Mohananadai Murugan Padam

This item is supposed to be for my arangetram, but this still soooo raw. It took me a while to find a teacher who could give me more or less a translation from Tamil and not just a general idea and then stalk her for several weeks with notebook and pen ready to write. With tamil it’s a problem in Kerala, even though it is a similar language to Malayalm. But the item is  a beautiful piece  of a girl infatuated by Murugan, a heroic and bold son of Siva. She is a devotee, at the same time she is attracted to him like a woman to a man, blushing with every memory of the kisses he shaded on her.

Padam Mohananadai

Ragamalika

Adi Talam

Sloka:

Ragam Shanmukhapriya

Koorvadiveil konda nam perumal varum

Kotathe parunka….. kothayarkal

Aaru mukangalil punjiripum

Eerandaru Bhujangalil adbhuthavum

Ragam mohana

Veeru paranjudal thirumeniyum

Parunka velmizhiyal….

Veeru paranjudal Thirumeniyum

ParunkaMeen Miziyal….

Adbhuthamane azhaganadi

Thuthi anparkalkkarul seyyum

Kalakanadi

Translation:

With a sharp weapon our God is coming

Ah Look at his body, my dear friends!

Six faces are radiating smiles

And twelve hands – what a wonder!

Veera (heroism) is overfilling his body

He is looking with his eyes sharp like a weapon

Veera is overfilling his body

He is looking with his fish-shaped eyes

I have never witnessed such a beauty!

To those meditating on him he gives blessings,

Oh this man full of bliss…

Pallavi:

Ragam – Mohanam

Mohana nadai nadanth

Murukavel vandai

Moha esai padi

Mutha mazhai pozhintai

Translation:

With his beautiful gaint

Murugan is coming

Singing love songs

And showering his kisses on me

Anupallavi:

Daha muthan yenthei tavipi piritte

Tanjaman enne nanja manil annei

Translation:

He is thirsty for (wants) to grasp my hand and pull me with him,

Waiting till no one is here, he encloses me in his embrace

Charanam 1

Ragam Shamukhapriya

Shanmukhanuk skantha pankale

Isainthirith Sakthivel Kumaranum

Bhaktiyay makinthirunthai

Inmayil avan thanda

Uyir sukhamena thenpe

Ullam Pukuntha skandan

Uyirine ondru vital

Translation

The six faced one (Murugan)

Is praised by devotees in happiness

Honestly, he gives me immense pleasure

The pleasure has rooted deep inside my heart

Like our souls (lives) became one

Charanam 2

Ragam Sankarabharanam

Shakha varamarulum shankaran

Thiru makane

Sakala bhuvanangalam stridum arunguhane

Ekanthamudane ennanam edikkuthadi

Enrum avane enni edayam urukuthadi

Translation

Unlimited blessings are given by Siva, whose son he is

The entire world prays to Murugan

When I am alone, in my mind I constantly think of him

My heart is flowing in this sadness, my friend…

Charanam 3

Ragam sarangi

Sree rangamevum Saranga Paniyil

Selva thirumarukan Sringara Velavan

Parengum potrum Parvathiyin balan

Pavaenne kakkum deva guna seelan

Sreerangam (the name of the temple) where the Vishnu is (with a bow in his hand) -

His cousin is Murugan

Everybody praises Parvathi, whose son he is

And I am the girl, whom he blesses, he, who has all the qualities of a deity

Charanam 4

Ragam Madyamavathi

Anpuseivor madyayil aadi varum azagan

Ahantha elathe kandu arul suvai

Tharum kulakan

Impamellam utrum ennuirkkoru thunaivan

En manam nirayanth vital enakkoru kurayumondo

Translation

Among devotees he will appear in all his beauty

Those who show no arrogance, will be blessed by Murugan

And if I give all my love (myself fully) to him,

For In my life he is the only one I love

Will he come and be my protector then?

Panimathi mukhi Bale, Swathi Thirunal Padam lyrics with word to word and literal translation

A very old and beautiful Padam by Swathi Thirunal, maharaja, patron of arts, great devotee of Vishnu, who created a bunch of bittersweet padams about a nayika, heroine, telling her grieves to sakhi, friend. Aparently, the maharaja enjoyed the idea of a young maiden intoxicantingly suffering separation from her lover, what is more, her lover is the Lord Himself -  a strong bhakti touch to compositions. The nayika, tries to please her friend, saying how beautiful and exceptionally great she is, and meanwhile cries her heart out on her shoulder. the palette of emotions,ranging from an unbearable desire to despair and joyful sweet memories of being together with the Hero, makes the Padam more complex than it seems at first. When I was learning it, another teacher was wathching me and later resoluted that Sokha (sadness) is deffinitely my best enacted emotion. Who would doubt :/ ... haha

Panimathi

Swathi Tirunal Padam

Ragam – Aahari

Talam – Misrachappu

Anupallavi

Panimathi Mukhi Bale

Padmanabhaninuennil

Kanivillaykayal Kaman

Parameyunnu

Panimathi – moon

Mukham – face

Panimathimukhi – Moonface

Bale – girl

Padmanabham – one of the names of Vishnu

Innu – Today

Ennil – to me

Kanivu – kindness

Illaykayal – no

Kaman – Kamadeva

Param – too much

Eyunnu – to shoot arrows

Translation

Oh Sakhi (friend), your face shines like the moon. Today Padmanabha is not kind to me, so Kamadeva (Cupid) is shooting his arrows into my heart.

Pallavi

Manasi Dusahamayyo

Madana Kadanamendu

Madirakshi njan Cheyyavoo…

Manasi – mind

Dusaham – unbearable

Ayoo – oh

Madanan – Kamadeva

Kadanam – sad

Endu – what

Madirakshi – girl with beautiful eyes

Njan – I

Cheyyavoo – what shall I do

Translation

My mind can’t bear the pain of love

Oh, Madirakshi, what shall I do?

Charanam – 1

Innu varumen kanthan (varum +en)

Ennanu dunavum njan (ennu + anudinavum)

Dhanye hridi ninanchu

Thanthayayi maruvunnu

Innu –today

Varum – will come/should come

En – my

Kanthan – Lover

Ennu – always

Anudinavim – everyday

Njan – me

Dhanye – Oh great lady

Hridi – heart

Ninachu – thought

Thanthayayimaruvunnu – that’s why I am melancholic

Translation

Every day I expect my lover to come. Oh, great friend, this waiting makes my heart dwell in melancholy

Anna Panadiyilum

Anna Nadayaleme

Nannai Vimukhathayum

Nari Rathname Vannu

---- Manasidusahamayoo….

Annam – food

Panam – drinking water

Adi – etc

Annam (arayannam) – swan

Nada – walk

Nadayale – lady with swan-like gait

May – for me

Nannai too much

Vimukhatha – sadness

Nari – lady

Narirathnam – lady precious like diamond

Rathnam – diamond

Vannu – It came (state of mind)

Translation

Food, drink and other things do not interest me anymore. Oh, precious friend, whose gait is as beautiful as of a swan, in this moment I fell sadness

Charanam – 2

Lokavasikalkellam

Lothaniyanam indu

Shokamenikku mathram

SumukhiTarunnathenthu

Ekanthil ennodu

Sakam Cheytha Leelakal

Aakave mama kantham

Aashu latha maranno

---- Manasidusahamayoo….

Lokam –world

Vasikal – inhabitants

Lohaniyam – is loved

indu – moon

shoka – sad

Enikku – for me

Mathram – only

Enikkumathram – only for me

Sumukhi – a girl with a beautiful face

Tharanathenthy – why is it giving to me’

Ekanthathil – when we were alone

Ennod – for me

Sakam – with me

Cheytha -  did

Leelakal – play

Aakane – all are

Mama – mine

Kantham – lover

Aashu – alas

Batha – fast

Maranno – forgot

Translation

Ah, beautiful friend, all people are enchanted by the moon, only I become sad, looking at it.

At the times when we were alone with Him, He used to play with me (love me), but now, alas, He has forgotten it…

Jathiswaram Chenchurutti (Chenjuruthy) lyrics with Tala

One of the first Kalamandalam item, a simple but beautiful choreography.

Jathiswaram

raagam Chenchurutti

thalam Aadi

Pallavi
x	1	2	3	x	v	x	v
M-G-	-RS-	--N-	-DP-	--D-	SRR-	--S-	-R-G
Anupallavi
x	1	2	3	x	v	x	v
M-MG	-MP-	--MP	-DP-	--MN	-DP-	--MG	-R-G
Charanam - I
x	1	2	3	x	y	x	y
M---	--G-	R-S-	G-R-	M---	--G-	R-S-	-R-G
Charanam II
M---	--MG	MRGS	RGRG	M---	--DP	MPDP	MGMP
M---	--PD	N-DN	DPDP	M—D	PDMP	M—P	MGRG
Charanam III
M—N	DPMG	M—D	PMGR	M—P	MGRG	M—G	RSRG
M-GR	M-RG	M-DP	M-PD	M-ND	DPDP	MPDP	MGRG

Dance costumes vs Sarees

Since Indian classical dances became performing rather than ritualistic arts, various changes occured, starting from technique and repertoire and finishing with costumes, make-up and hair style.
 About a month ago, when my little Chinese friend, Lila, was here, she showed me a huge and beautiful book on sarees she found in the Kalamandalam library. There, apart from hundred of saree folding styles, were the pictorial reconstructions of  sarees worn by dancers of various Indian classical dance traditions.

To tell the truth, I don't like contemporary mohiniyattam costume - it looks bulky, boring, absolutely not flattering female figure and neither the postures of the dance. It is only my opinion, however. But how surprised was I to see how the actual saree tied for mohiniyattam changed te look dramatically. Like a fairy dress it is aerial, simple yet elegant.

As an irony, they have also placed a picture of a contemporary mohiniyattam danseuse costume. The side bun, which is now "in fashion" but in reality almost "the only way" for mohiniyattam hairstyle doesn't add elegance to the look. I have always found it looking strange, creating somewhat asymmetry  in the body and greatly interfering in the perception of the dance, though flowing, but clear geometry. Apparently, no one has been using side bun until 1960s, when it got introduced without any historic reference (the side hairstyle was used by a different cast not related to dancers). Now the side bun became a "trademark" of mohiniyattam. When I did a performance of one mohiniyattam piece in Minsk, wearing a normal back bun, majority of people, and people who have learned extensively and know a lot about dance, were indignantly asking me what kind of mohiniyattam is it without a side bun :)

oh well.

 To make a beautiful mohiniyattam saree draping one needs to follow the photograph above and simple steps:

1. Wrap the inner end piece around waist clockwise and tie knot at right waist
2. Make seven to eight pleats of free end-piece in front
3. Pull gathered pleats upward and hold with chin. Bring free end piece to right waist over pleats
4. Leave held gathered pleats down and bring free end-piece from left to right waist anti-clockwise
5. Throw outer end-piece over left shoulder front to back
6. Bring outer end-piece to front anticlockwise and tuck into front waist

There are also photographa of Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Odissi style saree

*the photographs are not of a perfect quality, because our library is very dark and the other day when I tried to reclick the photos, I couldn't find the book any more...