Shri Krishna Janmashtami has always been a very special festival for me. As a child I loved the tale of Shri Krishna's birth. Thanks to my grandpa and to the famous Mahabharata episodes on the television every Sunday, that I got familiarized with Shri Krishna's stories - from his fascinating birth, his tantrums with mother Yashoda, his teenage valor, his love stories, the Radha - Krishna chemistry, and his skillful planning in the Mahabharata war, everything is very exciting. Not to forget, the innumerable compositions on Lord Krishna by a whole genre of the Dasas and Musicians, who have contributed greatly in spreading the word of the Lord.At home, I would always attend my music teacher's concert, mostly in ISKCON every year. It's happening this year too. Do attend if you are interested! :-) As a tribute to my music teacher's tremendous efforts to download a peanut size of music in me, I would like to remnice and list down all the Krishna krithis I know till date, and that I would probably cherish singing all my life. So here comes the elaborate list of songs...in chronological order of learning:
- Pillangoviya chelva krishnana yelli nodidhiri - Raga Mohana - this was the first devaranama I learnt, probably in 1991, just before my music exam.
- Bandhanene Ranga Bandhanene - Raga Shri - this is a very nice devaranama with a lot of rythmic words like kini kini, jhana jhana, dhudu dhudu - true hit among kids, always.
- Hari Neene Gathiyendhu - Raga Shanmukhapriya - another devaranama, a tough one to learn and sing.
- Paarthaaya Pratibhoditaam - Shloka from the Bhagavadgita - this contained five extracts from the Bhagavadgita, that we sang for an invocation in Adarsha Bhavan.
- Bhaktajana Paalaka Bhakti Sukhadaayaka - Raga Hamsanandi - my music teacher set the tune to this devaranama, hence will be one of my favorites.
- Ganamurthe - Raga Ganamurthe - the famous keerthane
- Saamanyavalla Shri Hariya Seve - Raga Charukeshi - again a devaranama - an easy one which I always sing when someone asks me to :-)
- Baaro Krishnaiya - Ragamalika (Raga Maand, Bilahari, Kamavardhini, Sindhu Bhairavi) - I love the way we begin this with the Shloka - Ksheeravaaridhige Shri Lakshmi Bandhanthe - in Raga Hamsanandi and then switch to Maand!
- Maiya Mori - Raga Charukeshi - by Surdas, very common one again.
- Indendu Vachithivira Alaga Nillu Veedhi Kaadhu Pora - Raga Surati - Love the way my sister used to perform for this telugu composition.
- Yadhuvamsha Tilakana Veshavidhene - Raga Khamach - this is an Anthapurageethe composed by kannada poet, Sri. D.V.Gundappa, famously called D.V.G. This song begins with a beautiful shloka, on Lord Krishna and his mesmirizing looks. Makes me forget the world when I sing this.
- Dasa Dasara Maneya - Raga Hindola - by Kanakadasa. We start this with an Ugabhoga! Dasanaguvudhakke esu janmada sukruthavo. Please read my post on Ugabhoga for more information :-)
- Rajuvedale Joothamurare Kasthoori Ranga - Raga Thodi by Sri Thyagaraja - a great krithi.
- Vyarthavaayithalla Janmavu Saarthakaagalilla - Raga Hindola - by Kanakadasa.
- Baalagopala - Raga Bhairavi - By the great Dikshitaru as we fondly call him :-)
- Yaariddharenaiya Neenilladhenagilla - Raga Ahir Bhairavi (or Chakravaka) - set to khandachhaapu taala, this raga has helped me identify a lot of film songs. :-)
- Gopiya Bhagyavidhu - Ragamalika (Behag, Hamsadhwani, Hamsanandhi, Kaapi, Sindhu Bhairavi) - starting from baby Krishna's bathing, the way mother Yashoda enjoys dressing him up, worships him, tells him stories, feeds him, and puts him to sleep - everything is described so beautifully in this composition by Sri Purandaradasa. Its a very beautiful song and my favorite again.
- Baalakrishnam Bhavayami - Raga Gopikavasantha - by Dikshitaru.
- Bantanaagi Baagila Kaayive - Raga Shubhali - a Panchamavarjita raga - I find this one tough to sing.
- Jagadodhaarana Aadisidhaleshodha - Raga Hindustani Kapi - made even more memorable by the great M.S.S.
- Hari Kunidha Namma Hari Kunidha - Raga Yaman - my baby nephew enjoys this whenever I sing.
- Daasana Maadiko Yenna - Raga Naadhanaamakriya - a beautiful song, quite a common one.
- Narayana Enniro - Raga Behag - I fell in love with Behag after this. :-)
- Nagumomu Ganaleni - Raga Abheri - which carnatic musician will not know this? :-) But do listen to great Sri Balamuralikrishna speak on this song explain the meaning, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0z6go0iYtU
- Andinda Naa Ninna Nere Nambideno - Raga Abheri again!
- Deenana Dukha Harana Deva - Raga Basanth Bahar - by Surdas
- Dhrishti Ninna Paadadalli - Raga Mohana - again a Purandaradasa Devaranama
- Neene Ballidhano Hari Ninna Dasaru - Raga Purvi Kalyani - this is my favorite devaranama by Purandaradasa, very tough, very good.
- Aadahodhalle Makkalu - Ragamalika (Khamach, Kamavardhini, Hindola, Kalyana Vasantha) - this is a recent one for me.
- Jo Achuthananda - Raga Kapi - a beautiful beautiful song to put you into deep sleep, you must listen to M.S.S render this. I learnt this after multiple multiple hearing and practise. Its in telugu and set to khandachapu tala, an Annamacharya composition.
Well! There ends my exhaustive list! Apart from the above, I also like Alaipayudhe Kanna and Kannalane from Bombay...:-)
If you notice, the Hari Dasa Movement contributed a lot to such innumerable songs on Lord Krishna, especially in Kannada. They hold a prominent place in every concert till date. My knowledge of ragas increased to a great extent through Devaranamas.If you have any favorite songs on Lord Krishna, do let me know. Also, try and visit the Krishna temple in Udupi, once in a lifetime. A beautiful place with a lot of historical significance.
Wish you all a happy Janmashtami festival. Pray well and Eat well.
17 comments:
Chethashri in Dwijavanthi is a masterpiece by Dikshithar and so popularised by Semmangudi Mama.And Balakrishnan Padamalar in Dhanyasi is one of my favourites.And there are so many actually by Shri Oothakkadu Venkatasubbier.
Sathej
Sathej,
I have heard Chethashri, but never had a chance to learn. Dwijavanthi is a beautiful raga.
I have not heard the second song that you are talking about. Try to send me a link if possible.
I need to listen to so much more and there's so much to learn!
Thanks.
Alai pauthe kanna,Chinnan chiru kiliye kannama,Kurai ontrum illai (MS) are other worth mentioning sons.Any way happy Janmashtami.
KCS
I have listened to not even 10 compositions among the ones that you have listed! You have learnt these many songs on Lord Krishna alone?! Cool! :)
Btw, where did Kannalane from Bombay come in this post? :S
:) chinna kannal alaikuran ( RG ) and rest sudhakara finised it.
good post chiro.. as aparna akka told u had learnt so much.. :)
superb. :) enjoy your payasam on the day.
Some interesting facts about him are.
hope you know birth of krishna and his elder bro balarama were the first kids came of out artifical embroyo transplacentation.
6th kid balarama - transferred to Rohini
7th kid krishna - transferred to Yasoda.
Mythologically people claims both are same and some close forms of him are
Vasudeva,
Sankarshana, ( is one of my friends sisters sons name also)
Pradyumna
and Anirudha
my favorite picture of krishna is -
baby krishna sleep in allamaram leaves with one leg down and another leg in his mouth... its so awesome to watch.. :)
Like that lots of interesting stories coupled with him. Right from seedai to butter to mahabratha there are amazing part of stories.
sorry for comment spamming.. i forget to put this in the previous one..
:) hope u know how krishna related to arjuna.. :)
krishanas sister - subhadra married to arjun and got a brave kid called abhimanju.
subhadra is nothing but the own daughter of Yasoda/Nanda. so subhadra grew along with Rohini's kid balarama and krishnana.
even thought krishna has a biased view in mahabhratha , balarama his a neutral view and once in a time he deined to give subhathri to arjuna. so again maya kannna planned a short and subhathiri eloped with arjun to have great8 life. .:)
appuram hope u would have watched maya bazaar movie.. where in it clearly says abhimaniyu weds uttrai. in that ghadogajan (?) played a heroic role. ghadoghajan is nothing but second generation bheemic version. yes. son of bhima and idumi.. :)
appuram there are lots of family relationship runnnnig along with the story.. superb aa eruku.
if your interested i suggest you to read.
Mahabharata Un-told - RK Narayanan
Mahabharata by Rajaji
or
any other form of mahabharata end-to-end story ( start from dhuysantha-saguinthalai story to end of panchapandavas. ) .. its nerve breaking fictious, moral valued, amazing story.
i am google times sure its far far far away from freaking Harry Potter. fairly i red one volume of it and watched 3 sequels movies not to degrade the HP compare to it our mythology has strong roots and standards which people is not reading.
if not now.. try go - the complete mahabharata through when ever u get time. Take that as history rather than epic. munch all the branch stories, inter relate the relationships, why, what, where kind of thigns.. i am sure u will not drop it :)
i munched such books 4 to 5 times still wanted to read again . so appadi.
Hello Sudhakar,
I think I did mention about Alaipayudhe kanna.
Kurai Ondrum Illai by MSS is my all time favorites. Thanks for adding that.
Aparna,
Its called freedom of Speech and Expression! :-) Hey that was on a lighter note. the thing is, not all people will know the krithis i am talking about, so I just included a filmi song, so atleast somebody can relate to that and add on, like how sudhakar and adiya have included some filmi numbers. so you get the point? :-)
Adiya,
I prepared our authentic payasam with pachai karpura add-on, thanks for that tip! Also, I got bonus payasam from my neighbor yesterday. :-)
Hey send me that pic of baby Krishna if you have, on leaves..:-)
Hey you are unfolding too many mythological facts in your comment, why dont you add a blog post for this in your blog? :-)
Reading books...:) will try to...
Thanks for your interesting comments Adiya.
ya i know reading books is a mars effect for you. sowlpa adjust maadi.. :) or i can try to get some mp3 version of it. :)
chillax. :)
i like yr blog. can u send me few more sites or blog related to Janmasthmi...
Dear,Friend
Janmashtami is the joyful celebration of Lord Krishna's birth. Major
celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami takes place at midnight as Krishna is
said to have made his divine appearance in that hour. Fasting, bhajans, pujas
and many other rituals mark Janmashtami celebrations in India.Krishna
Janmashtami is observed on the eighth day of the dark half (Krishna Paksha)
of the month of Shraavana in the Hindu calendar, when the Rohini
Nakshatram is ascendent.According to the Puranas Krishna was born on the
8th lunar day (Ashtami) of the waning moon of the month of Smvana at
midnight, upon the moon's entrance into Rohini asterism.
Please visit for more detail (Ecard and Invitation)
Krishna Janmashtami
Some of my other favourites:
(1)Krishaanaya Bharade in Kedaram (Purandaradasa's). Watch Prince Rama Varma sing this on youtube. He has a heavenly voice.
(2) Bhajan Achyutam Keshavam Krishna Damodaram; sung by Vikram Hazra of Art of living
(3) Bavayami Gopalabalam in raag Yamunakalyani
(4)Kuzhaloodi manamellam in raag Khambodhi(Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaier's)
(5) Theeradha vilayaattu pillai (Subramanya Bharati's)
BTW Chiroti, I enjoy your blogs :-)
Hi :)
I've noted that somehow, songs on Lord Krishna have a charm and beauty about them. You've also felt it??
Apart from the ones you mentioned, you HAVE to check out
- guruvayoorappane in reethigowlai (such a sweet song! I heard Sowmya's version. She's sung it wonderfully :) If you don't get the song, drop me a mail. I'll send it to you :))
- kuzhalosai in sivaranjani
- kannanidam edhuthu solladi - ragamalika, with senjuruti, punnagavarali and nadhanamkriya (do listen to Ranjani and Gayathri's version)
- thaye yashoda in thodi (famous song :) beautiful song :) )
- kunidhado in hamsanandi (I think)
Just THINKING about these songs gives me thrills of pleasure :) DO listen to these songs, in case you've not heard any of these.. And thanks for the list. Some of them were new to me :)
One day, Krishna complained to his mother Yashoda about the injustice of nature which made Radha so fair and he so dark. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha's face in whichever colour he wanted.
Lord Krishna Photo, God Krishna Picture, Krishna Wallpaper
Hi Chethasri,
really like the list of songs. Awsomee and great collections. Do u have these songs?
If so could you please upload them or mail them to TheAveen@gmail.com
If you do so it would be great helpfull
Yours
Aveen
Would you have lyrics and meaning for yadu vamsa?
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