Lyrics of "he sarade ma" song in Telugu script

హే శారదే మా , హే శారదే మా

అజ్ఞానతా సే హమే తారదే మా 

తూ స్వర్ కీ దేవీ, యే సంగీత్ తుఝసే

హర్ సబ్ద్ తేరా, యే హర్ గీత్ తుఝసే

హమ్  హై అకేలే, హమ్  హై అధూరే

తేరీ శరణ్ హమ్, హమె ప్యార్ దే మా

మునియో(న్ సమఝే గుని(ణి)యోన్ జానీ

వేదోం కీ  భాషా, పురాణోం కీ  వాణి 

హమ్ భీ తో సమఝే(, హమ్ భీ తో జానే( 

విద్యా కా హమ్ కో తూ అధికార్ దే మా 

తూ శ్వేత వర్ణి, కమల్ పే విరాజే 

హాథో( మె వీణా, ముకుట్ సిర్ పె సాజా 

మన్ సే హమారే మిటా దో అంథేరీ 

ఉజాలోం కా  హమకో తూ సంసార్ దే మా( 

hae Saaradae maa , hae Saaradae maa aj~naanataa sae hamae taaradae maa too svar^ kee daevee, yae saMgeet^ tujhasae har^ sabd^ taeraa, yae har^ geet^ tujhasae ham^ hai akaelae, ham^ hai adhoorae taeree SaraN^ ham^, hame pyaar^ dae maa muniyO(n^ samajhae guni(Ni)yOn^ jaanee vaedOM kee bhaashaa, puraaNOM kee vaaNi ham^ bhee tO samajhae(, ham^ bhee tO jaanae( vidyaa kaa ham^ kO too adhikaar^ dae maa too Svaeta varNi, kamal^ pae viraajae haathO( me veeNaa, mukuT^ sir^ pe saajaa man^ sae hamaarae miTaa dO aMthaeree ujaalOM kaa hamakO too saMsaar^ dae maa(

(I want to present this devotional song to Telugu singers on the eve of Vasant Panchami (వసంత పంచమి). The day is celebrated with Saraswathi puja. Many devotees are familiar with Sarada mata and the elements of Devi upasana (ఉపాసన): White flowers (తెల్ల తామర, మల్లి, నాగమల్లి), devotional songs, and offerings of milk or payasam (పాయసము). I heard this song several times but did not pay attention to the lyrics till now. Through sheer serendipity or fortuitous searching on the Internet I discovered its author as "Nirala". Many springs back I received a book of Nirala (Sri Suryakant Tripathi) as a gift. A scientist friend from Roorkee used to visit me and discuss several topics: Inorganic Chemistry, Jiddu Krishnamurti and spiritual matters. Dr. A. B introduced me to Nirala's lyrical poetry. With time I think I gained better appreciation of Hindi and Hindustani music. We can only ask the Devi for one thing:  "uplift us from the morass of ignorance and make us 'eligible' for wisdom, knowledge, science, and fine arts." Sri Anup Jalota  gave an excellent rendition of this song. Errors if any will be edited later.)

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English Translation of "nii pada pankaja" Song

Translation of "nii pada pankaja" Song 

(I dwell and meditate on)

On Your lotus-like feet's dust (sand)

On Your compassionate mascara filled

Moonlight dripping eyes

(Perhaps You are to be found)

In the comforting words of poets like Potana

In the imaginations and thoughts of Kalidasa

(You are dispersed)

In sweet melodies, feelings filled with love,

In the lilting waves of caring thoughts

In the sweet harmonies of vina

In the lotus-like hearts of rishis like Narada

(Perhaps You're)

The exuding smile with the light of moonlight

In the autumn (Sarad-ritu)

Seated on a spotless white swan

You are the love of Brahma

You are the all encompassing

Knowledge shining like a Milky Way

(Our mothers and teachers taught us a few “gems” of poems to help us in learning. Learning, that is the ‘operative’ word here. Not just mugging up some facts, stories, or even theorems and vomiting up dry bits of knowledge in the final (Board) examinations. Learning involves understanding, getting to the essence of a poem, and applying the information in real life situations. For example, you learn the Newton’s laws of motion and apply to the making of a ‘toy rocket’. Or, learn the phenomenon of buoyancy and use it to measure the density of milk (Lactometer). To facilitate learning and impart us with necessary discipline and confidence, we invoke Ganesa, Sarada, and Lord Siva. And, how do we do it? We recite one or two Telugu poems (or Sanskrit Slokas) at the beginning. During our high school final year preparations, my friend and I would recite poems on Sarada before sitting for a late night study session. Luckily our distractions in those were few and far away: The film songs blaring from local movie theaters’ loudspeakers or marriage events. Or we would be awakened at 4:00 a.m. with a cabaret song from a neighboring café. There was a time in the distant past when the modern TV and social media were non-existent, leaving pupils with ample opportunity to concentrate on studies. To get a glimpse of Saraswati Devi, we rely on Vedas and Puranas. Here I paraphrase the words of Sri Paramacharya: As Dakshinamurti, Siva holds (rather He is the embodiment of) the qualities of pure wisdom (symbolized by white crystal-like color), peace, meditation, and jnana (the higher intellect). He is also covered with white ash (similar to the glistening soft fresh snow flakes), long tresses, and wears the crescent moon. Sarada is considered as the sister of Lord Siva similar to Parvati being the sister of Narayana. She has the same qualities of pure knowledge, soft smiling demeanor, and white dress (sari).  She always exudes the happiness (joy) of the sparse clouded moonlit nights of “autumn” (sarad-ritu శరదృతువు). Hence we refer the goddess of learning as Sarada.) Audio and Telugu lyric links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62L32NiJsIEhttp://pattri-pulu.blogspot.com/2020/12/original-song-on-sarada-ni-pada-pankaja.html
Copyright 2020 by the author