Balasubramanyam Bhajeham

Ragam: Surutti

Talam: Adi

Mutthuswami Dikshitar

Version: Sita Rajan (orig: Semmangudi?)

Lyrics & Meanings courtesy: www.sangeetham.com

 

Pallavi :
Baalasubrahmanyam Bhajeham Bhakta Kalpa Bhuruham Sri  { Baalasubrahmanyam }

Anupallavi:
Neelakantha Hrudaanandakaram Nitya Shuddha Buddha Muktaambaram    { Baalasubrahmanyam }

Charanam :
Velaayudha Dharam Sundaram Vedaantaarttha Bodha Chaturam
Phaalaaksha Guruguha Avataaram Paraashakti Sukumaaram Dheeram
Paalita Geervaanaadi Samooham Pancha Bhootamaya Maayaamoham
Neelakanthavaaham Sudeham Niratishaya Ananda Pravaaham     { Baalasubrahmanyam }

 

Meaning: (www.sangeetham.com and TK Govinda Rao's book)

I ("aham") chant the name ("bhaje") of the young ("bala") Subrahmanya, who is like the Kalpaka Tree ("bhuruham") in giving all that his devotees desire ("kalpa")!

He delights ("ananda-karam") the heart ("hruda") of Lord Shiva ("neelakanta")!

He is eternal ("nitya"), pure ("shuddha") and is knowledge ("buddha") personified ("muktha-ambaram")!

He carries ("dharam") the spear ("vela-ayudha")! He is beautiful ("sundaram"). He is an expert ("chaturam") in explaining ("bodha") the purport ("artha") of Vedanta! He incarnated ("avataaram") as a teacher ("guru-guha") to Lord Shiva from the third eye ("phaala-aksha") of Shiva! He is the brave ("dheeram") son ("su-kumaram") of the Supreme ("paraa") Goddess ("shakti")! He protects the community ("samooham") of Gods ("geervaana-aadi")! He creates ("maya") the five ("pancha") elements ("bhoota") and the illusory ("maaya-moham") universe! He rides ("vaaham") the peacock ("neelakantha") and is of a handsome ("su-") form ("deham")! He is a never ending ("nir-athishaya") stream ("pravaaham") of joy ("ananda")!

 

Notes:

This kriti is sung as a dhyana (invocation) kriti for Subrahmanya before the rendition of the Kamalamba Navavarana kritis.

 

Notes from Sri Dikshita Kirtana Mala by Sri. A. Sundaram Iyer:

Subrahmanya Dhyana Keertanam:

a. He who recites or sings this song without blur or slur becomes entitled to the fruit of the song - all worldly facilities and to the mercy of Lord Subrahmanya.

b. Those bereft of the bliss of having a child will do well to recite the appropriate “mAla” and “mantra” with the song.

 

Notes by Mrs. Janaki Krishnamoothy, Albany, NY:

The Surati Kriti on Bala Subrahmanyam Bhaje Aham is said to be powerful in granting a devotee’s wish. It is said that Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar  instructed some of disciples to just do parayanam on the lyric and others to sing it. They all derived great benefits by their practice. It is said that those wishing to have a child would have their wish fulfilled by recitation or singing this song. The muktambaram mentioned in the anupallavi refers to pure knowledge (white pearls) and being a baby, the Lord is clothed only in eternal and pure knowledge.

 

Pallavi :
Baalasubrahmanyam Bhajeham Bhakta Kalpa Bhuruham Sri  { Baalasubrahmanyam }

I ("aham") chant the name ("bhaje") of the young ("bala") Subrahmanya, ...

 

n S ,        ; nd         P,m          Pnd         | pmM ;         M ;        ; mp      m M ,    ||

Baa-        - la-         su--         brah-         man---       yam -     - Bha-   je- -  

 

...who is like the Kalpaka Tree ("bhuruham") in giving all that his devotees desire ("kalpa")!

 

mg R       ; R          ; nn         nd S        | nd-  P           ; P        dm-;      P N        ||              

ham--      - Bha       - kta-       Kal--         pa- Bhu       - ru       ham -   Sri

 

sn Srs     ; nd         P,m          psnn       | pmM ;         mgmp    ,m-pmN    ,d -pmM           ||

Baa-        - la-         su--         brah-         man---       yam -        -   Bha      --   je- -  

 

 

mg R       ; rm        rs- ns      nsnn       | ns-  nd         P- P      dm-;      pnsr      ||              

ham--      - Bha       - -  kta-    Kal--         pa- Bhu       - ru       ham -   Sri

 

n S ,        ; nd         P -rm       psnn       | pmM ;       mgmp    ,m-pmN    ,d -pmM             ||

Baa-        - la-         su--         brah-         man---       yam -     - - Bha-     --   je- -  

 

mg R       ; ;           ; rm         s R s       | ; ;           ; ;            ; ;            ; ;            ||              

ham--      - -             - - -         - - -            - -          - -            - -            - -



Anupallavi:
Neelakantha Hrudaanandakaram Nitya Shuddha Buddha Muktaambaram    { Baalasubrahmanyam }

He delights ("ananda-karam") the heart ("hruda") of Lord Shiva ("neelakanta")!

 

P ;           ; ss          nNd        P - P        | dm ;       MN         nd -N      S ;           ||

Nee         - la-         kan--       ta  Hru      daa--     nan-        da- ka     ram

 

He is eternal ("nitya"), pure ("shuddha") and is knowledge ("buddha") personified ("muktha-ambaram")!

 

NS           R - rnS    ; nd         P ;           | nd - pmM   ; mm    R- M         P ;       ||

Ni-           tya Shu- - ddha    Bu-          ddha Mu-     - ktaa- -    mba  ram

 

P N          ; ss          nNd        P - P        | dm ;       Prs nn     nd -N      S ;           ||

Nee         - la-         kan--       ta  Hru      daa--     nan-        da- ka     ram

 

NS           R , - rn  S ;  - nd        , -P m   | n D- pm  M ;  - mm    R- M    P ;        || (finish with "PN" )

Ni-           tya  Shu- -   ddha    -  Bu-    ddha  Mu-        - ktaa- -    mba  ram


Charanam :
Velaayudha Dharam Sundaram Vedaantaarttha Bodha Chaturam
Phaalaaksha Guruguha Avataaram Paraashakti Sukumaaram Dheeram
Paalita Geervaanaadi Samooham Pancha Bhootamaya Maayaamoham
Neelakanthavaaham Sudeham Niratishaya Ananda Pravaaham     { Baalasubrahmanyam }

 

He carries ("dharam") the spear ("vela-ayudha")! He is beautiful ("sundaram").

 

M ;          ; mg        R - M      P -  nd     |  P ;         ; M          ; pm        mg R       ||

Ve-          - laa-       -     yu     dha Dha-  ram       - Sun       - da-        ram--

 

He is an expert ("chaturam") in explaining ("bodha") the purport ("artha") of Vedanta!

 

RM         M ,g        R M        R S          |  R, m      R  M    p s  n n        P ;         ||

Ve-          daan-      taa-         arttha        Bo -  - -  - dha  Cha tu-   ram

 

He incarnated ("avataaram") as a teacher ("guru-guha") to Lord Shiva from the third eye ("phaala-aksha") of Shiva!

 

P ;           , s  snN   ;  N          dm P       |  S snN   ; N          N S          S ;           ||
Phaa       - -  laa-   -  ksha   Gu- ru         gu haa--  -va       taa-          ram

 

 

 

 

He is the brave ("dheeram") son ("su-kumaram") of the Supreme ("paraa") Goddess ("shakti")!

 

ns r -n      S - N      ,d -P        pR, M     |  P m - n    D- pmM    mgpm    R ;       ||              

Pa-- raa   -   sha    - -  kti      Su   ku      maa-   -     -  ram--    Dhee--   ram

 

He protects the community ("samooham") of Gods ("geervaana-aadi")! He creates ("maya") the five ("pancha") elements ("bhoota") and the illusory ("maaya-moham") universe!

 

M mm     mg -   rm      m  r s- s   N     S     | R    m - p    , p - p m    n  d   n  s     n d P      ||
Paalita   Geer- vaa-    naa-di  Sa mooham  Pancha Bhoota  maya Maa- yaa-   mo- ham

 

He rides ("vaaham") the peacock ("neelakantha") and is of a handsome ("su-") form ("deham")! He is a never ending ("nir-athishaya") stream ("pravaaham") of joy ("ananda")!

 

p   n s - r     ,  r - r m     R  , - s      s n  S       | r  s  n d           P - n  d    pmM , - m   r m S                ||
Nee-la  kan - ta vaa-     ham Su    de- ham    Nira ti sha yaa nan-  da - -  -  Pra vaa- ham    

 

M mm     mg -   rm      m  r s- s   N     S     | R    m - p    , p - p m    n  d   n  s     n d P      ||
Paalita   Geer- vaa-    naa-di  Sa mooham  Pancha Bhoota  maya Maa- yaa-   mo- ham

 

N     s - r     ,  r - r m     R  , - s      s n  S       | r  s  n d            P - n  d    pmM , - m   r m  p n            ||
Nee-la  kan - ta vaa-     ham Su    de- ham    Nira ti sha yaa nan-  da - -  -  Pra vaa- ham