MARGAHINDOLAM – a raga, which travels almost in the same direction as Saramathi, the Natabhairavi janya; and evokes the same Bhakthi and Divine nature, especially when sung in chowka kala and is better sung in early morning, just before the Sunrise. This raga has also some resemblance with another janya of Kharaharapriya, namely, Kannadagoula. Margahindolam is also known as Sampadeshini. According to some of the web sites, the Hindustani raga Kaushi Kanada is said to be the closest to this ragam. The ragaswaroopa is:
S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S // S N2 D2 P M1 G2 S
According to the Dikshitar’s school of music, Ri is omitted in the Arohana and Ni & Pa omitted in the Avarohana. It is shadava-audava variety with vakra sancharas.
Many of the books on Carnatic music and sites refer this raga as janya of mela (20) Natabhairavi; even, some assigning the same structure as os Saramathi itself. Sangeetha Sampradaya Pradarshini (SSP) by Sri. Subburama Dikshithar (an important book on South Indian Musicology) describes the lakshana of this raga as given by Venkatamakhi sloka:
“margahindola ragasyat arohe ca rivarjitah l
avarohe nipavarjo rivakro grahasadjakah ll”
As per this, Margahindolam is rishabha varja in arohanam and nishada panchama varja in avarohanam - SGGMPMDNS // SDMGSRS; suitable for singing at all times (sarvakalika).
Ragapravaham by D.Pattammal places it under mela (20) NaTabhairavi, with different structures as :
S R G M P D N S // S N D M P M G S R S
S G M P D N S // S N D P M G S
S G M N D N S // S N D P M G R G S
S R G M P D N S // S N D P M G S
(The last one is almost the same as the one in use, except that it contains D1 in place of D2).
Compositions:
Chalamelara saketha Rama - Thyagaraja
Chandrasekharam Sada bhajeham – Dikshithar
Margahindola ragapriye - Dikshithar
Enakkar Tunai - Dikshithar (?)
Sarajakshini Sada - Swathithirunal
Mamava sarasvati – Mysore Sadasiva Rao
Aniattidum thai - Ambujam krishna
Jaya jaya nirada nibha - Lakshana geetham
Also, there is a very beautiful RTP by Sri. Sanjay Subramanian, the Pallavi being, “Kandanai vandanai sei maname”.
Let us now discuss the Dikshithar krithi, “Margahindola ragapriye” in detail. This composition is the Goddess Maragathavalli at Virinchipuram Margasahayeswara temple. It is a small but charming shrine dedicated to Siva as Margasahayeswara. Here, Dikshithar paid his tribute to the Lord by composing “Margasahayeshwaram” in the raga Kashiramakriya; also, “Maragatavalli” in Kamboji and “Margahindola raga priye” in Margahindolam both in praise of the Goddess and “Parvathi kumaram” in Nattakurinji on Lord Subramanya there. The Bhushavali kriti, “Bhushapathim” which is in praise of Brahma is attributed by some to this shrine, but there is no reference to the kshetra in the kriti itself, though the place itself - Virinchipuram - is named after Brahma and there is a rare shrine for Him there.
Sri. Dikshithar praises the Goddess Maragathavalli as the one fond of the Margahindola Raga, the one who overpowered the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, the one who is protector of all Shaktis (goddesses) led by Durga etc. and tells her ‘mam kalaya (take care of me).
We have to listen also to the RTP, by Sangeethakalanidhi Sri. Sanjay Subramanian; pallavi – “Kandanai vandanai sei maname” : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6DKt0hbyzM
Now we shall listen one of the ever-best renditions of this composition by the great vidushi. Charumathi Ramachandran; disciple of the trinity member, the legendary M.L.V. and wife of the veteran musician Padmabhushan Trichur V. Ramachandran.