Sree Gananatha - Malahari

Ragam: Malahari
Talam: Rupakam

About the song

This is one of the first geetams taught in most Carnatic music classes. It is set in Malahari raga and is in praise of Ganesha. As one of the lines in the song itself suggests Ganesha is worshiped before the start of any new activities or learning. So this song becomes an apt choice for music lessons too. It is said to be composed by Purandara Dasa.

Lyrics

Pallavi:

sree gananatha sindoora varna

karuna sagara kari vadana

lambodara lakumikara

ambasuta amara vinuta

lambodara lakumikara


Charanam 1:

sidha charana gana sevita

sidhi vinayaka te namo nama (lambodara)


Charanam 2:

Sakala vidyadi poojita

Sarvottama te namo nama (lambodara)


Meaning

O Sree Gananatha, the red-hued one!
the ocean of kindness, the elephant faced!

O the broad bellied, the one who brings wealth and prosperity!
the son of Parvathi, the one who is praised by gods!

O the one who is worshiped by Sidhas, Chaaranas and Ganas
the bestower of intellect and success, I pray to you.

O the one who is worshipped at the start of any new learning,
the best of all, I pray to you.


Additional notes

Please note that the charanams follow the same swara pattern as the first two lines of the pallavi making it easy for the student to remember the sequence.

Word by word meaning

gananatha - the master of the ganas (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gana)

sindoora varna - the one with the color of vermilion/saffron/kumkum/sindoor.

karuna sagara - karuna= kindness, sagara = ocean. Ocean of kindness - one with infinite kindness.

kari vadana - kari = elephant, vadana = face. Elephant faced.

lambodara = having a protuberant belly

lakumikara = one who brings properity. Lakumi is a variation of the word Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Lakshmi and Ganesha are usually worshiped together. One of the myths say Ganesha was adopted by Lakshmi from Parvati.

ambasuta - son of amba. amba = mother, Parvati. Suta = son.

amara vinuta - amara = immortals, gods. vinuta = praised by.

sidhacharana ganasevitha - sidhas and chaaranas. In its general meaning Sidhas are the accomplished ascetics, yogis or sadhus. In the current context sidhas are the residents of Sidhaloka. Chaaranas are celestial beings skilled in music and art. Sidhas, charanas, gandharvas and ganas are all heavenly beings considered as demigods. Sevitha - prayed upon by, worshiped by.

Sidhivinayaka - Siddhi - Is the achievement of skill or knowledge. It could also mean the attainment of great spiritual/intellectual powers or wisdom. Vinayaka - Another name for Ganapati/Ganesa. It means the perfect leader. He is the leader of all the ganas.

Te - The literal meaning is they but here it can be interpreted as to you. See next line.

Namo nama - I bow to you over and over. The word Namah(or Nama:) is repeated. Here we have a visarga followed by a soft consonant and as per Sanskrit grammatical rules the ending visarga of the first Nama: assumes the form of 'o'. So Nama: + Nama: = Namo Namah.

Sakalavidya - sakala = all, vidya = knowledge/skill.

Adipujita - Adi = beginning. Pujitha = prayed. Together this means you are prayed upon at the beginning of any new learning.

Sarvottama - Uttama - perfect, Sarva - all. You are the perfect of all or you are the all-perfect.


About the Raga

Malahari is a janya raga of 15th Melakarta raga Mayamalavagowla. The scale is as follows:

Arohana: S R₁ M₁ P D₁ Ṡ

Avarohana: Ṡ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S


For details:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malahari

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