Pronunciation and Phonetics

Learning proper pronunciation can be done without much knowledge of phonetics, actually. A basic knowledge, however, helps to make pronunciation clearer and thus facilitates the process of learning how to speak a foreign language properly.

eAmbalam introduces a phonetic chart which is based on Dhevanagari script. The sounds of vowels and consonants and other speech sounds in Sanskrit and the languages which have completely or mostly borrowed from it can be covered with the help of the chart. A few other sounds common to some languages in this group and outside are also put in. Unique sounds of some languages are specified too.

Diacritical marks are used to aid perfect pronunciation. World over, these marks have been created and propagated by scholars to make understanding of the differences in speech sounds in different languages better. Team eAmbalam also has created a phonetic chart which helps even first timers to pronounce words accurately.

Our Phonetic chart is unique, comprehensive, learner friendly and is divided into four columns wherein:
  • In the first column, the letter is written with the associated diacritical mark.
  • In the second column, an example is given in Dhevanagari language containing the letter.
  • In the third column, an example is given in English, which contains the sound closes to the letter or instructions in few cases, to facilitate better understanding.
  • In the fourth column, an audio button is placed with the help of which you can hear the actual pronunciation of the letter.
An open minded approach with the above introduction and guidelines will definitely enable the user to understand the speech sounds of any language and pronounce it like a native, which is eAmbalam’s aim in this exercise.

  VOWELS  
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English
A or a Aḍavu Arise
Ā or ā Ānanda Vast
I or i Indhira Sing
Ī or ī Īśha Meal
U or u U ṣhā Good
Ū or ū Ū rdhhva Boost
R or r Riṣh i Try
Ṛ or ṛ Ni ṛ uti Grr!
Lr or lr   Pronounce L and R together.
E or e Eka Ate
AI or ai Aikya Sight
O or o Ojas Robe
AU or au Audh ā rya Now
A M or am Śhiva m Drum
A HA or aha R ā ma ha Aha!
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English


CONSONANTS
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English
KA or ka Kavi Car
KHA or kha Khalu Mark -Him
GA or ga Gamana Gut
GHA or gha Ghata Ugh!
Ṅ A or ṅa Tura ṅ ga Ring
CHA or ca Chakra Chart
CHHA or cha Chhandas Branch
JA or ja Jagath Jug
JHA or jha Jhallari Fudge
NYA or nya Gnyana Knew
Ṭ A or ṭ Ṭ anka Top
ṬHA or ṭha Pāṭha Pothole
ḌA or da Ḍ amaruka Dog
Ḍ HA or ḍ ha Mūḍ ha Madhouse
Ṇ A or ṇ a Ga ṇ a Wander
THA or tha Thanu Health
THHA or thha Athha Theater
DHA or dha Dha śha This
DHHA or dhha Dhhana m Dha with an additional H sound
NA or na Namask ā raha Nut
PA or pa   Path ā ka Past
PHA or pha Phala m P with a H sound
BA or ba Bandhhu Ball
BHA or bha Bhadra Abhor
MA or ma Manas Money
YA or ya Yama Yummy
RA or ra Rajas Rub
LA or la Lath ā Lust
VA or WA, va /wa A śh va or A śhwa Water/Valour
ŚHA or śha Śhakthi Shutter
ṢHA or ṣ ha Ṣh a ṇ mukha Shunt
SA or sa Sarasvatī Sun
HA or ha Hari Hum
Ḷ A or ḷ a Ar āḷ a Bold
KṢHA or k ṣ ha Ak ṣh i Try to pronounce Ka, Sa & Ha – all at one time.
Extra Vowels in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada & Malayalam Scripts    
É or é Éṇi Angel
Ō or ō Ō m Ō M
ZHA Exclusive to Tamil & Malayalam Fold the tip of your tongue backwards and try to pronounce it with the aid of the audio button.
Syllable Usage in Sanskrit Usage in English

Lyrics and Meanings (Keerthana)

Śhrī Purandharadhāsa was in a way, the founder of Kīrthana form which it its melody is based on technical compositions like Gītha whose purpose is to elucidate Rāga forms and Thāḷa patterns.

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Lyrics and Meanings (Keerthana)

Śhrī Purandharadhāsa was in a way, the founder of Kīrthana form which it its melody is based on technical compositions like Gītha whose purpose is to elucidate Rāga forms and Thāḷa patterns. The emphasis in the Kīrthanas is on its aesthetic excellence and that is why it is considered as the most important part of Karnātic classical music. It was the genius of Śhrī Purandharadhāsa that created Kīrthanas on the basis of which Kruthi form was evolved.

The great master composers who came after Śhrī Purandharadhāsa faithfully followed the tradition and form which he established. The Rāga and Thāḷa aspects are followed by composers like Dīkṣhitar and Śhāma Śhāsthri and purely Rāga aspects by composers like Kśhethragna. But it was Thyāgarāja who brought out the fullest measure all the three aspects – Rāga, Bhāva and Thāḷa of the tradition, founded by Śhrī Purandharadhāsa.

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Posted By: Administrator

Rāga: Nāgaswarāvali

Thāḷa: Ādhi

Composer: Puṣhkalā Gopāl

Language: Sanskrit

Meaning – word by word: Indhirā Kaḍambi

Meaning – overall: Team Ambalam

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

 

 

Pallavi

Nāgābharaṇa Naṭana Sundhara Girijā Ramaṇa Sadāśhiva

 

Anupallavi

Pāṅgāi Aruḷvāi Parameśhwarane Omkāra Rūpa Oppilāi Maṇiye

 

Charaṇam

Nāgaswarāvaḷi Isaindhiḍum Nāthha Nānā Vidhamāi Naṭamiḍumīśha

Swarāvaḷi Yeḍuppi Saubhāgyam Aḷippāi Swarga Padhaviyai Thandharuḷiḍuppāi

 

 

Meanings:

 

Pallavi

Nāgābharaṇa Naṭana Sundhara Girijā Ramaṇa Sadāśhiva

 

Nāgābharaṇa – one who wears snakes as ornaments;

Naṭana Sundhara – dances beautifully;

Girijā Ramaṇa – husband of Girijā;

Sadāśhiva - ever-auspicious

 

The ever auspicious spouse of Girija, dances beautifully wearing an ornament of snakes.

 

Anupallavi

Pāṅgāi Aruḷvāi Parameśhwarane Omkāra Rūpa Oppilāi Maṇiye

 

Pāṅgāi – those who sing; (?)

Aruḷvāi – blesses them;

Parameśhwarane - supreme lord;

Omkāra – om represents both the un-manifest (nirguṅa) and manifest (saguṇa) aspects of god;

Rūpa – form;

Oppilāi Maṇiye – incomparable jewel

 

Bless those who sing your praises. You are the form of the manifest and un-manifest and an incomparable jewel.

 

Charaṇam

Nāgaswarāvaḷi Isaindhiḍum Nāthha Nānā Vidhamāi Naṭamiḍumīśha

Swarāvaḷi Ezhuppi Saubhāgyam Aḷippāi Swarga Padhaviyai Thandharuḷiḍuppāi

 

Nāgaswarāvaḷi – notes of musical scale Nāgaswarāvaḷi;

Isaindhiḍum – to the sound of music;

Nāthha – lord;

Nānā Vidhamāi – various ways;

Naṭamiḍumīśha – he dances

Swarāvaḷi – garland of notes;

Ezhuppi – raise the seven notes

Saubhāgyam – fortune;

Aḷippāi – bring or nourishes with;

Swarga – heaven;

Padhaviyai – status;

Thandharuḷiḍuppāi – blesses us

 

You are the Lord who dances in various ways to the notes of the musical scale. You awaken us and give us fortune and the status in heaven.

 

Posted By: Administrator

Rāga: Jayanthaśhrī

Thāḷa: Ādhi-Thiśhra Naḍai
Composer: Ūthukkāḍu Vénkaṭasubbaiyyar
Language: Sanskrit

Meaning – Word by word: Team Ambalam

Meaning-Overall and in phrases: Rasikas.org

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

 

 

Pallavi

Nīradha Sama Nīla Kriṣhṇa Yehi (Jaya Jaya Jaya) Jaya Māmpāhi
Nigamagam Vinutha Bhava Bhayaharaṇa Charitha - Jaya (Nīradha)

 

Anupallavi

Naravara Śruthi Rūpa Veśha Navavrija Yuvathi Sametha
Nādhru Thadhingiṇathom Dhitthām Kiṭathakatharikiṭa
Nādhru Thadhingiṇathom Dhitthām Kiṭathakatharikiṭa

 

Charaṇam

Makarakunḍala Dhharitha Mahanīya Veśha
Sakalajana Munigaṇa Samūha Manamoha
Tharakitha Karathalathala jvalitha Jala
Thakathakiṭa Thakathakita Thadinginathom Dhitthaam
sa , sa , ma dha ni sa , sa , ga ma dha |
ni , ni , sa ga ma | pa , pa , ma dha , ni. Sa ga ||
Thakkudhinnaam Thariku Tharthakku Guguthatti Guguna Gugu
Thindhingu Dhigunagugu Thadhinginathom (Nīradha)

 

 

Pallavi:

Nīradha Sama Nīla Kriṣhṇa Yehi (Jaya Jaya Jaya) Jaya Māmpāhi
Nigamagam Vinutha Bhava Bhayaharaṇa Charitha - Jaya (Nīradha)

 

Nīradha – water bearing;  

Sama – equal;

Nīla – blue;

Kriṣhṇa  - Oh Kriṣhṇa;

Yehi – come;

jaya (jaya jaya jaya) – Victory be to you;

Maam –  Protect me
Nigamagam – The Vedhas and other scriptures;

Vinutha Bhava – the world;

Bhayaharaṇa  - fear  destroyer;  Charitha -  story,character:

 

O Kriṣhṇa! Who is as dark as the water-bearing cloud! Welcome! Protect me. Kriṣhṇa, who is praised by the Vedhas (nigama) and scriptures (agama) whose story removes the fear of the mundane world.

 

Anupallavi:

Naravara Śruthi Rūpa Veśha Navavrija Yuvathi Sametha
Nādhru Thadhingiṇathom Dhitthām Kiṭathakatharikiṭa
Nādhru Thadhingiṇathom Dhitthām Kiṭathakatharikiṭa

 

Naravara – best among men;

Śruthi – fame;

Rūpa Veśha – guise form

Nava-new,young;

Vrija –cowherdess

 Yuvathi – young woman;

Sametha – along with;

Who has a bewitching and praise-worthy human form and one who is accompanied by young cowherdesses.

 

Charaṇam:

Makarakunḍala Dhharitha Mahanīya Veśha
Sakalajana Munigaṇa Samūha Manamoha
Tharakitha Karathala thala jvalitha Jala

 

Makara – fish;

Kunḍala – ear ring;

Dhharitha – one who has worn;

Mahanīya – of much fame;

Veśha – guise;

Sakalajana – all people;

Munigaṇa – group of sages;

Samūha – community;

Mana – mind;

Moha – attraction;

Tharakitha – star spangled

Karathala – clapping

Thala - rhythm

Jvalitha jala– shining;

 

One whose great form wears the fish-shaped earrings.One who attracts the minds of all the people and sages as he dances to the rhythm clapping his shining hands.

 

1 Nāgābharaṇa click here
2 Nīradha Sama Nīla Kriṣhṇa click here












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