21 keeravaaNi mela
Aa: S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

taaLam: aadi
Composer: H.N. Muttayyah Bhaagavatar
Language:

pallavi

ambA vANi nannAdarincavE

anupallavi

shambarAri vairi sahOdari kambu gaLEsita kamalEshvari

caraNam

paradEvi ninnu bhajiyincE bhaktulanu brOcE pankajAsani
vara vINApANi vAgvilAsini harikEshapura alankAri rANi

Meaning:
By Aparna from Neccheli (original article here, reproduced with permission)

Carnatic Compositions – The Essence and Embodiment
-Aparna Munukutla Gunupudi

This krithi is a short and sweet krithi on goddess Saraswati by Sri Muttayya Bhagavathar. It fits vANi well that he composed it in KeeravAni. In pallavi, he pleads to vANi to protect him. Anupallavi refers her as a beautiful woman with a nicely shaped neck (conch-like), who loves the lotus flowers and sister of lord Siva. In charanam he describes her as lotus petal shaped eyed goddess, who helps true devotees, one who enjoys playing veena and lives and adorns Harikesapuram.

The keystone for this krithi is the samAsam (compound word) “sambarArivairi sahOdari”. It is split as sambara (sambarAsura), ari (enemy), vairi (enemy) and sahOdari (sister). Sambarasura’s enemy is Pradyumna, Pradyumna’s enemy is Siva and therefore Siva’s sister. The animosity between asuras and devas is very ancient and understandable. But what is the animosity between Pradyuman and Siva? The answer to this takes us to Srimad Bhagavatam, 10th canto.

Manmadha, who angered Siva and was burnt to ashes by Siva’s 3rd eye, is born to Krihsna and Rukmini’s son and was named a Pradyumna. SambarAsura comes to know that Pradyumna is a threat to his life, therefore he kidnaps Pradyumna and throws him in the ocean. Naturally, a fish swallows Pradyumna and later a fisherman catches that fish. Seeing the gigantic size of the fish, the fisherman takes it to the SambarAsura, to please the king. SambarAsura rewards the fisherman and sends the fish to the kitchen. When they cut the fish the baby emerges from it. A woman named mAyAvati is working in the courts of SambarAsura, she is none other than Rati, the wife of Manmadha. After his death she takes the form of MAyAvati and spends time in Sambara’s court. She comes to know of the news and immediately comes to rescue the child and requests the king that she be allowed to care for him and raise him and Sambara allows. He grows up to be a handsome boy and attains youth. mAyAvati, gets attracted to his charm and expresses her love towards him. Pradyumna gets shocked and questions and condemns her atrocious request. mAyAvati, then narrates the story of Rati and Manmadha and reveals that she is Rati and he is Manmadha. She states that SambarAsura has a lot of magical powers and is bent upon killing Pardyumna. She also states that in order to defeat him, Pradyumna needs to learn magic and trickery and teaches him the same. Pradyumna after learning the magic warfare, fights with Sambara and defeats him. All the gods are happy on the occasion and bless him. Later, Pradyumna along with mAyAvati goes to Dwaraka. The citizens are all amused to see a handsome man with the features of Krishna walking by the city streets. nArada shows up just in time and explains the story to Rukmini. Rukmini, recognizing Pradyumna as her son, hugs him and welcomes mAyAvati as her daughter in law. Krishna, of course, being the mastermind behind this entire act, watches quietly. As soon as we learn of this story, the animosity between Siva and Pradyuman becomes clear. It is incredible that such a short samAsam can narrate a powerful story as above and no wonder vAsudevAcharya has become the noted composer of the 20th century.

“sangItamapi sAhityam saraswatye sthanadwayam

EkamApAta madhuram anyadAlOchanAmrutham”

The above poem describes music and literature as goddess Saraswati’s two breasts and one gives melodious music and the other gives thoughtful nectar. I find this as a very interesting analogy, while many other parts of the body are in pairs, a pair of breasts were used here. My theory is as other parts of the body are used to function and protect the body, breasts feed and nourish a child/another life. Then, it becomes no surprise that goddess Saraswati is feeding all of our thirst and hunger for music and literature.

We are approaching the Dasara navaratri in this month denoting nine days of festivities in praise of Trisakthi – Parvati, Lakshmi and Saraswati. As you listen to these three songs, I wish you all the blessings of the Trisakthi. Other information:
Lyrics contributed by Lakshman Ragde. Meaning contributed by Aparna Gunupudi via Neccheli.

Song performed for karnATik by Jaishree Shankar