Monday, November 12, 2012

DEEPAVALI HABBA

Banthu Banthu Habba,
Deepava urisuva Habba

Manadi deepava ottisi
Horage patakiya sidisi

Mane angaladi rangoli ya yeladu
sihiya anchi  santhoshadi kunidu

Haaba gallalli raja yendhu
deepava urisi aarchrisi yendhu

Yellara mane mathu mana belagalu
Haara Bandide  Deepavali Habba

                                                                          Raghu Vasishta

Monday, October 1, 2012

Manase OO Manase

Manase oo manase
Bandeya nee kanase

Barutha tangaliya tandu
Hrudayadi rangoli yeledu

Bhavane gala bhava ke seri
Manavu aakasha ke aari

Seleyutha nannanu
Nodutha kannanu

Seride ee hrudayava
Nudisi prema sangeethava

                                                                                                             RaghuVasishta

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Nanna Preethiya Tangaali

OO  nanna preethiya tangaali
Yellinda baruve nee haari

Suttalu hoovina rangoli
Bannagalu chelli manadalli

Chili pili hakkigala gaana sudhe
Preethiya manavu keluthide

Manadalli aaseyu moodutidhe
Bayake  hottu ninna kayutidhe

                                                                    Raghu Vasishta

Monday, July 30, 2012

Haage Sumanne

Modibanthu ale ondhu sagardhi,
Thandithu harusha yenna manadhi,

Nodomme alli moodbanthu alli aleyu,
Chimmutha savi kshanagala maleyu,

Ayo idhenu, maraluthihudhu aa aleyu
Maralolage mucchithe nenupugala kaleyu,

Garjisuve naa sagara nagutha ondhu hemme,
Alividhu kevala alege… yengalla
moodibaruvenu mathommeJ
                                                                        
                                                                                    Sagar

Gelayanige Kavana

Manadalli kulthiruve neenu
Snehitanaagi iruve neenu
Ninna jothe kaleda samaya
Adu Marayelagadu gelaya
Ninna hesaru sagara
Neenu mansalli sundara
Idu bidisalagada banda
Ninna neneyuve sada

                                                                     Raghu Vasishta

Friday, June 29, 2012

Raaga in Indian Classical Music

Raaga in Indian Classical Music
The Indian Classical music mainly consists of Raaga. The system in Indian music is known as Raaga Sangeetha which can be traced back nearly two thousand years back in the Vedic scripture of SAAMAVEDA.
Indian Classical Music is religious kind and is spiritual discipline on path of self-realization.
Raaga cannot be explained in few words, it should be experienced.
A raga is a scientific, precise, subtle and aesthetic melodic form with its own peculiar ascending and descending movement consisting of either a full seven note octave, or a series of six or five notes (or a combination of any of these) in a rising or falling structure called the Arohana and Avarohana.
The performing arts in India - music, dance, drama, and poetry - are based on the concept of Nava Rasa, or the "nine sentiments." Literally, rasa means "juice" or "extract" but here in this context, we take it to mean "emotion" or "sentiment." The acknowledged order of these sentiments is as follows: Shringara (romantic and erotic): Hasya (humorous): Karuna (pathetic): Raudra (anger): Veera (heroic): Bhayanaka (fearful): Vibhatsa (disgustful): Adbhuta (amazement): Shanta (peaceful).
Each raga is dominated by navarasa.
There are different raagas for early morning, afternoon, evening, night .
There are 72 melakarta raaga from which more than 2000 raagas have been derived.
Here is the chart of all 72 melakarta raaga.





The Raagas are composed of seven swaras.
SA-Shadja , Ri-Rishaba, GA –Gandhara, MA-Madhyama, PA-Panchama, DA-Divatha, Ni-Nishada



Friday, June 22, 2012

Instrument Veena compared to Human Body

Veena has 24 frets, 4 strings on the frets and 3 on the side.
The top 1st string Sarani indicates – the RigVeda
2nd string Panchama indicates – YajurVeda
3rd string Mandara indicates – Sama Veda
4th string Anumandra indicates the AtharvaVeda.

All these 4 strings bear the Suddha Satva guna. The 24 frets get their importance by the nada produced from them and not because of the metal used.As we see in the universe the three states viz., creation, sustenance and merger (Srusti, Shiti and Laya) even in Nada we see the same three states.Likewise, the 24 frets representing 12 Sruthees in two octaves (24) indicate the 24 letters (Aksharas) of GAAYATHRI MANTHRA.

“TAT SAVITUR VARENYAMBHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHIDHIYO YONAH PRACHODAYAT”

Veena has been compared to human body. The human back-bone (Spinal Chord) stands straight from the Mooladhara (the seat of the body) up to the head.In the top of the head exists the Brahma Randhra. Just like the 24 frets of the Veena, human back bone has 24 divisions.

According to the anatomy, the back bone has 7 cervicles, 12 thorasic and 5 lumbar vertibrays.In Veena the distance between each fret is broad in the lower octaves and becomes less while proceeding towards the higher octaves.Similarly the back bone is thick at the Mooladhara and the distance between each ring becomes less while proceeding towards the Brahma randhra.The Mandara Sthaayi Swara starts from the seat point of the human back bone and as it proceeds towards the Brahma Randhram situated in the Sahasraram, the pitch or sruti increases. It is here, where the life of music is situated.The nada born out of the union of prana (life) and agni (fire) starts from the Mooladhaara at low sruti and reaches the Sahasrakamala crossing the Swaadhisthana, Manipoora, Anaahata, Visuddha, Aagna, the Shadchakras. In this course the sruti (pitch) increases.This shows the resemblance between the Daivi Veena and man made Veena. So it is definite that to attain Moksha nada yoga is a correct path, and for practising nada yoga Veena is an appropriate instrument.Saarngadeva has pointed out, each part of Veena is an abode for a particular deity.

“SARVA DEVA MAYEE TASMATH VEENEYAM SARVA MANGALAA PUNAATI VIPRAHATYADI PATAKAIH PATITAAN JANAAN”

As all the deities reside in Veena it is Sarva Mangala, because all sins are driven away.“INDIRA PATRIKAA BRAHMA TUMBURNAABHIHI SARASWATEE-DORIKO VAASUKIR JEEVAH SUDHAA MSUH SAURIKA RAVIH-The above Verse describes the deities and their places in Veena . G.N.Balasubramanyam in his book ‘Veena’ has said like this:
DANDI - SHAMBHUTANTRI - UMAKUKUBHAM - KAMALAAPATI(POT-KUNDA)PATRIKA - LAKSHMITUMBA - BRAHMANAABHI - SARASWATIDORIKA - VASUKIJEEVALA - MOONFRETS - SUN

Hence Veena is considered to be Moksha dayaka liberating instrument. Many Gods have played many instruments but only Veena has been given such Godly sacred position. According to Sadguru Sri Shivananda Murthy the veena nada becomes a part of our body if played for 120 hours. It means that the nadopaasana done internally (inside the mind or body) and that which is done externally by playing the instrument becomes one, and upasana shakti is generated.Here it is appropriate to remember the Kriti. ‘Meenakshi Me Mudam Dehi’ of Dikshitar. He attained Moksha (liberation) while playing this kriti on veena.

Nada is of two varieties, Ahata Nada and Anahata Nada. The Ahata Nada is one that is born out of the union of Prana (life) and agni (fire).The inner sound that travels from the Navel (Nabhi) to the throat is Anahata Nada. Hence, the teeth and the tongue have no role to play. This Anahatam is the Nadam which pervades the entire universe including inhaling and exhaling. The entire nature is nothing but Nadopasana. Thus the person gets immersed in the nadam, and cuts out the existence of the universe. Hence there is no diversion of mind and life. This is Anahatam.

Sadguru Sri Shivanandamurthy has said that by manipulating, disciplining the shatchakras one can hear the Anahata nadam in the center of the body. This is attaining the first stage through Nadopasana.The second stage is the Brahmadi lokam and the 3rd the Brahmanubhooti. (Salvation-for attaining salvation Pranavopasana is Katha yogam. If examined, this katha yogam is also Nada Brahma Upasana. This Pranavopasana is in the Anahata Chakra (Centre of the chest). This Pranavam (OM) the most inner sound of inhaling and exhaling breath is nothing but the Parabrahmam, the Paramatma. It is this which exists in the Jivatma (soul) and in the Trimurty’s (the paramatma).Thus it is seen as Nada Brahmam. Based on this a human does Pranavopasana in Anahatam and attains salvation. This is the main point in Kathopanishat. When one becomes master of this, Nadam becomes the body. This is what Tyagaraja said in his kriti “NADA TANUMANISAM” and revealed the great secret.

1) “RAGA SUDHA RASA PANAMU CHESIRAJILLAVE ? MANASAYAGA YOGA TYAGA BHOGAPHALA MOSANGEYSADA SIVA MAYAMAGUNADOMKARA SWARAVIDULU JEEVAN MUKTULANUTYAGA RAJU TELIYU” (RAGA SUDHA RASA)
2) “NADA ROOPUDAWANI VININEY SRI NADHANINNU NAMMITINI” (YE PAPAMU CHESITIRA)
3) MOOLA DHARAJA NADA MERUGUTEYMUDAMAGU MOOKSHAMURAKOLAHALA SAPTASWARA GRUHAMULAGURUTEY MOOKSHAMURA? MANASA

The review and analasys of Tyagaraja kritis gives us the knowledge which we can get by studying Brahma-Suthras and Upanishads. To understand Thyagaraya's Krithees, and playing them on Veena is nothing but yoga, great knowledge of yoga which is the pathway to liberation.Veena consists of all dieties and this itself is the yoga sadhana for attaining salvation. Thus it reveals shiva manovidham SARVAM SIVAMAYAM.