At a glance ...

Compositions (29) (from latest to oldest)
This is a list of compositions (or bandishes) that I have created so far, arranged chronologically.
A bandish (root: 'bandhistha' (Hindi) meaning fixed, rigid or steady) is a fixed composition, weaving together melody and lyrics, set to a rhythm. The bandishes below have been created in Braj Bhasha and composed in various ragas. Braj Bhasha is an ancient dialect of Hindi, prevalent in the region of Braj (Agra - Mathura), and has been the medium of traditional and contemporary North Indian Classical bandishes. Braj is a beautiful, simplified version of Hindi that allows for the poet/singer to convey meaning very effectively.

Raga, Taal, Created
Composition (Braj Bhasha)
Explanation

सावन घनन घनन ॥
घन घोर घनन, बूँदन
सनननन ॥
बिजुरी गिरि गिरि रननन ॥ ध्रु ॥
मन तराना गाये तननन
॥
(धिर) x ६ तों, उमड घुमड घन ॥
ओदानी ओदानी दानी यललोम यललोम ॥
ग’ म’ ग’ म’ रे’ सा’,
नि रे’ सा’ रे’ नि
सा’ नि ध नि प म प,
ग म ग म रे सा
निं सा,
निं सा रे प म प
(नि ध नि सा’
सा’ नि सा’ सा)’ x ३ ॥१॥
मन तरना ...
बरसत, गरजत, दमकत,
झमकत, टपकत सावन ॥
दिन दिन दिन, नागे नागे नागे,
घन घन घन, तिन
तिन तिन,
घे घे धिन, घे घे घिन, भिगी भिगी तन ॥
(धुम किटतक धा
ति घिं त धा) x ३ ॥ २॥
मन तराना ...
छनन छनन छन, नाचे मगन मन
॥
गगन गगन देखो घिर घिर आये ॥३॥
सावन घनन ...
This is a "Chatarang". Chatarang is formed by the Sanskrit words "Chatur" meaning "four" and "Anga" meaning "body". A Chatarang is a composition that has four distinct bodies - Bandish, Tarana, Pakhawaj (Bols) and Sargam. This particular composition is an onomatopoeic description of the rain, thunder and excitement, and set in raga Miyaan-Ki-Malhar

जा जा बोलो ना कान्हा ॥
सब जगत
के तुम पालक ॥
हमरी बेर क्योँ झूठा बहाना? ॥ध्रु॥
बन ठन के
तोरी देखी बाँट ॥
शाम ढली पर परी ना गाँठ ॥
कौन समझे मोरा आसूँ बहाना?
॥१॥
Don't speak to me, Kanha!
Why do
you give your time to everyone, but when it comes to me, you make false
excuses?
I was waiting for you, all dressed up for the occasion...
and kept waiting till the evening turned to night. You don't understand
that when you break your promise, it hurts me Kanha!

दु:ख बिन कैसी प्रीत, मोरे मीत? ॥
सुख दु:ख हैं ज्योत और धूँआ,
एक बिना दूजा नही पाया॥
यही है जग
कि रीत, मोरे मीत! ॥ध्रु॥
प्रीत में प्रेम बहुत है मीठा ॥
प्रेम
में बैर अधिक है तीखा ॥
इन बिन जीवन-रस गयो बीत! ॥१॥
Love hurts!
Happiness and sorrow
are like fire and fume, one cannot exist without the other.
This
is the way of life, my friend ...
In love, love is extra sweet
and hate is extra spicy, making life flavorful indeed!

दिन रैन साजन करत चिंतन ॥
Screen
देखन में नैन मगन ॥
मनन करन में बीते जीवन ॥ ध्रु ॥
जब देखूँ
तो धरत iPhone! ॥
नील-दंत (bluetooth) लगाये कानन
॥
E-mail बिन तरपन, उलझन ॥
तंत्रद्यान कठिन सौतन! ॥१॥
To all geeks (including me):
You
stare at the screen, lost in thought, day in, day out, realizing too
late -- that life has passed you by!
In all your waking moments,
there's an iPhone in your hand, a Bluetooth headset glued to your ear.
If you are away from your e-mail for a few seconds, you get withdrawal
symptoms!
Technology can be a cruel mistress!

(original composition)
पुरब से सूरज उगा ॥
फैला उजियाला ॥
जागी हर दिशा दिशा ॥
जागा
जग सारा ॥ध्रु॥
(new Antara)
तन में तेज
जगा ॥
मन में ग्यान जगा ॥
भागा अंधियारा ॥
जागी हर दिशा दिशा
॥
जागा जग सारा ॥१॥
(The inspiration for this comes from
Doordarshan's Rashtriya
Saksharta Mission Ad. I have added the Antara for this
poem.)
(original) The sun rising from the east, spreads
light and warmth in the world.
(new Antara)[A good education]
similarly spreads vitality and knowledge in the world.

काहे को तुम मोहे सतायो?
हमने तेरो
क्या बिगाडा?
जाके और किसीको सताओ!॥ध्रु॥
कबसे तोहे सेहेन करत हूं!
॥
ना जानूं कब इस से छूटूं! ॥
जाके और किसीको सताओ! ॥१॥
(To the incessant rain, or perhaps
an annoying coworker!)
Why do you bother me so!?
What harm have
I done to you!?
Please go bother anybody but me!
I have been
tolerating your presence for so long!
When will I be relieved of
this irritation!? Please, just leave me alone!

निँदियाँ चुरा ले गये तोरे नैना ॥
अखियों मैं प्रीत भरे ॥
और सपनों मैं मेरे बस तू ही तू है! ॥ध्रु॥
कब से तोरी बाँट देखी ॥
सपनों से मैने एक बात सीखी ॥
अब तो जीवन
मैं मेरे बस तू ही तू है! ॥१॥
I have lost sleep ever since I looked
into your eyes,
So alive and sparkling with love for me.
These
days, I dream of nothing but you!
In my wait for my soul-mate,
My dreams showed me the way.
And now you complete my life!

पिया अब भूल जाओ भूल ॥
बोल हमारे,
दु:ख पहुँचाए ॥
बोल तुम्हारे, हम गये भूल! ॥ध्रु॥
जो बोल थे हलके
बोल ॥
चुभे काँटो जैसे हमरे बोल ॥
अब तो माफ करदो भूल! ॥१॥
Dear, forget my mistake ...
I said
some things that hurt you,
You said some things that I ignored!
I did not mean to hurt you, but my words caused you pain.
Let us
put this misunderstanding behind us!

सखिरी, कब घर आवेंगे?॥
उन बिन चैन
जिया को न आवे ॥ध्रु॥
चंचल मन ये, पिया को पुकारे ॥
भाग मोरा कब
खुल जाये? ॥१॥
I wonder when my beloved will return
home. Without his presence, I feel anxious.
I keep wishing that
we were together. I hope lady luck will shine on us soon.

मैं ना पाउँ, मन जो चाहे ॥
कल
है जैसे कारा अँधियारा ॥ध्रु॥
आज के ज्योती मेँ आज ही देखो ॥
कल
होगा नया उजियारा ॥१॥
Life is not working out as I thought
it would
The future is uncertain
The best advise is to live in
the present
and believe that tomorrow is a brand new day!

आजा मंदिरवा मोरे (पिया अब)॥
बिन
तोरे कैसे मैं सुख पाउँ (पिया अब) ॥ध्रु॥
देख के तोरी, सुंदर सूरत ॥
मन गाये इस मंगल महूरत (पिया अब) ॥१॥
Come meet me, my love!
I wont be
happy till we are together
When we met, I saw your breathtaking beauty
and I definitely heard music!

बूँद बूँद बरसे नैना ॥
पलक न लागी,
बीती रैना ॥ध्रु॥
बहुत सताये मोरे सजना ॥
गरवा लगाओ आवत चैना ॥१॥
My eyes are tearful, I'm distraught
and can't fall asleep.
You have been tormenting me (with your absence)
-
I will feel content when you hold me close.

देर ना देर ना तन देरेना ॥
ओदनी
तनन तनननन्,
तदीम, तदीम, तदीम ॥ध्रु॥
ओदनी तनन देरे ना दीम ॥
ता दीम तनन देरे ना दीम ॥
धाकिटतक धुमकिटतक
(सा सा, नी नी सा, नी
नी सा) ॥
(सा नी सा) (ध ध नी) (प प ध)
(म म प) (ग ग म) (रे रे ग)
॥१॥
Note: This is a Tarana composed with syllables from Tabla, "Nom Tom ke Bol", etc. A Tarana is purely aesthetic in melody and rythm, not semantic.

पिया रूठो ना, झूठो॥
मुसकान छिपी
मुख पे ॥ध्रु॥
मन की बात मन ही जाने ॥
आँखियाँ सच बतलाये ॥१॥
Don't feign anger with me dear,
I can see your lips twitch!
I know you rather too well ...
Your
eyes betray the truth!

कब तोहे मैँ देख पाऊँ?
अनगिनत दिन
बीते ॥ध्रु॥
नौ ही दस पल दूर तू गये ॥
मन तरसे ज्यों जुग बीते ॥१॥
When will I be able to see you?
It's been so long!
You've been away for just a few moments, yet it
feels that we have been apart for ages!

हम का है कियो बतलाओ ॥
जैसे बिजुरी
मोपर तु गिरी ॥
और मन पे दु:ख बरसायो ॥ध्रु॥
मोरे बलम क्यों हम संग
रूठे? ॥
नैन तीर से मन मोरा टूटे ॥
प्रीत तोरी नही पायो ॥१॥
What have I done, please tell me,
Your anger is like a lightning bolt,
that makes me unhappy!
My
love, why are you angry at me?
Your fiery eyes are breaking my heart,
I thirst to see love in your eyes.

सुगंध मेँ बेहे जाऊँ ॥
नयनो मेँ
खो जाऊँ ॥ध्रु॥
स्पर्श मेँ सुख पाऊँ ॥
प्रीत मेँ स्वर्ग पाऊँ ॥१॥
Your scent is intoxicating,
Your
eyes are hypnotic.
Your touch gives me joy,
Your love is heaven!

ऐसो छेडो ना, मोहे ॥
नटखट, नटखट,
बोल तुम बोले ॥ध्रु॥
क्या मैं करूँ अब, कित छिप जाऊँ ॥
पलकैँ मोरी,
झूकी झूकी ॥१॥
(... छेडो ना ...)
Don't tease me like this,
with
mischief in your words!
What do I do, where do I hide,
My eyes
betray my shyness.

क्या कहे, मन तोरा ॥
मोरे मन से,
कहो आज ॥ध्रु॥
बस एक, नजर मोहे दीनो ॥
हो जाय मंगल दिन आज ॥१॥
What does your heart say to my heart?
Do tell!
One admiring look from you,
will make my day!

पिया मोसे बोलो बोलो बोलो ॥
बोल
सुने, मुख फूले ॥ध्रु॥
तू जब जब मोरे संग संग हो ॥
हिरदय जोर जोर
और मंद मंद चले ॥१॥
Talk to me, my love;
When I hear
your voice, my face lights up.
When you are with me,
My heart
beats slower and faster at the same time!

मन जो चाहत, बहुत डरावत ॥
मन जो
बोलत, मोहे नाही जानत ॥ध्रु॥
मन अति सोचत, प्रीत छिपावत ॥
मन से
पूछत, प्रीत जगावत ॥१॥
I am afraid to admit the desire I
feel;
I am ignoring my inner voice.
My love is suppressed by reason;
I listen to my inner voice and feel true love awaken.

जोर शोर पवन चलत ॥
फूल पतियाँ बरसत
॥
शीतल रुतु मन मोहत ॥ध्रु॥
व्रुंदावान सब डोलत ॥
छाया मेँ सब
बोलत ॥
शीतल रुतु मन मोहत ॥१॥
The wind is howling;
The leaves
are swirling;
I love this beautiful evening.
The folks of
Vrindavan,
Are
happily chatting in the twilight;
They love this beautiful evening.

मोरे बालमाँ, कब आए ॥
उन बिन जियरा
तरसे, अखियाँ बरसे ॥ध्रु॥
चैन नही आवे, दरस बिना ॥
बाँट देखत ये
दिन गये बीत ॥
उन बिन जियरा तरसे, अखियाँ बरसे ॥१॥
When will my love arrive?
Without
him my heart is anxious, my eyes moist.
I feel anxious, without him
near me;
The days have gone so slowly as I lie in wait;
Without
him my heart is anxious, my eyes moist.

जाऊँ मैँ जाऊँ जाऊँ, परदेस ॥
जाऊँ
दूर, अपनोँ से ॥ध्रु॥
जब से मैँ, गयो परदेस ॥
अखियाँ निस दिन तरस
रही हैँ ॥
मैया के दरसन को ॥१॥
I am embarking on a long journey;
Away from family and friends.
Ever since I have been away,
I have
been very homesick,
Missing my mom a lot!

पिया मोरे आवत नाही ॥
जिया तरसे,
मैँ कासे कहूँ ॥
मोरे मन की बतियाँ, न पूछे ॥ध्रु॥
जब से पिया गए
परदेस ॥
दरसकी प्यासी अखियाँ तरसे ॥
मोरे मन की न सोचे, न सोचे,
न सोचे ॥१॥
My dearest is not going to be home
tonight.
Whom should I share my heart's distress with?
Ever since
my love has been away,
My eyes have been thirsty to see his/her face
He/She cant imagine the turmoil I am in.

घन घोर मेघा छाये ॥
बिजुरी सरसराये
॥ध्रु॥
काली घटा बौछारे ॥
मन-अंग सुख पावे ॥१॥
The sky is overcast with dark rain
clouds;
Lightening slithers across the heavens;
Dark, black clouds
are pouring rain;
The experience is blissful indeed.

बरसे, गरजे, दु:ख के बादल ॥
हो
गया मोरा मनवा घायल ॥
दरसन दीजो अब गिरिधारी ॥ध्रु॥
बीत गयी घडी,
उलझन की ॥
पार कराओ भवजलधी ॥
दरसन दीजो अब गिरिधारी ॥१॥
Clouds of sorrow are rumbling, pouring
with rain;
My mind is in distracted, melancholy;
Guide me, O
Giridhari.
The time of sorrow has passed;
Show me the path to
enlightenment;
Guide me, O Giridhari.

भोर भई अब जागो गोपाला ॥
रैन बीत
गई, हुआ उजाला ॥ध्रु॥
उदय भयो अब उघरी अखियाँ ॥
काहे टूटे ना, तुम्हरी
नींदीयाँ ॥
सखा पुकारत लाला ॥१॥
It's dawn; wake up Gopala;
The
night has passed, the sky is lit.
It's sunrise, open your eyes;
Why are you still so sleepy?
Your friend calls for you.

जपन करो हरिनाम ॥
निस दिन जप जो
करिये ॥
वो जाए हरि धाम ॥ध्रु॥
जिन जिन जपन किये,
सब तन मन दु:ख
भूल गये ॥
राम नाम तेज अपार ॥
माया जाल कर पार ॥१॥
Chant His name daily;
If you chant
His name every day,
you shall find enlightenment.
Those who have
chanted His name,
have found happiness.
His name has immense power,
to help guide you through life.