Kanjadalayadakshi – Kamalamanohari
This is a beautiful song in praise of the Goddess Kamakshi. I also love it because of other reasons.
This was a song that I learnt in a jiffy. It so happened that my music teacher’s husband (who is a singer himself) was free one of the days when I went for the class. So he said he would take class for us that day. He started off with a new song wich was Kanjadalayadakshi. It was the first time in my life that I actually dint learn one line more than once and still caught up the complete song. I learnt the song in one class….and also learnt it well.
The raagam itself was also very appealing to me. So this song is special to me.
You can listen to Bombay Jayashree sing it at http://ww.smashits.com/music/carnatic/play/songs/7050/POPULAR-DEVI-KRITHIS/64540/KANCHADALAYADAKSHI.html
The ragam is the same as Shankaramabhirami (post can be read at http://allyouwannaknow.net/musicandme/2009/08/31/shankaram-abhirami-kamalamanohari/)
Song: Kanjadalayadakshi
Ragam: Kamalamanohari
Aa: S G3 M1 P N3 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M1 G3 S
Parent ragam: Sarasangi (27th melakartha)
Talam: Aadi
Language: Sanskrit
Composer: Muthswamy Dikshitar
Lyrics (from karnatik.com)
pallavi
kanjadaLAyatAkSi kAmAkSi kamalAmanOhari tripurasundari
anupallavi
kunjaragamanE maNimaNDita manjuLacaranE mAmavashiva panjarashuki paNkajamukhi guruguha ranjani duritabhanjani niranjani
caraNam
rAkA shashivadanE suradanE rakSitamadanE ratnasadanE shrIkAncana vasanE surasanE
shRNgArAshraya mandahasanE EkAnEkAkSari bhuvanEshvari EkAnandAmRtahari bhAsvari EkAgramanOlayakari shrIkari EkAmrEsha gRhEshvari shaNkari
MEANING:
O KAMAKSHI! One who has large eyes (“akshi”) like lotus (“kancha”) petals (“dalaya”), the dear one (“manohari”) to goddess LAKSHMI (“kamala”). You are the Tripura Sundari!
Her gait (“gamane”) is majestic like that of an elephant (“kuchera”) and her feet (“manjula charane”) are adorned (“manditha”) with gems (“mani”). She is the parrot (“sukhi”) held in the cage (“panchara”) of the form of SIVA. She is the lotus-eyed (“pankaja mukhi”) one, delights (“ranjani”) Guruguha and destroys (“bhanjani”) all afflictions (“duritha”). She is the spotless one (“Niranjani”).
Her face (“vadane”) is radiant like that of an autumnal (“raka”) full moon (“sashi”) and she has beautiful (“su”) teeth (“radhane”). The protector (“rakshita”) of Cupid (“Madane”). She presides over the gemset (“rathna”) palace (“sadane”), adorned in golden raiment. She speaks mellifluously and sports a gentle (“manda”) smile (“hasane”) full of love (“sringaaraashraya”). She is of the form of single (“eka”) as well as many (“aneka”) mystic syllables (“akshari”). The goddess of this world (“bhuvaneshwari”), the ever flowing (“eka”) stream of bliss (“ananda amrutha”), the lustrous one (“Bhaswari”), she attaches herself (“hari”) to those who worship her with steadfast devotion (“Ekaagra Manolaya”) . She is the bestower of prosperity (“srikari”) and illumines the abode (“gruheshwari”) of EKAMRANATHA. She is goddess SHANKARI
You can find the swaram notations at http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/kanchadalayatakshi.htm
