Glimpses from Indian spirituality, mythology and way of life.

Song -Bantu Reethi-Saint Thyagaraja (Nirmala Ramachandran)


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The Trinity of Carnatic music namely Thyagaraja, Muthusami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri are recognized as being distinct in style, and original in handling ragas. This is a song composed by Saint Thyagaraja. In this song starting with Bantu Reethi, Saint Thyagaraja pleads with Lord Rama to give him the post of a guard for Sri Rama symbolically meaning that he always wants to be in the presence of Sri Rama. Further he says that the guard’s post should be such that he is empowered to destroy: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya which are the six passions of the mind. If this is translated in a simple manner these respectively mean desire, anger, greed, delusory emotional attachment, pride and envy. These passions are termed as demons which are called as Arishadvargas. Finally he says that he says that he should be blessed with the emblem of Ramabhakti that is devotion to Sri Rama and given a sword called Raama Naama meaning the name of Raama, to perform his guard's job.

The song in the Raga Hamsanaadam set to Adi Taala is rendered by Nirmala Ramachandran.

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Glimpses from Indian spirituality, mythology and way of life.By VENKATARAMAN M