Humbling SINDHU BHAIRAVI

Music does weird things to you. One of 'those' is, it can make you cry for 'absolutely' no reason. It is not to be confused with, 'happy for no reason' tears. I am talking about the tears that you would find rolling down your cheeks in the most ridiculous situations such as having a crazy/naughty time with friends at a discotheque. YES. That is what SINDHU BHAIRAVI does to your senses. If you let 'her' in your life, you will have to show the exit door to 'arrogance'.

She humbles you and makes you realise how much ever you succeed in life, 'you shall ever be at the mercy of her charm' in the most graceful and assertive way that, you would quickly surrender to her as if hypnotised.

 AAROHANAM (ascending swarams) : S R2 G2 M1 G2 P D1 N2 S

AVAROHANAM (descending swarams) :  S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R1 S

The variations in Sindhu Bhairavi explored by Charulatha Mani

As much as ,SINDHU BHAIRAVI can be confused with ragam Thodi, she can be easily identified if lent a patient ear. Though R2 and R1 appear to give a character to the ragam, you can feel 'her' only when the swarams come together in a certain pattern. One of them is  N2 S G2 M1 P D2 P that sparks up the fire. The other pattern that purely belongs to her is N2 S R2 M1 R1 S (it ascends meticulously to M1 and descends mellifluously to S). The journey from M1 to R1 and lingering on to R1 for a few seconds is all it takes to make one rise from the highest of thrones and by the time it culminates in S, you would end up in prostration before her.

Plentiful facets and superlative renditions of SINDHU BHAIRAVI exist in Indian and Middle East music. Its popularly known as 'Bhairavi' in Hindustani music (not be confused with carnatic Bhairavi). As Shrimathi Charulatha Mani clarifies, it is not an Indian born ragam. Its adapted from the Middle-east and was popularised in Hindustani music.

Some famous carnatic songs:  Karunai deivame karpagame, bhaja bhaja maanasa, venkatachalanilayam

 Some famous cine songs:   Maargazhi thingal allava, naanoru sindhu kaavadichindu, Jiya Jale / Nenjinile nenjinile (hindi and tamil versions respectively), Mile sur mera tumhara, Phir mile sur mera tumhara, Sapnon se bhare naina, Chingari koi badke

Everytime I experience her, I let her play with my emotions. I let her hit every nook and corner of my body and mind for hours and finally merge one with my soul. She calms my mind. She abates my anger and restlessness. She absorbs all my negative vibes until there is nothing negative left to emit. She makes me turn into a new leaf. She makes me re-think and re-live.
The day I embraced SINDHU BHAIRAVI, I knew I had changed for the better.  I forgive my enemies. I confront them. I apologise to them. I accept them. And I wait for the day when they too would acknowledge her and be humbled by her ethereal form.

MORAL: The best way to be your better self  is by submitting yourself to her in 'every sense'. SINDHU BHAIRAVI shall 'eternally' become your positive half.

P.S: If you boast of being a 'tough nut to crack', then let me tell you. She has the power to make even a stone emote.

Anaadi Anantha THODI

Have you ever wanted to experience a fatal fall in a never ending, bottomless and a huge crevice on earth and still  be 'living blissfully'??? No I do not need to get my head examined, but you need to believe me and listen to THODI. Also before I forget, to all those who are not coherent with the Sankrit language, 'Anaadi' means no beginning and 'Anantha' means no end. If you have been rubbishing this concept until now, then THODI is going to compellingly disprove your belief.

AAROHANAM (ascending swarams) :      S R1 G1 M1 P D1 N1 S

AVAROHANAM (descending swarams):   S N1 D1 P M1 G1 R1 S

ARTIST : Guitar Prasanna

SONG: Thaye yashoda

ARTIST: Sudha Raghunathan

MOVIE: Morning raga

An easy observation tells you that all the swarams are in their primary most state (except S and P as they are homogeneous in nature anyway). This is the speciality of this ragam. Any one would be under the delusion that this must be the most simplest raga given the primary state of the swarams. TRUST ME. If there is a soul out there who can render THODI in a 'anaadi anantha'way, I would consider him/her as the '11th avatar' in Indian mythology (ironic but that is not the point).
I 'trip' everytime there is a shift from 'S' to 'R' to 'G'. You need to pause at 'G' and acknowledge its presence. Its a RULE and the best part is this is one rule you would accept whole heartedly and follow religiously! Similarly you need to stop by and say a pleasant 'hi' to 'N' while ascending and descending the swarams apart from spending some quality time with 'G' on your way back to 'S'.

Some famous carnatic songs : Raave himagiri kumari, Bharathi maamava (one of the 9 navarathri kritis),
                                              Thaye yashoda, Kaarthikeya gaangeya.

Some famous cine songs :       Gangai karai mannanadi


MORAL : Somehow, I strongly believe that anyone who becomes a staunch devotee of Thodi and develop an obsession for it should attain 'Nirvana'. PERIOD.


P.S. : If you think its about time you concentrated on your 'deep inner-self' and carry an attitude, 'to Hell with the world', THODI is highly recommended for an intense trigger.WORD.