I begin the blog series with a prayer to Lord Ganesh by Sri. Muthuswamy Dīkshitar (with a pen name Guruguha), one of the Trinity of Carnatic Music. This composition in Raga Nattai in the 17th Century, is still one of the most sought after one by musicians across the world. The undercurrent of Nattai raga and the effervescence of the lyrics have withstood the test of time though hundreds of adaptations and fusions that have been tried out by scores of musicians.
Link to the audio
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bcdkokvtx7ot6h7/Mahaganapathim.mp3?dl=0
Pallavi – पल्लवि
महा गणपतिं मनसा स्मरामि
वसिष्ट वामदेवादि वन्दित ||
Transliteration of Pallavi
mahA gaNapatim manasA smarAmi
vasishTa vAmadEvAdi vandita
Meaning of the words of Pallavi
महा – The great
गणपतिं – Ganapathi (Lord Vinayaka/Ganesha)
मनसा – by mind
स्मरामि – meditate
वसिष्ट – Sage Vashista
वामदेव – Sage Vamadeva
अदि – others
वन्दित – worship
Meaning of Pallavi in Tamil
அருள்மிகு கணபதியை நினைவேனே உள்ளமதில்
பெருமுனி வசிஷ்டர் வாமதேவர் முதலோர் வணங்கிடும்
Samashti Charanam – समष्टिचरणं
महादेवसुतं गुरुगुहनुतं
मार कोटि प्रकाशं शान्तं
महाकाव्य नाटकादि प्रियं
मूषिक वाहन मोदक प्रियं
Transliteration of Samashticharanam
mahA dEva sutam guruguha nutam
mAra kOTi prakAsham shAntam
mahA kAvya nATakAdi priyam
mUshika vAhana mOdaka priyam
Meaning of the words of Samashti Charanam
महादेव – Lord Shiva / Mahadeva
सुतं – son
गुरुगुह – Lord Subramanya
नुतं – praise
मार – Cupid’s
कोटि – crore
प्रकाशं – brightness
शान्तं – tranquil/peace
महा – great
काव्य – poetry
नाटक – play
अदि – others
प्रियं – like
मूषिक – mouse
वाहन – vehicle/mount
मोदक – sweet meat
प्रियं – like
Meaning of the Samashti Charanam in Tamil
கயிலையனின் அரும்புதல்வனே குருகுகன் புகழும்
கோடிமன்மத பொலிவுடை அமைதியின் அருள்வடிவே
பெருங்கவி கூத்துபல விழைவோனே
சுண்டெலி ஊர்தியுடை மோதகப்பிரியனே
Meaning of the Composition
I meditate (smarAmi) on the supreme (mahA) Ganapati who is worshipped (vandita) by Vasishta, the Vamadevas, etc (Adi). He, the son (sutam) of Lord Shiva (mahAdEvA), is praised (nutam) by Guruguha. He shines bright (prakAsham) like millions (kOti) of cupids (mAra). He is tranquil (shAntam). He loves (priyam) great poetry (mahA kAvya), drama (nAtaka), etc (Adi). He loves (priyam) the sweet Modaka. His mount (vAhanam) is a mouse (mUshika).
Meaning in Tamil
பெருமுனி வசிஷ்டர் வாமதேவர் முதல்வோர் வணங்கிடும், கயிலாயனின் அரும்புதல்வனாம், குருகுகன் புகழும் கோடிமன்மத பொலிவுடை, அமைதியின் அருள்வடிவான, அருங்கவி கூத்துபல விழைவோனை, சுண்டெலி ஊர்தியுடை மோதகப்பிரியனை, அருள்மிகு கணபதியை, உள்ளமதில் நினைவேனே
Prabhu's Ponder 
The prayer that we are so familiar gave a new meaning and purpose after reading the true’meaning. The raga never attentioned before brought serenity and a new meaning to the prayer
Now I understand what a Guru can do
Show the shisyas a new meaning and purpose in things taken for granted
Thanks 🙏
Lovely way to start my day🙏
Thanks 🙏
Translation from Sanskrit to English is correct. I am now brushing up my Sanskrit after 41 years.
Thanks 🙏
Comments received on WhatsApp
வாழ்க வளமுடன். ஞாலமுதல்வனின் பிரார்த்தனையுடன், தொட்டது துலங்க வாழ்த்துக்கள். பொருள் விளக்கம் அற்புதம்
Comments received on WhatsApp
Good start. Both of us liked it. Translation was also apt. God Bless
Comments received on WhatsApp
Very nice and clear explanation
Comments received on WhatsApp
Arumayaana Thamizhaakkam. I understand the meaning of some words now only. Overall meaning I know. I didn’t think of word by word meaning. You have done a great job.
Comments received on WhatsApp
Your Tamil is excellent. Great. No comparison. Beautiful song with an excellent ஜனரஞ்சகமான, கம்பீரமான ராகம்
Thank you for the Thamizh translation. I have replied to you through ‘rasikas’. If I can have the Thamizh translation ( gist will do) of the following MD kritis, it will be fine.
1) saarasa dhaLa nayanaa-kamaaj
2) Maaye – Tharangini
3) Maamava Pattaabiraama- maNirangu
4) Rangapura vihaaraa- brundavana saranga
5) Maanasa guru guha – Ananda bairavi
6) Sri Sathya NaraayaNam- suba panthuvaraali
7) pancchaa shat peetta roopini- karnataka devagandhari
8) sri kaanthimathim
9) kanccha dhaLaaya
and a few more
I suggest that you give reference to Sri.V.Govindan’s blogs on MD, Thayagaraja and Shyama Sastry
and add your tamil translation in his blog pages as comment.
Best Regards.
RSR
Thanks 🙏 Will do