It is quite interesting to note that this is one of the well-known and popular rare raga ! It is popular, since a few compositions are heard in concerts, one or two very frequently; same time, the number of compositions are too less in this raga, to be considered as a genuine popular raga. This is a fairly new raga, created after the time of the Trinities. A raga by name ‘Kuthuhalam’ was created by Maanambhuchavadi Venkatasubba Iyer, a sishya and cousin of Saint Thiyagaraja; Sri. Patnam Subramanya Iyer, his disciple, developed this to ‘Kadana kuthuhalam’ as known now. The first composition in the raga also belongs to Sri. Patnam Subramanya Iyer.
The ragaswaroopa can be represented as:
S R2 M1 D2 N3 G3 P S // S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S (as janya of mela (29) ragam Sankarabharanam.
Ragapravaham places it under Mela (28) Harikambhoji as:
S R M D N G P S // S N D P M G R S - (uses Kaishiki Nishadam)
and also under Mela (29) Sankarabharanam as:
S R M D N G P S // S N D P M G R S
S R M D N P S // S N D P M G R S - (both using Kakali Nishadam)
‘Kadanakuthoohalam' raga makes one feel energised. It is believed that song in this krithi in fast paced number, would be sung to kings to prepare and motivate them for battle. An evergreen and evermelodius song which makes us feel energised when rendered vocally or played in all instruments, violin, veena, saxophone.
Compositions :
Giri priyam - Dr. Muthaiah Bhagavatar
Gopala nandana - Dr. Muthaiah Bhagavatar
Mangala varadayaki - G.N.Balasubramaniam
Mohana krisha - G.N. Balasubramaniam
Neekela dayaradu - Mysore Vasudevacharya
Raghuvamsha sudhambudhi - Patnam Subramanya Iyer
Vandeham Shive - J.C.Wodeyar
Thillana - Dr.Balamuraleekrishna
Thillana – Lalgudi G.Jayaraman
Kuvalayakshi kushalam (v) - G.N. Balasubramaniam
Neeve rakshakudani(v) - Mysore Vasudevacharya
Sharanagatha vatsale (v) - Calcutta K.S.Krishnamurthi
‘Raghuvamsa Sudhaambhuthichandra’ is a very famous krithi of Sri. Patnam Subramania Iyer in the Raga Kadanakuthuhalam. As mentioned above, he developed this new raga Kadanakuthuhalam from Raga Kuthuhalam invented by his guru Manambhuchavadi Venkatasubba Iyer, a shishya and cousin of Saint Thiyagaraja. The unknown fact is that the most famous chittaswaram is not composed by Sri. Patnam Subramania Iyer but Thiruvaiyaru Sri. Subramania Iyer, a contemporary of Sri. Patnam.
We shall take the most prominent composition, “Raghuvamsha sudhambudhi” in this raga for discussion. As the lyrics is available easily, here is the meaning:
“Pallavi
Oh Sree Rama! The king of Kings! You are like the moon to the nectar like ocean of Raghu Dynasty.
Anupallavi
You are like the powerful wind dispelling the clouds of sin.
You are the bestower of prosperity. Oh Lord of the Universe you bestowed boons to Bali the king of demons and also to the Gajendra the king of Elephants.
Charanam
As Rama you quelled the pride of Parasu Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Victory to you Oh Rama!
Siva and the other devatas are amazed when you lifted Siva’s bow.
You are the jewel of Surya Dynasty that performed innumerable heroic deeds.
As Vamana you destroyed the pride of Sukra Charya the guru of Demons and son of Sage Brugu. As Krishna you are the benefactor of Bridavana community.
You enlightened the wise with Vedas. Oh Lotus eyed Venkateswara!” .
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