Bhaavayami Raguramam : Swati Tirunal : Ragamalika

bhaavayaami
raagam: saavEri (raagamaalika)

15 maayamaaLava gowLa janya
Aa: S R1 M1 P D1 S
Av: S N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S 
 
taaLam: roopakam

Composer: Swaati TirunaaL
Language: Sanskrit


 
pallavi
saavEri

bhaavayaami raghuraamam | bhavyasuguNaaraamam ||
anupallavi
bhaavukavitaraNaparaa- | paangaleelaalasitam ||
srgsr,mpdpd, | RSndndpmgrsd. |
srm,grmpd,pmpdS,ndndpmpd |
GRSd,RSd,,Sd,,GRndmgrsd. | (bhaavai)


caraNam 1
naaTTai kurinji

28 harikaambhOji janya
Aa: S R2 G3 M1 N2 D2 N2 P D2 N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 M1 G3 M1 P G3 R2 S
dinakaraanvayatilakam | divyagaadhi sudasavanaa ||
vanaracitasubaahumukha- | vadamahalyaa paavanam ||
anaghameeSaSaapapangam | janakasudaapraaNeSam ||
ghanakupithabhruguraama | garvaharamithasaakEtam ||
mgs,n.d.n.s,rgm | ndm,grgmpgrs |
n.d.n.srgmndnpdnSndnSRGMGsn |
(GRSd...)
(bhaavai)
 
caraNam 2
dhanyaasi

8 hanumatODi janya
Aa: S G2 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S
vihahabhishEkamata | vipinagatamaaryavaaca ||
sahitaseetaa sowmeetrim | shaantatama sheelam ||
guhanilayagatam citra- | kooTaagatabharata tatta ||
mahitaratnamayapaadukam | madanasundaraangam ||
n.sg,mpgmp,nS | RSRnSpdpg,rs |
nsgmpg,mpnSp,nSGRSndpnS |
(GRSd...)
(bhaavai)
 
caraNam 3
mOhanam

28 harikaambhOji janya
Aa: S R2 G3 P D2 S
Av: S D2 P G3 R2 S
vitatadaNDa kaaraNyagata- | viraadadaLanam ||
sucaritaghaTajadataanu bam- | idavaishNavaastram ||
patagavarajaTaayunootam | panchavaTeevihitaavaasam ||
atighOraSoorppaNakhaavaSan- | aagatakaraadiharam ||
g,,pgrgrsd.sr | g,,pdSdpgrsr |
gpggrsrgrrsdsrgrgpgpdpdS |
(GRSd...)
(bhaavai)
 
caraNam 4
mukhaari

22 kharaharapriya janya
Aa: S R2 M1 P N2 D2 S
Av: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
kanakamrugaroopadharakha- | lamaaricaharamiha su- ||
janavimata daSasyahruta- | janaka jaanvEshanam ||
anagham pampateeirasangata- | anjanE nabhOmaNi ||
danujasakhyakaram vaali- | tanudaLanameeSam ||
p,,mgrs,n.d.sr | m,,grsrmpmnd |
S,Sndpp,mgrsn.d.srmpndmpds |
(GRSd...)
(bhaavai)
 
caraNam 5
poorvi kalyaaNi

53 gamanashrama janya
Aa: S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S
Av: S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S
vaanarOttamasahitavaa- | yusunukaraarpita- ||
bhaanusaSatabhaasvarabhavya- | ratnaanguleeyam ||
tEna punaraaneetaa | nyoona cooDaamaNi darSanam ||
shreenidhimudadhiteera- | SrutavibheeshaNa miLitam ||
g,mgrsd.s,rgm | p,,dpSndpmgr |
gmpm,pg,mr,gs,rg,mpdpS,n |
(GRSd...)
(bhaavai)
 
caraNam 6
madyamaavati

22 kharaharapriya janya
Aa: S R2 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 P M1 R2 S
kalitavarasetubandham | khalaniseesumapiSidaaSana- ||
daLanamurudaSakaNTa- | vidaaraNamatidheeram ||
jvalana putajanakasudaa- | sahitamyaadasaakEtam ||
vilasitapaTTaabhishEkam- | viSvapaalampadmanaabham ||
r,mrmpn,pmpn | S,,nSnppmmrs |
Ragam1: rpmrsn.srmp
Ragam2: dpS,ndpmgmgr
Ragam3: s,n.d.srmg,rsr
Ragam4: g,dpgrsrgpdS
Ragam5: RSd,pdpg,rs
Ragam6: n.smgmndnpdnS
Ragam0: (GRSd...)
(bhaavai)

---

I found some wonderful translations and meanings on the web. Unfortunately, I have not noted down the site from which I have downloaded this. 

Who ever had written it, my thanks and apologies for not mentioning the exact source here. 
I don't think I could have translated this song anywhere near how it is given here.
*********************************************************************************

Pallavi

rAgaM sAvEri (janyaM of mELaM 15 mAyamALAvagauLa)

ArOhaNam: S R1 M1 P D1 S
AvarOhaNam: S N3 D1 P M1 G3 R1 S

bhAvayAmi raghurAmaM
bhavyasuguNArAmam ||

bhavya --- accomplished, auspicious

suguNa --- good qualities, virtues

ArAmaM --- the garden (grove) 

 
Free Translation: (I) meditate upon (pay my obeisance to) Lord rAma, of the Raghu dynasty, who is the storehouse (abode) of all auspicious and noble virtues.

Anupallavi
(again in rAgam sAvEri)

bhAvuka vitaraNaparA pAN^ga lIlA lasitam ||

bhAvuka --- happiness, prosperity, auspiciousness

vitaraNapara ---  desirous of distributing,  bestowing, granting

apAN^ga lIlA ---casting side glances

lasitaM --- shining

Free translation: who shines, smilingly casting his side-glances at his ardent devotees, ever ready to grant them happiness and prosperity

First caraNaM line --- bAlakANDam

rAgaM nATTakura~nji (janyam of mELAm  28, harikAmbhOji )

ArOhaNam: S R2 G3 M1 N2 D2  N2 P  D2 N2 S

avarOhaNam:   S N2 D2 M1 G3 M1 P G3 R2 S

 dinakarAnvayatilakaM divyagAdhisutasavanA-
vanaracitasubAhumukhavadhaM ahalyApAvanam
anaghamIshacApabaN^gaM janakasutAprANEshaM
ghanakupitabh.rghurAmagarvaharamitasAkEtam ||

dinakara --- sUrya, the one who causes the day

anvaya --- succession, lineage

tilakam ---- ornament

divya --- divine, noble

gAdhisuta ---  the son of gAdhi, namely, visvAmitra;

savana --- sacrifice;

Avana --- protection,

racita ---  arranges, performed, provided

subAhumukha --- the demons, led by subAhu 

vadhaM --- slaying of

ahalyA --- the illustrious wife of .rSi gautama

pAvanaM – (one who)  purified

anaghaM --- the one without any sin (agham)  the sinless one

IshacApa bhaN^gaM --- (who) broke the bow of shiva

janakasutA --- daughter of Janaka

prANEshaM --- the life breath of (sIta)

ghana kupita  --- very angry , furious

bh.rgurAma ---  parashurAma

garva --- pride

haraM – slayer, remover, subduer of

ita sAkEtaM  --  reached  SakEta nagaram, namely,  ayOdhya

 
Free Translation: one who is the ornament among the successors of the solar dynasty;who killed the demons led by subAhu, in order to protect the sacrifices of vishvAmitra, the son of gAdhi;  who purified ahalyA from her curse;  who broke the bow of Lord shiva, thereby qualifying to wed sIta, the daughter of janaka;  who is the life breath of sIta;  who subdued the pride of the anger-filled parashurAma; and one who reached ayOdhyA.

Second caraNaM line --- ayOdhyA kANDam

rAgaM: dhanyAsi (janyaM of mELaM 8  hanumatODi)

ArOhaNaM: S G2 M1 P N2 S
AvarOhaNaM: S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S

 
vihitAbhiSekamathavipinagatamAryavAcA
sahitasItAsaumitriM shAntatamashIlam
guhanilayagataM citrakUTAgatabharatadatta-
mahittaratnamayapAdukaM madanasundarAN^gam ||

vihitAbhiSEkaM --- abandoning  the coronation ceremony

atha --- thereafter

vipina gataM --- gone to the forests

AryavAcA --- (obeying) the words of the venerable, namely his father dasharatha

sahita sItA saumitriM –-- with  sIta and  lakshmaNa, the son of sumitra

shAntatamashIlaM --- possessing the quality of extreme tranquility (calmness) – (shAntatama is the superior virtue among the three degrees, namely, shAnta, shAntatara, and shAntatama, in increasing order of the quality).

guhanilayagataM ---  one who  went to the abode of  guha

citrakUTAgata --- who proceeded to the citrakUTA mountains

bharata ---  (to) brother bharata

datta --- who gave

mahitaratnamaya padukaM --- the sandals, decorate with auspicious gems

madanasundarAN^gaM --- with a body whose beauty  rivals that  of madana (Cupid)

Free Translatioin:  who, obeying the commands  of his venerable father dasharatha, abandoned the coronation as the king of ayOdhya, and went to the forest, accompanied by wife sIta, and brother lakSmana; who possesses extreme calmness and serenity; who visited the abode of guha, and then proceeded to the citrakUTa mountain; who gave his auspicious and gem-studded sandals to his brother bharata; and who possesses a beautiful body that rivals that of kAmadEva.

Third  caraNaM line --- AraNya kANDam

rAgaM: mOhanam (janyaM of mELaM 28  harikaambhOji)

ArOhaNam:  S R2 G3 P D2 S

AvarOhaNaM: : S D2 P G3 R2 S

vitatadaNDakAraNyagatavirAdhadaLanaM
sucaritaghaTajadattAnupamitavaiSNavAstram
patagavarajaTAyunutaM pa~ncavaTIvihitAvAsaM
atighOrashUrpaNakhAvacanAgatakharAdiharam ||

vitata --  spread out, vast, dense

daNDakAraNya --- the forest by name daNDaka

gata --- gone to, living

virAdha – the demon, virAdha

daLanaM ---- slaying

sucarita --- possessing superior quality, divine

ghaTaja  ---- agastya, the one who was born out of a ghaTa (pot)

datta --- presented by

anupamita - unparalleled

vaiSNavAstraM ---  the weapon pertaining to  Lord viSNu

patagavara --- the superior among birds

jaTAyu ---the eagle king jaTAyu

nutaM --- worshiped by, saluted by

pa~ncavaTI --- the location, pa~ncavaTI

vihita --- arranged, determined

AvAsaM --- dwelling

atighOra --- very fierce

shUrpaNakhA --- sUrpaNakha, the sister of demon rAvaNA

vacanAgata ---  caused by the words of, instigated by

kharAdi --- the demons led by khara

haram  --- slayer of

 
Free Translation:  who killed the demon  virAdha, who was residing in the vast daNDaka forest; who received the unparalleled and divine weapon belonging to  viSNu, presented to him by the illustrious sage agastya; who was worshiped by jaTAyu, the king of birds;  and who,  dwelling in pa~ncavaTI, killed the demons led by the fierce khara,  instigated by the bad words of shUrpaNakha, the sister of rAVaNa. 

Fourth caraNaM line --- kiSkindhA kANDam

rAgaM:  mukhAri (janyaM of mELaM 22 kharaharapriya)

ArOhaNaM:  S R2 M1 P N2 D2 S
AvarOhaNaM:  S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

kanaka m.rga rUpadhara khalamArIcaharam iha
sujana vimata dashAsya h.rtajanaka jAnvESaNam
anaghapaMpA tIrasaN^gatA~njanEya nabhOmaNi-
tanuja sakhyakaraM vAlitanudaLanam Isham 

kanakam.rga --- golden deer

rUpadhara --- assuming the shape of

khala --- cruel, wicked

mArIca --- the demon mArIca

haraM --- killer of

iha --- here

sujana --- good people, well-wishers

vimata --- disregarding. contemptuous, hostile to

dashAsya --- the ten faced, rAvaNa

h.rta --- stolen

janakajA --- sItA, daughter of janaka

anvESaNaM ---  searching for

anagha  --- without sin (aghaM), sinless, pure

paMpAtIra – the shores of the river paMpA

saN^gata --- met, acquainted with

A~njanEya --- hanUmAn, the son of a~njanA

nabhOmaNI --- the jewel on the sky, the sun

tanuja --- son of (sUrya), namely, sugrIva

sakhyakaraM  - made friendship with

vAlitanu --- the body of the monkey king vALi, the brother of sugrIva

daLanam  --- killing

Isham --- ever auspicious

 
Free Translation:  who killed the wicked demon mArIca, who assumed the shape of a golden deer; who started the search of his wife sIta, who was stolen away by the demon rAvana, totally disregarding the good words of his well-wishers; who reached the ever pure shores of the sacred river paMpA; who made acquaintances with A~njanEya, and  sugrIVa (the son of sUrya); who killed vAli; and who is the abode of all auspiciousness. 

Fifth caraNaM line --- sundara kANDam

rAgaM: pUrvikalyANi (janyaM of mELaM 53 gamanashrama)

ArohaNaM:  S R1 G3 M2 P D2 P S
AvarOhaNam:  S N3 D2 P M2 G3 R1 S

 
vAnarottama sahita vAyusUnukarArpita-
bhAnushata bhAsvara bhavyaratnAN^guLIyam
tEna punarAnIta nyUnacUDAmaNI darshanaM
shrInidhim udadhitIrA shritavibhISaNa miLitam || 

vAnarottama --- the superior among monkeys, sugrIva

sahita ---  in the company of

vAyusUnu ---  the son of vAyu, hanUmAn

karArpita --- offered to the hands of, handed over to

bhAnushatabhAsvara --- lustrous like the shine of hundreds of suns

bhavya  --- divine, superb

ratnAN^guLIyaM ---gem-studded ring

tEna  --- by him (by hanUmAn)

punaH ---  afterwards

AnIta --- brought back

AnyUna --- without any deficiency (nyUnam =  blemish,  deficient, diminished)

cUDAmaNi --- crest jeweI, heaqd jewel

darshanaM --- accepted, received

shrInidhiM --- treasure house of auspiciousness

udadhitIra  --- banks of the ocean

Ashrita --- seeking refuge, shelter

vibhISaNa --- vibhISaNa, the brother of rAvaNa

miLitam  --- made friends with

Free Translation:  who, while in the company of  sugrIva, the superior among monkeys, offered A~njanEya his gem studded ring that rivals the lustre of hundreds of suns (to be given to sIta, when he finds her);  who, afterwards received the untainted crest jewel of sITa that was brought back by hanUmAn; who is the abode of all auspiciousness; and who made friends with vibhISaNa, the brother of rAvana, when who sought refuge under him.

 
Last caraNaM line ---  yuddha kANDam

rAgaM: madhyamAvati (janyaM of mELam 22 kharaharapriya)

ArOhaNaM:: S R2 M1 P N2 S
AvarOhaNam: S N2 P M1 R2 S 

 
kalitavarasetubhandhaM khalanissImapishitAshana-
dalanamurudashakaNThavidaraNamatidhIram
jvalanapUtajanakasutAsahitaM yAtasAkEtaM
vilasitapaTTAbhiSekaM  vishvapAlaM  padmanAbham

kalita --- made, constructed

vara --- superior, of high quality

setubhandhaM  --- dam across the ocean sEtu

khala  --- wicked, cruel

nissIma --- endless (sIma = boundary) number of

pishitAshana --- meat eaters, demons

dalanaM --- killer of

urudashakaNTha – rAvaNa, with a body consisting of ten necks

vidaraNaM --- destroyer of

atidhIraM ---  very brave

jvalana --- flame, fire

pUta --- purified

janakasutA  --- daughter of janaka, sItA

sahitaM  --- In the company of

yAta --- proceeded to

sAkEtaM ---  ayOdhyA

vilasita --- shining

paTTAbhiSekaM --- coronation

vishvapAlaM ---  protector of the universe

padmanAbhaM –-- one with a lotus in his naval, lord viSNu

 
Free Translation:  who  constructed a high quality dam across the ocean sEtu; who killed an endless number of wicked and meat-eating demons, who destroyed the ten-headed and mighty rAvaNa; who is very valiant; who accepted sIta, who was purified by the fire; who, accompanied by sITa proceeded to ayOdhyA; who was crowned as king of ayOdhya with all glory; who is the protector of the entire universe; and (finally) who is Lord viShNu, the one with a lotus in his naval. Here the word “padmanAbha”  also serves as the mudra (signature) of the composer, svAti tirunAL, who employed phrases like padmanAbha, paN^kajanAbha, and so on.

It is a beautiful song, which brings the entire Ramayana in front of us. in 6 charanams, the entire Ramayana is told to us. There are nice touches in how this song has been composed in terms of music. For example, the kishkinta kandam is where Sita is taken away by Ravana. It is fitting to see that the Raaga muhari is employed there - as typically muhari is employed in situations where pitiful things happen.

Similarly, in the aranya kandam, where sita and Ram were enjoying life and with Surpanaka coming in comic dialogues happened, and when the kara dhushana slaying happens, it looks only apt to have employed Raaga mohanam there!

1. Bhavayam : By : MS

2. Chitra :

Saraswati Vidhi Yuvati : Muthuswami Dikshithar

Saraswati Vidhi Yuvati : Muthuswami Dikshithar 

Raga: Hindolam   Tala: Rupakam

Pallavi : 

sarasvatI vidhiyuvatI samrakSatu mAm shrI

Charanam : 

muraLI vINAgAna vinOdinI samvEdinI chAru candra hAsinI sarasIruha lOcani murAri guruguha mOdinI shabdArtthasvarUpiNI hamsinI brahmANI AraktavarNa rUpiNI

Meaning : 

Vidhi yuvati : wife of Brahma; "Vidhi" means Brahma. 

vinagana vinodhini : who plays the veena

Samvedhini : who is knowledge itself

charu chandra hasini : who smiles like the beautiful moon

sarairuha lochani : who has eyes like lotus flower 

murari : lord vishnu

guruguha : lord subramanya; the mudra that Dikshithar uses in every song

modhini : pleases

shabdarsthasvarupini : one who is the word as well as its meaning

hamsini : who uses swan as her vehicle

brahmani : the supreme sprit

araktavarna rupini : who has a reddish complexion

  

Here, Dikshithar invokes Goddess Saraswati. She is the wife of 'Vidhi', the creator, Lord Brahma. 'Vidhi' is a term used in several indian languages, especially the southern languages such as Tamil to denote fate. Brahma creates that fate for all of us. And, Saraswati is the yuvati of this vidhi, meaning, Brahma's wife. May you protect me. 

She is the one who loves to and takes delight in listening to flute and Veena.

She is full of knowledge. She is knowledge itself. She smiles like the bright and beautiful moon. She has eyes like the lotus flowers. She pleases both Lord Vishnu and Lord Subramanya (Guruguha). 

She takes the form of words as well as its meaning. Here, I am reminded of kalidasa's immortal lines: 

vāgarthāviva saṃpṛktau vāgartha pratipattaye |
jagataḥ pitarau vande pārvatīparameśvarau ||

वागर्थाविव संपृक्तौ वागर्थ प्रतिपत्तये ।
जगतः पितरौ वन्दे पार्वतीपरमेश्वरौ ॥

வாகர்த்தாவிவ ஸம்ப்ருக்தௌ வாகர்த்த ப்ரதிபத்தயே |
ஜகதஃ பிதரௌ வந்தே பார்வதீபரமேச்வரௌ ||

The word and the meaning are inseparable. And, Goddess Saraswati is the word and its meaning.

She takes Swan for her vehicle. She is the pure one. She is reddish in colour.

May she protect me.

Listen to this song sung by a young artist (Srinidhi Sridharan):

Another young artist: (Radhika Buckory)

Saraswati dayai nithi nee gathi : Papanasam Sivan

saraswati dayai nithi nee gathi : Papanasam Sivan

Ragam : Saraswati                                                                                       Talam : Adi

pallavi

saraswati dayai nidhi nI gati

tannaruL tandaruLvAi bhArati

anupallavi

karamalar miLir maNi mAlayum vINayum

karuNai pozhiyum kaDaikkaNNazhagum vaLar

charaNam

ninnaruL oLi illayAnAl-mana iruL

nIngumO sakala kalai mAtE - veL

annavAhini veN kamalamalar vaLarum

vANi veLLai kalyANi purANi

In Tamil : 

பல்லவி

சரஸ்வதி தயை நிதி நீ கதி
தன்னருள் தந்தருள்வாய் பாரதி

அனுபல்லவி

கரமலர் மிளிர் மணி மாலையும் வீணையும்
கருணை பொழியும் கடைக்கண்ணழகும் வளர்

சரணம்

நின்னருள் ஒளி இல்லையானால்-மன இருள்
நீங்குமோ சகல கலை மாதே - வெள்
அன்னவாஹினி வெண் கமலமலர் வளரும்
வாணி வெள்ளை கலை அணி புராணி

Meaning : 

pallavi

saraswati dayai nidhi nI gati

tannaruL tandaruLvAi bhArati

Goddess Saraswati! You are full of care and concern for your devotees. For us, who else is there except you? We surrender before thee. Bharati, my dear Goddess,  please shower your blessings on us.

anupallavi

karamalar miLir maNi mAlayum vINayum

karuNai pozhiyum kaDaikkaNNazhagum vaLar

A garland of beads shines in your hands. You also carry a Veena. Your eyes are full of care for us. 

charaNam

ninnaruL oLi illayAnAl-mana iruL

nIngumO sakala kalai mAtE - veL

annavAhini veN kamalamalar vaLarum

vANi veLLai kalai aNi purANi

Saraswati, you are the Goddess of knowledge! Without your blessings, the darkness in our hearts will not go away. You are the Goddess who knows all arts. You sit on a beautiful white swan. You also reside on a beautiful white lotus flower. You wear a white saree. You are the Goddess Vani. You are 'purani', you have been there for eons.

It is a beautiful song in tamil with lots of poetic touches all over the place. With rhythmic words such as 'saraswati', 'nithi', gathi', 'barathi', it sets off on a lovely tempo. 

Papanasam sivan talks about knowledge being the blessings of Goddess saraswati which will remove our inner darkness. It is not only the knowledge about things around us but also about ourselves which will help us understand who we are which will in turn lead to self discovery and knowledge. That is the true knowledge. 

Goddess Saraswati symbolises white color. She sits on a beauitiful white swan. She resides on a beautiful white lotus flower. She wears a white saree. She epitomises the spotless heart and clean lovely heart and mind. 

She carries a garland made of beads which symbolises the need for being calm and composed and looking inwards. She also carries Veena, the beautiful musical instrument. The music which soothes us and which makes us realise our inner peace. 

Papanasam Sivan invokes Goddess Saraswati and says that only she can remove our inner darkness. She, the one who has been there since time began, 'purani', is the one who can bless us with true knowledge. 

He talks about "thannarul". It is not just the blessings that he talks about. He wants to Goddess to give us the blessings which are bearable and 'cool' rather than 'hot'. If whatever the Goddess does is for our own good, even if the Goddess burns us, it should be for our own good. Even if the Goddess curses us, it must be for our own good. Those are also "blessings" of the Goddess. But, those are "HOT" in nature and not "cool". But, we may not be able to bear it. We may reel under the power of those 'hot' blessings . So, he asks Goddess to shower us with "cool" blessings which may soothe us and it becomes bearable for us. 

Similarly, he asks Goddess Saraswati to give us blessings from her "corner of eyes" rather than directly. We may not be able to take the direct eye contact from the Goddess. That kind of power may be too much for us mortals.

On this day of 'Saraswati Pooja', let us pray to Goddess Saraswati. May her blessings make us realise our true selves and make us peaceful and be in eternal bliss.

Listen to this lovely song sung by Nithyasri Mahadevan