Bhajan

Bhajans are basically musical prayers. They are sung with devotion in relation to goddesses and gods in the Hindhu pantheon. The name Bhajan   is given to any type of Indian   devotional song in general. The word ‘Bhaj’ meaning to serve or to love the divine is the root for the term Bhajan. Having no fixed form, it may be as simple as a   set of verses or as sophisticated as the   classical  musical notes.

A bhajan is normally lyrical, expressing love, devotion and surrender to the divine. Hence its importance to the   Bhakthi movement   that spread from the south of India throughout the entire subcontinent is paramount. The subject of bhajans covers a wide range of topics like descriptions of gods, episodes from scriptures, the teachings of saints and social conditions also, all related to the divine.

Bhajan singing has acquired different traditions with respect to the different regions of the country they evolved from. The traditional South Indian form is called Sampradhāya Bhajan. The compositions of the Nāyanārs and Āzhwārs of Thamizhnāḍu and the Dhāsas of Karṇāṭaka and many others formed the core of this tradition. The   kīrthan as   or songs in the Haridhāsa   tradition are related to the Bhajan form. From the northern part of the continent, Nānak,   Kabīr,   Mīrā,   Sūrdhās   and   Thulasīdhās   are notable composers. Bhajans   by these   and a few others like Narotthama Dhās are considered to be classic. The languages of their work are influenced by several dialects of Hindi and are widely enjoyed even among those who do not speak Hindi. Other than the above, traditions of Bhajan such as Nirguṇi, Gorakhanāthi, Vallabhapanthi, Aṣhṭachhāp, Madhhura-Bhakthi etc. each have their own repertoire and methods of singing.

It is interesting to note that the   Dhrupad   style in Hindhusthāni music and the Sūfi   qawwāli are inspired by the Bhajan form.   In the present period of time, the Bhajan form influences all age groups and is considered the easiest way to connect to the Divine.

Raga: Yaman kalyāṇi.

Thāḷa: Miśhrachāpu

Composer: Tulsidhās

Language: Hindi

Meaning-Overall:Bhajansonline.Blogspot.Com

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Śhrī Rāmachandhra Krpālu Bhajamana Haraṇa Bhhavabhhaya Dhāruṇam

Nava Kanjalochana Kunjamukha Kharakanja Kanjāruṇam

Kandharpa Agaṇitha Amitha Chhavi Navanīla Nīraja Sundha Rāma

Pata Pita Mano Thaditha Ruchi Naumi Janaka Suthāva Rāma

Bhaja Dhīnabandhu Dhineśha Dhānava Dhaithya Vamśha Nikandanam

Raghunandha Ānandhakandha Kosalachandha Daśharatha Nandhanam

Śhira Mukuṭa Kunḍala Thilaka Chāru Udhara Aṅga Vibhūṣhaṇam

Ājānubhuja Śharachāpa Dhhara Saṅgrāma Jithakhara Dūṣhaṇam

Ithi Vadatha Tulasīdhāsa Śhankara Śheṣha Muni Mana Ranjanam

Mama Hrdhaya Kanja Nivāsakara Kāmādhi Khaladala Ganjanam

Meanings:

Śhrī Rāmachandhra Krpālu Bhajamana Haraṇa Bhhavabhhaya Dhāruṇam

Nava Kanjalochana Kunjamukha Kharakanja Kanjāruṇam

O my heart! Sing praises of Śhrī Rāma, who absolves the greatest fears due to the cycle of life and death, and whose eyes, mouth, hands, and feet are like a newly blooming red lotus.

Kandharpa Agaṇitha Amitha Chhavi Navanīla Nīraja Sundha Rāma

Pata Pita Mano Thaditha Ruchi Naumi Janaka Suthāvaram

I bow to Śhrī Rāma, whose beauty cannot be compared with that of the cupid kamdev, whose pleasing appearance is beyond any measures, whose body is like a newly formed dense blue cloud, whose yellow robes are shining like lightening (on his cloud like body), whose beauty is gleaming, and who is the consort of the daughter of Janaka (Sīthā)

Bhaja Dhīnabandhu Dhineśha Dhānava Dhaithya Vamśha Nikandanam

Raghunandha Ānandhakandha Kosalachandha Daśharatha Nandhanam

Sing praises of Śhrī Rāma, who is the friend of poor, who is the lord of sun, who expurgated the lineage of demons from Dhāu and Dhaithya, who is the dear one of Raghu, who is like a cloud of happiness, who is beautiful from Kosala and who is dear one of Daśharatha.

Śhira Mukuṭa Kunḍala Thilaka Chāru Udhara Aṅga Vibhūṣhaṇam

Ājānubhuja Śharachāpa Dhhara Saṅgrāma Jithakhara Dūṣhaṇam

Sing praises of Śhrī Rāma, who has a beautiful crown on his head, who is adorned with ear-hoops, who has a beautiful colored mark (Thilaka) on his forehead, who has expanded and beautiful organs decorated by ornaments, who has long hands reaching his knees, who holds a bow and an arrow, and who defeated Khara and Dhūṣhaṇa in a fierce battle.

Ithi Vadatha Thulasīdhāsa Śhankara Śheṣha Muni Mana Ranjanam

Mama Hrdhaya Kanja Nivāsakara Kāmādhi Khaladala Ganjanam

Thulasīdhāsa says this; Rāma, the enticer of Shiva, Śheṣha (Śheṣhanāga), and saints, reside in my lotus-like-heart and destroy the evils generated by desire.