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Sunday, June 13, 2010

Vathapi Ganapathim Bhaje

Vathapi Ganapathim Bhaje

By

Muthuswami Deekshithar

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(This is a very popular first song in concerts of Carnatic Music.. It is a prayer addressed to Ganesa of Badami written in Raga Hamsadwani(sound of a swan).)

Ragam Hamsadwani
Thalam Aadhi

Pallavi

Vathapi Ganapathim Bhajeham,
Vaaranaasyam vara pradham sri,

Anupallavi

Bhooothadhi samsevitha Charanam
Bhootha boudhika prapancha bharanam,

Madhyama Kala Sahithyam

Veeta raaginam , vinatha yoginam,
Viswa Karanam , Vigna vaaranam.

Charanam
Pura Kumbha sambhava munivara prapoojitham,
Trikona Madhya gatham,
Murari pramukath upasitham,
Mooladhara Kshethra sthitham,
Paradhi Chtahvari Vakathmgam,
Pranava Swaroopa Vakra Thundam,
Nirantharam nidala chandra kandam,
Nija Vaamakara Vidrutekshu Dandam.

Madhyama Kala Sahithyam

Karambhuja pasa bheeja pooram,
Kaloosha vidhuram bhoothaharam,
Haradhi Guru guha thoshitha Bimbam,
Hamsadwani bhooshitha Herambham

English translation

Pallavi

I sing the praises of Ganapathi of Vatapi,
Who has a face of an elephant and showers boons.

Anupallavi

He whose feet are worshipped by all elements,
Who rules over the material earth and its beings,
Madhyama Kala Sahithyam
Who is beyond desires , who is praised by Yogis,
Who is the cause of the world and
Who is the one who removes obstacles.

Charanam

He who was worshipped by Agasthya from early times,
Who is in the center of the triangle in Srichakra,
Who is worshipped by great ones like Lord Vishnu,
Who is in the mooladhara Chakra of the body,
Who is in all the four sounds starting from Para.
Who is of the form of Om with his curly trunk,
Who permanently has a piece of moon on his head,
And who has in his left hand a stick of Sugar cane.

Madhyama Kala Sahithyam

He who holds in his lotus like hands a noose ,goad and fruits,
He who drives away all evils and has a giant form,
He who is adored by Lord Shiva and Lord Subrahmanya,
And He who is close to Shiva and is adorned by Raga Hamsadwani.

11 comments:

  1. The transliteration of the samskrta verse in English needs improvement. Otherwise,the wording appears changed.
    In Madhyama Kala Sahityam, giant form does not make sense. Bhootakaram may mean the form of Siva. Siva is one of the meanings of the word bhoota.

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  2. Ganapathi of Vatapi, - who is Vatapi - is he Hanuman

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    Replies
    1. Vatapi is a place in North Karnataka. Now it is called Badami.

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    2. Vatapi means a name of a place called Badami which was the capital of Chalukya Kings.

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  3. Vatapi is a place , about whom this song has been composed.

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  4. It is all well and good to make literal translations like this but surely the actual feeling/message that this song is set to convey (or the inner hidden meaning of the composition)is likely to be missed out. The mystics and those enlightened can understand what the composer is hinting at: the very nature of creation and its secrets.It should be our aim to go beyond what the mundane knowledge literal translations bring to capture the true essence the composer is alluding to. This can only be done by the realized. R

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  5. It is Plsace in Karnata alright but the krithi \was made on the diety ion of a temple in Tamilnady (source: Wikipedia- Subject to correction_)

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  6. Pallava dynasty army general Paranjothy - Siruthonda naayanar replaced this idol from Vathapi in 7 A.D and aboded in Ganpatheecharam temple at Thiruchengaathankudi in Thiruvaaroor. But Ganesha worship became more popular during Maratha rule in Tanjaavore in late 16 A.D

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