philosoraptor
19 June 2013, 10:34 AM
rAgam nILAmbari is a beautiful rAgam in South Indian Carnatic music. This is a janya rAgam (child rAgam) of the 29th melakarta rAgam shankarAbharaNam.
Two of my favorite carnatic compositions are set in this rAgam.
The first is "tolliyunu" composed by the great Annamaachaarya, in which he visualizes the Lord of Sri Rangam lying on a banyan leaf like baby Krishna. It makes for a beautiful lullaby and nILAmbari rAgam works perfectly to create this mood of parental love. The lyrics and translation of this beautiful composition from the Sangeet Sudha website are given below, along with a Youtube link for M.S. Subbulakshmi's rendition, which is still the undisputed standard for singing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak8-f6Ey6lU
You have to fast forward to the 4:47 mark to get to the beginning of "tolliyunu," although you may want to listen from the beginning to MS's beautiful rendition of "bhAvayAmi gopALabALam" in rAgam yamuna kalyAni!
P
tolli yunu marrAku toTTelane yoogegana
chellu baDi noogeeni Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
Long ago child Sri Ranga floated on the ocean, lying on a banyan leaf (Vatapatra Sayee).
C1
kaliki kAvEri taragala bAhu latalanE
talaga kiTu ranga madhyapu toTTelan
palu mAru danu noochi pADagA noogeeni
chilu pAla nelavi tO Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
Beautiful waves of the river Kaveri are like delicate arms, constantly swinging the banyan leaf like a cradle. The child Sri Ranga is pretty with his lips smeared with sweet milk. He is comforted by swing and song.
C2
adivO kamalajuni tiru vArAdhanam banaga
adana kamala bhavAnDamanu toTTelan
udadhula tarangamulu noochagA noogeeni
chedarani sirula tODa Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
See the holy worship of Vishnu, the lotus born. The cradle is the universe. The child Sri Ranga is swinging on the waves, in all splendor.
C3
vEdamule chErulai velayanga sEshuDE
pAdu konu toTTelai paraga gAnu
Sree dEvi tO gooDi Sree vEnkaTESuDai
sEda dEreDi vADe Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
The Vedas are his garlands. Adi Sesha is his swing. Sri Venkatesa is relaxing with his consort Sridevi. That child Sri Ranga is Venkatesa himself.
Two of my favorite carnatic compositions are set in this rAgam.
The first is "tolliyunu" composed by the great Annamaachaarya, in which he visualizes the Lord of Sri Rangam lying on a banyan leaf like baby Krishna. It makes for a beautiful lullaby and nILAmbari rAgam works perfectly to create this mood of parental love. The lyrics and translation of this beautiful composition from the Sangeet Sudha website are given below, along with a Youtube link for M.S. Subbulakshmi's rendition, which is still the undisputed standard for singing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak8-f6Ey6lU
You have to fast forward to the 4:47 mark to get to the beginning of "tolliyunu," although you may want to listen from the beginning to MS's beautiful rendition of "bhAvayAmi gopALabALam" in rAgam yamuna kalyAni!
P
tolli yunu marrAku toTTelane yoogegana
chellu baDi noogeeni Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
Long ago child Sri Ranga floated on the ocean, lying on a banyan leaf (Vatapatra Sayee).
C1
kaliki kAvEri taragala bAhu latalanE
talaga kiTu ranga madhyapu toTTelan
palu mAru danu noochi pADagA noogeeni
chilu pAla nelavi tO Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
Beautiful waves of the river Kaveri are like delicate arms, constantly swinging the banyan leaf like a cradle. The child Sri Ranga is pretty with his lips smeared with sweet milk. He is comforted by swing and song.
C2
adivO kamalajuni tiru vArAdhanam banaga
adana kamala bhavAnDamanu toTTelan
udadhula tarangamulu noochagA noogeeni
chedarani sirula tODa Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
See the holy worship of Vishnu, the lotus born. The cradle is the universe. The child Sri Ranga is swinging on the waves, in all splendor.
C3
vEdamule chErulai velayanga sEshuDE
pAdu konu toTTelai paraga gAnu
Sree dEvi tO gooDi Sree vEnkaTESuDai
sEda dEreDi vADe Sree ranga SiSuvu ||
The Vedas are his garlands. Adi Sesha is his swing. Sri Venkatesa is relaxing with his consort Sridevi. That child Sri Ranga is Venkatesa himself.