Post by Amritha Varshini on Sept 12, 2013 7:16:50 GMT 5.5
“Maitreem Bhajata”
The song “Maitreem Bhajatha” was composed by, the Sage of Kanchi, His Holiness Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swami, known to all Indians as “Mahaperiyava” and also as “Paramacharya”. The song was composed by Mahaperiyva for “World peace and communal harmony”. The Song was rendered at the United Nations on 23rd October 1966 on the occasion of the UN Day, by “Bharat Ratna” Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi Amma.
The Acharya was revered by people all over the world for the simplicity in his life and his profound knowledge of virtually every subject of concern to humanity. Very few had known about his deep and extensive knowledge of linguistics and the importance of the subject in understanding the basis of the scriptures of the country. He had mastery over several world languages as well. His lucid presentation of linguistic aspects of Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, English etc., along with the connections to History, names of villages and places, etymology was sheer joy to those who listened to his discourses.
The golden benchmark in Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi’s career was her concert in the United Nations assembly in 1966, in which she sang a song in English, composed by Sri Rajaji and the immortal ‘Maithreem Bhajatha’ composed by Mahaperiyava Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi and tuned by Sri Vasanth Desai. The song is rendered in “Ragamalika” i.e. in Ragas Yamuna Kalyani and Kapi.
M.S. Amma was the recipient of innumerable titles and awards, the crowning glory was the Bharath Ratna awarded by the Government of India in the year 1998. She was the first musician to be decorated with this signal honour. She was a great devotee of Maha Periyava. On the previous day of the concert, she had a very bad throat and could hardly breathe. She did not even tell it her husband Sri Sadashivam or even to her daugter Smt Radha but started praying to Kanchi Mahaperiyava. Till the time she entered the concert hall and even after sitting in the dais her throat was very bad. After reaching the dais with sincere heart she invoked periyava and cried “OM”, immediately she could able to feel the difference and miraculously regained her voice, which sounded sweeter than ever.
She finally sang “Maitreem Bhajatha” composition to a standing ovation.
You can hear her own narration in the following YouTube link
For the benefit of the readers of “Amritha Varshini” the composition is reproduced here with meaning :
maitreem bhajata akhila hrit jaitreem – cultivate friendship which will conquer all hearts
aatmavad eva paraan api pashyata - look upon others as you would see yourself
yuddham tyajata, spardhaam tyajata – renounce war, forswear competition
tyajata pareshva kramama-akramanam – give up aggression on others which is wrong
janani prithivi kaama dughaaste – the Earth is our mother who grants us all our desires
janako devah: sakala dayaaluh: - the Lord is our father, who is compassionate to all
daamyata, datta, dayadhvam janataa – practice self control, charity and be compassionate
shreyo bhuyat sakala janaanaam – let there be prosperity for all the people of the world
You can hear the song in the following link
