Shiva Shiva Shiva

‘Why not chant Shiva, Shiva, Shiva and rid yourselves of the fears and problems of life ?’ says the poet-composer Tyagaraja in this beautiful kriti.

Tyagaraja was a great devotee of Rama and though many of his Kritis are in worship of his ishta daivam, he also sang in praise of Ganesh, Parvati, Vishnu and Shiva. Tyagaraja spent a lot of time in Tiruvaiyaru and wrote a number of kritis in praise of the presiding deity of this temple town, Shiva in the form of Panchanatheeswarar or Aiyaarappar. Shiva Shiva Shiva, set to Raga Pantuvarali (Kamavardani) is one of them.  See footnote for lyrics and translation. To know more about the raga, click here.

I really enjoyed this very brisk rendering of the kriti by Neyveli Santhanagopalan (b. 1963) in the recent Margazhi Maha Utsavam on Jaya TV. I was particularly taken by his kalpana swarams (improvisation) which are a credit to his rigorous and intellectual style of music. I wish I had the technical knowledge to fully appreciate it!

Alternate link : Click here and download song 4 (needs free membership of Sangeethapriya.org)

For an instrumental version, listen to this unusual presentation by the very talented violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan (1935-2008).

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Footnote (Lyrics) :

pallavi
shiva shiva shiva enarAdA

anupallavi
(Ori) bhavabhaya bAdala naNacukO rAdA

charaNam 1
kAmAdula dega kOsi para bhAmala parula dhanamula rOsi pAmaratvamu eDabAsi ati nEmamutO bilvArcana jEsi

charaNam 2
sajjana gaNamula gAnci Ori mujjagadIshvarulani mati nenci lajjAdula dolaginca tana hrj-jalajamunanu tA pUjinci

charaNam 3
Agamamula nutiyinci bahu bAgulEni bhAsalu cAlinci bhAgavatulO pOSinci Ori tyAgarAja sannutuDani yenci

Translation

Why not  chant Shiva, Shiva, Shiva and rid yourselves of the fears and problems of life ?

After removing lust and passion, after removing the desire of other’s women and wealth, after removing ignorance, worship Shiva diligently with Bilva leaves

After seeking out the company of good people, after worshipping them as Lord Shiva of the three worlds, after driving away shyness, worship Shiva devotedly who is in the lotus of your heart.

After learning the ways of worship, after avoiding fruitless talk, after serving devotees, hail Shiva who is worshipped by Tyagaraja.

For notation, click here.