After giving you the twenty best songs of the previous year, I was browsing through Mouthshut when I suddenly found this topic. Just the name brought back memories of Haridwar and Rishikesh.the sound of bhajans from the temples which started at 4 in the morning and finished at 8 in the night! And along came the memories of Diwali Pujans, Vraths(fasts), Navratras, and a whole gamut of other occasions when we remember God! We Indians are highly religious folks and this review is a tribute to all of us!
Below are some of the melodies that I have grown up hearing! Call them Bhajans, Aartis or whatever, they are one of the purest form of music I have come across. Each song has a lesson in it and that’s why they are all my faves:
Om Jai Jagadish Hare,
Swami Jai Jagadish Hare,
Bhakt Jano Ke Sankat
Das Jano Ke Sankat
Kshan Mein Door Kare
Taken from the film Purab Aur Paschim(1970), this melody is something that instantly comes to mind when you think of Bhajans. Sung fabulously by Mahendra Kapoor, Brij Bhushan and Lataji, every word of this song touches!
Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum
Aise Hon Hamare Karam
Whoever can forget this immensely beautiful bhajan sung by Lataji. I believe in each and every word of this song—we are indeed children of the Almighty! The best thing is the way the singer asks from God later on to take our responsibility if he has given us birth(Diya Toone Humen Hai Janam, Too Hi Jhelega Hum Sub Ke Gham), now how touching is that!
Tora Man Darpan Kahlaaye
Bhale Bure Saare Karmon Ko Dekhe Aur Dikhaaye
Wow! Such a pure melody this one is! Taken from the film Kaajal(Meena Kumari-Dharmendra) this one is one of the most realistic bhajans I have ever heard. Lyricist Sudhi Ludhianvi wrote some of the most realistic words, and Laxmikant-Pyarelal sew them into a heart-rending melody. The song starts on by saying that your conscience, your heart is the mirror of everything. Whatever you do in life, good, bad, evil: your heart will always show you the correct image! You can run away from the whole world, but not from your heart, your conscience. Now, how meaningful and true is that. Simply fantastic!
Banwaari Re
Jeene Ka Sahaara Tera Naam Re
Mujhe Duniya Waalon Se Kya Kaam Re
Another song sung by Lataji showing devotion in its most innocent and purest form! The ong means: Oh Lord, it is the chanting of your name that supports me through life, what need do I have for all the worldly stuff? My favourite line is ‘Jhoothi Duniya, Jhoothe Bandhan, Jhoothi Hai Yeh Maaya’. The line means The world is unreal, The attachments are unreal, This whole illusion is false. Unreal is the back and forth flow of the breath, Unreal is this mortal body The only truth here is the reality of Your Name. How wonderful.you have to hear to this one to feel it!
Jyot Se Jyot Jagaate Chalo,
Prem Ki Ganga Bahaate Chalo
Rãah men ãae jo deen dukhi
Sabko gale se lagãate chalo
If the word divine has synonyms, they all apply to this one. Taken from the film Sant Gyaneshwar(Sudhir Kumar, Bablu, Surekha) and sung by Lata Mangeshkar, this one tells you to not to forget your roots. The lyrics are gems in the form of words. It teaches you that helping others is one of the best deeds man can do in his life and that the light of truth, kindness and love should always be alight in your heart! Wonderful!
Lyrics of this song are by Bharat Vyas, and music by Laxmikant Pyaarelal
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Patit Paawan Sita Raam
Ishwar Allah Tero Naam
Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwaan
This one’s one of the smallest and simplest Bhajans, yet one of the most soulful ones composed ever! I bet you all have heard it atleast once in your life. This one’s all in the praise of Lord Rama with the wish that God gives the good thinking to everyone in this world!
Sukh Ke Sab Saathi
Dukh Mein a Koi
Mere Raam Mere Raam
Tera Naam Hai Saccha
Dooja Na koi
Sung by Mohammed Rafi, Music by Kalyanji-Anandji, Film: Gopi 1970(Dev Anand-Mumtaz)
Oh what a melody! What lyrics and what a tune. As with all the above songs, I love every word of this one, but a personal favourite is the last paragraph(Bãahar ki tu mãtti phenke, Man ke bheetar kyun na jhãanke, Ujale tan par mãn kiyã aur man ki mail na dhoi) It means that man savours the external dirt, why doesen’t he peep into his mind and heart? He shows great concern for the glittering body but never cleanses the mind off its filth. Amazingly true!
Lest I run out of space, some of the other devotional songs that have left an imprint on my mind are:
Paayo Ji Maine Naam Ratan Dhan Paayo
Sung by Lata Mangeshkar(this one’s a Bhajan sung by Meerabai for Lord Krishna)
Allah Tero Naam
Ishwar Tero Naam
Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwaan
A slow, meaningful song sung by Lata Mangeshkar, lyrics are by Sudhir Ludhianvi, music by Jaidev and is taken from the film Hum dono(Dev Anand, Sadhana, Nanda)
Main To Aarti Utaaroon Re
Santoshi Mata Ki
Itni Shakti hume Dena Daata
Man Ka Vishwas Kamzor Ho Naa
Hum Chale Nek Raste Pe Humse
Bhool Kar Bhi Koi Bhool Ho Naa
Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai
Maata Ne Bulaya Hai
Tune Mujhe Bulaya Sherawaliye,
Main Aaya Aaya Sherawaliye
Jai Mata Di
Sare Bolo Jai Mata Di
I can’t forget the above two Bhajans. I was 9 years old when we went to Vaishno Devi temple, and all through the way, these Bhajans were playing.
Ek Tu Hi Bharosa
Ek Tu Hi Sahara
Is Tere Jahaan Mein
Nahin Koi Hamara
Hey Ishwar Ya Allah Ye Pukaar Sunle
Sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Music by A.R. Rehman(Pukar 2000)
The only song that really impressed me in the recent times is this! Lyrics are again very pure, it sung with immense feeling and that lingering feel of a Bhajan is unmistakable!
Hey Ram Hey Ram
Tu Hi Hai Mata Tu Hi Pita Hai
Sung and composed by Jagjit Singh, taken from his album Hey Raam(2000)
Oh wow! this one’s the most soothing bhajans of all! I am a great fan of Jagjitji, and listening to this song after hectic schedules completely unwinds me! Simply wonderful!
Jaise Sooraj Ki Garmi Se Tapte Hue tan Ko Mil Jaaye Taruvar Ki Chhaya
Aisa Hi Sukh Mere Man Ko Milaa Hai Main Jabse Sharan Teri Aaya, Mere Raam
This one’s taken from the film’Parinay’
*Wow, how nice I feel after writing this review.I think all the above songs represent the purest form of music.I have learnt so much from them. My mom still plays all these songs every morning, and wow, they make my day, everyday!
Hope you found this review helpful and remembered God once while reading it!*
Shanti,
KARAN.
Comments are awaited like always