Rama Rama Rama Neeli Megha Syama...

 

Dhom dhom tana.. dhomtana dhomtana.. dheem dheem.. aa

Dhom dhom tana.. dhomtana dhomtana.. dheem dheem.. aa

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Sa.. sa ni pa ni sa

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Rava raghukula soma.. bhadrachala srirama

Please come, O best of Raghukula, O Rama of Bhadrachala,

Maa manasu viraboose.. prati sumagaanam neekele

Our mind blossomed and the fragrant song is dedicated to you,

Karununchi kuripinche.. nee prati deevena maakele

On feeling compassion, all your blessings are for us

Niratam poojinche.. maaku.. daagudu mootalu neekelaa

Why do you play hide and seek with your eternal worshippers

Reppalu mooyaka kolichaamu.. kannula edutaku raavelaa

We seek without blinking, when will we be able to see a glimpse of you

Rama.. rama

Rama rama rama.. neeli megha syama..

Rama, O dark Blue coloured divine being,

Rava raghukula soma.. bhadrachala srirama

Please come, O best of Raghukula, O Rama of Bhadrachala,

Lyric acknowledgements: Here.

Venkateshwara Suprabhatam - first 4 stanzas.

Om

Kausalya supraja Rama purva sandhya pravartate
O auspicious son of Kausalya, Rama, the twilight is approaching from the East

utthista narasardhula kartavyam daivamahnikam
wake up so the divine daily karmas can be performed



utthista utthista govinda utthista garuda dhwaja
Wake up, wake up O Govinda, one who has Garuda on his flag wake up

 
utthista kamala kanta trilokyam mangalam kurum
wake up, O husband of Sri Lakshmi, render the three worlds auspicious



Matassamasta jagatam madhukaita bhare
O mother of all the worlds, Sri Lakshmi, the enemy of Madhu and Kaitabha

vaksho viharini manohara divya murte
one who dwells inside the chest of the beautiful divine personality

sriswamini sritajana priya dhanasheele
One who bestows whatever is desired by seekers of refuge

Sri Venkatesa dayate tavasuprabhatam
O divine Venkateshwara, this wake up hymn is dedicated to you.


Acknowledgements : http://www.hindu-blog.com/2008/05/english-translation-of-sri-venkateswara.html


Though it seems ridiculous that the verse tries to wake up the One who wills any happening any time, the subtle meaning is only to awaken the inner self within humans, which is a part of the Super soul.

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings - Maya Angelou

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill for the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

Acknowledgements : here
Here are a few Kabir's Dohas (Couplets) with translated meaning.

Evariki evaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
Who really knows who is going to support whom in this world?
ae daretupotundo evarini adagaka
Which path leads where, unless you ask someone, how will you know?
Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagakaEvarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka


Vana kurisi kalisedi vagulo
The rain showers on Earth and collects into rivulets
vagu vanka kalisedi nadilo
rivulets and streams in turn collect into rivers
Vana kurisi kalisedi vagulo
vagu vanka kalisedi nadilo

Kadili kadili nadulanni kalisedi kadalilo
After flowing through land, the rivers collect into oceans
Kadili kadili nadulanni kalisedi kadalilo
kani...aa kadali kalisedi...endulo?
but, where in turn does the collected ocean water evaporate into?

Evarikevaru ee lokam lo evariki eruka
ae daretupotundo evarini adagaka
Evarikevaru ee lokam loooo...

Song vocals : S.P. Balasubramanyam, P.Suseela

Acknowledgements : http://divyakshar.blogspot.com.au/2010/05/evarikevaru.html

This song picturesquely describes the state of complete loss in the event of a personal catastrophe when you absolutely do not know what is happening around you, when your senses are benumbed  to the extent that you do not know, do not care where the next step is going to lead you.

The other stanza portrays a beautiful silver lining, which shows the cyclic nature of cosmos, where rain drops are described to collect themselves into streams, in turn collecting themselves into rivers, then collecting into ocean after a lot of flowing (likened to problems) after which, the droplets again evaporate to become rain.

Nuances from the Indian Epics

Mainstream renditions of the epics mostly deal with the essence and skim over a lot of nuances that are awe-inspiring and interesting. I will attempt to add a them as I come across them.

Karna, on his deathbed on the battlefield of Mahabharata :
Life Of Sacrifice

Karna's Generosity

Karna's story in comparison with Arjuna Also, do not miss Karna's story by 'The Chronicler'.


Draupadi's confession of her secret love to a talking tree :
Draupadi's confession


Astras and Shastras

Brahma kadigina padamu

M.S. Subbalakshmi's rendition of Annamayya keertana, its lyrics and meaning.




For lyrics and meaning, visit: This site.

Shankara nada sharira para - Song, lyric, meaning

Sankaraa naadha shareeraa paraa
veda vihaaraharaa jeeveshwara (2 times)
[Sankara! O wonderful embodied form of the unmanifest cosmic vibration, Om! (you are the universe). Hara(Shiva), You are the very abode of the sacred Vedas, and the Lord of all life forms.]

Praanamu neevani gaaname needani
praaname gaanamani
mouna vichakshana dhyana vilakshana
raagame yogamani (2 times)
[You are the life on earth. Songs are Your creation. Life is like a song. Silent introspection enlightens us to the truth that singing divine songs is a way to reach the higher spiritual elevation.]

Naadhopaasana chesina vaadanu
nee vaadanu nenaithe (2 times)
[I will sing Your glories forever, I would like to be called Your faithful servant.]

Dhikkarendajita himagirinda sita
kantha ra neelakanta raa
kshudhrulerugani rudraveena
nirnidhra gaanamidi avatarinchara vini tarinchara (Sankaraa)
[O Lord Sankara, the lord of all directions, the one who resides on the lofty peaks of the Himalayas! O Lord, who is handsome because of a beautiful Blue coloured throat (because he swallowed the most dangerous poison to save this universe)! My song is like the eternal music from Rudraveena about which demons would not know, please come here, listen and enjoy the song.]

Merise merupulu murise pedavula
chiru chiru navvulu kavolu
urimey urumulu sari sari natanala
siri siri muvvalu kavolu
[The dazzling lightning is, perhaps the smile of response (of my praise) on Your lips. The roaring thunders are perhaps the chimes from Your golden anklets while You dance in tune (to my song).]

Paravashaana sira suvuganga
dharaku jaarenaa shiva gangaa (2 times)
Naa gaanala harinu munugangaa
Aananda vrishtine tadavangaa
[Mesmerized by my song, You nodded Your head blissfully, and the holy river Ganga, bound in Your dreadlocks slipped to Your forehead (and therefore onto the Earth, in the form of torrent). While You were immersing yourself in my song, I soaked in the happy rain (your blessings) which showered onto the Earth.]


Acknowledgements to C Sri Vidya Rajagopalan here. And some commentors at the Youtube video -source link now broken- (rchitela, AVailan).
Movie Name : Sankarabharanam
Singer (S) : SP Balasubhramanyam
Lyricist : Veturi Sundara Rama Murthy
Music Composer: KV Mahadevan
Director : K Vishwanath