A very rare raga, created by Shyama Sastri; his lone composition still maintains the title of ‘Eka raga krithi’. It is not because there is no other composition in the raga, but no other krithi is heard sung nor become popular. This raga is considered normally as a janya of mela ragam (56) Shanmukhapriya (the prathimadhyama of Natabhairavi raga). Accordingly, many consider ‘chinthamani’ raga as the prathimadhyama of ragam Bhairavi (containing both D1 and D2). There is little confusion made by many of the internet sites; though they state that Chinthamani as janya of Shanmukhapriya, but giving the notes of a Hemavathi origin.
The widely accepted ragaswaroopam is:
S R2 P M2 P D2 N2 S // S P D1 P M2 G2 R2 S
The normal specification from the various sites show the Hemavathi origin:
S G2 R2 G2 M2 G2 R2 G2 P M2 P D2 N2 S // S N2 D2 P M2 G2 R2 S
While SSP does not give any details about this raga, Ragapravaham shows this under various melas as below:
1. under mela (7) Senavathi,
S R1 G2 M1 S M1 P D1 N1 S // S D1 N1 P M1 G2 R1 S
2. under mela (26) Charukesi,
S R2 G3 M1 S M1 P D1 N2 S // S D1 N2 P M1 G3 R2 S
3. under mela (51) Kamavardhani,
S G3 M2 D1 N3 S // S N3 D1 M2 G3 R1 S
4. under mela (52) Ramapriya,
S G3 M2 P D2 N2 // D2 P M2 P G3 R1 S N2 S
5. under mela (56) Shanmukhapriya,
S R2 P M2 P D1 N2 S // S P D1 P M2 G2 R2 S
6. under mela (59) Dharmavathi,
S R2 M2 D2 N3 S // S N3 D2 M2 G2 R2 S
Compositions:
Devi brova samayamide - shyama Shastri
Anni nivanuchu - Sriramachandra Murti Sistla
Kannadi vendumo velava - Chitravina N.Ravikiran
Ne talanu ika talanu ninnu(padam) - R.Venugopal
Om shakti ganapatim - R.K.Suryanarayana
Mukti dayini moda vahini(tv) - R.Venugopal
Are re kodandarama (gitam)- Govindacharya
Shriranga natha pundarikaksha(gitam) - Vinai Shesha Iyer
(It can be seen that except the Shyama Sastri composition, none of the others are popular)
We shall discuss on the Shyama Sastri krithi, “Devi brova samayamide” in detail. Since the lyrics are easily available in various sites, here is the meaning.
“Devi! this is the right moment to protect me! Please come in great haste.
Oh Goddess Shankari! Please be kind enough to dispel my despair, Kamakshi.
Mother of the world! Do you not have compassion for me? My mother! Am I not your devotee? Kalyani, who is enshrined in the city of Kanchi, Pray listen! Mother, the beloved consort of Ekamresha, is it an arduous task to show mercy to me?
Devi! I will not oblige you, if you say that you will bestow your grace on me tomorrow, for I no longer can endure this. Please bless me with with your grace today itself. I have always sought your feet and beseeched the benevolence of the divine grace. So my mother, protect me in good cheer.
Sister of Shyamakrishna, the ever glowing youthful Shankari! one with the lips like Bimba fruit! Oh Gauri! The daughter of Himavan! Lalita! The supreme goddess Kamakshi! Who else is there on this earth to protect me with great love? My mother! Pray Listen!”
It is said that Bharat Ratna M.S.Subbulakshmi Amma rendered this composition at the Carnegie Hall, New York.