Chakkani Raja (Class / Lesson) : Kharaharapriya ; Adi (2 kalai); Tyagaraja

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Chakkani Raja

Ragam: Kharaharapriya (22nd mela kartha)

Arohana:   S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S  ||
Avarohana:   S N2 D2 P M1 G2 R2 S  ||

Talam: Adi (2 kalai)

Composer: Tyagaraja Swami

Version: Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer

Pallavi:

Chakkani Raaja Maargamulundaga

Sandula Dooraneelee Oo Manasaa!

Anupallavi:

Chikkani Paalu Meegada yundaga

Cheeyanu Gangaasaagara Mele

Charanam:

Kantiki Sundara Taramagu Roopame,

Mukkanti Nota Chelage Naamame

Tyagaraajintane Nelakonnaadi Deivamee

Yituvanti Sri Saketa Ramuni Bhaktiyane

Meaning: (TK Govinda Rao’s book & courtesy of Mrs. Jayasri Akella)

O mind(“manasaa”)  ! When the spacious (“chakkani”) royal (“raja”) path (‘marga”) to salvation is available (“undaga”), why should you take (“doora neele”) to by-lanes (“sandula”) ?

[Chakkani: Beautiful, Comfortable; Raaja: Royal  ; Margamulu: paths  ; Undaga: existing

Sandu: 1.Narrow, small opening, 2.narrow path  ; Sandula: Into those narrow paths;

Dooruta: To somehow enter, make space.  ; Ela: why?  ; Oo Manasa: oh my soul.]

When nutritious (“chikkani”) creamy (“meegada”) milk (“paalu”) is available (“yundaga”), will anyone think of (“ele”) detestable (“cheeyanu”) toddy – GANGASAGARAM ?

[Chikkani: Thick, rich  ; Paalu: milk  ; meegada: cream  ;

undaga: when existing, when available  ; cheeyanu: distateful,   ; gangasaagaramu: toddy ;

ele: why do you want?]

When you can feast your eyes (“kantiki”) on the ravishingly beautiful (“sundara”) form (“roopame”) of SRI RAMA, when LORD SHIVA (“mukkanti”) is eternally chanting (“nota chelage”)  the name (‘naamame”) of SRI RAMA, who has condescended to grace (“nelakonnadi”) the abode (“intane”) of Tyagaraja, why should you resort to devious and labyrinthine paths instead of the royal path to salvation.

[ kallu: eyes  ; kantiki: to eyes  ; Sundara taramagu: Pleasing (Sundaramu: beautiful)  ;

roopame: form, figure  ; Mukkanti(moodu + kanti): the three eyed - lord Shiva.  ;

noru: mouth  ; nota: in the mouth of  ; chelage: resound, happen, enjoy oneself  ;

namamu: name  ; Tyagaraaju+intane: in the house of Tyagaraja  ; Nelakonnatti: stay put  ;

Daivame: diety  ; Yituvanti: such  ;  Sri: Goddess lakshmi, ;  Saketa: the city of Rama, Capitol of Ayodhya kingdom.  ; Ramuni: Of Rama  ; Bhakti: Devotion  ; ane: the one by name (bhakti)