Music and Me

Sri Maha ganapati

Sri maha ganapati was one of the long carnatic songs that had impressed me a lot. My teahcer somehow never taught me that for a long time. My sis and I used to listen to others sing it. It was a different kind of song. It has a unique chittaswaram….which was what attracted us most to it.
I learnt it finally after a very long time. I cherish it till today.
Details of the song are as follows:
Ragam: Gowla
Talam: Misra Chapu
Mutthuswami Dikshitar

The ragam Gowla is something that I have started to like. The same as that of the pancharatna krithi…..dhudukugala…..Another song I love…

Before going to the full details of the song….lets look into the ragam a little.
Its a Janya raagam…that is…it is not a parent raagam. It has been derived from another raagam which is mayamalavagowla (15 melakartha).
Aa: S R1 M1 P N3 S
Av: S N3 P M1 R1 G3 M1 R1 S
It is an upanga raagam.
A upanga raga is a janya raga that only takes swaras belonging to its parent

I have discussed earlier about bhashanga raagam.A bhashanga raga is a janya raga that takes both swaras belonging to its parent and also one or two foreign swaras

For more deep info on raagams one can visit http://www.ipnatlanta.net/camaga/vidyarthi/Carnatic_Basics/Raga.htm

Lyrics of the song are as follows (from http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/homepages/shivkuma/music/srimahaganapathi.pdf)
Pallavi:
Shri Mahaa Ganapatiravatu Maam Siddhi Vinaayako Maatanga Mukha
Anupallavi:
Kaama Janaka Vidheendra Sannuta Kamalaalaya Tathanivaaso
Komalatara Pallavapada Kara Guruguhaagrajah Shivaatmajah
Charanam:
Suvarnaakarshana Vighnaraajo Paadaambujo
Gaura Varna Vasana Dharo Phaalachandro Naraadivinuta Lambodaro Kuvalaya Svavishaanaa Paashaankushamodaka Prakaashakaro Bhavajaladhinaavo
Moolaprakruti Svabhaavas Sukhataro Ravisahasra Sannibhadeho
Kavijananuta Mooshikavaaho Avanata Devataasamuho Avinaasha Kaivalya Deho

Meaning:

Pallavi:
May He protect ("ravatu") me ("maam"), the Lord Mahaa Ganapathi. He is Siddhi Vinaayaka, the elephant-faced ("maatanga mukha") one.
Anupallavi:
Venerated ("sannutha") by Vishnu ("kaamajanaka" — father of kama:vishnu), Brahma ("vidhi") and Indra ("indra"); He resides ("nivaaso") on the banks ("thata") of the temple-tank KAMALAALAYA; His feet ("pada") and hands ("kara") are beautiful (‘pallava") like the tender ("komala") leaves ("tara"). He is the elder brother ("aagrajah") of Guruguha and the son ("aatmaja") of Shiva.
Charanam:
He is attractive ("aakarshana") like pure gold ("suvarna") and is the remover ("raajo") of impediments ("vigna"). His feet ("pada") are like the lotus ("ambuja") and He is attired ("Vasana Dharo") in white ("gaura") color ("varna"). His forehead ("phaala") is like a cresent moon ("chandro") and He is worshipped ("vinuta") by mankind ("naraadi"). Lambodhara, He holds in His hand ("kuvalaya"), a tusk ("vishaana") of his own ("sva"), a lily, a rope, a goad and a Modaka ("Paashaankushamodaka"). He is the boat ("naavo") that takes us across the ocean ("jaladhi")of Samsaara ("bhava"). He is of the nature of beatitude which is moolaprakruti — primordial nature. His body ("deho") shines ("sannibha") like thousand ("sahasra") suns("ravi"). He has a mouse ("mooshika") as his mount ("vaaho"). Hosts of celestials ("kavijana") worship("nuta") him and He abides in eternal bliss ("Kaivalya Deho")

The notes are as follows:
Pallavi:
S , r M P ; R P M G R S sr rs S
Shri-Ma haa- Gana pa ti- ra va tu- Maam-
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
S , r M P ; rmpn sn pm rg M- R rs S
Shri-Ma haa- Ga-na- pa- ti- ra va tu- Maam-

S ; S S sn P rs R ; ; R – m g m -r s n
Si- ddhi Vi-naa- – ya- ko- – Maa- tan – ga Mu kha-
rs pm np snpm rmpn sn pm rg M- R rs S
Shri-Ma haa- Ga-na- pa- ti- ra va tu- Maam-
snsr S S sn P rs R ; sn pm r g m -r s n
Si- -ddhi Vi-naa- – ya- ko- Maa – - tan- ga Mu kha-
S , r M P ; R P M G R S sr rs S
Shri-Ma haa- Gana pa ti- ra va tu- Maam-
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;

Anupallavi:
P ; M R G M – R S ; S sn P R R
Kaa-ma Jana ka – Vi dheen-dra San– nu ta
; , r M P ; N P S S R rs S S ;
Kama laa laya Ta tha ni vaa- – so-
pnsn pm R G M – R S ; S sn P R R
Kaa- ma Jana ka – Vi dheen-dra San– nu ta
; , r M P ; N P S S R rs S S ;
Kama laa laya Ta tha ni vaa- – so-
R p m n p s n s r s r s s ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Komala tara Pal lava pada Kara – - – - – - -
R p m n p s n s r s r s s p s n P p mg – r G r s n
Komala tara Pal lava pada Kara Gurugu haa gra jah Shivaat majah-

Chitta Swaram:
P M G M – R G M R S R S – N S R
P M Dhi mi – R G M Tanaku Jham N S R
S N P P N S R R S – N S R M ;
ki ta tha P N S Ja nu tha N S R M ;
R P M ; – M G M S R S P P M – M
ta ka nam – M G M ta na ta P P M – dhi
N P – M P N P – P M R M P N S R
mi ta – M P N ta – dhi mi tha ri P N S R
S S N P – M P N S – S R rs S R G
ku kunda ku – M P N ta – ki ta jham R G
M R S -N S R- N S R S S S N P
M ta dhi mi tha ri – N S R S ku kun da ku
P N P S N R S R – R G M R S – R
P N P tha dhi mi ta ri – R G M R S – Jham
; S N P – S ; N P M – R G M R S
- ta ri ta S – N P M – ta dhi gi na thom

Charanam:
R, g M R ; pmgm R S sn P P nsrs R ; P ; pmM ; M
Su var- naa kar— sha naVi- gh na raa- – jo Paa- daam – bu
M ; R M P sn P M – P M R – G M ; R ; R S R rsS
jo – Gau – ra Va– rna Va sa na Dha ro – Phaala chan- dro
P R ; S – S R M R M P ; N P ; N P N P ; M P
Naraa di vi nu ta Lam- bo – da ro- Kuvala ya Svavi
pmM ; M S R pm gm R S – S ; R rs S S sn P S S R ;
shaa- naa Paa- shaan- – kusha mo – da ka- Prakaa- shaka ro-

S S N P- M P S S ; ; ; ; ; ; N P N P ; M P
Bhavaja la dhi- naa– vo- – - – - – - Kuvala ya Svavi
pmM ; M S R pm gm R S – S ; R rs S S sn P S S R ;
shaa- naa Paa- shaan- – kusha mo – da ka- Prakaa- shaka ro-

S S N P- M P S S ; ; R M P N P P M ; S R ;
Bhavaja la dhi- naa– vo- – - Moo- la – pra kru ti – Sva bhaa
pmgm – R S – sr rs S
va- – - Su kha ta- ro – -

r s – s S s S n p rs R ; ; rs S ; ; ;
Ravi sa has ra Sannibha de-ho – - – - – - – -
r s – s S s S n p rs R r s p m n p p m p n N P
Ravi sa has ra Sannibha de-ho Kavi jana nuta Moo-shika vaa-ho

p n s r -S n P – p rs R r s s n p- p m r g m r r S
Ava nata De vataa sa mu-ho Avinaa- sha Kai- val- ya De-ho
r s – g R s S n p rs R r s p m n p p m p n N P
Ravi sa has ra Sannibha de-ho Kavi jana nuta Moo-shika vaa-ho
p n s s -S n P – p rs R s s s n p- p m r g m r r S
Ava nata De vataa sa mu-ho Avinaa- sha Kai- val- ya De-ho

Chitta Swaram:
p m g m r g m – r s r s – n s r s n p – p n s r r s – n s r M
p m dhi mi r g m – Tanaku Jham – n s r ki ta tha – p n s Ja nu tha – n s r M
r p M – m g m – s r s – p p m – n n p – m p n – p p m r m p n s r
ta ka nam m g m ta na ta p p m dhi mi tha m p n tha dhi mi tha ri p n s r
s s n p – mp n – s s r S – r g m – r s n s r n s r s s s n p
ku kunda ku m p n ta ki ta jham r g m ta dhi mi tha ri n s r s ku kun da ku
p n p – s n r s r – r g m r s – r , s n p – S n p m – r g m r s
p n p tha dhi mi ta ri r g m r s Jham – ta ri ta S n p m ta dhi gi na thom

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