The Score Magazine - Archive April 2015 issue! | Page 41

Padma Charan
Ramanavami was on March 28th
this year. However, that hasn’t
stopped cultural organizations
across India from celebrating the
festival throughout the month of
April. The Hindu festival, which
celebrates the birth of the god
Rama to King Dasharatha and
Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya is
celebrated by leading sabhas in
the form of mass music series.
Musicians from all over take part
in this grand festival celerating
Lord Rama and sing his praise.
Ramanavami a great opportunity for listeners to hear the various
compositions on Lord Rama. Saint Thyagaraja, who has composed
thousands of songs on Rama, is especially prominent in concerts during
this time. Other composers like Muttuswamy Dikshatar, Swathi Tirunal,
and Purandara Dasar have countless memorable compositions of the Lord.
Here’s a brief look at some of the famed compositions of these renowned
composers.
Among Saint Thyagaraja’s famous works, some compositions that stand
out for listeners are ‘Nagumomu’, ‘Evari Mata’, ‘Rama Bana’, ‘Nidhicala
Sukhama’, ‘Pakkala Nilabadi’, ‘Kshinamai’, ‘Raghuvara’, and ‘Eti
Janmamu’, to name a few. The majority of Saint Thyagaraja’s compositions
focus on the composer pleading for Lord Rama’s attention and it is evident
that throughout Thyagaraja’s life he has searched for the feet of Lord Rama.
In Nagumomu, which is in raga Abheri, Thyagaraja is distraught by the fact
that he can’t behold the lord’s smiling face and begs for protection and that the
separation of him and his lord is unbearable. In other compositions like Nidhi
Cala Sukhama, Thaygaraja asks the mind whether wealth is comforting
or the service in the holy presence of Lord Sri Rama comforting? He goes on
with the comparisons between the taste of curd, fresh butter and milk and the
nectarine juice of meditation. He asks if extolling humans bound by egotism
comforting or singing songs of the pure minded Lord Rama. His topics
typically center on the greatness of Lord Rama, his desire to be with Lord
Rama, and his frustration with Lord Rama.
Muttuswamy Dikshatar, a composer known for his incredible Sanskrit
compositions approaches all compositions with devotion and intent to pray
in the form of music. In his composition ‘Ramacandram Bhavayami’,
Dikshatar contemplate on Ramachandra, the foremost in the Raghu clan,
describing him as the brother of Lord Indra. He describes him as the lord
of Sita and the one who gives worldly pleasures as well as salvation. In a
mantra-like format, we learn to revel in the greatness of the lord. Dikshatar
compositions are not the easiest to master, as they are wordy much like
slokas. However, they are said to be very sacred and powerful and is
considered a boon to sing.
Maharaja Swathi Tirunal, the late king of Travencore, Kerala was a
natural artist and composed thousands of pieces during his short lifetime.
Among his many compositions, some of his compositions on Lord Rama are
epic and presented in abundance by many artists. One such composition,
which has been immortalized by the legendary MS Subbalakshmi, is
‘Bhavayami Raghuramam’. This song that is a ragamalika (a piece where
each stanza is in a different raga) depicts the entire story of Ramayanam
in one song. Each stanza is devoted to a specific time periods (kandams) of
the storyline. A favorite of audiences all over, this composition is very often
presented in concerts during the Ramanavami festival. It is to be noted that
Maharaja Swathi Tirunal has composed one more song depicting the story
of Ramayanam called ‘Yojaya padanalinena’ in the Kalyani raga.
Purandara Dasar, another prominent composer of Carnatic Music often
being referred as the ‘pita maha’ or father of Carnatic music, addressed
social issues in addition to worship in his compositions. This was apparently
a practice emulated by his younger contemporary, Kanakadasa. His
compositions, which are mostly in Kannada (some in Sanskrit) are
widely sung. Some of his most notable compositions on Lord Rama are
‘Ramamantrava Japiso’, ‘Rama Rama Enniro’ , and many more. In ‘Rama
Mantrava’, Purandara Dasar advises the mortal listener to chant the Rama
mantra. He specifically advises not to go astray by trusting any odd mantra.
The mantra sh ould be shouted even by the lowliest, uttered when fear is
impending as it destroys many sins and gives easy access to the paradise. He
explains that the essence of all of the Vedas is this mantra. It is the path to
salvation and points to the splendid path for devotion. A popular composition,
it extols the greatness of the Lord and brings out the essence and purpose of
the festival of Ramanvami.
There are countless compositions on Lord Rama by several other great
composers. Every year, the opportunity to explore Lord Rama’s greatness in
the form of song is delved into by upcoming and eminent artists. Through the
search comes the true essence of celebrating the ‘navami’ of the one described
as the god in human form.
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