INTRODUCTION

My journey with Carnatic Music (or is it inside carnatic...hmmm..) started many years ago but it had been a love-hate relationship! :-) Loved the music, hated classes. Loved the music, hated practising......etc....so it went nowhere!

Over the years I always learnt music but never studied it in-depth. Until a few years ago. I came under a guru who opened up a whole new world of CM for me. Not that my earlier gurus hadn't tried. I am sure they did but I was too involved in everything else, to hear!

And then my interest in Carnatic Music grew....but slowly.....

My purpose for starting this blog - I am learning Carnatic Music.........and I was always told that when one writes it down, one remembers it better. When one shares, one learns more... So this is my attempt to share my journey, discovering Carnatic Music, with whoever wants to read it. :-)

Welcome...........

Monday, November 5, 2007

Ragam - ISAMANOHARI

There is a difference in the treatment of this raga, by Thyagaraja and Dikshitar. This raga was mentioned for the first time in King Tulaja's Sangita Saramrita. Tulaja had put it as the janya of Kambhoji, a sampurna raga with no Bhashanga, an evening raga.

Dikshitar made a compromise and put it as a Bhashanga raga, janya of Hari Kedaragaula with bhashanga swara Kakali Nishadam used in certain phrases.

Thyagaraja however, retained it as a pure janya of Harikambhoji, devoid of Kakali prayogams, as a sampurna vakra sampurna ragam.

DIKSHITAR'S TREAMENT

  • Arohanam - S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
  • Avarohanam - S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
  • Janya of 28th Mela - Hari Kedara Gaula
  • Bhashanga swara Kakali Ni (N3) comes in the phrase 'SN3S' and 'RNS'
  • Bhashanga, sampurna raga
  • Sung at all times
  • No Vakra in arohana or avarohana
  • But in lakshya, we find the following prayogas - 'PPS', 'PNDP', 'SDNS', 'PMRGRS', 'SGRMGRS', 'SNS', 'NDNS', SNDPDNS', 'SRGR', 'RGMRGSR', 'GMPDP', 'DNSNS', 'SRGR', 'RGMP', 'PDNDPM' etc..
  • No 'SRGMPDN' is found.

1. Sri Gananatham - Muthuswamy Dikhitar - Rupakam
Meanings : http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/shreegananatham.htm

Its a short and sweet piece. Heard versions by Prof. S. R. Janakiraman, T. M. Krishna, Dr. S. Ramanathan. Sang it in madhyamakala (88). Put many rounds of swarams for it. It was awesomely enjoyable! :-)


2. Jagadishamanohari - Rupakam - Muthuswamy Dikshitar
3. Anantha Balakrishna - Adi - Muthuswamy Dikshitar


THYAGARAJA'S TREATMENT:

  • Sangraha Chudamani (Govinda), sangita Sara Sangrahamu, Sangita Svara Prasthara Sagaramu, Gana Bhaskaram, give it as janya of 28th mela, harikambhoji.
  • Arohanam - S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N2 S
  • Avarohanam - S N2 D2 P M1 R2 M1 G3 R2 S
  • Janya of 28th Mela - Harikambhoji
  • No Bhashanga swara Kakali Ni
  • sampurna vakra sampurna raga (Sangita Chudamani)
  • we find the following prayogas - 'NSRGMP', 'PDNS', 'SNDSNDNP', 'SRGMGR', 'MRGRS'. No SNDPMGRS is found.

4. Manasa Sri Ramachandruni - Adi - Thyagaraja
Lyrics - http://www.karnatik.com/c2543.shtml

Meanings (According to The Spiritual heritage of Thyagaraja by C.Ramanujachari)

Oh Mind! (O manasA) Dont forget (maravakE) Sri Ramachandra! Dont be careless! (deceived is more appropriate meaning for EmarakE)

Refer to (jUcukO) the third and sixth chapters (mUDunnAradhyayAmulu) of the Valmiki (puTTanu puTTina mauni means sage (mauni) born (puTTina) out of an ant-hill (puTTanu)) Ramayana to know that Rama is supreme.

He has assigned osagi) the duties (panulu) of Creation (sRSTi), Preservation (puSTi) and Destruction (naSTi) to the Trimurthis (namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) as being of a lower order (nikRStamu) and contends himself (tuSTuDai paragE) with the work of fulfilling the desires (manObhISTamuliccE) of the good devotees (sadbhaktas ) .

In this song, Thyagaraja Swami tells his mind to read the Valmiki Ramayana to understand that Lord Rama is the Supreme one!

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Learnt this song . Can be sung in slow to fast Madhyamakala. Heard versions by Madurai Mani Iyer, Prof. S.R.Janakiraman, Aruna Sairam, Smts. Brinda and Mukta. A lovely, popular piece!


5. Sambho Gangadhara - Adi - Gopalakrishna Bharathi
6. Himagirisha Manonmani - Adi - Muthiah Bhagavatar
7. Meyyidu Meyyadi - Eka - Vedanayakam Pillai
8. Abhayam Nee - Rupakam - Vedanayakam Pillai

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