About My mother is an accomplished singer. She is a scientist by profession (retired). She is also what I would term a “projects person”. She loves having a current project. One such project she had in mind for a while was to record bhajans she had learned in her early youth. Before she could take up this project, though, sadly, she was impacted by a major health incident. This left her unable to sing very well, and robbed her of many other faculties too. Unwell or not, my mother is a very persuasive person. During her long recovery from her health incident, I would often skype with her, and practice my music, encouraging her to sing too (back then, I was working on Bhimpalasi in the style I am a student of - Dhrupad). Soon enough, my Skype sessions became less about me practicing and more about her project. I admit, I allowed that to happen... I felt it was my familial duty to learn the Bhajans she wanted to record. I am not sure why she chose the five that she did, for she knows many beautiful bhajans and Punjabi songs. But, she chose these five (three Bhajans, and two Gurbani Kirtans) and she patiently taught them to me. Working full time, and having a few other projects going on myself, I am unable to devote very much time to music. So, it took me over a year, and in the course of that year, a little by little, I learned these Bhajans. I practiced them with my very encouraging teacher, Mrs. Shantha Benegal. I am grateful to her as well as Padmashri Gundecha Brothers for creating music for gaps in the score where my mother’s memory failed her. I had planned to record the Bhajans with percussion and not much else as accompaniment. That’s where Pandit Akhilesh Gundecha stepped in. I had told him about this project, and much to my as well as my mother’s good fortune, the project caught his imagination. He worked with Umesh Tarkaswar-ji of Bhopal and many talented artists to provide musical background for the Bhajans, turning this project into a richer and more professional album than I had ever imagined. As you may imagine, my mother was moved to tears upon hearing the copy for the first time. This album was undertaken with a simple desire to bring to life something that someone dear to me was so keen on doing, but sadly no longer can. I hope you enjoy listening to these Bhajans, and they bring about a measure of peace and joy. - Vibhavaree Gargeya Tracks #1 Ali Manhe Lage Vrindavana Neeko Meera Bai Bhajan Raga: Maand, Tala: Keherawa #2 Bhaj Raghuveera Shyama Yugala Charana Composer: Unknown Raga: Bahaar, Tala: Keherawa #3 Sadho Mana Ka Maana Tyago Gurbani Kirtan: Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh Ji Raga: Malhaar, Tala: Adi tala #4 Thakura Tava Sharanayi Aayo Gurbani Kirtan: Guru Arjan Dev Ji Raga: Maand, Tala: Keherawa #5 Mero Mana Rama Hi Rama Rate Re Meera Bai Bhajan Raga: Bhairavi, Tala: Keherawa Credits Inspiration Dr. Chanchal Uberoi Music Direction Dr. Chanchal Uberoi, Sri Umesh Tarkaswar Voice Score As taught by Dr. Chanchal Uberoi. Memory gaps filled in with score from Mrs. Shantha Benegal, Padmashri Gundecha Brothers and Vibhavaree Gargeya Background Score Sri Umesh Tarkaswar, Pandit Akhilesh Gundecha Voice: Vibhavaree Gargeya Chorus: Lead: Janhvi Phanasalkar Ankita Athavle Aparajita Chokroborty Anjana Iyer Nirupama Venkatesh Sarod: C.S. Balasubramanian Sitar: Souravbrata Chakraborty Santoor: Satyendra Singh Solanki Flute: Anupam Vankhede Pakhawaj: Pandit Akhilesh Gundecha Tabla: Ramendra Singh Solanki Side Rhythm: Anoop Singh Borliya Album cover: Rebecca Gray - Amara Designs Bhajan translations: Anup Jalan Accompanists and chorus recorded at Harmony Studio, Bhopal Voice recorded at Sri Sai Swara Recording Studio, Bengaluru Lyrics and Translations 1. Ali Mhane Lage Vrindavana Neeko Lyrics आली म्हाने लागे वृन्दावन नीको घर घर तुलसी ठाकुर पूजा दरशन गोविंदजी को आली म्हाने लागे वृन्दावन नीको निरमल नीर बहत यमुना में भोजन दूध दही को रतन सिंहासन आप विराजे मुकुट धर्यो तुलसी को आली म्हाने लागे वृन्दावन नीको कुंजन कुंजन फिरत राधिका सबद सुनत मुरलीको मीरा के प्रभु गिरिधर नागर भजन विना नर फीको आली म्हाने लागे वृन्दावन नीको Aali mhane laage vrindavana neeko Ghara ghara tulasi Thakura pooja Darasana Govindaji ko Aali mhane laage vrindavana neeko Niramala neer bahata yamuna mein Bhojana doodha dahi ko Ratana simhasana aapa viraje Mukuta dharyo tulasi ko Aali mhane lage vrindanvana neeko Kunjana kunjana phirata Radhika Sabada sunata Murali ko Meera ke Prabhu Giridhara nagara Bhajana vina nar phiko Aali mhane lage vrindanvana neeko Word translations Aali (female friend) mhane (to me) laage (feels) Vrindavana (childhood place of Krishna) neeko (good, best) Ghara (house) ghara (house) tulasi (tulasi plant) Thakura (Lord) pooja (worship) Darasana (sight) Govindaji (Govindaji - another name for Krishna) ko (of) Aali mhane laage vrindavana neeko Niramala (clean/pure) neer (water) bahata (flows) Yamuna (Yamuna river) mein (in) Bhojana (meal) doodha (milk) dahi (yoghurt) ko (of) Ratana (bejeweled) simhasana (throne) aapa (Lord) viraje (seated) Mukuta (crown) dharyo (wearing) tulasi (tulasi) (of) Aali mhane lage vrindanvana neeko Kunjana (bower) kunjana (bower) phirata (wanders) Radhika (Radhika) Sabada (sound) sunata (hears) Murali (flute) ko (of) Meera (Meera - the composer) ke (of) Prabhu (Lord) Giridhara nagara (another name of Krishna) Bhajana (devotional songs) vina (without) nar (person) phiko (dull, colorless, faded) Aali mhane lage vrindanvana neeko Translation O friend, I like Vrindavan the best Where Tulasi’s Lord (Krishna) is worshiped in each house (And) where you get to see Govindaji Where the waters of the Yamuna flow clear and pure Where the meals are comprised of milk and yoghurt Where the Lord is seated on a bejeweled throne Wearing a crown made from sacred, fragrant tulasi Where Radhika wanders from bower to bower Listening to the dulcet sounds of (Krishna’s) flute Meera (says) my Lord Giridhara Nagara Without devotional songs (praising you), a person is dull O friend, I like Vrindavan the best Additionally, Chanchal-ji wanted to points out that Vrindavan, where Krishna grew up is near present day Agra, on the banks of the Yamuna river. 2. Bhaje Raghuveera Shyama Yugala Charana Lyrics भजे रघुवीर श्याम युगल चरणा इतही अयोध्या निर्मल सरयू उत मथुरा शीतल यमुना इत दशरथ के कुंवर कहावे उत कहावे नंदजी के ललना इतही कौशल्या झूला झुलावे उत यशोदा झुलावे पलना इत तुलसी उत सूर कहावे युगल चरण पर शिर धरना Bhaje Raghuveer Shyam yugala charana Itahi Ayodhya niramal Sarayu Uta Mathura sheetala yamuna Ita Dasharatha ke kunwara kahawe Uta kahawe Nandaji ke lalana Itahi Kaushalya jhoola jhulawe Uta Yashoda jhulawe palana Ita Tulasi uta Soor kahawe Yugala charana par shira dharana Word translations Bhaje (pray, worship) Raghuveer (another name for Ram) Shyam (another name for Krishna) yugala (both) charana (feet) Itahi (here) Ayodhya (Ram’s birthplace) niramal (clean, pure) Sarayu (river near Ayodhya) Uta (there) Mathura (Krishna’s birthplace) sheetala (cool) Yamuna (river near Mathura) Ita (here) Dasharatha (Dasharatha - Ram’s father) ke (of) kunwara (young son) kahawe (is called) Uta (there) kahawe (is called) Nandaji (Nanda - Krishna’s foster father) ke (of) lalana (dear son) Itahi (here) Kaushalya (Kaushalya - Ram’s mother) jhoola (swing) jhulawe (swings) Uta (there) Yashoda (Yashoda - Krishna’s foster mother) jhulawe (swings) palana (crib) Ita (here) Tulasi (Tulasidas, who wrote songs in praise of Ram) uta (there) Soor (Soordas, who wrote songs in praise of Krishna) kahawe (is called) Yugala (both) charana (feet) par (on) shira (head) dharana (keep, place) Translation Worship at feet of both Raghuveer and Shyam Here is Ayodhya and the clean and pure Sarayu There is Mathura and the cool waters of Yamuna Here He is called the young son of Dasharatha There He is called the dear son of Nanda Here Kaushalya swings Him in a swing There Yashoda swings Him in a crib Here (the devotee) is called Tulasidas, there he is known as Surdas Bow down and place head at both their (Ram & Krishna’s) feet 3. Sadho Mana Ka Maana Tyago Lyrics साधो मन का मान त्यागो काम क्रोध संगत दुर्जन की ता ते अहिनिसि भागो सुख दुःख दोनों सम कर जाने और मान अपमाना हर्ष शोक ते रहे अतीता तिनि जग तत्व पेहचाना अस्तुति निंदा दोउ त्यागे खोजे पद निर्बाणा जन नानक यह खेल कठिन है किनहु गुरुमुख जाना Saadho mana ka maan tyaago Kama krodh sangata durajana ki Tate ahinisi bhago Sukha dukha dono sama kara janai Aur maan apmana Harsh shoka te rahe ateeta Tina jaga tatwa pehechana Astuti ninda dou tyage Khoje pada nirbana Jana Nanaka yah khel kathina hai Kinahu Gurumukh jana Word translations Saadho (saints) mana (mind) ka (of) maan (pride) tyaago (forsake) Kama (sexual desire) krodh (anger) sangata (company) durajana (evil people) ki (of) Tate (from that) ahinisi (day and night) bhago (run) Sukha (pleasure) dukha (pain) dono (both) sama (equal) kara (does) janai (knows) Aur (and) maan (honor) apmana (dishonor) Harsh (joy) shoka (sorrow) te (from) rahe (stays) ateeta (detached) Tina (he) jaga (world) tatwa (essence) pehechana (recognizes) Astuti (praise) ninda (blame) dou (both) tyage (renounces) Khoje (searches) pada (state) nirbana (Nirvana) Jana (people, followers) Nanaka (Guru Nanak Dev) yah (this) khel (game) kathina (difficult) hai (is) Kinhu (few) Gurumukh (from mouth of Guru) jana (know) Translation O Saints, forsake the pride of your mind Sexual desire, anger and company of evil people Stay away from them day and night One who knows that pleasure and pain both are same And similarly honor and dishonor Who remains detached from both joy and sorrow He recognizes the true essence of this world Renounce both praise and blame And search for the state of Nirvana O followers of Nanak, this is such a difficult game Only a few have learned it from the words of the Guru 4. Thakura Tava Sharanayi Aayo Lyrics ठाकुर तव शरणाई आयो उतर गया मेरा मन का सौंसा जब तेरो दरशन पायो आयो अनबोलत मेरी वृथा जानी अपना नाम जपायो आयो दुःख नाठे सुख सहज समायो आनंद आनंद गुण गायो आयो बाह पकर कढ़ लीणो अपणे गृह अंध कूप ते माया कह नानक यह बंधन काटे बिछुरत आन मिलायो आयो Thakur tawa sharnai aayo Utara gaya mera man ka saunsa Jab tero darashana payo ayo An bolata meri vritha jani Apana nam japayo aayo Dukh nathe sukh sehaja samayo Anand anand guna gayo aayo Baha pakara kad leeno apane Gruh andha koop te maaya Kaho Nanak yeh bandhana kate Bicharata aana milayo aayo Word translations Thakur (Lord) tawa (your) sharnai (sanctuary) aayo (have come) Utara (descend) gaya (gone) mera (my) man (mind) ka (of) saunsa (anxiety) Jab (when) tero (your) darashana (sight) payo (received) aayo (has come) Anbolata (unsaid) meri (my) vritha (pain) jani (knew) Apana (your) naam (name) japayo (chanted) Dukh (sorrow) nathe (destroy) sukh (joy) sehaja (simple) samayo (immersed) Anand (happily) anand (happily) guna (praise) gayo (sang) aayo (have come) Baha (arm) pakara (catch) kad-leeno (take out) apane (you) Gruh (deep) andha (dark) koop (well) te (from) maaya (inside) Kah (says) Nanak (Guru Nanak) yeh (this) bandhana (bond) kate (cut) Bicharata (separation) aana (bring, come) milayo (united) aayo (come) Translation Lord, I have come to your sanctuary My mind’s anxiety departed when I saw you Without my speaking you knew my condition (You) made me chant your name (You) destroyed my pains (and) immersed me in bliss As I joyously sang your praise Taking me by the arm you lifted me Out from inside the deep dark well of maya (illusion) Says Nanak, the Guru has cut my bonds (And) has united me with God, from whom I had got separated 5. Mero Mana Rama Hi Rama Rate Re Lyrics मेरो मन राम ही राम रटेरे राम नाम जप लीजे प्राणी कोटिक पाप कटेरे जनम जनम के जुगड़ा पुराने नाम ही लेत कटेरे राम ही राम रटेरे.... कनक कटोरे अमरत भरयो पीवत वह कौन नटेरे मीरा के प्रभु हरी अविनाषी तन मन नाही घटेरे राम ही राम रटेरे.... Mero mana Rama hi Rama rate re Rama naam jap leeje prani Kotika paap katere Janam janam jugada purane Naam he leta katera Ram hi ram ratere.... Kanak katore amrata bharayo Peewata kaun natere Meera ke Prabhu Hari Avinashi Tana mana nahi ghatere Ram hi ram ratere.... Word translations Mero (my) mana (mind) Rama (Rama) hi (only) Rama (Rama) rate (repeats) re (pal) Rama naam (name) jap (incantation) leeje (take) prani (living being) Kotika (millions) paap (sins) katere (cut, destroyed) Janam (birth) janam (birth) ke (of) jugada (war) purane (old) Naam (name) he (only) leta (taking) katere (cut, destroyed) Ram hi ram ratere.... Kanak (golden) katore (bowl) amrata (nectar) bharayo (filled) Peewata (drinking) kaun (who) natere (refuses) Meera (Meera, the poetess) ke (of) Prabhu (Lord) Hari (Krishna) Avinashi (eternal) Tana (body) mana (mind) nahi (not) ghatere (deteriorate) Ram hi ram ratere.... Translation My mind keeps repeating the name of Lord Ram By reciting the name of Ram, O Mortal Millions of sins are destroyed The fight to escape from birth after birth of old Is also resolved as soon as Rama’s name is taken Keep taking the name of Ram (If) a golden bowl is filled with nectar of immortality Who refuses to drink it ? Meera, whose Lord is the eternal Krishna, (says) Repeating Ram’s name, is like drinking the nectar of immortality for the body and mind (why refuse it) Acknowledgement I would like to thank the artists who created music for the background score of this album. They gave freely of their time and talent, and for this I am grateful. Thank you to Pandit Akhilesh Gundecha and Sri Umesh Tarkaswar for lending their incredible professional talents to direct the music for this album. Thank you to my teacher Smt. Shantha Benegal for her guidance, encouragement and patience with my practicing. Thank you to Padmashri Gundecha Brothers as well for their encouragement and guidance. Rebecca Gray made the beautiful album cover - thank you. Thank you as well to Anup Jalan for kindly providing translations of the lyrics.Thank you to my mother for thinking of this project, and teaching me the songs. Thank you to my father, brother, sister in law and Smera for their encouragement and support, particularly for the recording that took place in Bangalore. Thank you to little Vivikth. Extended family and friends all over the world are also wonderfully supportive of this project - thank you to them. Thank you to my husband, who encourages and supports every project of mine. I could not have brought this forth without his love. 5 Bhajans Released by: Stardust Records, Seattle © 2017 Vibhavaree Gargeya