the krithi part there is a beautiful Sangathi in the anupallavi at Madini dalanchuchu
6. Harikambhoji is indeed a raga with "first among the equals" status

Bhogeendra Sayinam-Kuntalavarali-Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

This light piece in Kuntalavarali is always close to myheart..Right from the opening Alapanai the Pitamaha treks to great heights and takes us along with him:


Kuntalavarali  is a janya of harikaambhOji
Aa: S M1 P D2 N2 D2 S  Av: S N2 D2 P M1 S

Swathi Tirunal

Pallavi
bhOgIndra ShAyinam purukucaladAyinam purusham ShAsvatam kalayE


I prostrate the immortal one who reclines on the king-serpent, bestower of prosperity to the Puru dynasty.Oh PADMANABHA!

Anupallavi
vAgISha gaurISha vAsavAdya marapari
vArAbhi vanditapadam padmanAbham


Your feet are worshipped by BRAHMA, SIVA, INDRA and other celestials. OH! PADMANABHA

CaraNam
kalitanuta sanyAsi bhajanAnu guNavihita sulalitAkAramahitam
kalushara parisarOjavala padma tIrthAdi khaNDitAShEshaduritam
kalaShOtbhavAn vita mahEndra trikUTavara malayAcalEndra vinutam
kaladamana va~NJci mArtANDavar mAkalita kANJcana vimAna lasitam padmanAbham


 You, being extolled by the sage, took a beautiful form for the sake of his devotion. You are surrounded by the holy PADMATIRTTHA, redeeming all woes and miseries. You are praised by AGASTYA, MAHENDRA, TRIKUTA and MALAYACALENDRA. You are resplendent on the golden VIMANA made by VANCI MARTHANDA VARMA - the annihilator of wickeds.
You are adorned by the crown, lusterous as the sun, the fish-shaped ear-rings, pearl garlands, KAUSTUBHA, shining PITAMBARA, golden girdle around the waist and beautiful VANAMALA. You delight in LAKSHADIPA-festival of lamps in lakhs-and other daily UTSAVA-rituals done by the sinless and unparallel Kings of VANCI. Oh! PADMANABHA, whose eyes brim with the nectar of compassion and which are akin to the softest inner petals of the lotus.

Having had a glimpse of its lyrical beauty..here comes the emphasis on the raga...

• The raga omits both R and G ,thus distancing the S and M swaras..Adding to the beauty of the straight notes..
• The prayogas such as SaMaPaDaNiDa ;NiPaDaMa SaMa;SaPa;SaDa;SaNi;SaSa* are brisk and have a pleasing effect
• In this clip the pitamaha uses rare prayogas such as MaDaMaSa* Sa*nidani madamaDaS* Sa*MaSa*NiMaSaDaSaNiSa*
• Speciality Ma*'sa*nida Sa* nidama Ma sani.da. SaMaSa Sa*nida Sa*masa*
• A brisk way to start a Tuesday..!!

Have a great day ahead..!!!

* indicates tara sthayi

 . indicates manthra sthayi