Shri Rama Stuti in Raga Kalavati | Tulsidas Bhajan | Rama Navami

AARSHIN KARANDE, senior disciple of Mewati Gharana luminary SANDEEP RANADE "NAADRANG," offers a rendition of Rāga Kalāvatī on the occasion of Rama Navami (March 30th, 2023). This bandish was written by Saint Tulsidas (in the "Ramacharitmanasa") and composed by Pandit Jasraj-ji.
Rāga Kalāvatī is a lovey-dovey pentatonic tune imported from the Carnatic Classical music system. This rāga was introduced into the Hindustani Classical music system by Ustad Abdul Karim Khansaheb after his stay in Mysore. It quickly gained popularity afterwards and has become a staple of today's Hindustani Classical music repertoire.
Rāga Kalāvatī lends itself well to romantic and devotional textual themes, which this bandish follows. This bandish uniquely and beautifully captures a desperate, focused devotion to spirituality. It is set to a heart-churning scene from the Ramayana where Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana are leaving for their exile in the woods but Bharat, overwhelmed by his love for his brother (and divinity) wishes to join them, knowing his liberation can only come from serving the divine.
This rāga and bandish are presented humbly as an offering to the spirit of rebirth and renewal represented by Lord Rama.
LYRICS & TRANSLATION
हित हमार सियपति सेवकाई । सो हर लीन मातु कुटिलाई ।
मैं अनुमानि दीख मन माहीं । आन उपाय मोर हित नाहीं ।१।
जाये राम पहि आयुस देहुँ। एक ही आँक मोर हित एहूँ ।२।
Tulsidas writes that Bharat says, "My salvation is through service to Shri Rama. Yet my mother's love corruptedly took this from me. I see my salvation only through Shri Rama and nothing else. Let me go with Shri Rama or salvation will never be mine!"
CREDITS:
Special thanks to Sharwin Karande for production supervision. Background instruments (tanpura, tabla, swaramandal, surpeti) provided by NaadSadhana for iOS.
FOLLOW:
• Instagram: bit.ly/3a8Jf3f
• Twitter: bit.ly/3S1ynFv