Sa Pa Sa Musical Web Series - Season 1 - Episode 2
Sa Pa Sa celebrates International Mother Language Day!
21st February is observed as International Mother Language Day! A great occasion to celebrate the richness of our own Mother tongue! Our mother language is Telugu and we love it. And today's episode's theme is one of the reasons. Telugu has its own style of literature called 'Padyam'. It falls under the category of poetry but the grammar, the meter are really very unique and special.
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| (pic above) This is how the word 'Telugu' looks like in Telugu Script |
Telugu Padyam - An ocean in itself!
The concept of Telugu Padyam is so deep and so vast that to put everything in one episode is impossible. But one way of enjoying this ocean is to pick some rare gems and pearls that it has to offer.
So, come dive with us into the depths of the ocean called Telugu Padyam and cherish the treasure called 'Sathaka Padyam', a very important branch of Telugu Padyam.
What is a Sathakam?
Sathakam means a collection of 100 or 108 Padyalu - sometimes about the same subject or sometimes about the same theme. Sometimes each Padyam stands for its own theme - unrelated to the rest of the work. This kind of Sathakam is known as 'Muktakam' in Telugu Grammar.
Here are the features of a typical Sathakam:
1 Sathakam has collection of 100 or 108 Padyalu
2 Every Padyam in the sathakam is mostly written in the same meter
3 Every sathakam starts with a padyam that sets the intention and basic theme
of Sathakam by the poet
4 Every Padyam in the sathakam ends with the same line that is called 'Makutam' - this represents
the poet's name/sathakam's name/deity's name/'mudra' or pen name of the poet. This is how we
recognize from which sathakam a particular padyam is.
Some famous 'Makutam' examples :
'Viswadhabhi Rama Vinura Vema'
Poet - Vemana
Viswada and Abhiram were the most important people of his life. 'Vema' is his name!
'Dasarathi Karunapayonidhi'
Poet - 'Bhakta Ramadasu' Kancharla Gopanna
Dasarathi means son of Dasaratha, Lord Rama, the one who is merciful!
'Sumathi'
Poet - Baddena
'Sri Kalahasteeswara!'
Poet - Dhoorjati
His Sathakam is called Srikalahasteeswara Sathakam - Sri Kalahasthi is a 'Kshetram' (holy place) for Hindus and Sri Kalahasteeswara is the name of Lord Shiva worshipped there!
So these were the basic features of a typical Sathaka Padyam. In this episode of SA PA SA musical web series, we feature some of the greatest and popular sathaka padyalu.
What makes this episode so special?
Padyam is already so beautiful and if this Padyam is set to tune to pleasing Ragas, it is a treat to ears
and also so wonderful to perform.
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| CD cover art of Telugu Padyalu Audio |
I have a major passion to tune and perform these Padyalu - and to take them to people especially kids to enjoy like I do whenever I come across them.
I have also made a 15 must learn Telugu Padyalu for kids, more on this later! So the specialty of this episode is we sing the Padyalu while enjoying the meaning and words of each of them!
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Sathakam=Vemana, Vemana=Sathakam!
If there is one popular poet who is Telugu people's pride, whose words are pearls of wisdom that even
today they are referred to and taken in utmost respect, it is Vemana. Even though he wrote some thousands of Padyalu, his collection is still referred as 'Vemana Sathakam' only.
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| Chittor V Nagayya as Yogi Vemana Watch Yogi Vemana Movie Here (Volga Videos) |
Vemana Sathakam stands for hard truth of the society, principles of life and above all, humanity!
The padyam we chose for this episode is a simple hack Vemana suggests on mastering anything in life - 'Practice' - and it takes a lot of patience to practice - so I chose Sahana Ragam to tune this Padyam. (Sahana means patience)
'Anagananaga ragamathiseyilluchunundu
'when you keep saying/singing it again and again the song or the tune will start sounding better and better'
Thinaga thinaga vemu thiyyanundu
When you keep eating neem leaf that is so bitter, it will eventually taste sweet/bearable
Sadhanamuna panulu samakuru dharalona
only with the virtue of practice the achievements are possible
Viswadhabhirama Vinura Vema'
Listen O Viswada and Abhirama's Vema!
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Sumathi Sathakam = conduct, behaviour, human nature
Baddena Bhupala was a prince and a poet - Sumathi Sathakam is from 13th century, and his work 'Sumathi Sathakam' is probably one of the early works in Telugu. Sumathi means, the one with a good mind. He is addressing the good minds and guiding them how to deal with the society giving examples from nature around us!
It is so surprising to see how these principles about human nature are so relevant even today - even after 7 centuries!! (Should we be happy or sad?! Has the human race not evolved from basic instincts of flight, fight, fear and you know the other F! 😉)
The padyam we chose for this episode is 'Upakariki' which I tuned in Kalyani - I really needed a 'Prathi Madhyamam' here!
Upakarikinupakaramu vipareethamu kaadu seya vivarimpamgaa
To the one who does good to us, doing good back to them is not a great thing
Apakarikinupakaramu nepamennaka seyuvaade nerpari Sumathi!
The one who does good ... even to someone who caused harm to them... without any apprehensions is indeed is a master
This Padyam shakes us up.. makes us ask a lot of questions, think about all the people who did bad to us and questions whether this is the right thing to do and puts us in a spot whether we really can/will do good to those who did bad to us.. phew!!
P.s. Did you know Baddena was a Prince?
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Sri Krishna Sathakam = Sarvasya Saranagathi (complete surrender) to Lord Krishna
'Author unknown' - this is the term that really makes me feel very sad, surprised and angry at the same time. Even some great music works like 'Ninnu Kori' varnam in Vasantha Ragam are in this category - how is it even possible - people remember 100 padyams but not one thing - name of the author!? This is why pen names are so important! This selfless poet has really renounced his (or her!) claim to fame - he is definitely a great devotee!
Anyways - this agyatha kavi (unknown poet) has given us this great treasure - the Padyam we chose is the 2nd poem of Sri Krishna Sathakam!
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| Sri Krishna Satakam Book |
Neeve thallivi thandrivi
you are my mother and father
Neeve naa thodu needa
You are with me always
Neeve Sakhudau
You are my friend
Neeve Gurudavu Daivamu
You are my teacher and God
Neeve naa pathiyu gathiyu
You are my Lord
Nijamuga Krishna
Truly, Krishna
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Sri Kalahasteeswara Sathakam = dark ways of the society!
Mahakavi Dhurjati pours out his devotion towards Lord Shiva and also aversion towards the society in this Sathakam. He was one of the poets of Emperor Krishnadevaraya's court, and shockingly he writes a Padyam about the bullying nature of the Kings - 'Rajulmathhulu vaari seva narakaprayambu' - Kings are crazy and to serve them is hell, he says!!! I don't know whether anyone mentioned this to Krishnadevaraya - if so, he himself being a great Poet must have adored the beauty of the padyam and also the courage of the poet!
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| Sri Kalahasti Temple architecture |
The Padyam we chose for this episode has a very special reason (at the end of the padyam) :
Ye vedambu pathinche lootha
What Vedam has the Spider studied?Bhujagambesastramulooche
What Sastras did the Serpent learn?
Thaane Vidyabhyasanambonarche Kari?
What education did the elephant acquire?
Chenche mantramoohinche?
What mantra did the Tribal (referring to Bhakta Kannappa) chant
Bodhavirbhavanidanamul chaduvulayya? kaavu!
Is education the way to acquire real knowledge? NO!
Mee paadasamsevasaktiye gaaka jantutatikin!
The eagerness to serve your lotus feet is the way to real knowledge!
Now, the special reason - a very learned pandit, whose life depends on his education, sastras knowledge and grammar, discards all the weight put on being a scholar - He says 'the real knowledge is to have inherent interest to serve you, to know about you, O Kalahasteeswara - that is the real education - otherwise, what education, what knowledge that the Spider, the Snake and the Elephant had to attain the salvation?' :)
I used 'Revathi' ragam for this padyam. Revathi is the ragam in which 'Vedam' is chanted, it oozes spirituality and devotion!
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Narasimha Sathakam = Oneness of all the souls - even the animals and other beings & utmost devotion to Lord Narasimha
The 'Makutam' of this Sathakam is
'Bhushanavikasa Sri Dharmapura Nivasa,
Dushtasamhara Narasimha Duritha Doora!
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| Dharmapuri Temple |
Just like its Makutam, the Padyalu are also bigger than other typical sathaka padyams.
The first half of the sathaka padyam is in 'Seesa' chandassu ('Seesa' meter) and the second half of the padyam is in 'Thetageethi' chandassu ('Thetageethi' meter)
Dhoorjati's sathakam is in Sardoola, Matthebha chandassu (meaning Mighty Lion and Elephant) while Ramadasu's Sri Dasarathi Sathakam is in Utpalamala, Champakamala chandassu.
The padyams were written in these meters. know more about Telugu Chandassu here!
The Padyam we chose for this episode which I tuned in Kambhoji Ragam
Stambhamandudayinchi Danavendruni drunchi
You emerged from a Pillar, demolished the demon king
Karunatho Prahladu gaachinaavu
and protected Prahlada with mercy
Makari che jikki samajamu dukhimpanga
When the elephant was attacked by the crocodile
krupayunchi vega rakshinchinavu
you kindly and swiftly rescued it
Sarananuchu naa Vibheeshanudu
When Vibheeshana surrendered to you
nee chatuku vacchinapude Lanka nicchinavu
you gifted him kingdom of Lanka
Aa kucheludu chaaredatukularpinchina
When Kuchela offered to you just a fistful of flattened rice
bahu sampadalanicchi bampinaavu
U blessed him with abundance
vaarivale nannu poshimpa vasemu gaade
Can't you bless me like you blessed them?
Intha valapakshamela Srikantha neeku?
Why do you take sides?
Bhushana Vikasa Sri Dharma Pura Nivasa
Dushta Samhara Narasimha Duritha doora
O Narasimha, demolisher of Bad, the one whose abode is Dharmapuri!
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Dasarathi Sathakam = Rama Mayamu
Ramadasu (Kancherla Gopanna) not only wrote Keertanalu dedicated to 'Bhadrachala Rama' using the same phrase as the 'mudra' or pen name for all the keertanas, but also a Sathakam addressing Lord Rama as 'Dasarathi', son of Dasaratha.
For this episode we chose the first Padyam of the
sathakam which I tuned in 'Hindola' Ragam
Sri Raghurama Charu Tulasidala dhaama
Sri Raghu Rama, the wearer of a beautiful garland of basil leaves
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| Unique idols of Bhadrachalam in Bapu's Painting |
Sama Kshamaadi Srungaaragunabhiraama
The one with the virtues of patience and forgiveness
Trijagannutha Sourya Ramalalaaama
The one who is known for his valour in all the three worlds
Durvara kabanda rakshasa virama
Durvara kabanda rakshasa virama
The one who ended demons such as Kabandha
Jagajjana kalmasharnavottaraka nama
Whose name cleanses this polluted ocean called 'the world'
Bhadragiri Dasarathi Karunapayonidhi
The Makutam!
Even after writing so many songs, he still had so much to say about Lord Rama!!!
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Lalitha Sugunajaala Telugu Bala = All about Telugu culture, language, traditions!
'Karunasri' Jandhyala Papai Sastry garu - generally the poets are very sensitive 'Karunasri' is extra more sensitive, to prove this, I present 'Pushpavilapam' - a poem written from the point of view of a flower questioning the harshness towards them by men and women. Such is his heart. He was a friend of my grandfather - my mother used to tell me that he used to visit my grandfather often!
He wrote a sathakam with makutam 'Lalithasugunajaala Telugu baala' - addressing the Telugu children!
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| 'Karunasri' |
The Padyam we chose for this episode is in Ananda Bhairavi ragam, the ragam that is 'Karuna Rasam' in itself - well suited for 'Karuna Sri's Padyam.
Tenugudanamu vanti theeyadanamu ledu
There is no sweetness like 'Teluguness'
Tenugu kavulavanti ghanulu leru
There are no greats like Telugu Poets
Tenugu thalli sadhujana kalpavalli raa
Mother Telugu is the one who is a giver of abundance to all the good souls
Lalitha Sugunajaala Telugu Bala
O virtuous Telugu Bala (Kid)
O virtuous Telugu Bala (Kid)
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And the grand finale is from a contemporary Telugu Poet Sri Meegada Ramalinga Swamy who wrote a beautiful poem on Telugu Language and what it means to Telugu People, very apt for Mother Language Day! It too is in Ananda Bhairavi Ragam.
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| Meegada Ramalingaswamy |
Uggu paala nundi uyyala lonundi
('Uggu' is a traditional cereal porridge given to infants)
Right from the cradle days
Amma paata paadinatti bhasha
The language in which Mothers sang to us
Thenevanti mandu veenulakunu vindu
Its like honey and treat to the ears
Desabhashalandu Telugu Lessa
This Makutam line was written by Sri Krishna Devaraya himself saying that there is no other language like Telugu!
The poet used this as the Makutam for this padyam.
That was the episode of Sa Pa Sa celebrating International Mother Language Day!
Yours musically
Sushma Nittala
for Sa Pa Sa
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