in Inspiration, Music Student Buzz

Ranjana(i)mala

I came across this song recently called Ranjani mridu Pankaja Lochani – a beautiful ranjani mala(ragamalika) composed by Thanjavur Sankara Iyer. This song is unique from a perspective that it contains wonderful ragas with “Ranjani” as their suffix. There are 4 ragas in this song. The pallavi portion is in Ranjani and the charanams 1,2 and 3 are in “Sriranjani” “Megharanjani” and JanaRanjani” respectively. Such a delight to listen to this song’s rendition by D K Jayaraman.

Pallavi (Ranjani)
Ranjani mrudu pankaja lochani
(O Mother! You are the delightful one (“ranjani”). You have eyes (“lochani”) like the tender (“mrudu”) lotus petals (“pankaja”).

1st Charanam: (Sriranjani)
Manju bhaashini manollasini manda agamani shriranjani
You speak (“bhaashini”) beautifully (“Manju”). You take away the ego of the mind. You are Sri Ranjani

2nd Charanam (Megharanjani)
Samagana vinodini shashanka vadani mara janani megharanjani
You delight (“vinodini”) in the musical chanting (“gaana”) of the Sama Veda.
Your face (“vadani”) is like the moon (“sashaanka”). You gave birth (“janani”) to cupid (“Maara”). You are Megha Ranjani, the goddess of the clouds.

3rd Charanam (Janaranjani)
Pamarajana palini shulini paapa vimochani paavani janaranjani
You take care (“paalini”) of the afflicted (“paamara”) ones (“jana”). You are Shoolini, one with the Trident. You get rid (“vimochani”) of our sins (“paapa”). You are the pure one (“paavani”). You are the delight (“ranjani”) of all people (“jana”), Jana Ranjani!