Paahi Sripathe - Hamsadhwani - Maharaja Swathi Tirunal | Gayathri Venkataraghavan

Happy to share one of the sprightly compositions that we sang in Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan in December
Thanks to the artists Vidwans L.Ramakrishnan, Neyveli Narayanan Anna and Chandrasekarasharma it was a vibrant concert.
Pahi Sripate-Hamsadwani-Adi- Swathi Tirunal Maharaja
Maharaja Swati Thirunal Rama Verma was a multi-faceted personality with a diverse range of skills and interests. He was a consummate polyglot, a visionary ruler, and an efficient administrator. Above all, he was an extraordinary composer and a great patron of arts and music.
He was a contemporary to the revered Trinity of Carnatic music. Many great musicians of his time adorned his royal court including the famous Tanjore Quartet, and Shadkala Govinda Marar.
He has composed varnams, swarajathis, krithis, javalis, padams and thillanas in various languages. He adopted the mudra "Padmanabha" and "Sarasijanabha" in his compositions in reverence to the presiding deity of his kingdom, "Anantapadmanabha Swamy". His music has a sublime quality that blends spiritual reverence with the ethereal beauty of lyrics.
In this kriti " Pahi Shripate" set in Hamsadwani raga, Swati Thirunal extols the wondrous physical attributes of the Lord while seeking the divine protection and mercy of the Lord and surrendering himself. With his command over the language, he crafts beautifully evocative and intricate verses in this kriti.
In the anupallavi, he states " Saahasaadhika garvaharaa" - destroyer of the pride of Demons; and "Suravairi nuta" - worshipped by the Devatas. The phrases flow one after another in a radiant cascade, much like a string of pearls that effortlessly connect to form a resplendent necklace.
Watch the lovely gait with which it lands in 2 beats after the samam. A lovely eduppu that I enjoy singing.
He expertly alternates between praising the Lord's tangible physical form and His all-encompassing compassion and infinite divinity. He affirms the Lord to be "papaghana sameerana" - a forceful gust of
wind that blows away cloud-like sins"; and then "Bimbaadhara" - One with the red lips like a bimba fruit; In the second charanam, Lord is described as "Sarada sisirakarasama vilasita mukha" - His face possesses the brilliance of Goddess Saraswati and the coolness of autumn moon. and ends with the phrase, "Vindaraadhakhila mauni budhaavana", focussing the Lord's supreme power and wisdom to remain a silent witness while being the ultimate reality.
In the final charanam, he asserts, " Bhanu shashanka nayana" - Eyes like the sun and the moon symbolizing His radiance and calmness emanating from His gaze; and follows it with, "vaaraya paapajaatham" - His glance can remove sins accumulated over many lifetimes. :" Vanaruhaasaana" - one who sits on a seat made of forest leaves and flowers"; " hara valaripu pujita" - vanquisher of the demon "Hara" and worshipped by all - sages, deities, alike. "Kanaka ruchi vasana" - one who wears garments that have a golden hue symbolizing His regal nature. "Kamanyeetara keerte" meaning His incomparable countenance makes Him an object of adoration and whose fame is known through universes.
"Syaanandoorapuraadheesha sarasija nabha" - The Lord is referred to as the "Adheesha" (Lord) of Syanandoorapuram, a place of bliss, and His navel (naabha) is likened to a lotus (sarasija), indicating that everything emanates from Him and He is the source of all creations. "Mauni samaaja bhayaapaha " - He is silent, tranquil yet His presence dispels fear and calms the minds of the devotees. His compassionate nature is embodied in the phrase " manju hasendu". Swati Thirunal concludes with a brilliant flourish capturing the essence of Lord Padmanabha. " Ruche Gunasagara sundara " - epitomizing the Lord's divine beauty and His infinite ocean of virtues.
This composition is both poetic and devotional, enabling the listeners to meditate on the Lord's omnipresence.
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#hamsadhwani #raga