Balasubrahmanyam Bhajeham

Lyrics

Notation

From Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org)

Pallavi :
Baalasubrahmanyam Bhajeham Bhakta Kalpa Bhuruham Sri { Baalasubrahmanyam }

Anupallavi:
Neelakantha Hrudaanandakaram Nitya Shuddha Buddha Muktaambaram                { Baalasubrahmanyam }

Charanam :
Velaayudha Dharam Sundaram Vedaantaarttha Bodha Chaturam
Phaalaaksha Guruguha Avataaram Paraashakti Sukumaaram Dheeram
Paalita Geervaanaadi Samooham Pancha Bhootamaya Maayaamoham
Neelakanthavaaham Sudeham Niratishaya Ananda Pravaaham { Baalasubrahmanyam }

Meaning: (www.sangeetham.com and TK Govinda Rao's book)
I ("aham") chant the name ("bhaje") of the young ("bala") Subrahmanya, who is like the Kalpaka
Tree ("bhuruham") in giving all that his devotees desire ("kalpa")!
He delights ("ananda-karam") the heart ("hruda") of Lord Shiva ("neelakanta")!
He is eternal ("nitya"), pure ("shuddha") and is knowledge ("buddha") personified ("muktha-
ambaram")!
He carries ("dharam") the spear ("vela-ayudha")! He is beautiful ("sundaram"). He is an expert
("chaturam") in explaining ("bodha") the purport ("artha") of Vedanta! He incarnated ("avataaram")
as a teacher ("guru-guha") to Lord Shiva from the third eye ("phaala-aksha") of Shiva! He is the brave
("dheeram") son ("su-kumaram") of the Supreme ("paraa") Goddess ("shakti")! He protects the
community ("samooham") of Gods ("geervaana-aadi")! He creates ("maya") the five ("pancha")
elements ("bhoota") and the illusory ("maaya-moham") universe! He rides ("vaaham") the peacock
("neelakantha") and is of a handsome ("su-") form ("deham")! He is a never ending ("nir-athishaya")
stream ("pravaaham") of joy ("ananda")!

Notes:
This kriti is sung as a dhyana (invocation) kriti for Subrahmanya before the rendition of the Kamalamba
Navavarana kritis.

Notes from Sri Dikshita Kirtana Mala by Sri. A. Sundaram Iyer:
Subrahmanya Dhyana Keertanam:
a. He who recites or sings this song without blur or slur becomes entitled to the fruit of the song - all
worldly facilities and to the mercy of Lord Subrahmanya.
b. Those bereft of the bliss of having a child will do well to recite the appropriate “mAla” and “mantra”
with the song.

Notes by Mrs. Janaki Krishnamoothy, Albany, NY:
The Surati Kriti on Bala Subrahmanyam Bhaje Aham is said to be powerful in granting a devotee’s
wish. It is said that Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar instructed some of disciples to just do parayanam on the
lyric and others to sing it. They all derived great benefits by their practice. It is said that those wishing to
have a child would have their wish fulfilled by recitation or singing this song. The muktambaram
mentioned in the anupallavi refers to pure knowledge (white pearls) and being a baby, the Lord is
clothed only in eternal and pure knowledge.

Pallavi :
Baalasubrahmanyam Bhajeham Bhakta Kalpa Bhuruham Sri { Baalasubrahmanyam }

I ("aham") chant the name ("bhaje") of the young ("bala") Subrahmanya, ...

nS,      ; nd    P,m         Pnd     | pmM ;          M;           ; mp m M , ||
Baa-     - la-   su--        brah-     man---        yam -         - Bha- je- -

...who is like the Kalpaka Tree ("bhuruham") in giving all that his devotees desire ("kalpa")!

mg R      ;R     ; nn        nd S    | nd- P           ;P          dm-; P N        ||
ham--    - Bha   - kta-      Kal--     pa- Bhu         - ru        ham - Sri

sn Srs   ; nd    P,m         psnn    | pmM ;          mgmp          ,m-pmN      ,d -pmM     ||
Baa-     - la-   su--        brah-     man---        yam -           - Bha       -- je- -

mg R      ; rm   rs- ns nsnn         | ns- nd          P- P        dm-; pnsr       ||
ham--    - Bha   - - kta- Kal--        pa- Bhu         - ru        ham - Sri

nS,      ; nd    P -rm       psnn    | pmM ;         mgmp          ,m-pmN      ,d -pmM      ||
Baa-     - la-   su--        brah-     man---        yam -         - - Bha-    -- je- -

mg R     ;;      ; rm        sRs     |;;        ;;            ;;         ;;        ||
ham--    --       ---        ---      --        --            --         --

Anupallavi:
Neelakantha Hrudaanandakaram Nitya Shuddha Buddha Muktaambaram                          { Baalasubrahmanyam }

He delights ("ananda-karam") the heart ("hruda") of Lord Shiva ("neelakanta")!

P;       ; ss    nNd         P-P    | dm ;      MN            nd -N      S;        ||
Nee      - la-   kan--       ta Hru daa--       nan-          da- ka     ram

He is eternal ("nitya"), pure ("shuddha") and is knowledge ("buddha") personified ("muktha-
ambaram")!

NS       R - rnS ; nd        P;      | nd - pmM ; mm R- M P ;                      ||
Ni-      tya Shu- - ddha     Bu-     ddha Mu- - ktaa- - mba ram

PN       ; ss    nNd         P-P    | dm ;      Prs nn        nd -N      S;        ||
Nee      - la-   kan--       ta Hru daa--       nan-          da- ka     ram

NS       R , - rn S ; - nd    , -P m | n D- pm M ; - mm R- M P ; || (finish with "PN" )
Ni-      tya Shu- - ddha      - Bu- ddha Mu-       - ktaa- - mba ram

Charanam :
Velaayudha Dharam Sundaram Vedaantaarttha Bodha Chaturam
Phaalaaksha Guruguha Avataaram Paraashakti Sukumaaram Dheeram
Paalita Geervaanaadi Samooham Pancha Bhootamaya Maayaamoham
Neelakanthavaaham Sudeham Niratishaya Ananda Pravaaham { Baalasubrahmanyam }

He carries ("dharam") the spear ("vela-ayudha")! He is beautiful ("sundaram").

M;      ; mg     R-M       P - nd | P ;        ;M      ; pm    mg R     ||
Ve-     - laa-   - yu      dha Dha- ram        - Sun   - da-   ram--

He is an expert ("chaturam") in explaining ("bodha") the purport ("artha") of Vedanta!

RM      M ,g     RM        RS         | R, m R M p s n n         P;     ||
Ve-     daan-    taa-      arttha       Bo - - - - dha Cha tu- ram

He incarnated ("avataaram") as a teacher ("guru-guha") to Lord Shiva from the third eye ("phaala-
aksha") of Shiva!

P;      , s snN ; N     dm P          | S snN ; N      NS      S;       ||
Phaa    - - laa- - ksha Gu- ru          gu haa-- -va   taa-    ram

He is the brave ("dheeram") son ("su-kumaram") of the Supreme ("paraa") Goddess ("shakti")!

ns r -n S - N ,d -P        pR, M | P m - n D- pmM mgpm R ; ||
Pa-- raa - sha - - kti     Su ku maa- - - ram-- Dhee-- ram

He protects the community ("samooham") of Gods ("geervaana-aadi")! He creates ("maya") the five
("pancha") elements ("bhoota") and the illusory ("maaya-moham") universe!

M mm mg - rm           m r s- s N S | R m - p , p - p m n d n s n d P                    ||
Paalita Geer- vaa-     naa-di Sa mooham Pancha Bhoota maya Maa- yaa- mo- ham

He rides ("vaaham") the peacock ("neelakantha") and is of a handsome ("su-") form ("deham")! He
is a never ending ("nir-athishaya") stream ("pravaaham") of joy ("ananda")!

p ns-r , r-rm           R ,-s       sn S    | r s n d P - n d pmM , - m r m S            ||
Nee-la kan - ta vaa-    ham Su      de- ham Nira ti sha yaa nan- da - - - Pra vaa- ham

M mm mg - rm           m r s- s N S | R m - p , p - p m n d n s n d P                    ||
Paalita Geer- vaa-     naa-di Sa mooham Pancha Bhoota maya Maa- yaa- mo- ham

N s-r , r-rm            R ,-s       sn S    | r s n d P - n d pmM , - m r m p n          ||
Nee-la kan - ta vaa-    ham Su      de- ham Nira ti sha yaa nan- da - - - Pra vaa- ham