shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham

 

Ragam: Atana (29th Mela Shankarabharanam Janyam):

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atana

                ARO:    S R2 M1 P N2 S                                     ||

                AVA:    S N3 D2 , N2 P M1  P G2 ,  R2  S       ||

Talam: Adi

Composer: HH Jayachamaraja Wodeyar

Version: Radha & Jayalakshmi (Soolamangalam Sisters)

Lyrics Courtesy: Meena

 

Pallavi:

shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam

 

Anupallavi:

shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam

 

(madhyamakAlam):sadayam kapila muni varadAyakam guru sEva shaktam hErambam

 

Charanam 1:

jnAna mudrAlankrtam mUlAdhAra nivAsinam

 

Charanam 2:

gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram panca

bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham

 

Charanam 3:

kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram

shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam (or vanditam)

 

ciTTasvara:

S, Snpdnpmp g,-mrs |r,, s rs, r, -m, -p, -n ||

SnSR, -MRS nRSn, S-d, |nS,, -R nS d,, pmp-g,-mpn ||

 

 

Meaning: (Approximate):

P: I pray (“bhajEham”) to shri mahAgaNapatim, who is the son (“Atmajam”) of Shiva, and the elder brother (“Agrajam”) of Shanmugha.

 

A: He is worshipped (“sEvitam” by all beings (“shrta gaNa”). He destroys (“nAshakam”) obstacles (“vighna”) in our lives. He gives (“dAyakam”) boons (“vara”) and blessings (“prasAda”) very quickly (“shIgra”).

 

C1: He is adorned (“Alankrtam”) by the symbol (“mudrA”) called Knowledge (“jnAna”). He resides in (“nivAsinam”) the mUlAdhAra chakra ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muladhara) kshetra in the body.

 

C2: He lives (“vAsinam”) in the forest (“AraNya”) full of elephants (“gaja-AraNya”). He is full (“mayam”) of brightness (“jyOtir-mayam”). He is the essence (“sAram”) of the Upanishads. He is the soul (“Atmakam”) of the pancha bhutas {Akasha (Spirit/Essence), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Ap (Water), and Prithvi (Earth)}. He likes (“priyam”) the SindhUra (red powder, Vermillion). He is the five (“panca”) elephant (“mAtanga”) faced (“mukham”) one (“panca-mAtanga mukham”)

 

 

C3: He was born (“vara putram”) when Goddess Parvathi’s (“kAmEsha”) lovely eyes (“nayanA”) merely glanced with pleasure (“AhlAdakam”) at Lord Shiva, the linga adorned with snakes (“nAga-linga”). He is the essence (“cit-prabhAnanda”) of the Shri Vidya and revered by (“sannutam”) the rAja Yogis (“yOgIndram”).  {Alt meaning: cit-prabhAnanda is also the signature of the composer, who is also a king (rAja), and who prays to the lord }

 

 

 

Pallavi:

shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam

 

Sahityam: shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham

Meaning: I pray (“bhajEham”) to shri mahAgaNapatim

 

  1                2             3               4                 5              6                7              8

S ;           , n-r s      D ;           , p M       |  P – pm                    G   - M    |  P ;         pm pr                ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE      ham- -

 

S ;           , n-r s      D ,n         , p M       |  P – pm                    gg   - M    |  P ;     pm pr   ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE      ham- -

 

S ;           N –ns    Rgr snP      , p M     |  pNPnpm   G  - M    |  P -nn    pm pr           ||

shrI         ma hA-   - -  - - -      gaNa     pa   -    tim-   -  -    bha    jE --     ham- -

 

Sahityam: shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam

Meaning: ... He who is the son (“Atmajam”) of Shiva, and the elder brother (“Agrajam”) of Shanmugha.

    1              2             3               4                 5              6                    7 8

s n pm    R – mr    M – S       ; ns        |  r m mR,    r m   P      |  P  -  n n    p m p r        ||

shi-vA-   -     tma - -    jam   - SaN-      - -  mu   khA-   -        gra  jam-   - - - -

 

S ;           N –ns    Rgr snP      , p M     |  pNPnpm   G  - M    |  P -nn    pm pr           ||

shrI         ma hA-   - -  - - -      gaNa     pa   -    tim-   -  -    bha    jE --     ham- -

 

s n pm    R – mr    M – S       ; ns        |  r m mR,    r m   P      |  ; , - n    p m p r            ||

shi-vA-   -     tma - -    jam   - SaN-      - -  mu   khA-   -              gra  jam- - -

 

S ;           , n-r s      D ,n         , p M       |  P – pm                    G   - , m    |  n P,     P np   ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE        - - -

 

nsnn      ; np          ; ;            ; ;            |  ; ;               ; ;          |    ; ;           ;  ;                   ||

ham- -   - - -           - -            - -               - -               - -               - -            - -

 

 

Anupallavi:

shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam

 

Sahityam: shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam

Meaning: He is worshipped (“sEvitam” by all beings (“shrta gaNa”).

He destroys (“nAshakam”) obstacles (“vighna”) in our lives.

 

  1                2             3               4                 5             6                 7             8

; mp        , n S        sm rm    R S         |   ; R        S -  Srs     , d  – N       S ;      ||

 Shrta       gaNa     sE  - -     vitam       - vi      ghna nA-  - -   sha    kam

 

; ;             ; ;               ; ;         ; ;            |  ; ;               ; ;          |    ; ;           ;  ;                   ||

- -              - -             - -         - -               - -               - -               - -            - -

 

; mp        , n S        mr rpmm    , r S   |   ; S        S -   nsrm     rsnd  – , n       S ;            ||

 Shrta       gaNa     sE  - -  -    vitam      - vi     ghna nA-      -- - -    sha    kam

 

; mp        , n S        mr rpmm    , r S   |   ; S        S -   Srs     , d  – N       S ;     ||

 Shrta       gaNa     sE  - -  -    vitam      - vi     ghna nA-    - -    sha    kam

 

Sahityam: shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam

Meaning: He gives (“dAyakam”) boons (“vara”) and blessings (“prasAda”) very quickly (“shIgra”).

 

snsr         S-  n r      s n P        ; pd         |  D N      P – mdP      mg-M       P ;    ||

shI--       gra va-   ra - -       - pra-        sA -     da  dA- -      - -   ya     kam

 

snsr         S-  n r      s n P        ; pd         |  nsdn    P – mdP      mg-M       pm pr ||

shI--       gra va-   ra - -       - pra-        sA -     da  dA- -      - -   ya     kam - -

 

S ;           N –ns    Rgr snP      , p M     |  pNPnpm   G  - M    |  P -nn    pm pr           ||

shrI         ma hA-   - -  - - -      gaNa     pa   -    tim-   -  -    bha    jE --     ham- -

 

s n pm    R – mr    M – S       ; ns        |  r m mR,    r m   P      |  ; , - n    p m p r            ||

shi-vA-   -     tma - -    jam   - SaN-      - -  mu   khA-   -              gra  jam- - -

 

S ;           , n-r s      D ,n         , p M       |  P – pm                    G   - , m    |  n P,     P np   ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE        - - -

 

nsnn      ; np          ; ;            ; ;            |  ; ;               ; ;          |    ; ;           ;  ;                   ||

ham- -   - - -           - -            - -               - -               - -               - -            - -

 

 

Charanam 1:

jnAna mudrAlankrtam mUlAdhAra nivAsinam

 

Meaning:  He is adorned (“Alankrtam”) by the symbol (“mudrA”) called Knowledge (“jnAna”).

He resides in (“nivAsinam”) the mUlAdhAra chakra kshetra in the body.

 

  1                2             3               4                 5             6                 7                8

; , p      , m – P    m P – g    , m P     |  r m  r m      R  s – n    P  , - n   p m p r                 ||

   jnA     na   mu  drA-  lan    kr tam  mU- lA-     dhAra  ni  vA-   si   nam- - -

 

 S ;          , n-r s      D ,n         , p M       |  P – pm                    G   -  M    |  P ;       ; , - n   ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE        - -   ga

 

Charanam 2:

gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram panca

bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham

 

Sahityam: gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram

Meaning: He lives (“vAsinam”) in the forest (“AraNya”) full of elephants (“gaja-AraNya”).

He is full (“mayam”) of brightness (“jyOtir-mayam”). He is the essence (“sAram”) of the Upanishads.

 

  1                2               3                4              5                   6               7           8

P , m       np-  G     m P-  p      m P – s   |  D , -d       r  s S     |  D  N       S , -   n              ||

jA raN    -ya vA   sinam jyO  - tir   ma  yam u        paniSad  sA -      ram      ga

 

 

P , m       np-  R     m P-  p      m P – s   |  D , -n       r  s S     |  D  N       S  ;    ||

jA raN    -ya vA   sinam jyO  - tir   ma  yam u        paniSad  sA -       ram      

 

Sahityam: panca bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham

Meaning: He is the soul (“Atmakam”) of the pancha bhutas

{Akasha (Spirit/Essence), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Ap (Water), and Prithvi (Earth)}.

He likes (“priyam”) the SindhUra (red powder, Vermillion).

He is the five (“panca”) elephant (“mAtanga”) faced (“mukham”) one (“panca-mAtanga mukham”)

 

  1                    2                3              4               5               6                7             8

p n s -   r     , M  r     S –   d r     S    S   | s   S –  n    r s - dd   |  , d d n      p m p r           || 

pan-ca  bhU- tA-tma kam sin-  dhU ra   priyam pan –ca mA  - tan-ga    mu-kham-

 

S ;           N –ns    Rgr snP      , p M     |  pNPnpm   G  - M    |  P ;       P ;  ||

shrI         ma hA-   - -  - - -      gaNa     pa   -    tim-   -  -    bha   jE -     ham -

 

Charanam 3:

kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram

shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam

 

Sahityam: kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram

Meaning: He was born (“vara putram”) when Goddess Parvathi’s (“kAmEsha”) lovely eyes (“nayanA”) merely glanced with pleasure (“AhlAdakam”) at Lord Shiva, the linga adorned with snakes (“nAga-linga”).

 

    1                  2                3              4               5                    6                     7             8

np ; - n     n p – mp    S , - s      , s  S   |  n n p – n       n p – m p  |   sd N               S ;      ||

kA -  mE - sha  naya  nA hlA  - dakam  nA-ga  lin     - ga   vara    pu - -         tram

 

snnp ,- n     n p – mp    S , - s      , s  S   |  n n p – n       n p – m p  |   D N              S ;      ||

kA -  mE - sha  naya  nA hlA  - dakam  nA-ga  lin       - ga   vara     pu - -       tram

 

Sahityam: shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam

Meaning: He is the essence (“cit-prabhAnanda”) of the Shri Vidya and revered by (“sannutam”) the rAja Yogis (“yOgIndram”).

{Alternate meaning: cit-prabhAnanda is also the signature of the composer, who is also a king (rAja), and who prays to the lord }

 

    1                  2                3              4                  5                      6                7             8

 R    r  m     s R s          R -s s     , - N    s   |   n r s – d         ; d n        p – P – n     p m p r               ||

shrI vi -     dyA--      cit prabhA- nan-da    rAja   yO   -  gIn-   dra  van di    tam  - -

 

S ;           N –ns    Rgr snP      , p M     |  pNPnpm   G  - M    |  P -nn    pm pr           ||

shrI         ma hA-   - -  - - -      gaNa     pa   -    tim-   -  -    bha    jE --     ham- -

 

s n pm    R – mr    M – S       ; ns        |  r m mR,    r m   P      |  ; , - n    p m p r            ||

shi-vA-   -     tma - -    jam   - SaN-      - -  mu   khA-   -              gra  jam- - -

 

S ;           , n-r s      D ,n         , p M       |  P – pm                    G   - , m    |  n P,     P np   ||

shrI         - -  ma-   hA-          gaNa      pa   tim-   -  -    bha     jE        - - -

 

nsnn      ; np          ; ;            ; ;            |  ; ;               ; ;          |    ; ;           ;  ;                   ||

ham- -   - - -           - -            - -               - -               - -               - -            - -

 

===================================================

Notes about the composer HH Jayachamaraja Wodeyar:

(Courtesy: http://www.saathee.com/carnatic-music)

 

The kingdom of Mysore initially served as a vassal state to the Vijayanagar Empire and later as a subsidiary alliance to the British until Indian independence.

 

The Mysore kings were accomplished exponents of fine arts, be it literature or music and their enthusiastic patronage led to both preservation as well as new developments in various arts. The musicians in these courts received plenty of support from the kings and this enabled them to dedicate their entire life to music.

 

The Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1884-1940) was a connoisseur of both Hindustani and Carnatic music. Many Hindustani and Carnatic musicians were frequent guests of the maharaja. A number of Carnatic music composers – Veena Sheshanna, Muthiah Bhagavathar, and Mysore Vasudevacharya were among those who received patronage in his court.

 

The last Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore was Jayachamaraja Wodeyar (1919-1974). He was also a connoisseur of Carantic music as well as western music and had aspired to become a concert pianist. After becoming Maharaja, he was introduced to Carnatic music and learned to play the veena. A number of musicians also received patronage at his court including veteran composer Mysore Vasudevacharya, who was the ‘asthana vidwan’ or chief court musician.

 

Jayachamaraja Wodeyar composed a number of krithis (close to one hundred) in various ragas; perhaps his most popular composition is Sri Mahaganapathim Bhajeham in raga Athana.

 

More: (http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/tag/odeyar/ ) Jayachamarajendra Odeyar, the last king of Mysore. Odeyar was another notable composer of the 20th century. Initially, he was trained in western classical music. He received the highest honors possible to be awarded for student at the Trinity college of Music in London. Later on, went on to learn the intricacies of Karnataka sangeetha from Vasudevachar for some years. Between 1945 to 1947, he composed 94 kritis (A few more have been unearthed recently, I heard). Apparently he played his compositions on the Piano first, and got feedback on them from Vasudevachar and other court musicians and shape his compositions.

 

Another unique feature about his compositions is that he has composed only one kriti in one raga, thus using 94 ragas for the 94 kritis. He is probably the only composer who has done this. In this process, he has composed in very rare ragas resurrecting some ragas such as Poorna Lalita and Pratatpa Varali in which Tyagaraja had composed earlier.

 

Odeyar was a practitioner of Srividya worship, and he has used the signature as ‘Srividya’ in the compositions. He has also used his initiation name ‘chitprabhananda’ in some compositions. All his compositions are in Samskrta.