Amba Shambavi

 This is a song that I have been wanting to learn for so long. Finally learnt it but unfortunately need a lot of practice for it. 

This is a condensed version of the Rajarajeswari Ashtakam with few chosen lines. 

ambā śāmbhavi chandramauḻi abalā' (a)parṇā umā pārvatī

Amba - Mother
Shambavi - Wife of Shambu (Shiva) 
Chandramauli - the one who wears the crescent(mauli) of the moon(chandra

Abala - lady Aparna - The one who penanced for shiva without even eating a leaf

Uma - Name of parvati (usually indicating splendour)

Parvati - Daughter of the mountain (parvata)

kāḻī haimavatī śivā trinayanī kātyāyanī bhairavī

Kali - The dark one
Haimavati - daughter of Himavan (the mountain king)
Shivaa - The feminine of Shiva 
trinayani - The wife of the one with three eyes
katyayani - The daughter of Rishi Katyanana
Bhairavi - wife of Bhairava (Shiva)

ambā mōhini dēvatā tribhuvanī ānandasandāyinī

Mohini - the mesmerising one
Devata tribhuvani - The goddess of the 3 worlds
Anandasandhayini - The one who gives us all happiness

vāṇī pallavapāṇi vēṇumuraḻīgānapriyā lōlinī

Vani - one with beautiful speech
pallava pani - with slender hands
Venumurali - bamboo flute
ganapriya lolini - who enjoys the music 

ambā nūpuraratnakaṅkaṇadharī kēyūrahārāvaḻī

ratna - gems
nupura - anklet

kankana - bangles

keyura - armband

haravali - wearing necklace

You wear all the ornaments studded with gems

jātīchampakavaijayantilaharī graivēyakairājitā

You are adorned with garlands (graiveya) of jasmine(jati) champa and vaijayanthi (pearl like flowers).

vīṇāvēṇuvinōdamaṇḍitakarā vīrāsanēsaṃsthitā

You play the veena and the venu(flute). You sit in virasana (a pretty difficult yoga pose putting your hips between your feet. You often see very small kids sit in this position very casually). It could also refer to her sitting on the lion which denotes bravery(veera) and lion is the vahana of her

chidrūpī paradēvatā bhagavatī śrīrājarājēśvarī 

The one who's form is of consciousness, goddess of godesses, Sri rajarajeswari (the empress of all emperors). 

Maha kali Maha shakti - Gowlai

Happy Navarathri to all. It gives me great pleasure in writing the lyrics and meanings for this beautiful composition by Shri Madurai R Muralidharan. 

 Viruttam

akila bhuvananum kaathidum ambike

The goddess (ambike) who protects (kaathidum) all (akila) the world(bhuvanamum)

aanandhavalliye

The goddess of happiness (aanandha)

adhisayam nidham nidham nigazhthidum annaiye 

the Mother (annaiye) who performs (nigazhthidum) miracles (adhisayam) every day (nidham nidham)

aadhiparasakthiye

The primary (adhi) Powerful Goddess (parashakthi)

ambalavaananin agamadhu nirandhavale

The one who fills (niraindhavale) the heart (agamadhu) of the lord of the temple (ambalavaanan) (aka Shiva)

angayar kanniye

The fish-eyed one (angayar kanni)

aagamam aanavale

the one who embodies ancient traditions (aagamam)

arumperum karunai purindhu ennai aadharitharul tharum amma

The Mother (amma) who bestows (purindhu) The rarest (arumperum) compassion (karunai) and supports (aadharithu) and blesses me (arul tharum).

unnadi malar panindhen arul mazhai pozhivaai

I pray (panindhen) your floral feet (unnadi malar), shower (pozhivaai) your rain (mazhai) of blessing (arul)

Pallavi

Mahakali Mahashakthi Maheswari

Mahishasura mardhini

The slayer of mahishasura

Madhiyadhu thelivura manamadhu oli pera

To clear (thelivura) my mind (madhiyadhu), to brighten (oli pera) my heart (manamadhu)

adhisaya sugam pera arul mazhai pozhivaai

to obtain miraculous (adhisaya) joy (sugam), shower(pozhivaai) your blessings (arul)

Anupallavi

Mahadevan magizh devi mangala roopini

The goddess (devi) who brings happiness (magizh) to mahadevan (shiva), whose form(roopini) is auspicious (mangala).

madhusudhanan sodhari

The sister(sodhari) of the slayer of madhu (a demon) (Parvati is considered a sister of Krishna/vishnu)

mahamaaye maha durge  maha lakshmi maha saraswathi

madhiyadhu (...)

Charanam

Aakamai niraindha sakthiye 

The power filled(niraindha) as creation (aakamai)

ookamai uraindha sakthiye

The power sustained (uraindha) as encouragement (ookamai)

nokkamai valarndha sakthiye

the power that grew (valarndha) as an aim (nokkamai)

kakka vaa kadamba vana vasiye

Come protect me (kakka vaa) the one who lives in (vasiye) the forest of Kadamba (kadamba vana)

Asamyukta Hasta Vinoyoga Slokas

Asamyukta hasta are hand gestures that you learn as a beginner. Asamyukta - not joined Hasta - hands. As the name suggests these are hand gestures with one hand. Note however that you may still be using gestures on both hands, either same or different but the gesture itself uses only one hand.
There are a total of 28 Asamyukta hastas.

A shloka specifies what these are

"Pathakas Tripathako Ardhapathakas Kartharimukhaha

Mayoorakhyo Ardhachandrascha Araala Shukathundakaha

Mushtischa Shikharakhyascha Kapitha Katakhamukhaha

Suchi Chandrakhala Padmakosha Sarparhirasthathaa

Mrigashirsha Simhamukhaha Kaangoolascha Alapadmakaha

Chaturo Bhramaraschaiva Hamsasyo Hamsapakshakaha

Samdamsho Mukulaschaiva Thaamrachoodas Trisoolakaha

Ithyaasamyukta Hastanam Ashtavimshati reerita”

This is a new paragraph

Kaa Va Va

Kaa vaa Vaa Ragam: Varaali Talam: Aadi Composer: Papanasam Sivan 

My last post was from 2017.  I am sorry I haven't been keeping up with this blog but encouragingly, I keep getting Google updates about how many people this blog is actually helping. There are many visitors (ahem, well at least more than what I expected anyway) who come here for lyrics, meanings, explanations. I am grateful for all the support. Your comments keep me going so keep 'em coming.

This is almost I would say a masterpiece by a masterful composer in a very beautiful ragam called Varaali. Varaali has a bad rep of destroying student-teacher relation so it's never "taught" by the teacher. (Or at least that's what I was told as a kid). But it is a beautiful ragam nonetheless. More on it in my music blog. Let's focus on the dance.

First Lyrics. Meanings will follow shortly.


Pallavi

kA vA vA kandA vA vA enaik-kA vA vElAvA pazhani malai uraiyum muru-


Anupallavi

dEvAdi dEvan maganE vA para dEvi maDiyil amarum guhanE vA
vaLLi deyvayAnai maNavALA vA sharavaNabhava parama dayALa SaNmu-

Charanam

AbattiruLara aruLoLi tarum appanE aNNaLE aiyA vA
pApat-tiraL tarum tApam agala varum pazhanNi vaLar karuNai mazhaiyE vA
tApatraya veyil ara nizhal tarum vAn taruvE en kula guruvE vA
shrI padmanAbhan marugA rAmadAsan vaNangum muttayyA viraivODu

Kanna Va Manivanna Va

This is not a song that I learnt personally but some of my classmates did. So writing this for their benefit

(rAgA: kApi)
Pallavi
kaNNA vA maNIvaNNA vA kamala padam vaittuk-kaNantanil nI vA (kaNNA)
Come Kanna, come the beautiful one.  taking steps (vaithu) with your lotus feet (kamala padam) come in a moment - meaning at once (Kanam - moment, thanil -in).

Anupallavi:
taNDai shalangai konjat-tavazhndumE vA tAmaraip-padam vaittut-taLar naDaiyiTTu vA
your anklets & bells (thandai - type of anklet, salangai - bells) tinkling (konja), come crawling. Come toddling with your lotus feet. (talai nadai - toddle)

koNDaik-kuzhalashaiyak-kumarA vA kOvalar tam kulak-kozhundE vA (kaNNA)
Oh Kumara (young one) come with your bun (kondai) and hair (kuzhal) swaying. Oh come the offspring(kula kozhundhe) of the cowherd (kovalar) tribe. 

(rAgA: sAmA)
2: veNNai vizhunduNNum vimalA vA vEdam pugazhppadam vaittingu vA
Oh Vimala (the pure one) who gobbles up butter (vennai vizhundhu unnum), come!!. Come with the steps that have been praised by vedas. Possibly a reference to vamanavataar. 

eNRumen idayattil irundiDa vA paNNishaittingun padam vaittu vA (kaNNA)
Come to reside in my heart(idayattil) always (endrum). Come playing your music and walking/stepping (Pan - music, isaithu-playing, ingu- here un-your).

(rAgA: vasanta)

3: Anirai meittiDum aNNalE vA ATkoLLum daivamE aDi vaittu vA
Oh Pious one (annal) who grazes the cows come, The god (deivame) who rules over me (aatkollum) , come walking (adi vaithu). 

gOpiyar manam kavar kaLvA vA kOlan-kATTa ingu kudittODi vA (kaNNA)
The thief who stole gopi's hearts, come!! Come jumping (kudithodi) to Show your form (kolam kaata) - Can be viswaroopam but doesn't match with kudithodi. 

(rAgA: nIlAmbari)
4: karunkuzhal yashodai kaNmaNI vA aravin siram ninra aDi vaittu vA
Oh apple of the eye (kanmani) of the dark haired yasodha (karunguzhal) come. The one who stood on snake (aravam) 's head (siram), come with walking - refer to kalinga narthana.

irunAn kezhutturai iraivA vA iDaragaTrum tirup-padam vaittu vA (kaNNA)

(rAgA: suarTi)
5: Alilait-tuyilum azhagA va ArvamAic-cuvaikkum aDi vaittu vA
Come oh beautiful one that sleeps on banyan leaf. I don't necessarily know why there is a connection between banyan leave and krishna but aalilai krishnan refers to the really infant krishna. The one who sucks/tastes his big toe interestingly (aarvamai) - aalilai krishna is usually depicted sucking his big toe. 
mUvulaginukkum mudalvA vA muktiyaLikkum malar padam vaittu vA (kaNNA)
The leader of all 3 worlds (moovulaginukkum) come, Come the flower feeted one who gives moksha (absolution)

Orkut memories - Anname

During a recent search google suddenly threw this gem at me.
http://orkut.google.com/c77622-t9d038d4a4251976c.html

Apparently I wrote lyrical meanings for Anname Aruginil va in an orkut forum as early as 26 Jan 2011. To be honest I have no recollection of doing so :) Ahh... how much I miss the Orkut communities. 

Muruganin Marupeyar - Behaag

Ragam: Behag
Thalam: Kanda chapu

This week became a behaag vaaram (or at least behag day) at the dance class. Since we learnt this piece in the first class and a tanjore quartet thillana in behaag in a subsequent class.

Behaag means to be pleasing in Afrikaans (wow I did NOT know that until I started writing this post). quite aptly named I must say. Behaag is indeed a very pleasing and soothing ragam. It's a janya of the 29th Melakartha Sankarabharanam with prathi madhyamam as a anyaswaram in the avarohanam. More about this enchanting raga in my music page maybe later.

This piece though a krithi is being done as a kavadi chindu. It's an interesting choice for kavadi chindu since most kavadi chindu that I have come across have upbeat music and very layman lyrics. None of the wordplay that you see in padams. This makes kavadi chindu reach the masses quite easily and the upbeat music adds to its charm. Another usual characteristic of kavadi chindu is also that it usually is not divided into the usual pallavi anupallavi charanam pattern. This one, however, is different. It does have clear pallavi, anupallavi and charanam. Tries a little more lyrical language while still being simple and is usually sung in vilambitha kalam or slow speed.

Now for the lyrics

Pallavi

Muruganin Marupeyar azhagu
Andha muruvalil mayangudhu ulagu

The other (maru) name (peyar) of Lord Muruga is beauty(azhagu)
In that (andha) smile (muruvalil), the world (ulagu) stands mesmerized (mayangudhu)

Anupallavi

Kulumaikku avan oru nilavu
Nee kumara ena solli pazhagu

He (avan) is a (oru) moon exuding coolness (kulumai)
You (nee) should practice (pazhagu) saying (solli) the name Kumara.

Charanam

Vedhangal kooridum oliye
Uyar velodu vilayadum ezhile
thuraviyum virumbiya thurave
Nee thuraviyai ninritta thiruve

The light (oliye) that is described(kooridum) in the vedhas.
Editorial Note: I see this line as being interpreted in two ways. The light is described in the vedas or the light that described the vedas. Incidentally both seem appropriate The light (referring to Lord Muruga here) described the vedas - this could refer to Lord muruga describing the primordial sound of Om to his dad Lord Shiva.

High (uyar) spear (vel) wielding/sporting (vilayadum) beauty(ezhile). You are the beauty that plays with the high spear.
The renounce (thuravu) that even the renouncers(thuravi - one who renounces) desire(virumbum). You are desired by even those who have renounced everything.
You (need) are the wealth (thiruve) that had stood (ninritta) as an ascetic(thuraviyai). This refers to the story where Muruga gets angry with his parents for not giving him the mango and goes and stands as an ascetic in the palani hills.

Simple lyrics, musically pleasing.
How can any post for dance be complete without a discussion of the tala. This is set to kanda chapu. kanda meaning 5. Each line covers 4 avartanams making it a grand total of 20 akshara kalas