Swami Ninne varnam lyrics and translation, eroticism in Mohiniyattam

Swami  (sami) ninne name Varnam in Yadukulakamboji ragam by Swathi Thirunal

The traditional Varnam, one of the old compositions, unfortunately, rarely performed nowadays, as simplicity of movement and expressions does not satisfy contemporary worldly-wise spectators and dancers. Well, maybe due to my new-comingness to Mohiniyattam, or maybe I do find beauty in simplicity and absence of sophisticated virtuosity, but the old compositions appeal much more to my taste than many contemporary choreographies in mohiniyattam.

This particular varnam is composed by Swathi Thirunal, the ardent devotee of Lord Padmanabha and a genius composer and poet, who in his short lifespan left the legacy on which almost entire resurrected mohiniyattam bases itself. The varnam is in Telugu and is narrated from the point of view of a girl, who is abandoned by her beloved Padmanabha, she addresses him as Swami, and asks if it is fair that he leaves her in the agony of her feelings and begs him to enclose her in his passionate embrace. The varnam, as we have learned it, is mostly carried  in a neutrally romantic, viraha (sadness, longing) note. Surprisingly, when with my teacher we started going through the lyrics, we found out that the original had a few more verses of some very erotic content, where the lady asks the swami to rub fragrant kasturi to her chest and drink the taste of her lips. Apparently, the whole tendency of removing shringara (eroticism) from dance, started by its renovators and consequently reformates (such as Rukmini Devi in Bharatanatyam etc) touched Mohiniyattam also, even though less than it did Bharatanatyam, which has been reshaped into a devotional art form void of any ambiguous notations. While, it can be understood, that perhaps such reformation was necessary in order to remove the stigma of associating dance with promiscuity and sinfulness of devadasis (the dancers- temple servants and courtesans) who were sexually liberal women and had not been subjected to social obligations of matrimony and fidelity to one partner; however, the dance we see now is not original in the sense that it carries only selected aspect of bhakti (devotion), meanwhile the erotic component, which was also a facet of spirituality (the transcendence of human love, lust and passion onto divine leela-game) was brutally cut out and is still very much avoided in many contemporary repertoires.

Interesting fact is that Kathakali preserved both the spirit of war and sexuality within it. Just today at Kalamandalam we have watched the story of Banayudha, where in the beginning Bana  is portrayed with his wife engaged in a very intimate activity. His wife is asking Bana to drink from her breasts, while Bana is deliciously comparing her round breasts with amrita, the heavenly nectar. The apparent male dominant art form, such as Kathakali is, was spared from social judgment on the issue, while dance had to sacrifice its erotic aspect for the sake of preserving the puritan reputation of females.

So the lyrics in Telugu (approximate English transliteration) and approximate English translation is below:

Varnam

Raga – Yadukulakamboji

Talam – Adi

Pallavi

Swami… nine… nami .. thir

Eve … lad… na… Pai…

Translation:

Swami, I believed in you (trusted you)

Give your love to me

Anupallavi

Chalamedi ki je she .. ku ra

Eve la na… pai

Kamajanakudaune sjree kamala nabha ve

Ga…me… sree nami da

Ne na rum Chi na nne lu ko ra…

Translation:

You are the creator (father) of desire (kama)

Oh you, the one who has lotus growing from his navel,

Be kind to me

Mukthai swaram:

X	1	2	3	x	v	x	v
S---	--D-	--P-	M-D-	P-M-	--G-	R-M-	G-S-
R---	---R	G---	R-S-	R-M-	G-M-	P-D-	S-R-
P-ND	PMPD	D-SD	PMP-	MGRG	-RSR	M-PD	P---
MPDS	-SRG	R-SS	NDPM	PNDD	PPMG	RGSR	RMPN

Sa dha ran a mu ga ma ru du epudu

Ena uramu pai suma sara muni sari

Na manasu brasamana sadayuda pa-

La na mu gay a ca la rag ha na mai

Sa viraha saga ra mulo manukini

Ku la vetatu niranu vinara (or vedalu dathi chi) vinu ni ran a manavi

Translation:

Kamadeva (the God of love) is shooting arrows into my heart

Have mercy!

Now I’m in the sea of Viraha (sadness, longing), please, help me out of it

Swami…..

Charanam

Panthamu aya nyayamu

Translation:

Is it fair that you are so stubborn, that you treat me like this, are you sure you want to reject me?

Charanaswaram -1

X	1	2	3	X	V	X	V
P---	--M-	--G-	R-M-	G-R	G-S-	--R-	--M-

Sahityam (lyrics)

x	1	2	3	X	V	X	v
Pa---	--da-	m-bu-	Ga-thi-	Ya-nu-	Chu-mo-	--ke-	--nu-

Translation:

I believed your lotus feet were my abode (sanctuary)

Please, have mercy!

Charanam – 2

X	1	2	3	X	V	X	V
D-D-	NDPP	-MGR	MGRG	SRMG	-PM-	DP-D	SDPM

Sahityam -2

Dhara dharuni chatakamu vale ninu

Dalachiyum nanu brova samayamu

Translation:

I’m like a chaddaka, a bird waiting for the rain, who saw a raincloud passing. It is time you helped me…

Chatiswaram – 3

X	1	2	3	X	V	X	V
MPDN	DDPP	MGRM	G-GR	GSRM	GMGR	GSRG	R---
RGRS	--RM	GS-R	PMGS	RMG-	MPM-	PDP-	SDPM

Sahityam – 3

Madhukara mrudu rava mulu kala beandha

Shuka kula phalu kulu (nuvi)

Ni vini vini na

Manasulo virahathapa mumithimi

Nanura (nera) karuna rasasa garuda

Translation:

The soft buzz of a bumble bee and sweet chirping of parrots just increases my anxiousness, my mind drowns in sadness. Oh merciful, help me with your kindness!

Last Charanams (not included in the choreography learnt in Kalamandalam):

(SWARAMS not in tala, as we don’t have music for them)

SSNDNDPDPMPMGMGRGRS

SSRRM—M-P- PDPPMGRGSRMGMPP—D

Sambrata, ,e karunato nanu kalashi Migu la sarase

Muga parimala mayi kasturighanda

Mula nunae kuchamoo payinii

PNDDPMPNDDP.. MPMGR

               

Pani pankayamutho ekshaname matha thonu

,GRGSRMGSRMGMGMPP—NN

Migadudu dhi challu sumasaramu lanujadalu paina         

DDPMPDSS—RRMGGRSS

Veyara ooalukuladi virahamu theeraga

NDPNDDP—PMGRGRSRMPD   

Eka kaumgilinchi movinichi nanu gudara epudu

Translation:

With your lotus hands rub the fragrant kasturi onto my bosom  and decorate my hair with flowers. And to sooth my suffering, embrace me and drink the taste of my lips and lay with me. You are not fulfilling your promise. Is it fair?