PERSPECTIVES

Mangalam: the song auspicious Sivapriya Krishnan

angalam bhagavan , been debated by academicians who poorna avatara—the best example of M mangalam Madhusoodhana, say that a mangalam is not equivalent a complete, perfect being and hence mangalam Pundareekaksha, manga­ to a stop button. It is a prayer wishing auspiciousness personified. laya tano ! Many would think of auspiciousness and there is no harm There is no definitive source or answer this as the presiding sloka to conduct if an artist sings a mangalam with a as to when, why and how this particular a marriage, as often depicted in Hindi concert to follow. mangalam composed by in cinema! The todayamangalam, however, is an Vijayam has come ‘Mangalam’ in means invocatory piece sung traditionally to stay as the preferred concluding auspicious, welfare, good fortune. It during the nama sankeertana item, although the composer has is common practice in the Bharatiya performances and is a set of songs seven mangalam compositions to his tradition to wish others with compiled by Sadguru Swamigal like a credit! In the book titled Tyagaraja “Mangalaanee bhavantu” in Sanskrit, garland for that purpose. It comprises Swami Keertanaigal by T.S. “Mangalam undaagattum in Tamizh songs from the compositions of Parthasarathy, we find a variety of or “Mangalmay ho” in Hindi. Annamayya, Vijayagopala Swami mangalams in talas like Adi, Jhampa and Bhadrachala Ramadas. It is and Chapu and like Ghanta, Mangalam is a musical composition sung as an ‘ahvana keertanam’— , Nadanamakriya, that beseeches the gods to shower propitiating the gods and welcoming , Surati and . One goodness by paying obeisance to them auspiciousness. These songs in Telugu plausible explanation as to why this through a song of praise about them. and Sanskrit are in ragas like , mangalam is most popular could be Some mangalam compositions are , , and because, this composition describes like a namavali or garland of names, Pantuvarali. The todayamangalam the complete imagery of with some describe the appearance of the is also performed by Bharatanatyam Seeta, adorning all the jewels, being deities, their adornments, and some dancers as an invocation. held by in his hands and hail the worthiness and qualities of praised by and Prahlada. This the god. Yet another untold tradition is that could perhaps be attributed to the the mangalam which is most often Mangalam as a musical composition, bhajana also where this sung describes Lord Rama, though mangalam is preferred as a fitting occupies a special place in Carnatic there are mangalams praising other music and the bhajana music tradition. finale after the Anjaneyotsava—the gods in the Hindu pantheon. Carnatic customary conclusion of the bhajana Concerts almost always conclude concerts are also by far concluded with a mangalam; what begins with proceedings. Tyagaraja composed with the famous Pavamana sutudu all the seven mangalams as part a Ganesa vandana seeking blessings pattu—the mangalam in Saurashtram of his group for the Utsava for a successful show, gets wrapped from Tyagaraja’s Prahlada Bhakti Sampradaya, Divya Nama and Geya up with a mangalam, praying for Vijayam. Readers may recall that Nataka kritis like Prahlada Bhakti auspiciousness to all and everything many years ago, the late dancer Vijayam and Nauka Charitam. around. Madhyamavati, Surati and Chandralekha had choreographed a Saurashtram are three preferred ragas group presentation for this mangalam There are mangalams by other for mangalams, as they have come to at the Festival of India in the composers too. Purandaradasa, be known as auspicious ragas. U.S.S.R., as the inaugural piece with Bhadrachala Ramadas, Arunachala abhinaya for ‘Rajiva nayana’ with Kavi, Narayana Teertha, Annamayya A noteworthy tradition that has come the dignitaries and the crowd looking and Swati Tirunal have all to stay is that once a mangalam has smilingly at Rajiv Gandhi, then composed mangalams. Muthuswami been sung, no other event follows. Prime Minister of India, who attended Dikshitar’s Sri in Especially during the Margazhi the event. Sree is a mangalacharana in the season, with back to back events, Navavarana bouquet of compositions. only the last concert artist gets to sing Why is this mangalam on Rama so a mangalam marking the end of the popular? One possible reason is that Purandara Dasara Sankeertanagalu show for the day. However this has scholars have considered Rama a published by Sri Ramvittal Trust

34 l SRUTI July 2019 lists six mangalams and Hari it has to be concluded with a sloka in a Kundrai kudaiyaai pidittavarkku, Sankeertanamala by Gurudasan like Madhyamavati, Sree, Surati Koormavataranukku (Mangalam) T.S. Krishnamurthy features one or Saurashtram. Many households too There could be many more such more that has not been included in the have their favourite mangalam that compositions which are family previous publication. Purandaradasa has been handed down as a family treasures, without much knowledge has composed mangalams on , song. I have heard my grandmother about the composer or its provenance. Rama, the Dasavatara, and Tulasi sing the following composition on Devi. Ramachandraya Janaka rajaja Devi in Ghanta raga: Tyagaraja’s disciple, Walajapet manoharaya, in Navroz raga by Venkatramana Bhagavatar, has Jayamangalam nitya subha mangalam Bhadrachala Ramadas is another composed a mangalam on his famous mangalam. Syamalamba Sive Sankari Parvati in Madhyamavati, which begins Somartha Sekhari Sundaresi as Srimad Kakarla vamsabdhi Arunachala Kavi has composed chandraamala tejase. There is one mangalam at the end of Samaganapriya satchitanandine chinmayanandamaya chitroopini a tradition of singing this as the the Rama Nataka kavya. Sree concluding piece after the rendition of Ramachandranukku jaya mangalam Jayamangalam nitya subhamangalam the Utsava Sampradaya kritis. in Madhyamavati is a popular Tamizh Yet another one that I have heard in composition that is sung till date All in all, though the mangalam my in-laws’ house, on Krishna in in most houses during functions is sung as a concluding prayer of Tamizh in Pantuvarali raga, goes as and marriages. Annamayya’s Marali auspiciousness at the conclusion of follows: marali jaya mangalam often sung in an event, it occupies a unique Madhyamavati, has been rendered by Mangalam mangalam sada, place in the singing traditions of M.S. Subbulakshmi in a ragamalika mangalam Sree Kannanukku this country where every effort is considered a divine gift, and praying comprising Saurashtram, Mohanam Maragada vannanukku, Engal kula for auspiciousness to pervade the and Sree. thinnanukku, ezhil bhuja vannanukku universe is an untold tradition and (Mangalam) Narayana Teertha has composed four practice. mangalams as part of his composi- Aalilai mel paduttavarkku, Achuta (The author is a Carnatic vocalist, writer tions. The popular Vijayagopalate nandanukku and management professional) mangalam in Surati is often sung at the end of a bhajana rendition. The others are Mangalam Rukmini A list of mangalams ramanaya sreematey, Madana gopala TYAGARAJA PURANDARADASA te mangalam and Jaya mangalam nitya subha mangalam which are sung From Utsava Sampradaya Akroorakolita Trivikramage - Saurashtram - Adi in different ragas by different artists. Janaki nayaka - Dhanyasi - Adi Swati Tirunal’s Bhujagasayino nama Mangalam avanisuta nathuniki - Mangalam ma ramanage, mangalam mangalam in Yadukulakambhoji is Nadanamakriya - Adi bhu ramanage (Dasavatara mangalam) - Saurashtram - Adi also rendered in concerts. Karunarasakshaya ... Jaya mangalam nitya subha mangalam - Ghanta - Adi Mangalam guru ananda teertha guru Many artists prefer to sing composi­ Ma Ramachandruniki jaya mangalam - rayanige - - Ata tions from their region. Harikatha Kedaragaula - Adi Vanrendrana roopava tali - artists of Andhra sing Nee nama From Nauka Charitam - Ata roopa mulaku or Ramachandraya Makulamunakina pramosagina neeku Jaladhiyalankisitavage jaya mangalam - janaka while artists from Kerala mangalam - Surati - Chapu Poorvi - Adi love to sing Bhujaga sayino. There is also a tradition of singing a From Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam Mangala Sree Tulasike - Nadanamakriya mangala sloka after the composition Nee nama roopa mulaku - - Chapu and the oft heard ones are Saurashtram - Adi Kasturikatilaka shobita mukhabja - Mangalam Kosalendraya mahaneeya Mangalam ma Ramachandranuku - - Adi Mohanam - Jhampa gunabhdaye, Sreeyahkaantaya BHADRACHALA RAMADAS kalyana nidhaye on Chakravarti Rama ANNAMAYYA Ramachandraya janaka rajaja and Srinivasa of respectively. Marali marali jaya mangalam - manoharaya - Navroz - Adi There is a theory that if the mangalam Madhyamavati - Adi is sung in a raga with madhyama sruti,

35 l SRUTI July 2019