Bhaje Brajaika Mandanam - Part 3 || Odissi Mangalacharan || Rudrakshya Foundation || Male Dancer

भजे व्रजैकमण्डनं समस्तपापखण्डनं
स्वभक्तचित्तरंजनं सदैव नन्दनन्दनम् |
सुपिच्छगुच्छमस्तकं सुनादवेणुहस्तकं
अनंगरंगसागरं नमामि कृष्णनागरम् ||
Eternally I worship Lord Krishna, Who is Nanda's son, who is Vraja's sole ornament, Who breaks all sins into pieces, and who delights the devotees' hearts. I offer my respectful obeisances to the hero Lord Krsna, whose head is decorated with peacock feathers, whose hand holds a melodious flute, and who is an ocean of Kamadeva's pastimes.
what is Mangalacharan?
Mangalacharan is the first item in a traditional Odissi dance performance. The dancer enters the stage to a Sanskrit verse or sloka to Lord Jagannath, the Odissi deity. The dancer then offers flowers to the deity, takes his blessings, and moves to the center of the stage to perform the Bhoomi Pranam, or prayer to Mother Earth. This prayer asks for forgiveness for stepping on Mother Earth. The dancer then performs a sloka to a higher being, which is a unique part of the Mangalacharan.
The dancer also offers salutations to the teacher, accompanists, and audience, and prays to the Almighty. The Mangalacharan is an expressional piece that seeks the blessings of the gods, gurus, and audience for an auspicious beginning to the performance. The dancer usually invokes the blessings of Lord Jagannath or Lord Ganesha, who is the bestower of good luck and prosperity.
A classical Odissi performance has five parts: Mangalacharan, Batu/Sthai, Pallavi, Abhinaya, and Moksha.
Performed on 4th NRITYAASHA UTSAV
Video Credit - Manas Babu