Dr.Prabha Atre ji sings raag Shankara. 'Shiv Har har mahadev shankara' drut teentaal. 

Raag shankara is a hindustani raag which is analogous to the carnatic raag Hansadhwani. Both these raags have the same swaras except for the addition of shuddha dhaivat in raag shankara. the other swaras are SA RE GA PA NI SA. in Hansadhwani the swara 'RE' is a very important note whereas in Shankara it is used only for decending from PA to GA ( PA RE GA). In Shankara 'GA' is the vaadi or first important note whereas 'NI' is the samvadi or second important note. This system of important notes is followed only in hindustani shastriya sangeet and not in carnatic music, thus every swara in carnatic music has equal weightage. Also, carnatic music does not follow the system of 'swar-sangati' as it is followed in hindustani. for example in raag Shankara the phrase or swaras 'PA-RE-GA' in this order have to be included inorder to classify it as raag Shankara, ofcourse along with other permutations and combinations. Carnatic music on the other hand is a  game purely compriing of permutations and combinations of swaras, where the order in which they are sung is not important at all.

Pandit Bhimssen Joshi ji sings raag basant

  

   KISHORI AMONKAR

                                              

Considered by many as the finest female vocalist of her generation, Kishori Amonkar has been blessed with a naturally melodious voice. The distinguishing feature of her performance is the effortlessness with which she presents ragas. Her renderings keep intact the tradition of the Jaipur Gharana without being tradition bound,thus winning the acclaim of purists as well as laymen.

Born in 1931, Kishori Amonkar is the daughter of Smt. Mogubai who herself was a renowned vocalist of the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana. Kishori Amonkar Trained under her mother, thus imbibing the distinct traditions of her ‘Gharana’. She ventured into light-classical music as well, without making any compromises on the principles of her ‘Gharana’. She has sung for films too and composed music for the film ‘Drishti’. Among the numerous awards bestowed upon her are the Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the Padma Bhushan and the prestigious Sangeet Samradhini Award. 

Pandit Jasraj sings raag charukeshi

laage la mora man toso

moho tum bin kal na parata re

saavari surat more man basa gayo re

neend pisari haraii chaina, laage la....

Raag Jaunpuri As rendered by PadmaBhushan Smt.Kishori Amonkar. 'Chuum chananana bichhuwa baaje' in addha teentaal.

       

Smt.Kishori Amonkar sings raag Ahir Bhairav 'Nainavaa Barase' in Addha teentaal. Raag Ahir Bhairav is A raag  formed by the combination of two raagas Bhairav and Kafi. In this particular bandish, we see a more predominant Raag Kafi

Please follow this link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7BGhHMgSw

Padma Vibhushan Sangeet Maartand Param Pujya Guruji Pandit Jasraj sings "Govinda Damodara Madhaveti" a bajan written and composed by him in raag Nat Bhairav, the lyrics to which are:




Kararavinden padaravindam
Mukharavinde viniveshayantam
Vatasya patrasya pute shayanam
Balam mukundam manasa smarami ||1.||


I meditate upon Bal-Mukund (baby Krishna), lying on a Bargad leaf. His hands, his feet, his face…all beautiful, delicate and pure like a lotus flower.


Vikretukama-khil gop-kanya
Murari-paadarpit-citta-vruttih
Dadhyadikam mohavashad-vochad
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||2.||


Krishna so mesmerized the gopis of Vrindavan, that when they went to sell their dairy produce, they called out the names of Krishna – Govind, Damodar, Madhav, instead of the milk, butter or yoghurt that they had taken to sell. (Gopis are the acharyas of devotion/Bhakti.)


Gruhe gruhe gopa-vadhu-kadambah
Sarve militva samavapya-yogam
Punyaani naamani pathanti nityam
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||3.||


When gopis get together in their homes, they always sing and talk about Krishna - Govind, Damodar, Madhav.


Sukham sayanam nilaye nijepi
Naamani vishno pravadanti martya
Te nischitam tanmayatam vrajanti
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||4.||


Always chant the names of Govind, Damodar, and Madhav...


Jihve sadaivam bhaja sundarani
Naamani krsnasya manoharani
Samasta-bhaktarti-vinasanani
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||5.||


O my tongue, by reciting Krishna's names – Govind, Damodar, Madhav; names that help the mind to focus, which otherwise is prone to distractions every second. By reciting the names of Krishna, a devotee's pains (aart) arising from a distracted, blundering, blustering mind dissolve.


Sukhavasaane idamev saaram
Duhkhavasaane idamev geyam
Dehavasaane idamev jaapyam
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||6.||


The essence of bliss is revealed on reciting Krishna's names. Krishna's names when sung during a sorrowful phase in life, remove the sadness. The last thought, the last word before death claims should also be the name of Krishna.


Sri krsna radha-var gokulesa
Gopal govardhan-natha vishno
Jihve pibasvamrut-metad-eva
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||7.||


O my tongue, I request only this: drink these blissful names - Sri Krsna, dearmost of Sri Radha, Lord of Gokul, Gopal, Lord of Govardhan, Vishnu, Govind, Damodar, and Madhav...


Tvaamev yache mam dehi jihve
Samaagate dand-dhare krutaante
Vaktavyam evam madhuram su-bhaktya
Govinda damodara madhaveti ||8.||


O my tongue, I request: Please remember the sweet names of Krishna, when it is time to leave this body and Yamraaj comes for me.


Jihve rasagne madhur-priya-tvam
Satyam hitam tvaam paramam vadaami
Avarnayetha madhuraksharaani
Govind damodara madhaveti ||9.||


O my tongue, you appreciate sweet things, let me tell you your highest good: recite these sweet words Govind, Damodar, and Madhav