Sri Mahaganapatim Bhajeham

Lyrics

Notation

From Shivkumar Kalyanaraman (shivkumar.org)

Pallavi:
shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam

Anupallavi:
shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam

(madhyamakAlam):sadayam kapila muni varadAyakam guru sEva shaktam hErambam

Charanam 1:
jnAna mudrAlankrtam mUlAdhAra nivAsinam

Charanam 2:
gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram panca
bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham

Charanam 3:
kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram
shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam (or vanditam)

ciTTasvara:
S, Snpdnpmp g,-mrs |r,, s rs, r, -m, -p, -n ||
SnSR, -MRS nRSn, S-d, |nS,, -R nS d,, pmp-g,-mpn ||

Meaning: (Approximate):
P: I pray (“bhajEham”) to shri mahAgaNapatim, who is the son (“Atmajam”) of Shiva, and the elder
brother (“Agrajam”) of Shanmugha.

A: He is worshipped (“sEvitam” by all beings (“shrta gaNa”). He destroys (“nAshakam”) obstacles
(“vighna”) in our lives. He gives (“dAyakam”) boons (“vara”) and blessings (“prasAda”) very quickly
(“shIgra”).

C1: He is adorned (“Alankrtam”) by the symbol (“mudrA”) called Knowledge (“jnAna”). He resides in
(“nivAsinam”) the mUlAdhAra chakra ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muladhara) kshetra in the body.

C2: He lives (“vAsinam”) in the forest (“AraNya”) full of elephants (“gaja-AraNya”). He is full
(“mayam”) of brightness (“jyOtir-mayam”). He is the essence (“sAram”) of the Upanishads. He is the
soul (“Atmakam”) of the pancha bhutas {Akasha (Spirit/Essence), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Ap (Water),
and Prithvi (Earth)}. He likes (“priyam”) the SindhUra (red powder, Vermillion). He is the five
(“panca”) elephant (“mAtanga”) faced (“mukham”) one (“panca-mAtanga mukham”)

C3: He was born (“vara putram”) when Goddess Parvathi’s (“kAmEsha”) lovely eyes (“nayanA”)
merely glanced with pleasure (“AhlAdakam”) at Lord Shiva, the linga adorned with snakes (“nAga-

linga”). He is the essence (“cit-prabhAnanda”) of the Shri Vidya and revered by (“sannutam”) the rAja
Yogis (“yOgIndram”). {Alt meaning: cit-prabhAnanda is also the signature of the composer, who is also
a king (rAja), and who prays to the lord }

Pallavi:
shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam

Sahityam: shrI mahAgaNapatim bhajEham
Meaning: I pray (“bhajEham”) to shri mahAgaNapatim

 1          2     3            4       5      6     7           8
S;       , n-r s D ;        , p M | P – pm G - M | P ;        pm pr         ||
shrI     - - ma- hA-          gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE        ham- -

S;       , n-r s D ,n       , p M | P – pm gg - M | P ;       pm pr         ||
shrI     - - ma- hA-          gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE        ham- -

S;       N –ns Rgr snP       , p M | pNPn – pm G - M | P -nn pm pr          ||
shrI     ma hA- - - - - -      gaNa pa - tim- - - bha jE -- ham- -

Sahityam: shivAtmajam SaNmukhAgrajam
Meaning: ... He who is the son (“Atmajam”) of Shiva, and the elder brother (“Agrajam”) of
Shanmugha.
   1       2      3          4          5     6           7         8
s n pm R – mr M – S        ; ns   | r m mR, r m P      | P - n n p m p r ||
shi-vA- - tma - - jam - SaN-         - - mu khA- -      gra jam- - - - -

S;       N –ns Rgr snP       , p M | pNPn – pm G - M | P -nn pm pr          ||
shrI     ma hA- - - - - -      gaNa pa - tim- - - bha jE -- ham- -

s n pm R – mr M – S   ; ns   | r m mR, r m P            | ;,-n pmpr         ||
shi-vA- - tma - - jam - SaN-    - - mu khA- -               gra jam- - -

S;       , n-r s D ,n       , p M | P – pm G - , m | n P,      P np         ||
shrI     - - ma- hA-          gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE         ---

nsnn   ; np      ;;         ;;     | ;;        ;;     | ;;      ; ;         ||
ham- - - - -     --         --       --        --       --       --

Anupallavi:
shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam

Sahityam: shrta gaNasEvitam vighna nAshakam
Meaning: He is worshipped (“sEvitam” by all beings (“shrta gaNa”).
He destroys (“nAshakam”) obstacles (“vighna”) in our lives.

  1        2       3       4            5       6        7     8
; mp     ,nS      sm rm R S        | ;R      S - Srs , d – N   S ; ||
 Shrta    gaNa    sE - - vitam       - vi   ghna nA- - - sha kam

;;        ;;       ;;       ;;     | ;;        ;;     | ;;      ; ;         ||
--        --       --       --       --        --       --       --

; mp     ,nS      mr rpmm , r S | ; S         S - nsrm    rsnd – , n      S;   ||
 Shrta    gaNa    sE - - - vitam  - vi        ghna nA-    -- - - sha     kam

; mp     ,nS      mr rpmm , r S | ; S         S - Srs , d – N       S ; ||
 Shrta    gaNa    sE - - - vitam  - vi        ghna nA- - - sha     kam

Sahityam: shIgra vara prasAda dAyakam
Meaning: He gives (“dAyakam”) boons (“vara”) and blessings (“prasAda”) very quickly (“shIgra”).

snsr     S- n r s n P       ; pd     | DN     P – mdP    mg-M     P ; ||
shI--    gra va- ra - -     - pra-     sA -   da dA- -   - - ya   kam

snsr     S- n r s n P       ; pd     | nsdn   P – mdP    mg-M     pm pr ||
shI--    gra va- ra - -     - pra-     sA -   da dA- -   - - ya   kam - -

S;       N –ns Rgr snP       , p M | pNPn – pm G - M | P -nn pm pr             ||
shrI     ma hA- - - - - -      gaNa pa - tim- - - bha jE -- ham- -

s n pm R – mr M – S   ; ns   | r m mR, r m P              | ;,-n pmpr          ||
shi-vA- - tma - - jam - SaN-    - - mu khA- -                 gra jam- - -

S;       , n-r s D ,n       , p M | P – pm G - , m | n P,         P np         ||
shrI     - - ma- hA-          gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE            ---

nsnn   ; np       ;;        ;;       | ;;        ;;      | ;;      ; ;         ||
ham- - - - -      --        --         --        --        --       --

Charanam 1:
jnAna mudrAlankrtam mUlAdhAra nivAsinam

Meaning: He is adorned (“Alankrtam”) by the symbol (“mudrA”) called Knowledge (“jnAna”).
He resides in (“nivAsinam”) the mUlAdhAra chakra kshetra in the body.

 1      2     3       4       5                  6        7       8
;,p   ,m–P mP–g ,mP | rm rm                      R s–n P ,-n pmpr              ||
  jnA na mu drA- lan kr tam mU- lA-             dhAra ni vA- si nam- - -

 S;      , n-r s D ,n       , p M | P – pm G - M | P ;            ;,-n         ||
shrI     - - ma- hA-          gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE            - - ga

Charanam 2:
gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram panca
bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham

Sahityam: gajAraNya vAsinam jyOtirmayam upaniSad sAram
Meaning: He lives (“vAsinam”) in the forest (“AraNya”) full of elephants (“gaja-AraNya”).
He is full (“mayam”) of brightness (“jyOtir-mayam”). He is the essence (“sAram”) of the Upanishads.

 1       2       3         4      5                 6       7         8
P,m    np- G m P- p m P – s | D , -d              r sS | D N         S,- n     ||
jA raN -ya vA sinam jyO - tir ma yam u            paniSad sA -     ram   ga

P,m    np- R m P- p m P – s | D , -n            r sS | D N         S ;           ||
jA raN -ya vA sinam jyO - tir ma yam u          paniSad sA -      ram

Sahityam: panca bhUtAtmakam sindhUra priyam pancamAtanga mukham
Meaning: He is the soul (“Atmakam”) of the pancha bhutas
         {Akasha (Spirit/Essence), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Ap (Water), and Prithvi (Earth)}.
He likes (“priyam”) the SindhUra (red powder, Vermillion).
He is the five (“panca”) elephant (“mAtanga”) faced (“mukham”) one (“panca-mAtanga mukham”)

 1           2       3        4       5        6        7               8
p n s - r , M r S – d r S S | s S – n r s - dd | , d d n                p m p r ||
pan-ca bhU- tA-tma kam sin- dhU ra priyam pan –ca mA - tan-ga          mu-kham-

S;      N –ns Rgr snP        , p M | pNPn – pm G - M | P ;        P;             ||
shrI    ma hA- - - - - -       gaNa pa - tim- - - bha jE -        ham -

Charanam 3:
kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram
shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam

Sahityam: kAmEsha nayanA hlAdakam nAgalinga vara putram
Meaning: He was born (“vara putram”) when Goddess Parvathi’s (“kAmEsha”) lovely eyes (“nayanA”)
merely glanced with pleasure (“AhlAdakam”) at Lord Shiva, the linga adorned with snakes (“nAga-
linga”).

  1          2       3       4      5                  6          7           8
np ; - n n p – mp S , - s  ,s S | nnp–n             n p – m p | sd N         S ; ||
kA - mE - sha naya nA hlA - dakam nA-ga lin         - ga vara pu - -        tram

snnp ,- n n p – mp S , - s   ,s S | nnp–n            np–mp | DN             S ; ||
kA - mE - sha naya nA hlA - dakam nA-ga lin          - ga vara pu - -       tram

Sahityam: shrI vidyA cit-prabhAnanda rAja yOgIndram sannutam
Meaning: He is the essence (“cit-prabhAnanda”) of the Shri Vidya and revered by (“sannutam”) the
rAja Yogis (“yOgIndram”).
{Alternate meaning: cit-prabhAnanda is also the signature of the composer, who is also a king (rAja),
and who prays to the lord }

  1         2              3        4       5          6       7       8
 R r m sRs              R -s s , - N s | n r s – d ; d n   p–P–n pmpr                 ||
shrI vi - dyA--        cit prabhA- nan-da rAja yO - gIn- dra van di tam - -

S;      N –ns Rgr snP        , p M | pNPn – pm G - M | P -nn pm pr               ||
shrI    ma hA- - - - - -       gaNa pa - tim- - - bha jE -- ham- -

s n pm R – mr M – S   ; ns   | r m mR, r m P             | ;,-n pmpr             ||
shi-vA- - tma - - jam - SaN-    - - mu khA- -                gra jam- - -

S;      , n-r s D ,n        , p M | P – pm G - , m | n P,       P np             ||
shrI    - - ma- hA-           gaNa  pa tim- - - bha jE          ---

nsnn   ; np       ;;        ;;     | ;;        ;;      | ;;      ; ;             ||
ham- - - - -      --        --       --        --        --       --

===================================================

Notes about the composer HH Jayachamaraja Wodeyar:
(Courtesy: http://www.saathee.com/carnatic-music)

The kingdom of Mysore initially served as a vassal state to the Vijayanagar Empire and later as a subsidiary
alliance to the British until Indian independence.

The Mysore kings were accomplished exponents of fine arts, be it literature or music and their enthusiastic
patronage led to both preservation as well as new developments in various arts. The musicians in these
courts received plenty of support from the kings and this enabled them to dedicate their entire life to music.

The Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV (1884-1940) was a connoisseur of both Hindustani and Carnatic
music. Many Hindustani and Carnatic musicians were frequent guests of the maharaja. A number of
Carnatic music composers – Veena Sheshanna, Muthiah Bhagavathar, and Mysore Vasudevacharya were
among those who received patronage in his court.

The last Maharaja of the princely state of Mysore was Jayachamaraja Wodeyar (1919-1974). He was also a
connoisseur of Carantic music as well as western music and had aspired to become a concert pianist. After
becoming Maharaja, he was introduced to Carnatic music and learned to play the veena. A number of
musicians also received patronage at his court including veteran composer Mysore Vasudevacharya, who
was the ‘asthana vidwan’ or chief court musician.

Jayachamaraja Wodeyar composed a number of krithis (close to one hundred) in various ragas; perhaps his
most popular composition is Sri Mahaganapathim Bhajeham in raga Athana.

More: (http://neelanjana.wordpress.com/tag/odeyar/ ) Jayachamarajendra Odeyar, the last king of Mysore.
Odeyar was another notable composer of the 20th century. Initially, he was trained in western classical
music. He received the highest honors possible to be awarded for student at the Trinity college of Music in
London. Later on, went on to learn the intricacies of Karnataka sangeetha from Vasudevachar for some
years. Between 1945 to 1947, he composed 94 kritis (A few more have been unearthed recently, I heard).
Apparently he played his compositions on the Piano first, and got feedback on them from Vasudevachar and
other court musicians and shape his compositions.

Another unique feature about his compositions is that he has composed only one kriti in one raga, thus using
94 ragas for the 94 kritis. He is probably the only composer who has done this. In this process, he has
composed in very rare ragas resurrecting some ragas such as Poorna Lalita and Pratatpa Varali in which
Tyagaraja had composed earlier.

Odeyar was a practitioner of Srividya worship, and he has used the signature as ‘Srividya’ in the
compositions. He has also used his initiation name ‘chitprabhananda’ in some compositions. All his
compositions are in Samskrta.