TatTvamAsi
12 November 2012, 02:36 PM
Namaste,
One of my favorite carnatic kirtanas is 'Marugelera O Raghava', composed by Sri Thyagaraja (?) at the turn of the 18th & 19th centuries.
This song is devotional, as is all of Carnatic music, to Raghava (Sri Ramachandra) and is apt at the auspicious time of Deepavali.
This beautiful song is usually sung/played in the haunting Jayantashree rAgA.
Hypnotic as it is, I have been fortunate to find some great legends who have played/sung this popular song over the years.
Here is the maestro Maharajapuram Santhanam's rendition:
http://youtu.be/g-UyoqBf7EI
Here is ML Vasanthakumari's (MLV for short) rendition:
http://youtu.be/jV_WDCm2xkI
Here is Nithyasree Mahadevan's rendition:
http://youtu.be/EehjlwWO-vg
Here is the violin legend Lalgudi Jayaraman's rendition (instrumental):
http://youtu.be/Jj-7qyrK2Ks
Here is the flute legend N. Ramani's rendition (instrumental):
http://youtu.be/EOmFO9vEHU8
The meaning of the song (I got from some YouTube video - someone can correct it if it is incorrect as I don't speak/understand Telugu):
O Raghava (Lord Rama)! Why do you need to conceal yourself? The Universe itself is your form, with the sun and the moon as your eyes. By deep contemplation, inquiry, and search, I have directly perceived that you are everything, and everything is within you. There is no place in my mind for any other God. I(Thyagayya) solicit your protection.
It is so amazing that a whole gamut of emotions and meditative states can be achieved while listening to the various renditions; the beauty of Carnatic music is so apparent here as the unique flavors, moods, and predispositions of each singer/artist comes out in their own version. After all, most of Indian classical music is improvised at the senior level.
Enjoy!
Namaskar.
One of my favorite carnatic kirtanas is 'Marugelera O Raghava', composed by Sri Thyagaraja (?) at the turn of the 18th & 19th centuries.
This song is devotional, as is all of Carnatic music, to Raghava (Sri Ramachandra) and is apt at the auspicious time of Deepavali.
This beautiful song is usually sung/played in the haunting Jayantashree rAgA.
Hypnotic as it is, I have been fortunate to find some great legends who have played/sung this popular song over the years.
Here is the maestro Maharajapuram Santhanam's rendition:
http://youtu.be/g-UyoqBf7EI
Here is ML Vasanthakumari's (MLV for short) rendition:
http://youtu.be/jV_WDCm2xkI
Here is Nithyasree Mahadevan's rendition:
http://youtu.be/EehjlwWO-vg
Here is the violin legend Lalgudi Jayaraman's rendition (instrumental):
http://youtu.be/Jj-7qyrK2Ks
Here is the flute legend N. Ramani's rendition (instrumental):
http://youtu.be/EOmFO9vEHU8
The meaning of the song (I got from some YouTube video - someone can correct it if it is incorrect as I don't speak/understand Telugu):
O Raghava (Lord Rama)! Why do you need to conceal yourself? The Universe itself is your form, with the sun and the moon as your eyes. By deep contemplation, inquiry, and search, I have directly perceived that you are everything, and everything is within you. There is no place in my mind for any other God. I(Thyagayya) solicit your protection.
It is so amazing that a whole gamut of emotions and meditative states can be achieved while listening to the various renditions; the beauty of Carnatic music is so apparent here as the unique flavors, moods, and predispositions of each singer/artist comes out in their own version. After all, most of Indian classical music is improvised at the senior level.
Enjoy!
Namaskar.