Gange Thudiyil – Vadakkumnathan

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Lyrics – Gireesh Puthencherry

Composition – Raveendran

Prelude – The song from the film Vadakkumnathan invokes the grace and serenity of the river Ganga as she gushes down the matted hair of Lord Shiva . Starting from the beginning of the song ,  in which the beats of the hour glass drum or damroo of Lord Shiva can be heard , takes us into the limitless vastness of the sky,  where God is performing his cosmic dance . The song is picturized on the character of Bharatha Pisharodi , the character played by Mohanlal when he is wandering on the bank of the holy river Ganga seeking salvation. 

Gange !
Thudiyil thripuda kettu thuyil unarnnu padi ente
Nadana mandapam thurannu vaa

Oh river Ganges ! Awake from your slumber hearing the beats of the hourglass drum . 

Soorya nalam oru swara mazhayude thiri
Manthra theertham ozhukiya pulariyil
There is the flame of the sun .  The wick is the downpour of musical notes .The holy water gurgles along, singing hymns in the morning .

Anuragamarna shiva shaila shringa mudi
Nedi vanna pursuhartha saara shiva gange
You are the river filled with love originating from the mountain peak of Lord Shiva's matted locks . You give salvation to the ones who committed sins while seeking objects of human pursuit, which include right conduct , economic prosperity , emotional well-being,  and liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth .
 
Mangalya mani kunkumam ninakkai
Maaleya sandhya orukki
The beads in the sacred thread and the vermillion powder arranged an evening as cool as the sandalwood paste .

Kaar koonthal churulil ariya vara varthinkal
Thulasi thirukki oru shree raga shruthiyil arike varu vara mozhi Parvathi nee
Oh Goddess Parvathi ! like the letters used to write a language  ! Adorn your curls of black hair with basil leaves. You look like the beautiful, noble full moon .  Come near me with your footsteps producing the pitch of raag Shree Ragam .

Poo nilavil adum arali maram pole
You sway like the oleander tree in a moonlit sky. 
 
Ekantha padayatrayil manasinte
Mankoodu pinnil vedinnu
I renounced the mud dwelling of my mind when I began this solitary journey on foot

Nin pattin pranaya mazhayil oru
Ven pravayi chiraku kudayumiru
Pon thuval pakalil eriyum oru
Kanalinu kavilumayi

I become a white dove fluffing up my feathers when your song produces a shower of love . My precious feather burns guarding the cinders . ( I guard my pain in the heart without sharing it with anyone ) 

Njan thiranjath ente japa laya jala theertham
I am searching for my rhythm in the repetitive chants of hymns as the waves of the river Ganges' holy water flows in the background . ( The hero is on a spiritual quest of salvation ) 

Postlude – The sanctity and purity of the holy river Ganga emanating from the words of Gireesh Puthencherry cannot be described .  I want to thank composer Raveendran for bringing forth the ebb and flow of the river Ganga,  like the cyclical nature of human life in the melody . This song is an ode to the river Ganga and her piousness .