Sachamara Rama Vani

Navaratri greetings to all my readers! May the Goddesses bless us all!

Today, I am writing in gratitude for the pleasure music gives me. I am grateful to all the musicians who spend lifetimes in learning and honing their craft, the fruits of which I enjoy. I am grateful to all the gurus who have taught their shishyas with diligence. I am grateful to the composers who have written such beautiful music that it leaves generations of music lovers entranced. I am grateful to the poets who use words that leave an imprint in our minds forever. I am grateful to those who make instruments which sing in the hands of the artists. I am grateful for all those devoted music lovers who support the musicians so that they can continue to thrive along with their music. Above all, I am grateful to the Goddesses who have blessed me with ears to listen, the mind to process it and the heart to melt in the beauty of it all.

I had plans for this Navaratri post; I have been listening to lectures on the Devi Mahatmyam (देवीमाहात्म्यम्) and had thought to write a short summary of the story to celebrate Navaratri. But then I came upon this concert by Dr. Sherthalai Renganatha Sharma in which he sang this beautiful song in Hamsanandi composed by Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar (HMB). Who doesn’t like Hamsanandi? I also learnt that HMB created this raga based on the Hindustani Sohini.

I was charmed by the song and surprised that I had never heard it before. I did some reading up and came to understand that HMB has written 108 songs in a group called Sri Chamunda Ashtottara Shata Kirtanams (श्री चामुण्ड अष्टोत्तर शत कीर्तनानि), based on the stotram of the same name. The songs are also influenced by Sri Lalita Sahasranamam (श्री ललिता सहस्रनामम्). I am familiar with a number of songs from this group, however I had not known about this group. In many of the songs, the Goddess is described as enjoyer of music, a fact that appeals to me greatly!

In this song, HMB describes the Goddess as सङ्गीत रसानुभावे sangIta rasAnubhAvE. Does it mean that She herself is the esthetic experience of music? Or is it that She causes this effect in us? My Sanskrit is not up to the task, but I am happy with either or both! I like to think of the Goddess coursing through my veins as I smile at Vasanta, weep with shubhapantuvarali, nod at the majesty of Kharaharapriya, melt with Kamaas or quieten with Ahiri. Whether it is She herself or Her gift, it is a wonderful feeling. My gratitude.

Let the Goddess be within you as you listen to the music! (Raga at 22:52 followed by kriti at 38.25)

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Footnote: Lyrics and Translation

Composer: Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar
Raga: Hamsanandi
Language : Sanskrit and Kannada

पल्लवि
सचामर रमा वाणी सव्य दक्षिण सेविते

अनुपल्लवि
शचीन्द्र नुते शक्ति देवी सचराचर जगद्रूपिणी

चरणम्
सकल ब्रह्माण्ड साम्राज्य सुवैभवे
सुख विवाग्विभव सङ्गीत रसानुभावे
सुखादि भक्तजन सुख दायक सुरुचिर भावे
सुख सुधा बुधि हरिकेश सुख दायिनि सलहौ

Transliteration

pallavi
sachAmara ramA vANI savya dakshiNa sEvitE

anupallavi
shachIndra nutE shakti dEvI sacharAchara jagadrUpiNI

charaNam
sakala brahmANDa sAmrAjya suvaibhavE
sukha vivAgvibhava sangIta rasAnubhAvE
sukhAdi bhaktajana sukha dAyaka suruchira bhAvE
sukha sudhA budhi harikEsha sukha dAyini salahau

Translation

You are (implied) the one who is served (sEvitE) by Lakshmi (ramA) and Saraswati (vANI) on your left (savya) and right (dakshiNa) with (sa-) chowries (chAmara).

You are (implied) the one who is praised (nutE) by Shachi (wife of Indra) and Indra. O Goddess (dEvI) of Power (shakti)! You are (implied) the one who is in the form (rUpiNI) of the world (jagat), along with (sa-) all creation, animate or inanimate (chara + achara=charAchara).

You are (implied) the great (su-) glory (vaibhavE) of the empire (sAmrAjya) which is (implied) the entire (sakala) cosmos (brahmANDa). You are (implied) the one who pronounces judgement (vivAk) on happiness/prosperity (sukha) and wealth/fortune (vibhava). You are (implied) the aesthetic experience (rasa (sentiment) + anubhava (experience) = rasAnubhAva) of music (sangIta). You are (implied) the provider (dAyaka) of pleasure (sukha) etc. (Adi) to the devotees (bhakta jana) in a radiant (suruchira) manner (bhAvE)! You are the wise one (budhi – not sure of this) who is the giver (dAyini) of the nectar (sudhA) of pleasure (sukha) to Shiva (hariKesha, also the signature of the composer)! Protect me (salahu in Kannada)!

(note: I am a bit unsure about the translation as there are a couple of extra ‘sukha’ I haven’t accounted for in the last two lines but I hope I have the gist of it!)