Lyrics of "gange jaya tunga" Song

గఙ్గే - జయ తుఙ్గతరఙ్గే

1. కమల భవాణ్డ కరణ్డ పవిత్రే

బహువిధ బన్ధ చ్ఛేద లవిత్రే || జయ||

2. దూరీకృత జన పాప సమూహే

పూరిత కచ్ఛప గుచ్ఛ గ్రాహే|| జయ||

3. పరమహంస గురు భణిత చరిత్రే

బ్రహ్మవిష్ణుశఙ్కర నుతిపాత్రే|| జయ||

రాగం: సురటి    తాళం: ఆది 

ga~mgae - jaya tu~mgatara~mgae

1. kamala bhavaaNDa karaNDa pavitrae
bahuvidha bandha chChaeda lavitrae || jaya||

2. dooreekRta jana paapa samoohae
poorita kachChapa guchCha graahae|| jaya||

3. paramahaMsa guru bhaNita charitrae
brahmavishNuSa~mkara nutipaatrae|| jaya||

गाङ्गे - जय तुङ्ग तरङ्गे 

कमल भवाण्ड करण्ड पवित्रे 

बहु विध बन्ध च्छेद लवित्रे 

दूरीक्रुत पाप समूहे 

पूरित कच्छप गुच्छ ग्राहे 

परमहंस भणित चरित्रे 

ब्रह्मा विष्णु शंकर नुत पात्रे 

lavitre = sickle

This is a marvelous song on the sacred river Ganges. It describes the holy river in all its glory. Ganges is revered and held in high esteem in the hearts of many. Great civilizations sprouted on the banks of rivers - as water is essential for all living entities man, animal, and plants. Hindus right from little children to the elderly call the river lovingly as "Ganga mai". In Kasi it is a routine to take fresh flowers, turmeric, sindoor, and few coins and offer them to the river. Earlier the flowers and turmeric used to get quickly washed away by the rapid currents of full throated river. And thus no serious pollution would mar the sweet waters of Ganga. Now daily a mechanical skimmer collects all the flowers. 

The Ganges like Niagara Falls needs plenty of snow, rain from above (the skies) to keep it flowing. The Ganges is also a perennial river. In summer the melting snow from Himalayas keeps the river in full spate. In the first stanza, the poet speaks about the origins of Ganga. It started from the holy pitcher of Brahma (the Creator). The river waters are so powerful that they can cut through all the "bindings" (or Karmic entanglements) - all such knotty ropes are cut with a sharp sickle like water wave. One can write volumes about the Ganges or Niagara Falls; but to get a real feel about such marvelous natural bounties one must visit and touch the water. And one has to absorb the enormity of  life giving pure water. Without water (for that matter all the five primal elements like water, air, earth, fire, and sky) life cannot survive on this planet. Many historical famous personalities had (still have) close association with this river - like Trilinga Swamy, Jagannatha Pandita Rayalu, Uma Charan, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Tulasi Das, Dikshitar, and many others. 

"You put away or discard all the accumulated sins of people. Yet you hold the groups of 'turtles' like a flower bouquet." Here the turtle may also refer to Vishnu's avatar (కూర్మా వతారము).   

"Your stories and history is aptly uttered (narrated) by (my) Guru Parama (hamsa) Sivendra. Even the Trimurti Brahma, Vishnu, and Sankara praise you; certainly you deserve the praise of Trimurti." Here is a link to the rendition by Dr. Balamuralikrishna in his unique vibrant voice: Tunga tarange by Dr. Balamurali  Copyright 2024 by the author.

Lyrics of "pibare rama rasam" Song

పిబరే రామరసమ్ 

పిబరే రామరసమ్ - రసనే 

దూరీకృత పాతక సంసర్గం 

పూరిత నానావిధ ఫలవర్గమ్ 

జనన మరణభయ శోకవిదూరం 

సకల శాస్త్ర నిగమాగమ సారమ్ 

పరిపాలిత సరసిజ గర్భాణ్డం

పరమ పవిత్రీకృత పాషణ్డం

శుద్ధ పరమ హంసాశ్రమ (హంస ఆశ్రమ) గీతం 

శుక శౌనక కౌశిక ముఖ పీతమ్ 

पिबरे राम रसम् 

पिबरे राम रसम् - रसने 

दूरीकृत पातक संसर्गम् 

पूरित नानाविध फलवर्गम् 

जनन मरणभय शोक विदूरं  

सकल शास्त्र निगमागम सारम् 

परिपालित सरसिज गर्भाण्डम् 

परम पवित्रीकृत पाषाण्डम् 

शुद्ध परम हंसाश्रम गीतं 

शुक शौनक कौशिक मुख पीतम् 

pibarae raamarasam^ pibarae raamarasam^ - rasanae dooreekRta paataka saMsargaM poorita naanaavidha phalavargam^ janana maraNabhaya SOkavidooraM sakala Saastra nigamaagama saaram^ paripaalita sarasija garbhaaNDaM parama pavitreekRta paashaNDaM Suddha parama haMsaaSrama (haMsa aaSrama) geetaM Suka Saunaka kauSika mukha peetam^

Dr. Balamuralikrishna's rendition

M. S. Subbulakshmi's voice

(How to explain and explore this devotional song? It is not easy to go into its depths. But its simple exhortation to utter Sri Rama's name continuously, incessantly, and without any apparent reason - is enough for any beginner.  We'll look into each phrase carefully later. Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy assured one thing - by invoking his guru's name in each song, he assured "timelessness" to all his compositions. We cannot say who is greater, is it the guru? Or, is the disciple greater than the guru? For us, both are very helpful in our arduous journey. Copyright 2023 by the author) 

Meaning and Import of "sthirata nahi" Song

Translating this classic song into English is not easy. I’ve to search and look around for the right word to communicate correctly what the great composer meant exactly. Foremost I humbly bow to my guru and parents. I offer heaps of tree Jasmine (Millingtonia hortensis) flowers at their feet.

O (hapless) mind! How can you get steadiness? There is no way out of distractions. There is no peace. (No easy way out to get peace in life.) 

1. In the mundane world, we humans will come across three principal sources of despair or anxiety. We cannot easily get over them or avoid them, however best we may try. They’ll singe and sear our hearts. These are: a) afflictions (problems) related to the physical (i.e., biological) corporeal body. b) Problems due to the five (earth, fire, wind, water, and sky) material elements. c) Problems that are caused by fate (karma), curse, or an act of ‘devata’. So, the accumulated pain caused by these three types of “burning fire” is limitless like an ocean. If by mistake we let ourselves (or forced into) into this ocean, then there is no chance for tranquility. In such situations the mind cannot stay alert and be steady; like a lamp in stormy wind it waves and flickers violently. Further what happens if we add two more elements like pride and ego? Now it is impossible for the mind to get any peace or be steady with courage in such terrible situation. Instances like losing a tooth or getting stuck in a tornado/cyclone do happen in real life. Similarly getting involved in crippling road accidents or drowning in fast moving streams is also a fact of life. 

2. Objects enter into our consciousness through sound, touch, form (shape), taste, and smell (olfactory sense). Such objects (or things) wrap around human consciousness (mind) like powerful ropes or (unbreakable) shackles. O mind, how can such people with entanglements have any tranquility? In such circumstances, how can the mind be calm and steady to focus on prayer, meditation, or any worthwhile endeavor?

What is unnatural or perverse wisdom (cleverness)? Mistaking what is real to be false and believing some thing inherently unreal as real – that is indeed strange; the composer is gently hinting us the core problem. Identifying oneself with the physical body and not recognizing the ‘self’ as the real ‘oneself’ – that is the major blunder in our thinking. We also refer the ‘core self’ as ‘atma’. So, with such distorted thinking, how can we ever have any peace in life? How can the mind find any grip and steadiness in its pursuit? How can it focus?

3. Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra’s Swami’s guru was (is) Sri Parama Sivendra Saraswati (1539 – 1586 A.D.). The last stanza says thus: For those who discard (eschew) the yogic path of Paramahamsa Sivendra Swami, there is no respite in life here on the earth. However great they may be, the earthly carnal pleasures (borne out of the senses) are fleeting; there is no permanence to them. We have such powerful stories like Pururuva and Urvasi. Or, consider the story of Ahalya (wife of king Pradyumna) and Indra (from Yoga Vasistham as expounded by Sri Shanmukha Sarma). So, if one is entrapped in such transient pleasures there will not be peace. O mind, be watchful for such missteps and dangerous slippery path. In that path, O mind, you’ll not find peace or steadiness. Listen to the guru’s (here it refers to the afore mentioned esteemed Sri Sivendra Swami of Kanchi Mutt) gentle advice in these difficult complex matters.  (The complete lyrics were given in the previous post here) Copyright 2023 by the author

 

Lyrics of "sthirata nahi nahire" Song

(It is superfluous to say that this is a composition of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy. Earlier I've given here several of his exquisite Sanskrit compositions. Alas, the times are unsettling now all across the world. This song may give peace and steadiness to a wavering, doubting mind. We will look into its profound meaning and import for the sadhaka. This great saint, nay an avadhuta bestowed these great lyrics for our benefit, out of pure compassion. The southern India (particularly the erstwhile composite Telugu and Tamil lands) is blessed to have given birth to such extraordinary humans. Here is a student who excelled the teacher, the guru. Dr. Balamuralikrishna's rendition link: https://youtu.be/EjqBDMc2cAs Dr. Balamuralikrishna's voice )

ధనాసరీ రాగః   ఆది తాళము 

స్ధిరతా నహి నహిరే - మానస

స్థిరతా సహి సహిరే

1. తాపత్రయ సాగర మగ్నానాం

దర్పాహంకార విలగ్నానామ్ ‌||స్థిరతా||

2. విషయపాశ వేష్టిత చిత్తానాం

విపరీతజ్ఞాన విమత్తానామ్ ‌||స్థిరతా||

3. పరమహంసయోగ  విరుద్ధానాం

బహు చఞ్చలతర సుఖ సిద్ధానామ్‌ ||స్థిరతా||

स्थिरता नहि नहिरे - मानस 

1. तापत्रय सागर मग्नानां 

दर्पाहन्कार विलग्नानां 

2. विषय पाश वेष्टित चित्तानां 

विपरीत ज्ञान विमत्तानां 

3. परमहंस योग विरुद्धानां 

बहु चन्चलतर सुख सिद्धानां 

sthirataa nahi nahirae - maanasa

sthirataa sahi sahirae

1. taanatrayasaagara magnaanaaM

darpaahaMkaara vilagnaanaam^|| sthirataa||

2. vishayapaaSa vaeshTita chittaanaaM

vipareetaj~naana vimattaanaam^|| sthirataa||

3. paramahaMsayOgi viruddhaanaaM

bahu cha~nchalatara sukha siddhaanaam^|| sthirataa||

Copyright 2023 by the author

 

Lyrics of "sthirata nahi nahire" Song

ధనాసరీ రాగః   ఆది తాళము 

స్ధిరతా నహి నహిరే - మానస

స్థిరతా సహి సహిరే

1. తాపత్రయ సాగర మగ్నానాం

దర్పాహంకార విలగ్నానామ్ ‌||స్థిరతా||

2. విషయపాశ వేష్టిత చిత్తానాం

విపరీతజ్ఞాన విమత్తానామ్ ‌||స్థిరతా||

3. పరమహంసయోగి (గ)  విరుద్ధానాం

బహు చఞ్చలతర సుఖ (బద్ధా?) సిద్ధానామ్‌ ||స్థిరతా||

स्थिरता नहि नहिरे - मानस 

1. तापत्रय सागर मग्नानां 

दर्पाहन्कार विलग्नानां 

2. विषय पाश वेष्टित चित्तानां 

विपरीत ज्ञान विमत्तानां 

3. परमहंस योग विरुद्धानां 

बहु चन्चलतर सुख सिद्धानां 

Dhanasari ragah  aadi talam

sthirataa nahi nahirae

1. taapatrayasaagara magnaanaaM

darpaahaMkaara vilagnaanaam^ ||sthirataa||

2. vishayapaaSa vaeshTita chittaanaaM

vipareetaj~naana vimattaanaam^ ||sthirataa||

3. paramahaMsayOgi(ga)  viruddhaanaaM

bahu cha~nchalatara sukha (baddhaa) siddhaanaam^ ||sthirataa||

(It is redundant to say that this is a composition of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy. Earlier I've given here several of his exquisite Sanskrit compositions. Alas, the times are unsettling now all across the world. This song may give peace and steadiness to a wavering, doubting mind. We will look into its profound meaning and import for the sadhaka. This great saint, nay an avadhuta bestowed these great lyrics for our benefit, out of pure compassion. The south India (particularly the erstwhile composite Telugu and Tamil lands) is blessed to have given birth to such extraordinary humans. Here is a student who excelled the teacher, the guru. Smt. Gopalaratnam's rendition is superb.Gopalaratnam's Audio) Copyright 2022 by the author 

Telugu Lyrics of "gayati vanamli" Devotional Song

gaayati vanamaalee - madhuraM

gaayatee vanamaalee

1. pushpasugandhisu - malaya sameerae

munijana saevita yamunaa teerae || gaayati||

2. koojita Suka - pika - mukha khagakunjae

kuTilaalika bahu neeradapunjae || gaayati||

3. tulaseedaama vibhooshaNahaaree

jalaja bhavastuta sadguNa Sauree || gaayati||

4. paramahaMsa hRda yOtsavakaaree

paripoorita muraLee ravadhaaree gaaya|

కుంతల వరాళి రాగం   ఆది తాళం 

గాయతి వనమాలీ - మధురం

గాయతీ వనమాలీ

1. పుష్పసుగన్ధి సు - మలయ సమీరే

మునిజన సేవిత యమునా తీరే || గాయతి||

2. కూజిత శుక - పిక - ముఖ ఖగకుంజే 

కుటిలాలిక బహు నీరద పుంజే  || గాయతి||

3. తులసీదామ విభూషణ హారీ

జలజ భవస్తుత సద్గుణ శౌరీ || గాయతి||

4. పరమహంస హృద యోత్సవకారీ

పరిపూరిత మురళీ రవధారీ గాయ|

(On the eve of Janma-ashtami, Sri Krishna's birthday I post this Carnatic song. This was composed by Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy. Dr. Balamuralikrishna's rendition is excellent. I'll try put the audio links later. If possible I'll add the lyrics in Sanskrit also. Though the words are easy to comprehend, still the lyrics encapsulate many of Sri Krishna's lilas. Copyright 2021 by the author)

Exploring the Song, "chetah Sri Ramam"

Exploring the Song, “chetah Sri Ramam”

(Meaning with Commentary)

O Wandering (monkey-like) Mind: Think of Sri Rama. Meditate on Sri Rama, the One with dark cloud hued body. 

(You may ask, how do we fix our mind on Him, Sri Rama?) We contemplate that Sri Rama is surrounded by the pleasant singing ambience created by the exceptional musician, Tumbura. Not only that, they also have our great Rama bhakta, Sri Hanuman (Anjaneya) with two other exceptional associates, Gavaya and Gavaaksha. Both these latter characters did participate in the war with Ravana and fought valiantly on behalf of Sri Rama and His army. (The writer has tried to research about Gavaya and Gavaaksha. Perhaps, he may across some more enlightening information about them in either Tulasi Ramayana or Bhaskara Ramayana or in the Sanskrit original.)

Look at that alluring crown (on Sri Rama), fitted with the nine precious stones. How glorious it is to see the Lord with a garland filled with freshly plucked Tulasi shoots (leaves). O (wavering) Mind, seek shelter in Him. And meditate on Him.

The heart of Sri Paramahamsa (Sri Parama-Sivendra, the guru of Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy) is glowing with the light on the top of the spire (gopuram). Of course, that is where Sri Rama resides happily. And while contemplating on Sri Rama, do not forget about His delicate tender (leaf) shoots-like feet. Those feet absolved all the sins of mother Ahalya, the lady (wife) of sage Gautami. Just the dust (sand dirt) from His feet bestowed the release on the lady effortlessly. Do you still have any doubts about Sri Rama or His unwavering assurance to all those who surrender at His feet? Serve the Lord, Sri Rama, who is none other than the Para-Brahman. Copyright 2021 by the author

Link for the lyrics with Telugu script and English transliteration: http://pattri-pulu.blogspot.com/2021/01/lyrics-of-chetah-sriramam.html

Lyrics of "chetah Sriramam"

సురుటి రాగం   అది తాళము 

చేతః శ్రీరామం - చిన్తయ

జీమూత శ్యామమ్

1. అఙ్గీకృత (అంగీకృత)  తుమ్బురు సఙ్గీతం (సంగీతం) 

హనుమద్గవయ గవాక్ష సమేతమ్ ‌|| చేతః||

2. నవరత్న స్థాపిత కోటీరం

నవ తులసీ దళ కల్పిత హారమ్ ‌|| చేతః||

3. పరమహంస హృద్ (హృత్) ‌ గోపుర దీపం

చరణదళిత ముని తరుణీ శాపమ్‌|| చేతః||

chaeta@h SreeraamaM - chintaya

jeemootaSyaamam^

1. a~mgeekRta tumburu sa~mgeetaM

hanumadgavaya gavaaksha samaetam^ ‌|| chaeta@h||

2. navaratna sthaapita kOTeeraM

navatulaseedaLa kalpitahaaram^ ‌|| chaeta@h||

3. paramahaMsa hRd^ gOpuradeepaM

charaNadaLita muni taruNeeSaapam^|| chaeta@h||

(I have to explore these exceptional devotional songs leisurely some other time. Though the meanings may be apparent to some with Sanskrit knowledge, still they contain valuable insights into meditation, yoga, and bhakti. Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy composed very limited devotional songs, yet they stand out glistening through the fog of time. Again it is a great privilege to know this compassionate Swamy and learn his compositions. Of course, it goes without saying that I first heard this song from Dr. Balamuralikrishna.) 

Telugu Lyrics of "smara varam" - Devotional Song

కాపీ రాగము  ఆది తాళము 

స్మర వారం వారం - మానస

స్మర నన్దకుమారమ్‌.

1. ఘోష కుటీర పయోఘృత చోరం

గోకుల బృన్దా వన సoచారమ్‌ || స్మర||

2. వేణురవామృత పాన విలోలం

విశ్వస్ధితిలయ హేతు విహారమ్‌ || స్మర||

3. పరమహంసహృత్‌ పఞ్జరకీరం

పటుతరధేనుక బక సంహారమ్‌ || స్మర||

smara vaaraM vaaraM - maanasa

smara nandakumaaram^.

1. ghOsha kuTeera payOghRta chOraM

gOkula bRndaa vana samcaaram^ || smara||

2. vaeNuravaamRta paana vilOlaM

viSvasdhitilaya haetu vihaaram^ || smara||

3. paramahaMsahRt^ pa~njarakeeraM

paTutaradhaenuka baka saMhaaram^ || smara||

(Probably I first heard this song in a cassette with the ringing voice of Dr. Balamuralikrishna. What can we say about great composition, great art, and great voice? They live forever if the posterity cares to preserve and protect the original writings. Many Carnatic singers and vocalists can immediately recognize this kirtana. It was composed by Sri Sadasiva Brahmendra Swamy. His compositions were very limited in number but they condense all the essence of Upanishads and Puranas. We will explore its meaning in future posts. For now we can try to meditate and learn this song; may the song bring peace, joy, and health to all in the New Year. Transliteration follows the scheme of Lekhini.)