Manavi Alakincharadate Manasa! Scintillating masterpiece of Tyagaraja

As I e-pen this down , the kriti is haunting me.It has been my background music for a week now. I couldn't resist to express my joy and the thought wave that is flowing out since I listened to Agam ,presenting this Kriti - so captivating. 

First magnetic aspect of the number is the Ragam itself- Nalinakanthi(I named my would-be wife after it). Myriad of positive feelings it arouses! Its so romantic , divine , ecstatic.Not being straight(Vakram) often turns out to be creative and beautiful , especially in Arts.You can't be pedantic when it comes to the things which emanate from within.  The ragam is a vakra ragam(the notes are sung zig-zag in its structure- too much technical so avoiding it). 

I sat to interpret this song from the great Saint's perspective (actually 'Try to'). The trinity of composer-writers, namely Tyagaraja-Muthuswami Deskshitar-Syama Sastri, who are also considered as the 'Trinity of Carnatic Music' , chose a ragam for lyrics so appropriately that they both are bound like wheat and chaff  proving the well known verse from the Raghuvamsa by Kalidasa.

वागर्थाविव सम्प्रुक्तौ वागर्थप्रतिपत्तये

जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ

Meaning :I bow in front the the Parvati and Parameshwara who are as bound-together as the speech(words) and its meaning. 


Its the triumvirate of Meaning-Lyric-Raga , that  amazingly is in sync with the bhava behind the compositions of the revered trinity.


In the Pallavi(opening stanza) of this kriti , Swami(Tyagaraja) is speaking to his own mind . Mind is childish , monkey-natured. One needs to win over it by showing something which it likes and tap its immense potential. No wonder Swami knew it and his mind liked 'Rama Namam' the most. He goes on :

                 Manavi alakincharadate - Maramamella Telipedane Manasa!!    

                  "Oh my mind ! Won't you  listen to my plea?- I shall reveal every secret to you "

In the anupallavi (a stanza which generally sort of 'completes' the pallavi or answers questions like 'how' or 'why') , Swami adds 'why it(mind) should listen to him'

             Ghanudaina Ramachandruni Karunantarangamu telisna (Na)

     "Listen to my(Na) Plea , who(Swami) is cognizant of the benevolent conscience of Lord Rama". 


                   (Yes , now the mind is convinced . It is ready to listen to Swami) .


          In the Charanam - Swami unfolds the Marmam(possibly translated to Secret)

Karmakanda Mataakrushtulai Bhava ghana charulai gaasi chendaga kani

          "Unable to see his subjects obsessed with the theory of Mata(religion) and lost in the jungle of bhava(here emotions) ...."


                             Manava avatarudai Kanipinchinaade.....Manasa!!


         "...the lord has taken the human form(Rama) to guide us to the virtuous path...oh my mind"



Beautiful isn't it? I wonder often how crucial music is to solace the hasty and confused mind of this modernized world. Religion (Which ever it is) . Swami here took Hinduism. But doesn't every religion say the same thing? Everything converges at one place. Music with spirituality is always a great appetizer for a spiritually-hungry man. Probably starters turn out to be the main dish in this fast paced world. Enjoy this starter :) 


See you. Thank you for reading.