Hamsanadam – Call of a Swan

Hamsanadam – Call of a Swan

Hamsanada literally means “Call of Swan”. Hamsanadam is a pleasing,soft minor raga with an exotic melody and striking identity. Hamsanadam a pratimadhyma raga, is also a vvadi raga in which both Shatsruti Dha and Kakali Ni occurs. It sets a romantic and joyous mood. Dr.S. Bhagyalakshmy has described Hamsanadam in her book on Raga Lakshanas as a shadava vakra shadava janya raga derived from the 60th mela Neetimati with the following scale. It is one of those janya ragams that is more popular than its parent. Its a sublime and pleasant evening raga.

Arohana – S R2 M2 P D3 N3 S

Avarohana – s N3 D3 N3 P M2 R2 S.

(Shadjam, Chathusruthi Rishabham, Prathimadhyamam, Panchamam, Shadsruthi Daivatham, Kakali Nishadam). Some scholars say that When sung with the Daivatham, the raga becomes Sarangatharangini.

Nowadays Hamsanadam is played without the Dhaivatham with the following scale.

Arohana – S R2 M2 P N3 S

Avarohana – S N3 P M2 R2 S.

Jiva Swaras – R, N

Prayogas/Sancharas : Janta svara prayogas PP NN RR SS NN PP and Dattusvara prayoga like PRSRSN – PSNSNP give a special uplift to this raga. Sancharas that bring out the complete essence of raga include RM PDNDNPMR – s R M , R S n.d. n. p. d. n. s R – RMPDPMR – MPDNDP – NDMPMR – S R M P D N S – s* NN DD NN PP MRS etc.

This raga is a favourite one for the instrumentalists and vocalists alike. Chitti Babu the great Veena Vidwan has completely brought out the beauty of this raga with elaborate raga alapana and kalpana swaras in the masterpiece song Bantureethi Kolu penned by the great saint Sri.Thyagaraja. S.Balachander another Vainika played Hamsanada with an occasional ShaTshruti dhaivata in Alapana as well as in the kriti Bantureethikolu. Smt. Kalpakam Swaminathan’s pathantara includes D3 in every ascent phrase, both in AlApanA and in the same kRti Chitravina Ravikiran too follow this practice of using D3 in his own compositions and krithis as a rare phrase.

It is this usage of Dhaivatham that gives the raga an elegant and striking identity which takes the beauty of raga to Himalayan heights. In fact, usage of the note D3 as an anuswara(silent note) to N3 note, adds beauty during the raga ‘alapanam” At the same time, absence of the note D3 in a Keerthan rendition, does not at all alter the raga ‘bhavam’ at any level.It should be mentioned here that a slow rendition of this particular raga reduces the charm of this raga. This raga shines well in madhyamakala sancharas and madhyamakala kalpana swaras. Kalyanarama’ is a song in Hamsanadam by UthukAdu venkatasubbayar which has both the rare prayogas of the raga – P D N and R G R. Hamsanadam is greatly employed in Ragamalika Swaras, Ragam Thanam Pallavi, Viruthams etc.

Immortal Compositions

This raga has become popular because of Thyagaraja’s Bantureethi Kolu. This is a beloved kriti, that is mostly the reason that this raga has become very popular. I have not heard any compositions by Dikshitar or Shyama Sastri in this ragam. Recently I heard Sri. T.N.Seshagoplan singing the composition of Uthukkadu Venakatasubbaiyar Kalyanarama,which begins at Tharastayi Shadjam. The fleet of manodharma swaras rendered by Sri. TNS was matchless, breathless and just like a flock of swans / hamsas gracefully and majestically gliding with slow and swift wing beats across the sky. The swara presentation was just like white swans beginning to soar through the sky demonstrating their beauty and grace.

Also heard TNS singing the krthi ‘krpanidhe krpaajaladhe,’ of Muthiah Bhagavathar adding an extra feather of Chittaswaram composed by TNS himself portraying the rich raga bhava. The essaying of the raga was unique with majestic glides and curves peculiar to Hamsanada very much like the slow flap of the wings of elegant Swans. His disciple Madurai Sundar also presents the krithi Kalyanarama in this raga in an exemplary way.

Some of the most popular classical compositions include

banturIti – Thyagarajar
Kalyana Rama – Oothukkadu Venkatakavi
bhAramA I bAluni – G.N.Balasubramaniam
Dasashatadala – G.N.Balasubramaniam
Neeye Paramugham – Papanasam Sivam
Saraswathi Saradha – Bhajan
dEvAya havishhE – Harikesannalur Muthaiah Bhagavathar
krpAnidhE – Harikesannalur Muthaiah Bhagavathar
sOma sUryAgni – Harikesannalur Muthaiah Bhagavathar
ezhiluDai – Tanjavur Sankara Aiyer
illai iddharaNiyil – AM
kandanai ninaindu
pADa vEnDumE- M M Dhandapani desikar
paramanandha varadha- Meesu Krishnaiyer

Indian mythology about SWAN and Raga Hamsanadam

It is said in Indian mythology that a swan or hamsa can separate water from milk. In other words it has got the capacity to grab the good one and leave the unwanted one. Saint Thyagaraja has clearly brought out this message in the composition “Bantureethi”(in Anupallavi) to expel the six vices such as lust, anger, greed, delusion, arrogance, and envy from our mind. In the lyrics, they are indicated as the vices ‘beginning’ from lust, as in the chronological order. Here the context is ‘Rama Bhakti’ or devotion to Rama to eliminate all the six vices through Nadopasana. The mere utterance of Rama Nama is said to be a ‘taraka mantra’ or ‘life saving prayer’in itself. It is said that Hamsa, or the Swan, is the vehicle of Hindu Goddess Saraswathi. In Hinduism, Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, learning and art. The white colour of the swan denotes the symbol of purity and divine knowledge. Hamsa in Sanskrit means swan & soul— the sounds of breathing (the sound of the in and out breath). Other attributes of Hamsa include, being treated as symbol of purity, detachment, divine knowledge, cosmic breath (prana) and highest spiritual accomplishment. Hamsa is a swan and it represents the person who has attained enlightenment. The Ragadevatha Hamsanada bestows all the above divine qualities if sung with true devotion.

Favourite Filmy Raga

In the world of movies, Illayaraja has contributed a lot in this raga. There is so much beauty and emotion in the song Thendral vandhu ennai thodum. This is music which gives pure pleasure.

Om Namaha – Idhayathai Thirudathey-Illayaraja( Hamsanadam only till 4th line of Charanam)
isaiyil toDangudamA -hey rAm (Isaiyil thodanguthamma starts in Hamsanaadam, becomes Saranga Tharangini in the first half of the charaNam and after that becomes Shuddh Sarang.)
nIyE parAmukamAyin jekandanil- dugArAm
shrI rAmanin shrI dEviyE hanumAn unnai- priyA

Malayalam Songs

1)VAATHIL PAZHUTHILOODEN – IDANAZHIYIL ORU KALOCHA – DAKSHINAMOORTHY’S
2) AARO VIRAL MEETTI – a VIDYASAGAR classic from PRANAYAVARNANGAL…
3) ENTHAMME CHUNDATHU… KULAM – M.G Radhakrishnan
4) RAAVIL VEENANADAM POLE – SINDOORAREKHA – SARATH, now SHARRATH
5) DANAMANI – PRAJA – M.G Sreekumar
6) RAAGAM THAALAM – SURYAGAYATHRI

I conclude this review by making a note that the greatest quality of a Swan is its capacity to separate milk from water. With Knowledge of the Self, a person is capable of adapting this quality of Swan and it will help him to swim across the ocean of ‘Samsara.’The elimination of the six vices of lust, anger, greed, delusion, arrogance, and envy brings purity to the soul. The soulful Hamsanada brings in Purity,Love, Harmony and Compassion!