Hari Tum Haro

"Hari Tum Haro" is one of the greatest songs written by Mirabhai. Lets see what Wikipedia says about this song:

"Hari Tuma Haro is an Indian bhajan or devotional song by Mirabai, the poet saint. Mahatma Gandhi reported this song to be his favorite. Gandhi once expressed the wish to hear M S Subbulakshmi sing the song. Subbulakshmi answered that she had not practiced the song. Gandhi replied that he would rather hear her speak the Hari Tuma Haro than hear someone else sing it. Feeling obliged, Subbulakshmi recorded the song and had the record delivered to Gandhi on his 78th birthday. After Gandhi's assassination, radio stations played Subbulakshmi's recording of Hari Tuma Haro repeatedly after announcing the death of Gandhi." [ Taken from Wikipedia ]

It is a very nice and pleasant song. It is available in Youtube and also in the Lan (for IITM students). One should surely try listening to it if one likes slow songs. Here are the lyrics and their translation:

*hari tum haro jana ki pīr
(O Hari(Krishna), end the human suffering)

draupadī kī lāj rākhī tum badhāyo cīr
(By lengthening Draupadi's garment,
thou hast saved her from disrobement)

bhakta kārana rūpa narahari dharyo āp śarīr
(Thou wearest the human cloak (through avatarhood) to protect your devotees)

hiranyakaśyapa mār līnho dharyo nāhina dhīr
Thou hast slayed (asura) Hiranyakasipu in thy fiercest form (Narashimha or Man-Lion)

būdate gaja rāja rākhyo kiyo bāhar nīr
(Thou hast recused Gajaraj (cf. Gajendra Moksha), by taking him out of the water.)

dāsi mīrā lāl giradhar
(O Lord Giridhara, sings thy servitor, Mira)

Another meera song, which is very good is enadhu uLLame.

Maakelaraa Vichaaramu - Raga Ravi Chandrika

This is one of the most beautiful songs written by Tyagaraja ji. Beauty lies not only in the raaga, but also in the lyrics. I love his songs mostly for their inner meaning. None of these modern day songs can come near to them.

This song, "Maakelera vicharamu", explains why we should not worry at all. Tyagaraja follows the principle of "bhakti". If you are good "bhakta", lord will always help you. Being a "bhakta" means to love the god and indirectly everything he creates and bestows to us.

Here goes the translation, copied from a good blog:

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pallavi:
mAku-ElarA vicAramu
maruku-anna SrI rAma candra

mAku-to us; ElarA - why should we; vichAramu - worry; marukanna-gave birth to maruku(Cupid); SrI rAma chandra - O rama chandra;

O Lord SrI rAma candra, Father (anna) of Cupid (maruku) (marukanna)! Why (ElarA) should we (mAku) (literally for us) (mAkElarA) worry (vicAramu)?

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anupallavi
sAkEta rAja kumAra
sad-bhakta mandAra SrI kara (mAkEla)

sAkEta - ayOdya; rAja kumAra - son of Dasaratha; sath+bhakta - true devotees; mandAra - the great mandAra tree which gives wishes; SrI - Lakhmi; kara - bestower;

O Prince (rAja kumAra) of ayOdhya (sAketa)! O Wish Tree (mandAra) of true (sad) devotees (bhakta)! O bestower (kara) prosperity (SrI)!
O Lord SrI rAma candra, Father of Cupid! Why should we worry?

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caraNam
jata kUrci nATaka sUtramunu
jagamu-ella meccaga karamunanu-iDi
gati tappaka ADincedavu sumI
nata tyAgarAja giri-ISa vinuta (mAkEla)

jata kUrchi - group together; nAtaka - related to drama; sUtramunu - strings (like mangala sutram(u) :P); jagamella mecchaga - praised by everybody in the world; karamunanu iDi - hold with your hands; gati - order; tappaka - without missing; ADincedavu - play; sumI - isn't it true?; nata tyagaraja - saluted by tyagaraja(not sure :)); giri+isha - Lord Shiva; vinuta - praised;

Having harmonised (jata kUrci) (various elements of the drama) and holding (iDi) the strings (sUtramunu) (of the puppets) of the drama (nATaka) (of Universe) in your hands (karamunanu) (karamunaniDi),
to the appreciation (meccaga) of the whole (ella) Universe (jagamu) (jagamella),
You make us (Or the Universe) dance (ADincedavu) without missing (tappaka) even a single beat (gati), isn't it (sumI)!
O Lord saluted (nata) by this tyAgarAja and praised (vinuta) by Siva – Lord (ISa) of Mountains (giri) (girISa)!
O Lord SrI rAma candra, Father of Cupid! Why should we worry?

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The song really gives you strength and power to do anything. You don't need to worry about anything if you follow dharma and pray him. I don't care writing this entry even if my eyes are not well... Why should I worry? He is there! [ That doesn't means I stop taking medicines and just pray. We should also follow our dharma ]

References:
http://thyagaraja-vaibhavam.blogspot.com/2008/02/thyagaraja-kriti-maakelaraa-vichaaramu.html

Heccharikagaa rara He rama chandra

I decline myself from writing anything other songs. May be I will revive later. But for now, I don't feel good and don't want to spread the sadness disease. These songs are miraculous. They magically bring out the hidden happiness.
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హెచ్చరికగా రారా హే రామ చంద్ర
హెచ్చరికగా రారా హే సుగుణ సాంద్ర

పచ్చ విల్తునికన్న పాలిత సురేంద్ర (హెచ్చరిక)

నిను జూడ వచ్చు భగిని కరంబు చిలుక
మనసు రంజిల్ల నీ మహిమలను పలుక
మిను వాసులెల్ల విరులను చాల జిలుక
ఘన త్యాగరాజు కనుగొన ముద్దు గులుక (హెచ్చరిక)

हॆच्चरिकगा रारा हे राम चन्द्र
हॆच्चरिकगा रारा हे सुगुण सान्द्र

पच्च विल्तुनि(क)न्न पालित सु(रे)न्द्र (हॆच्चरिक)

निनु जूड वच्चु भगिनि करम्बु चिलुक
मनसु रञ्जिल्ल नी महिमलनु पलुक
मिनु वासु(लॆ)ल्ल विरुलनु चाल जिलुक
घन त्यागराजु कनुगॊन मुद्दु गुलुक (हॆच्चरिक)
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Meaning:
Pallavi: heccarikagA rArA...
It asks lord rama, brimming with virtues(suguna sandra), to come(=rArA) slowly and cautiously(=heccarikaga) so that Tyagaraja may behold him.

Anupallavi: pacca viltunik(a)nna...
O father of cupid, who hold sugarcane bow(paccha(resembles sugarcane) viltuniki anna). O Protector (pAlita) of Lord (indra) of celestials (sura)!

Charanam: ninu jUDa vaccu bhagini karambu ciluka...
The parrot in the hands of your sister parvathi, comes to see you. It speaks of your great might, leading to the exultation of your devotees' minds. As the angels shower flowers, your charm increases greatly. Finally, once again, O rama! come cautiously so that Tyagaraja may find you.
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It is interesting to know that it is Rama's sister(Parvathi Devi) who cursed him to become a man and face all those troubles. This is when Mr Ravana takes away Parvathi from Shiva :) She gets angry and curses Mr Vishnu. You know why? Vishnu ji tells Parvathi that Ravana will come and ask for Shiva and she'll be left alone. So Parvathi goes along with Shiva to Ravana to stop that. And the twist is that instead of Shiva, she gets booked :). Ravana sees Parvathi and all of sudden, changes his mind and asks Shiva to give her :)
And hence it is interesting to know that she likes to know about her brother.

This is how a good relation will be. In case of a mistake, one will quickly understand the other and forgive them. If Parvathi and Vishnu stick to their guns, there will be nothing other than the world's destruction. Now a days, many people lack understanding. They quickly give up saying "you are not my type", etc. I strongly believe that humans are all equal and there is no difference between two good persons. In their heart, they are the same, they fight for the same good. Comparing external features is just meaningless.

I learned about the above things from the movie BhooKailas, an awesome, superb, excellent movie. It is one of my most favorite movies.

Good bye to all,
Kashyap

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The translation is taken from this link.

Vathapi Ganapathim Bhajeham

This is a really great song. I wanted to understand it. Just singing it doesn't make sense. Here goes the lyrics and the meanings of the individual words.

Vathapi Ganapathim Bhajeham

Vaaranaasyam Vara Pradham Sri

Words meaning:

Vathapi - place where Mr Ganesha is born; Ganapathim (trutiya vibhakti in sanskrit) - ganesh ji - our hero; Bhaje+aham - worship , me; Vaara + haasyam - elephant, smiling face; Vara - vows; Pradham - gives (actually "showers"); Sri - symbol used to show token of respect;

Order:

aham vatapi ganapathim bhaje | haasyam vaaram | Sri vara pradam

Bhoothaadhi Samsevitha Charanam

Bhootha Bhautika Prapancha Bharanam

Words meaning:

Bhootha+adhi - elements of nature + others; Samsevitha - together(sam ?) worship(sevita); Charanam - feet; Bhootha - elements; Bhautika -world Prapancha - five ?; Bharanam - pervades;

Order:

bhootadi samsevita charanam | bhautike prapancha bhoota bharanam |

Veetharaaginam Vinutha Yoginam

Vishwakaaranam Vigna Vaaranam

Words meaning:

Veetha - desires; raaginam - transcends; Vinutha - revere; Yoginam - by sages;

Vishwakaaranam - cause of the world; Vigna - obstacles; Vaaranam - obliterate ;

Order:

raaginam veeta | yoginam vinuta | karanam vishwayoho | vignaam vaarana |

Puraa Kumbha Sambhava Munivara Prapoojitham Trikona Madhyagatham

Muraari Pramukhaadhyupaasitham Moolaadhaara Kshetrasthitham

Paraadhi Chathvaari Vaagaathmakam Pranava Swaroopa Vakrathundam

Nirantharam Nithila Chandrakandam Nijavaamakara Vidhrutekshu Dandam

Words meaning:

Puraa -water; Kumbha -pitcher ; Sambhava - born out of; Munivara - sage; Prapoojitham - first worshipped;

Trikona - some magical triangle (no clue what this is); Madhyagatham - stays in the middle; Muraari - Vishnu - the great; Pramukhaadi + upaasitham - important people like him(vishnu)+ meditated;

Moolaadhaara - important deity; Kshetra+sthitham - religious places + stays;

Para+adhi - ragas like Para; Chathvaari - the four; Vaagaa + athmakam - sound + form;

Pranava - some sitting state; Swaroopa - form; Vakrathundam - twisted trunk;

Nirantharam - always; Nithila -bears; Chandra+ gandam - moon + forehead; Nija+vaama+kara - left hand; Vidhruta + ikshu - xxx+sugar; Dandam - stick;

Order:

Puraa kumbha sambhava (agastya) munivara prapoojitam | Trikona madhyagatam | Muraari Pramukha adhi upaasitham | Moolaadhaara Kshetrasthitham | athmakam Para adhi Chathvaari Vaagayoho |Vakra thundam Swaroopa Pranava | Nirantharam Nithila Chandra gandam | Vidhruta ikshu Dandam Nijavaamakare |

Karaambujapaasha Beejaapooram Kalushavidooram Bhoothaakaaram

Haraadhi Guruguha Toshitha Bimbam Hamsadhwani Bhooshitha Herambham

Words meaning:

Kara+ambuja+paasha - hand + lotus + noose; Beejaapooram - goad and fruits; Kalusha+vi dooram -evil + drives away ; Bhoothaakaaram - gigantic, huge form;

Hara+adhi - hara and others; Guruguha - guruguha; Toshitha - adored; Bimbam - face;

Hamsadhwani - hamsadwani raga; Bhooshitha - adorned; Herambham - Vinayaka;

Order: ambuja kare paasham , beejaapooram | Bhoothakaaram kalusham vi dooram | Guruguha hara adhi Toshitha bimbam | bhooshitham hamsadhwanaye Herambham |

Aah, how beautiful the lyrics are. Ganesh ji should fall straight to this flattery :P.

Please listen to this song, if you have access to it. ( You can always ask me if you don't). Also it is in Sanskrit, the easiest language :)

@insti junta: search for "vathapi ganapathim MS" in the lan [size:11.4 Mb].

References:

http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/homepages/shivkuma/music/vatapi.htm

http://nadhasudharasa.blogspot.com/2007/01/vathapi-ganapathim-bhajeham.html

मम प्रार्थना

हे राम ! मयि दयस्व | मम प्रार्थनाम् शृनु | भवान् विना अस्मिन् लोके अन्धुः एव अहम् | तस्मात् कारणेन मम सह वसेत् | एतानि मम इच्छानि (आंग्ल भाषायां अलिखत् ) | क्रूपया पूरयतु |

• Never let my boastful nature take over. Let me be your humble servant.
• Never let me hurt others by speaking or talking stupidly.
• Give me the strength to work hard, to control my feelings like hate, love, etc.
• Give me good friends and take bad ones away from me.
• Above all, be with me all the time. That's more than anything to me.

O rAjiva lOchana rama ! raghuvara ! sitapathe ! dHaranija manohara ! pavanajapta ! JagamelE paramatma ! dasaratHi ! nisachara vinasakara ! shyamala ! komala ! kOdanda pani ! Sri vasudeva ! naa mOra vinarada ?

nIve nA vibhudani niratamu nI padamulanu nera nammitini. nee vadanu nanu karuninchina ee vela naa cheyi vidavaku ra..deva deva dasaratha nrupanandana , dasamukhadi sakala ripu gana harana.

[ check the previous entry ra ra rajiva lochana for more info ]

raa raa rajiva locana rama nannu brocutaku

I want to exclusively have some posts on bhakti songs. If you are not interested in these songs or any of these religious stuff, then this blog is temporarily closed for you. I want to have freedom on what I post. I do not want to write attractive or funny posts, to gain fans.

rA rA rAjIva lOcana rAma nannu brOcutaku
[ra ra - come, nannu brocutaku - to help me, shritajana mandara - greater helper for the poor, karuna - mercy ]
Meaning:Oh Rama ! please come and help me.
Almost every song has this meaning, in some way or the other.

Era nI karuNa galgani kAraNamEmO gAnarA mArAri vinuta
shubada sucarita parAtpara dharaNija manOhara
[ era - why ?, ni(your) karuna(mercy) galgani(can't get) karanamemo (what might be the reason) - why can't I have your mercy ....]

These are the most beautiful lines of the song. Oh rama, why can't I get your mercy ? It considers ramaha as a friend and asks him why don't you shower mercy on me. The ultimate realization comes when you find god in yourself.

nIvE nA vibhuDani niratamu nI padamulanu neranammiti
nIvAdani nannu karuNinci I vELa nAcai viDuvakura
dEva dEva dasharatha nrupa nandana dashamukhAdi sakala
ripuguNa haraNa nIvanAdharaNa sEyakurA pavanajApta shrI vAsudEva
[nivE- you, vibhudani - taken as god, niratamu - always, nI - your, padamulanu- your feet, neranammiti - I always prayed your feet, nIvadani - your person, nannu - me, karuninci - show mercy, ee (I) - now, vELa - time, nAcai - my hand, viDuvakura - don't leave...]

I don't know how to convey music through writing. But if you were to listen to these lines, you will be sound struck by the sweetness of the song.
Meaning:Oh rama, you are my god. I always believed in you. I am your friend. Please help me. Don't leave my hand now. Oh deva deva.

Sometimes when you listen to these songs, you feel like you are talking to your best friend. As you believe in your friends, you too start believing in this imaginary friend. Nothing ever bothers you. Life goes peacefully.

So simple are the lryics and they are splendidly sung. And hence they always attracted me.

Nagumomu Ganaleni Naajaali

Nagumomu Ganaleni Naajaali Delisi

Nannu Brova Raa Raadaa ? Sri Raghuvara! Ni

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[Nagumomu=smile-lit face, Ganaleni=can't see/imagine, Naajaali=my difficulty, Nannu=me, Brova=protect, Raa Raadaa=why not come]

Meaning:How difficult it is to imagine your charming smile-lit face ? O Sri Raghuvara ! please come and help me.

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It is so difficult to ever think of the face of god. With so many lewd stuff, is it ever possible to imagine the beautiful faces of the Sita and Ram ?

If you are attracted by a person's beauty, is it possible to come out of his/her dreams ?

If you like a sexy hero/heroine, won't you put his/her face in every damn place ?(Walls, desktops, orkut, facebook, ...) Given that you have the least chance to meet him/her ever.

Finally, if you are ever attracted by sex, is it ever possible to think anything else ?

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Jagamele Paramaatma! Evarito Moralidudu
Vagajupagu Taalanu Nannelukora Tyagarajanutani
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[Jagam ele=one who is ruling the world, Paramaatma=great soul, Evarito = To whom, Moralidudu=should i tell my grievances, Vaaga chupaku=don't show disregard, Taalanu=can't bear, Nannelukora=rule me, Tyagaraja anuta=one who is followed by Tyagaraja]

Meaning: O ruler of the world ! Parama Aatma ! Whom can I appeal to ? Please shun disregard. I cant bear it. Take me into your fold.

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O lord ! You are the only one who can help me. Please help me by virtually ruling me. Help me in overcoming my worldly desires.

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Links: Nagumomu

[Time taken: 25 min]

UrakE galguna rAmuni bhakti ?

I have decided to write small blog entries. A big post takes a lot of time and I can't devote so much time now. Assume that my blog is the outcome of my happiness, when it overflows :P

Here is the song which made me so happy:
"UrakE galguna rAmuni bhakti", which means "will you get the bakthi of Rama (devotion to Rama), just like that, for free ?" [Urake - for free; galguna - will you get]

What a weird question ? People often think of getting good jobs, girl/boy friends, etc. But for a person, to whom everything in this world is filled with the single word "Rama", it is a good question. He might be thinking why would not others become devotees of Rama. The person here is the great TyagaRaju.

Following is the conclusion which he comes to:

"sArekunu samsAramuna jocci, sAramani encu vAri manasuna, UrakE kalgunA rAmuni bhakti?"

Would devotion to Rama arise in those minds, who are ever immersed in Worldly life, thinking that it's real.
[ sArekunu - ever, samsAramuna - worldly life, jocci - immersed, saramu - substance, ani - think, enuchu - consider, vAri - in those, manasuna - minds ]

"rAjasa guNa yukta pUjalanu onarincaka, tyAgarAjuni jihvapai rAjillu, vara mantra rAjamunu sadA japincu maharAjulaku gAka, UrakE kalgunA rAmuni bhakti?"

Would devotion towards SrI rAma arise spontaneously excepting for those great people who, instead of performing desire-oriented worships, ever chant the tAraka nAma – the king of all sacred syllables - shining in the tongue of this tyAgarAja? [ copied from another site, no time to give my own interpretation ]

Great thinking, isn't it.

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Links:
Link 1 & Link 2