Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram (sometimes called Ram Dhun) is a popular bhajan (Hindu devotional song) that was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi.[1] The version that is most common was put to music by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar,[2] and was sung by Gandhi and his followers as they walked during the 241 mile Salt March to Dandi.[3]

Contents

Lyrics

The version popularized by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and the Gandhian movement:

रघुपति राघव राजाराम, पतित पावन सीताराम

सीताराम सीताराम, भज प्यारे तू सीताराम

ईश्वर अल्लाह तेरो नाम, सब को सन्मति दे भगवान!!

Transliteration (ITRANS):

raghupati raaghav raajaaraam,
patit paavan siitaram
siitaaraam, siitaram,
bhaj pyaare tu siitaram
Iishvar Allaah tero naam,
sab ko sanmati de bhagavaan

Translation:

Chief of the house of Raghu, Lord Rama,
Uplifters of those who have fallen, Sita and Rama,[4]
Sita and Rama, Sita and Rama,
O beloved, praise Sita and Rama,
God and Allah are your names,[5]
Bless everyone with this wisdom, Lord.

Original lyrics:

Raghupathi raghava rajaram
Pathithapaavana sitharam
Sundhara vigraha meghashyam
Ganga tulasi salagram
Bhadra girishwara sitharam
Bhakatha janapriya sitharam
Janaki ramana sitharam
Jaya jaya raghava sitharam

Sometimes these words are added:

जय रघुनंदन जय सिया राम जानकी वल्लभ सीताराम

Transliteration:

Jai Raghunandan, Jai Siyaa Raam,
Jaanakii Vallabh Siita Raam.

In popular culture

Elements of the chant were included in the song "uTho-uTho he bharat" in the movie Bharat Milap (1942), the song "de dii hamen aazaadii binaa khaDg binaa Dhaal" in the movie Jagriti (1954), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and in the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), in the Kannada film Gandhi Nagara (1998), and in the movie Gandhi (1982). It was also the title of a Tamil movie produced in 1977. Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram has been recorded by several well-known singers. The song is an important motif in the 2006 Bollywood film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and is featured in the movie Gandhi, My Father. The game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories featured the song on one of the radio stations Radio Del Mundo. The Brooklyn based psychedelic-rock band Prince Rama (of Ayodhya) features the song on their 2010 L.P. Shadow Temple.[6]

Notes

  1. ^ Dalton, Dennis (1993). Mahatma Gandhi: Nonviolent Power in Action. Columbia University Press. p. 109. ISBN 0231122373. http://books.google.com/books?id=R6AUDU_54PwC&pg=PA109. 
  2. ^ Sinha, Manjari (2008-08-08). "Tuned to excellence". The Hindu. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2008/08/08/stories/2008080850100200.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-27. 
  3. ^ "Dandi: Salt March". Lal, Vinay. University of California, Los Angeles. http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Gandhi/Dandi.html. Retrieved 2007-11-16. 
  4. ^ The divine couple of Hinduism
  5. ^ Meaning that the supreme can be called by many names
  6. ^ http://princerama.com/album/shadow-temple

References

External links