Shyama Sastri

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 16 Feb 2006, 12:13

If Sahana is my favourite raga, Shyama Sastri is my favourite composer. Not that i don't revere other composers, he(i don't feel using english here as it doesn't give enough respect) is the one who steadfastly devoted all his songs to Ambal. I am not even qualified to comment on his krithis but what draws my heart is his heartfel emotions for Kamakshi ambal.

It has been in my mind to open a topic for some time now. I have always wanted to hear some rare krithis on Kamakshi ambal by Shyama Sastri. So, this is my request to one and all to post any rare recording of Shyama sastri here and also please discuss the meanings and structure. As always anecdotes about the krithis or the composer are welcome. We will all benefit by just listening and knowing.

To start with, I am listing the various Shyama Sastri krithis by melakarta ragas that i think are rare and hasn't been sung very frequently. I might be missing. So feel free to correct.

8. hanumatODi
Emani migula - tODi/Adi -Rare
karuNAnidhi ilalO - tODi/tishra gati Adi
ninne namminAnu - tODi/mishra cApu
rAvE himagirikumAri (svarajati) - tODi/Adi
mAyammA yani nE - Ahiri/Adi
mInalOcanA brOvayOcanA - dhanyAsi/mishra cApu
ennEramuM un pAdakamaladhyAnaM - punnAgavarALi/tripuTa
kanakashaila vihAriNi - punnAgavarALi/Adi
brOva samayamidE dEvI - punnAgavarALi/Adi
13. gAyakapriya
pArvatI ninnu nE - kalgaDa/tishra gati Adi
15. mAyAmALavagauLa
taruNamidammA ennai rakSikka - gauLipantu/Adi
nannu brOvarAdA vEgamE nIvu - gauLipantu/mishra cApu
puraharajAyE pAlaya mAM - gauLipantu/mishra cApu
dayajUDa maHnci - jaganmOhini/mishra cApu
kAmAkSi karuNAkaTAkSi (gitam) - pharaj/tripuTa
trilOkamAtA nannubrOvu - pharaj/mishra cApu
nIlAyatAkSI nIvE - pharaj/tripuTa
santataM ennai rakSippAi (gItam) - pharaj/Adi
nannu brOvu lalitA - lalita/mishra (vilOma) cApu
janani natajanaparipAlini - sAvEri/Adi
durusugA kRpajUci - sAvEri/Adi
sArasAkSi sadA (gItam) - sAvEri/tripuTa
shaHNkari shaMkuru candramukhi - sAvEri/tishra gati Adi
shrIpatimukha viracita - sAvEri/Adi
17. sUryakAntaM
nAmanavini vinu (varNam) - saurASTraM/caturashra aTa
20. naThabhairavi
AdinamuniHnci pOgaDi - Anandabhairavi/tripuTa
O jagadamba nanu - Anandabhairavi/Adi
pAhi shrI girirAjasutE - Anandabhairavi/rUpakaM
mari vE rE gati - Anandabhairavi/mishra cApu
mahilO ambA - Anandabhairavi/Adi
sAmini rammanavE (varNam) - Anandabhairavi/aTa
himAcalatanaya brOcuTakidi - Anandabhairavi/vilOma cApu
kAmAkSi anudinamu (svarajati) - bhairavi/mishra cApu
pArvati janani (gItam) - bhairavi/khaNDa maThyaM
sari yevarammA - bhairavi/khaNDa jhampa
brOvavammA tAmasamElEbirAnabrOvavammA - mAHnji/mishra cApu
pAlimpavammA paramapAvanI - mukhAri/Adi
22. kharaharapriya
akhilANDEshvari durusuga - karNATaka kApi/Adi
kAmAkSi lOkasAkSiNI (gItam) - madhyamAvati/tripuTa
pAliHncu kAmAkSi pAvanI - madhyamAvati/Adi
bRhannAyakI nannu - madhyamAvati/tishra maThyaM
ninnuvinA marigaladA - rItigauLa/rUpakaM (tishra naDai Adi)
karuNajUDa ninnunammina - shrI/mishra cApu
28. harikAmbhOji
dEvI nI pAdasArasamulE - kAmbhOji/Adi
ninnE nammiti - kEdAragauLa/Adi
parAkEla nannu - kEdAragauLa/Adi
mAyammA nannubrOvavammA - nATakuraHnji/Adi
kAmAkSi nI pAdayugamu (svarajati) - yadukulakAmbhOji/mishra cApu
29. dhIrashaHNkarAbharaNaM
dEvi mIna nEtri - shaHNkarAbharaNaM/Adi
sarOjadaLanEtri himagiriputri - shaHNkarAbharaNaM/Adi
pAlayAshu mAM paradEvatE - Arabhi/tripuTa
nannu brOvarAdA O jagadambA - janaraHnjani/tripuTa
brOva vammA baHNgAru - nIlAmbari/mishra cApu
kAmAkSi nAtO vAdA - bEgaDa/Adi
dayAnidhE mAmava (varNam) - bEgaDa/Adi
sAmi ninne nammitirArA - bEgaDa/Adi
36. calanATa
pahi mAM shrI rAjarAjEshvari - nATa/rUpakaM
39. jhAlavarALi
karuNajUDavammA vinammA - varALi/mishra cApu
kAmAkSi baHNgAru - varALi/mishra cApu
53. gamanashrama
ennEramuM un nAmam - pUrvikalyANi/mishra cApu
ninnuvinaga mari - pUrvikalyANi/dEshAdi, mishra naDai
56. SaNmukhapriya
dEvI brOva samayamidE - cintAmaNi/Adi
65. mecakalyANi
talli ninnu nera - kalyANi/mishra cApu
dEvI nannu brOvavammA - kalyANi/jhampa
nIvE gatiyani (varNam) - kalyANi/tishra maThyaM
parAmukhamEnammA pArvatiyammA - kalyANi/tripuTa
birAna varAlicci - kalyANi/tishra naDai Adi
rAvE parvatarAjakumArI - kalyANi/jhampa
shaHNkari shaHNkari - kalyANi/aTa
shrI kAmAkSi kAvavE - kalyANi/Adi
himAdrisutE pAhimAM - kalyANi/tishra naDai Adi

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 17 Feb 2006, 19:02

Sahana-priyan, I didn't know that Pahi Maam Sri Rajarajeshwari was a composition of Sri Syama Sastrigal. Even the krithi listings of SS at Sangeetham.com do not give it. Can you please throw more light on it?

Also would you have any info with regards to the availability of the audio of Janani Natajana Paripalini?

meena · Post by **meena** » 17 Feb 2006, 23:16

darshan

Pahi mam shri rajarajeshvari - Nata/Rupaka is listed in TKG book.

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 18 Feb 2006, 09:12

Darshan,
Yes, Meena ji is right. I got the info. from TKG book.

All,
It is a humble request to all music lovers in this forum to post and discuss rare krithis(with anecdotes) of Shyama sastri. As always, I would like to welcome Coolkarni ji, Badri, CML sir, Shrikaanth sir and others to take the lead.

Thanks.

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 18 Feb 2006, 13:12

A fantastic write-up giving the reason for the mudra "Shyama Krishna Sodari": http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2 ... 870600.htm

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 18 Feb 2006, 13:18

Somewhere I had stated that under the Sangeetha Label, Suguna Purushothaman had rendered some rare krithis of Syama Sastri. Can anyone guide me to get a copy of this album.

Kaumaaram

knrh05 · Post by **knrh05** » 18 Feb 2006, 17:47

Here are couple of the songs.
Janani natajanaparipalini - unknown singer
--deleted link--
Ninnuvina in Abheri
--deleted link--

Maharajapuram Santhanam released a double cassette album (HMV) of rare Syama Sastri kritis (Had Brovu brovu-Kiravani, a Janaranjani song among others).
There is also a single audio cassette released by Sulochana Pattabhiraman and her group called 'Rare Kritis of Syama Sastri' released by Sangeetha label. I bought this at Giri Trading in Chennai (near Kapali temple). Songs are
Pahimam Sri Rajarajeswari-Natai, Palayasumam-Arabhi, Enneramum-Purvikalyani, Kamakshi-Begada, Rave parvatarajakumari-Kalyani, Akhilandeswari-Kapi, Enneramum unpaada-Punnagavarali and Kamakshi lokasakshini-Madhyamavati.

The same group has also released a tape of Harikesanallur's rare kritis.

meena · Post by **meena** » 18 Feb 2006, 23:11

darshan

thanks for the article.

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 19 Feb 2006, 02:02

Darshan,
That was a nice article. Do you have any more of such stories on Shyama sastri?

Knrh05,
Thanks for the details on the cassette.

Thanks.

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 19 Feb 2006, 21:18

knrh05, many thanks for those wonderful krithis. I would be most happy if somebody could give details about a commercial rendering of Janani. This is one of the prominent krithis in my must-collect list.

Syama Sastrigal was a Srividyopasaka par excellence. Having had Sri Kamakshi as his upasya devatha, he considered whatever knowledge he had of
music as well as others only due to Her divine grace. Surely, he belongs to those class of divine children like Sri Ganapathi, Sri Subrahmaya, Sri Tiru GnanaSambandar, Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavadpadacharya, who had the singular fortune of being fed with the "jnanappal" or the milk of knowledge by none else than Amba herself, which is well elucidated by the story given in the above link.

"Twa stanyam manye dharanidhara kanye hridhayatha
Paya paraabhaara parivahathi saaraswathamiva
Dhayavathya dhattham dravida sisu raaswadhya thava yat
Kaveenam proudana majani kamaniya kavayitha"

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 21 Feb 2006, 10:14

Coolkarni ji/Badri,
I wonder if you could spend some time to get us some rare jewels of Shyama Sastri in this forum. Your time will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 21 Feb 2006, 10:43

I am an ardent worshipper of Bangaru Kamakshi Amman and Shyama Sastrigal.

I am immediately reminded of a lec-dem by Smt Vidhya Shankar at Ragasudha quite sometime back. She sang and played on the vINa 'janani natajanaparipAlini'. 'taruNam idamma' in gauLipantu was rendered in vilamba kAlam in cApu tALam against the fast Adi tALa version. Smt Shankar also played some more rare pieces which also included a mangalam in kalyANi. Smt Vedavalli who spoke at the occasion, almost all kritis of shyama sastri were in cApu taLam and he was even refered to as cApu Krishna sAstrigal. There was a write up i wrote about the lec-dem on www.sangeetham.com. should search of the links.

as pointed out by somebody else, ninnuvinA marigalada in AbhEri (with suddha dhaivadham) is cliamed to be the authentic version by quite a few people.

again coming to ninnuvina gamari in pUrvikalyANi, i was told the kriti is set to vilOma cApu tALam.

And of those listed, probably i would include the following be added to the bold list:
karuNAnidhi ilalO - tODi/tishra gati Adi
trilOkamAtA nannubrOvu - pharaj/mishra cApu
nannu brOvu lalitA - lalita/mishra (vilOma) cApu
sari yevarammA - bhairavi/khaNDa jhampa
karuNajUDa ninnunammina - shrI/mishra cApu
parAkEla nannu - kEdAragauLa/Adi
mAyammA nannubrOvavammA - nATakuraHnji/Adi

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 21 Feb 2006, 10:47

http://me-and-music.blogspot.com/2004/0 ... astri.html

i couldnt trace the link on sangeetham.com so posted the link from my blog.

kaumaaram · Post by **kaumaaram** » 21 Feb 2006, 17:35

Dear knrh05

Please send a test mail to kaumaaram@yahoo.com. Thanks.

Kaumaaram

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 21 Feb 2006, 18:23

a few years ago i had collected as many krithis of Shyama sastri as possible on a single disc.for a friend.by various artists.let me check up.i should have a copy.

even otherwise I should be able to use sahanapriyans list and start selecting.
(I have just finished picking up 33 krithis of GNB from Various Kalyanraman concerts .Quite tiresome.But enjoyable)

darshan · Post by **darshan** » 21 Feb 2006, 19:21

Bharath, very beautiful write-up. You give a pretty neat sketch of the lec-dem.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 21 Feb 2006, 20:50

Thanks coolkarni

It will be great to have a stellar collection of SS. We will have a web-festival of the great sastri with comments from all of us!

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 21 Feb 2006, 21:25

Thats impressive. Keep those write ups coming Bharath. Good stuff.

venkatpv · Post by **venkatpv** » 21 Feb 2006, 22:04

i attended a concert by N.Bhairavi and N.Malavi, two talented upcoming singers, at Vani Mahal in December '05..and they sang Ninne nammi nanu as the main piece... with a lovely neraval at "Kamakshi kanjadalayatakshi"
it was heartening to listen to a heavy piece..handled with absolute confidence and control!!!

pardon me if i am a bit biased. Bhairavi happens to be my classmate in school

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 21 Feb 2006, 22:19

pardon me if i am a bit biased. Bhairavi happens to be my classmate in school

Well well! Are we hearing a confession here!

:D

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 21 Feb 2006, 22:28

Some do kiss the baby for the nurse's sake

venkatpv · Post by **venkatpv** » 21 Feb 2006, 22:43

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 21 Feb 2006, 23:34

Somebody is winding up.....

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 22 Feb 2006, 19:58

sahana-priyan
I did locate the stuff.am also adding recent renderings by manda sudharani and pantularama.so you can plan for the festival in full flow
here is my first one.

http://rapidshare.de/files/6587773/Pahi ... a.mp3.html

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 23 Feb 2006, 01:30

Coolkarni sir,
Thanks for the glad note(Sruthi). That is good news. We will wait for the treasures one by one(layam).

I would like to request all(our learned people) to add discussions(anecdotes, krithi structure, raga choice, time when krithi was composed etc.) on nuances of each krithi(Gamaka and Bhava) adding to the nischala sowkhyam.

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 23 Feb 2006, 18:26

Let us hold on to the convention we had with the Wodeyar Thread where DRS used to prompt me for the next upload.Can someone do it for me here , as the discussions progress..

sriucl · Post by **sriucl** » 23 Feb 2006, 20:55

Of course..I will.....Next one please..Thanks

Srivathsan

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 23 Feb 2006, 20:59

Coolkarni
Can you post akhilANDESvari in karnATaka kApi first. I have been crying hoarse for you to post this kRti in the other thread.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 23 Feb 2006, 21:10

Is there any other version of the AnandhaBaravI krithi that Kulkarni Sa'ab posted earlier? For some unusual reason, the posted version seems lacking in soul...or is that the best that can be done with the composition in question? I did not get the sense of intense pleading that the words indicate from this version of the song.
Ravi

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 23 Feb 2006, 21:56

Nope. The version I have been taught and have heard is significantly different. Even I felt the version posted did not have the soul of pAHiSrI girirAjasutE.

drshrikaanth · Post by **drshrikaanth** » 23 Feb 2006, 23:15

Iam taking the liberty of posting the kRti rendered by me here.

http://rapidshare.de/files/13959425/pAh ... h.wma.html

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 23 Feb 2006, 23:29

Bravo!

Here is the lyric for reference!

Composition : pAhi shrI girirAjasutE

Ragam : Anandabhairavi

Thalam : Rupakam

Pallavi :
pAhi srI girirAjasutE karuNAkalitE padasarOjamanusarAmi tE amba

Anupallavi :
dEhi matEranupamagatim mE EkAmrapati sudati sati tEjasA atulita divyamUrtE lalitEatilalitE [pAhisrI?.]

Charanam :
kAmitadhAtri kamalamukhi kAmAkshi akhilasAkshi kAma ratikAma shubhaphaladE dhR_tasugandha ghanalatE shyAmE adya bhava mama mudE shyAmakrishNa sundaradE shyAmalE AsritaratE viditagatE sadA eha varadE [pAhisrI?]

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 24 Feb 2006, 06:43

Shrikaanth sir,
Your rendition definitely adds soul to the beautiful anandabhairavi chosen.

Can we get meanings from somebody? I searched in the web for meanings without sucess. Also, Does anybody know when this krithi was composed?

meena · Post by **meena** » 24 Feb 2006, 06:58

Deleted

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 24 Feb 2006, 07:01

Meaning :
O Compassionate mother, daughter of the snow clad mountains, I follow your lotus feet. Protect me. Give me that unique salvation, O wife of Ekamranatha(Siva). O bright one, whose figure is incomparable, you are Lalita, the most tender one.
You give whatever one desires. Your face is like a lotus, O Kamakshi. You are the witness to all wordly happenings. You bestowed good fortune on Kama and Rati, you are carrying a creeper with a heady fragrance in your hand. O scarlet one, make me happy now. You bestow boons all the time on Syama Krishna. O Shyamala, you delight your worshippers. You are learned and bestow boons on this earth.
(Courtesy sangeetham.com)

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 24 Feb 2006, 07:10

Who can beat the nimble fingers of our Teacher
Who can treat Rasikas like a loving Mother
Who can lead us safely through the cyber jungle
Who can admonish us when we bungle
Who can thank her for ever and ever
Who else other than the humble CMlover

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 24 Feb 2006, 09:14

DRS
thsi rendering by RK Srikanthan should soothe you ..
http://rapidshare.de/files/6587992/Pahi ... n.mp3.html

and here is the next one to perk up rshankar
a lovely track by gs mani in the company of VVS and UKS.

http://rapidshare.de/files/13995224/Sar ... i.mp3.html

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 24 Feb 2006, 09:20

DRS
: http://rapidshare.de/files/13995777/Akh ... k.mp3.html

The trouble with such krithis is that I with my meagre knowledge could end up putting up a wrong track here.I have to hear the shyama krishna.. stuff to make sure you see.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 24 Feb 2006, 09:48

coolkarni

Don't worry! If you make a mistake it is one more grist for our mills!

DRS

I will bet my bottom dollar that was Kapi darbar-laced! But then what is Karnataka kapi?

meena · Post by **meena** » 24 Feb 2006, 11:15

cml

Flattered!
thanku very much

regards
meena

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 24 Feb 2006, 11:16

CMlover sir/Meena,
That meaning was nice. I did think i had seen somewhere but saw that the site was down for last week. It looks like it is up.

Thanks.

cmlover · Post by **cmlover** » 24 Feb 2006, 11:27

Cher Meena
il n'est rien

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 24 Feb 2006, 15:23

Coolkarni
Do you also have that rare Begada varnam composed by Sri Syama Sastri?
Is that on the list of things to be U/l
Greedy me....

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 24 Feb 2006, 18:35

the bEgaDa varnam is rather famous. you could listen to it by Vijay Siva on nada anuboothi.

Mahesh · Post by **Mahesh** » 24 Feb 2006, 19:40

Coolkarni
Do you also have that rare Begada varnam composed by Sri Syama Sastri?
Is that on the list of things to be U/l
Greedy me....

There is a commercial album of Maharajapuram Santhanam where he has sung Dayanidhe varnam. I have it on tape somewhere.

kiransurya · Post by **kiransurya** » 26 Feb 2006, 03:47

Wonder if anyone knows why sri Syama Sastri composed Biraanavaraalitchi and Himadre suthe with same notation?
any anecdotes?

BTW Mahesh! can u give me a copy of that varnam at your convenience? Thank you...

kiran

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 27 Feb 2006, 09:53

http://rapidshare.de/files/14235643/Na_ ... R.mp3.html

RR-Rama Ravi

Sahana-priyan · Post by **Sahana-priyan** » 27 Feb 2006, 12:10

Coolkarni sir,
That was a wonderful varnam...Thanks. I felt that there were many swaraksharams(atleast 2 places) in the same..Eg. Pama..ri

I also think Smt. Rama Ravi is one of the leading exponents of Shyama sastri krithis. I have listened to her and she sings with a lot of sampradhaya.

All,
May be a silly question..

When do composers use swaraksharam in general? Is it by choice?

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 28 Feb 2006, 09:57

: http://rapidshare.de/files/13995224/Sar ... i.mp3.html

rbharath · Post by **rbharath** » 28 Feb 2006, 22:38

that karnataka kapi query reminds me of somebody telling that Brinda amma sang a stunning viruttam in karnataka kapi 'jAnAti rAmam' at the Dhanammal Centenary which happened close to a couple of decades back at Sastri Hall.

Is there a possiblity that the concert was recorded at all?

Sorry, to drift away from Shyama Sastri here. couldnt resist.