Charan dhar aayo

Ras ke bhare tore nain

 
Music: Jaidev
Voice: Hira Devi Mishra

Format: Geet/Thumri
Raag: Bhairavi
Language: Hindi - Brij Bhasha
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I chanced upon this while exploring the music of Monsoon Wedding. The film uses a slightly modernized version of the original composition, the original being at least a century old. It was earlier rendered by Jaidev for the film Gaman and that's the version I really, really love. It has given me many sleepless nights.

The singing by Hira Devi Mishra is seductive and dripping with shringar ras. She doesn't dwell on technique as this is a short piece (a song or a geet) for a film. She rather tries to bring out the original essence and the very rustic flavour of the composition. The poetry romances the luscious eyes of the beloved, urging him to return and entwine the love-sick maid in a warm embrace. She yearns to be held by him, to see him, and to get lost in his enchantingly beautiful eyes.

But more than the singing, I love Jaidev's music. He has taken a traditional thumri, which must have been rendered on a simple harmonium-tabla setting, and he has created a completely original mood and melody for it.

Beginning with the sensuous sound of the sitar, accompanied with a hint of melancholic sarangi, it moves to a beautiful piece on the keyboard. The recurring keyboard piece, along with the tabla, becomes the spine of the composition. It has a certain mystique to it and it seems to be telling a story, the story of the lovers. From this central piece arise the melancholic sarangi and the yearning flute, each drawing out the poignancy of the piece.

I find the music remarkable because I feel that though it is deeply rooted in traditions it is still quite contemporary. It seamlessly blends the rustic musical sensibilities with urban receptivity, like a picture of the countryside made to be exhibitioned at the city gallery, It tones down its garishness, focuses on the pathos, and creates something soft, serene and beautiful.

I don't know who wrote it. It was most probably originally recorded by Gauhar Jaan in 1910. Information on its origins are welcome, as are any other comments and suggestions.

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Lyrics:

Arey pathik giridhari su itni kahiyo ter
Brij jhar nayi radhika ab brij bhurat pher

Aaja sawariya tohe garva laga lu
Ras ke bhare tore nain… Sawariya…
Ras ke bhare tore nain…

Jehi chitawat tehi bas kari rakhat
Naahi padey man ka chain… Sawariya…
Naahi padey man ka chain…

Aaja sawariya tohe garva laga lu
Ras ke bhare tore nain…

Piya to maanat naahi

Voice: Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Format: Thumri
Raag: Mishra Kaafi
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If I had to choose only one piece by Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, it would be this. He sings it with so much feeling and with so much understanding. I love the quietness in his voice. It creates the mood but doesn’t intrude into one’s thoughts. One could silently sit by the window, in the evening, and think while he sings in the background and one would feel calmed by it.

The piece is based on raag Kaafi or more accurately on raag Mishra Kaafi, which is nearly the same as Kaafi. It bears distinct resemblance to Kala Ramnath's thumri in raag Kaafi that I posted earlier. Both seem to be evoking the same image of someone trying to pacify their lover. One’s despondence over lost love is beautifully portrayed by the notes of the raag. I had always heard more colourful renditions in the raag; songs of holi, songs of love; but these are quieter, melancholic pieces. I would now love to explore more shades of raag kaafi and see how the same set of swaras can create such myriad moods and melodies.

Here is a beautiful article which talks about raag Kaafi and its Carnatic counterpart, Kapi, and many shades and variations of the raag: ‘The many flavours of Kapi’ 

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Lyrics:

Ho… Piya…

Ab to piya to maanat naahi…
Kaun unan se manware…

Ho re… aiso nithur harjaai…
Preet purani jaanat naahi

Ab kaun unan se manware
PIya to maanat naahi…
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Translation:

Oh my love…

My love doesn’t heed me
Who shall pacify him...

So hard-hearted he has become...
He doesn’t remember our old love

Now who shall pacify him
My love doesn’t heed me...

Jo bhaje hari ko sada

Composition: Brahmanand
Voice: Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Composition Format: Bhajan
Raag: Bhairavi
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This is a popular piece in Raag Bhairavi by the maestro, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi. I really love it, and, not just any version, but this particular version that I have posted. 

I tried other versions available online but didn't like any of them. In this version, the singer doesn't experiment too much with the techniques. He sings it in a very simple, serious, matter-of-fact manner, with only as much technique as required. Only the slightest hint of a mridanga and tanpura are heard as accompaniments. It is thus able to draw one into the bhajan, to get lost in its smoky serenity and smell the essence of what the words are trying to convey. I feel spiritually elated hearing this.

I am not sure who wrote this bhajan. The name Brahmanand is mentioned in the laste verse and so I assume it is some poet or saint by that name who wrote it. _______________________________________________________________________________________

Jo bhaje hari ko sada
So hi param pad paayega
So hi param pad paayega

Deh ke maala, tilak aur chaap
Nahi kisi kaam ke
Prem bhakti ke bina
Nahi nath ke man bhayega

Chor duniya ke maze sab
Baith kar ekant me
Dhyan dhar hari ke charan ka
Phir janm nahi aayega

Drind bharosa man me kar ke
Jo jape hari naam ko
Kehta hai brahmanand
Bichch me samayega

Jo bhaje hari ko sada
So hi param pad paayega
So hi param pad paayega
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Translation:

One who always thinks of the lord
He alone will attain the highest order

For the body, ornaments
Are of no use
Without love and prayer
You will not please the lord

Renounce all worldly pleasures
Sit in solitude
Meditate upon the lord’s feet
Then you will not be born again

With the heart firmly faithful
One who takes the lord’s name
Says Brahmanand
He will find salvation

One who always thinks of the lord
He alone will attain the highest order
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Reference for Lyrics: http://www.bhajanganga.com/bhajan/lyrics/id/51/title/jo-bhaje-hari-ko-sada-sohi-param-pad-paavega

Jagadodharna

 

Composition: Purandar Daasar
Voice: M S Subbulaxmi

Composition Format: Kriti
Raag: Kaapi
Taal: Aadi Taal
Language: Kannada

I saw M S Subbulaxmi perform at a 1960s UN convention on youtube. It was the first time that I actually saw her sing. She looked young, confident, strong. I felt hypnotized by her powerful voice that echoed across the large auditorium. She sang two songs, one of which was 'Jagadodharna'. At the time, I was no different from a foreigner sitting in the audience; I had no clue what she was singing. I did not know what her songs meant or if they were in any way relevant to the immediate cause for the convention. 

With some difficulty I managed to find the names of the songs she had sung and I read their meaning. My eyes literally welled up with tears when I realized how perfect these songs were for a UN convention at that time. The world in the '60s was rife with civil wars, not to mention the ongoing cold war between the US and the USSR. M S had chosen two songs that should give leaders of the world hope and a new direction. 

Jagadodharna is a simple kriti about how Krishna's mother, Yashoda, is unaware that her child is an incarnation of the almighty and only sees him as her child. She showers all her affection upon him and plays with him like any mother would with their children. For me, the song conveys a beautiful message of hope to people everywhere which is that children are the image of God and they are the world's future. It is they that will save the world and love is all they need.
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Pallavi
Jagadoddharana adisidale yashode

Anupallavi/Charanam 1
Jagadoddharana maganendu tiliyuta
Magugala manikyana adisidala yashode

Charanam 2
Anoraniyana mahato mahimana
Aprameyana adisidala yashode

Charanam 3
Parama purusana paravasudevana
Purandara vittalana adisidalu yashode

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Translation:

Pallavi
Yashoda plays with the redeemer of the world

Anupallavi/Charanam 1
Only knowing the redeemer as her son
Yashoda plays with her precious child

Charanam 2
Smaller than the smallest atom, larger than the largest
The one who is limitless, Yashoda plays with him

Charanam 3
Greatest among men, lord almighty
Whom Purandar Daasar admires, Yashoda plays with him

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Source for lyrics and translation: http://krithis-theirmeanings-thestories.blogspot.in/2011/02/jagadodharana-adisidale-yasode.html


 

Raghuvamsa Sudha

Composition: Patnam Subramanya Iyer
Voice: M S Subbulaxmi

Composition Format: Kriti
Raag: Kathanakuthuhalam
Taal: Aadi Taal
Language: Telugu
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In my exploration of M S Subbulaxmi's music I chanced upon this sensational piece. After I had heard it a few times, I felt a curious urge to run around south Indian shores and explore the ancient temples. I pictured myself free and powerful.

I imagine myself standing tall on a cliff, arms open wide against the wind blowing with full force, my head thrown back and my eyes shut tight as I breath in the smell of a limitless green valley, victorious. I imagine a tall ornate temple standing strong against a sea in high tide, the sea waves thrashing upon its large dark stones. I enter the temple; it is dark; I walk slowly towards the light arising from the antechamber. As I enter the room, I am blinded by the magnificent light of the shrine. I struggle to see it clearly, and then, I see it.

Pallavi

Raghuvamsa sudhambudhi chandra shri

Rama Rama Rajeshvara

Anupallavi

Agha megha maruta shrikara

Asuresha mrigendra vara jagannatha

Chittaswaram

Sa- ReMa Ga- ReSa, Re- MaMa Dha- DhaNi,

Ga- GaPa Sa- SaNi, DhaPa MaGa PaMa GaRe

SaRe ReMa MaDha DhaNi, GaPa PaSa SaRe ReMa,

MaGa GaRe ReSa SaNi, NiDha DhaPa PaMa GaRe

Charanam

Jamadagnija garva khandana

Jaya rudradi vismita bhandana

Kamal-aptanvaya-mandana-

Ganita-pura-shaurya shri venkateshvara 
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Translation:

Pallavi
O moon to the nectar-ocean of the Raghu lineage!
Sri Rama, lord of emperors!

Anupallavi
O wind (that drives away the) sin-cloud! Maker of prosperity!
O lion (terrifying the) king of asuras! Noble lord of the world!

Charanam
O Destroyer of Parshurama's conceit!
One praised by the amazed Rudra and others!
O Ornament to the Solar dynasty!
O Doer of innumerable marvellous heroics! Lord Venkatesha!


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Source for lyrics and translation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghuvamsa_Sudha
Source for information on the composer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patnam_Subramania_Iyer

Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

 
Words: Soor Das Ji
Composition: Indira Devi
Voice: M S Subbulaxmi

Language: Brij Bhasha
Raag:
Taal: Rupak

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M S Subbulaxmi and Soor Das Ji are both a revelation to me presently. I knew a couple of bhajans by Soor Das Ji from school but never really thought much about them. As for M S, I had no clue who she was till a month back! Growing up, I learnt Hindustani classical music and so I was more familiar with names from this genre of classical music. I still do not know anyone else from the Carnatic tradition except M S (but I hope to get intimate with more names very soon).

So one fine night I decided to expand my horizons into Carnatic music and the first name that came up was M S Subbulaxmi and soon I realized I was listening to something special. I then heard her renditions of some of Soor Das Ji's bhajans and, for the first time, I realized how beautiful these simple songs of the blind saint were! Suddenly, I was deluged by the beauty of these pearl-like words and their immense emotional capacity. 

I am currently a captive of this particular bhajan 'Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari' and so I present their lyrics below, followed by a rather literal translation. 

Please Note: I have noted down the lyrics by listening to the song. They are mostly accurate except for a couple of lines which I couldn't understand and they are highlighted in a different colour. Please feel free to suggest corrections. I just couldn't find the lyrics to this bhajan anywhere on the net.

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"Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

To so badhik vachal nahi, nath kaun to so?

Mo so patit aur nahin, na najh mo so

To hi aaye sharan teri, hey hriday-haari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Kamal nayan, madhur bayan, maal gal suhave

Chapal charan, Manmohan Yamuna tat aave

Madhur, madhur murli adhar, ang peet dhaari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Hey Kripalu naam tero sun ke neer aaye

Beri-beri itni der Shyam kyu lagaayi?

Janam-janam baat dekhu, naath, mai tihari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari

Hey Govind, hey Gopal, Krishna hey Murari

Hey dayal, Nand laal, paap-taap haari..."

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Translation:

O Govind! O Gopal! Krishna, O Murari! (All names of Krishna)
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

There is no one like you, who can be a lord like you?
No bigger sinner than me, no one else
Thus, I submit to you, O saviour of souls
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

Lotus-eyed, sweet natured, garland adorned
With swift feet, Manmohan, come near Yamuna
The sweet, sweet flute on lips, yellow attired
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

O kind lord, hearing your name I cry
Why do you delay again, Shyam?
I have been waiting for you all through my lives
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

O Govind! O Gopal! Krishna, O Murari!
O kind lord, the son of Nand, redeemer of our sins

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Source for name of composer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKPvw1YtpCg