Every Carnatic concert performed by legends would include a set of songs that includes many famous kritis with their unique twists and turns, based on their knowledge. One such Krithi is Bantureethi Kolu or as some may spell it Banturithi Kolu. Composed in the enchanting scale of Hamsanadam, set in Adi talam (4/4 time signature in Western Classical Music). In this blog you will learn Pallavi, Anupallavi and Charanam of Bantureethi koluvu lyrics.
The song is is one among the Trinity of Carnatic music, composed by Saint Tyagaraja. Also referred to as Tyagayya or Kakarla Tyagabrahmam, he along with Muthuswami Dikshitar, and Shyama Shastri. Moreover these two crafted more than a thousand songs praising Lord Rama on his voyage across the country.
Hamsanadam Raga
There is a sense of joy and auspiciousness when you listen or perform this audava raga (pentatonic scale in Western Classical). Hamsanadam translates to the ‘call of a swan’ showcasing the tranquillity of the bird swimming in a lake with poise and grace, like the raga itself.
The raga is a derivation from the 60th melakartha raga, Neetimati, containing chatusruti rishabham, prati madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadam completing this 5-note scale. Originally this raga is a shadava or a 6 scale raga, which includes shatsruti dhaivatam in its family. Additionally, it is performed in Vakra Prayoga or zig-zag notation in order to explore the full intensity of this scale.
And some of the famous film compositions in the scale would include Sorgame Endralum composed by Isainyani Ilaiyaraja and Pudhu Unarve composed by the Malayalam music composer, Gopi Sundar.
Bantureethi Koluvu Notes
Raga: Hamsanadam
Tala: Adi
Composer: Tyagaraja
Aro: S R2 M2 P N3 Ṡ
Ava: Ṡ N3 P M2 R2 S
Bantureethi Koluvi Lyrics
Bantureethi Koluvu Lyrics
Pallavi
Bantureethi kolu viyya vayya rama
Anupallavi
Thunta vinti vani modalaina mada
Dulagoti nela gula jeyu nija
(Bantu)
Charanam
Romanchamanu khana kanchukamu
Rama bhakthudanu mudra bilayu
Ramanama manu vara khadgamivi
Rajilunayya Thygarajunike
(Bantu)
Pallavi
| || | ; | ; | ; | p | , | p | , | p | m | r | , | r | , | | | ||||||
| Ban | – | tu | – | ree | – | thi | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| s | r | , | s | , | , | n | , | s | , | r | , | p | , | m | , | || | P | ; | P | ; |
| ko | – | – | lu | – | – | viy | – | ya | – | vai | – | – | – | yya | – | || | ra | – | ma | – |
| P | , | P | M | P | N | P | M | R | , | | | ||||||||||
| Ban | – | du | – | ree | – | thy | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | N | , | S | , | R | , | P | , | M | , | || | S | ; | N | ; |
| ko | – | – | lu | – | – | viy | – | ya | – | vai | – | – | – | yya | – | || | ra | – | ma | – |
| P | , | P | M | Ṡ | N | P | M | R | , | | | ||||||||||
| Ban | – | tu | – | ree | – | thy | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | || | NṠ | , | N | ; |
| ko | – | – | lu | – | – | viy | – | ya | – | vai | – | – | – | yya | – | || | ra | – | ma | – |
| P | , | P | M | Ṡ | N | P | M | R | , | | | ||||||||||
| Ban | – | tu | – | ree | – | thy | – | – | – | || | ||||||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | P | M | R | S | R | M | P | N | Ṡ | N | || | P | N | ṠṘ | ṀṘ |
| ko | – | – | lu | – | – | viy | – | ya | – | vai | – | – | – | yya | – | || | ra | – | ma | – |
| Ṡ | N | P | M | Ṡ | N | P | M | R | , | | | ||||||||||
| Ban | – | tu | – | ree | – | thy | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | N | , | S | , | R | , | P | , | M | , | || | Ṡ,, | N,, | P,, | |
| ko | – | – | lu | – | – | viy | – | ya | – | vai | – | – | – | yya | – | – | ra | – | ma |
Anupallavi
| || | ; | ; | ; | p | , | n | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| thu | – | ta | – | vin | – | – | – | ti | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṡ | , | N | , | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | Ṡ | Ṙ, | Ṡ, | , |
| va | – | – | ni | – | – | mo | – | da | – | lai | – | – | – | na | – | || | ma | – | da | – |
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| thu | – | ta | – | vin | – | – | – | ti | – | | | ||||||||||
| N, | ṘṠ | ,R | N | , | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | N | Ṙ | ṠN | PM |
| va | – | – | ni | – | – | mo | – | da | – | lai | – | – | – | na | – | || | ma | – | da | – |
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| thu | – | ta | – | vin | – | – | – | ti | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṙ | Ṡ | N | Ṡ | N | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | ṠṘ | , | ṠṘ | Ṁ, |
| va | – | – | ni | – | – | mo | – | da | – | lai | – | – | – | na | – | || | ma | – | da | – |
| Ṙ | Ṁ | Ṗ | , | Ṗ | Ṁ | Ṙ | , | Ṙ | , | | | ||||||||||
| Du | la | go | – | ti | – | – | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| Ṡ | Ṙ | , | Ṡ | , | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | || | N | Ṡ, | N, | , |
| ne | – | – | la | – | – | gu | – | la | – | je | – | – | – | yu | – | || | ne | – | ja | – |
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| thu | – | ta | – | vin | – | – | – | ti | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṡ Ṙ | ṀṘ | R | Ṡ | N | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | ṠṘ | , | ṠṘ | Ṁ, |
| va | – | – | ni | – | – | mo | – | da | – | lai | – | – | – | na | – | || | ma | – | da | – |
| Ṙ | Ṁ | Ṗ | , | Ṗ | Ṁ | Ṙ | , | Ṙ | , | | | ||||||||||
| Du | la | go | – | ti | – | – | – | – | – | | | ||||||||||
| Ṡ | Ṙ | , | Ṡ | , | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | N | , | || | PN | Ṙ, | ṀṘ | N, |
| ne | – | – | la | – | – | gu | – | la | – | je | – | – | – | yu | – | || | ne | – | ja | – |
Charanam-1
| || | ; | ; | ; | R | , | S | , | R | , | P | , | M | , | | | ||||||
| Ro | – | – | – | man | – | – | – | cha | – | | | ||||||||||
| P | , | , | P | , | , | P | , | P | M | R | , | R | , | || | ||||||
| ma | – | – | nu | – | – | ka | – | na | kan | – | – | cha | – | || | ||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | P | , | P | , | P | M | R | , | R | , | || | ||||
| ka | – | – | mu | – | – | ra | – | ma | – | bh | ak | – | – | thu | – | || | ||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | N | , | S | , | R | M | P | , | R | M | || | P | , | ,, | ,, |
| da | – | – | nu | – | – | mu | – | dra | – | – | bil | – | – | – | la | | | yu | – | – | – |
| || | ; | ; | ; | R | , | S | , | R | , | P | , | M | , | | | ||||||
| Ro | – | – | – | man | – | – | – | cha | – | | | ||||||||||
| PṠ | ,N | , | , | P | N | Ṡ | N | P | M | R | , | R | , | | | ||||||
| ma | – | – | – | nu | – | ka | – | na | kan | – | – | cha | – | | | ||||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | P | , | P | , | P | M | R | , | R | , | || | ||||
| ka | – | – | mu | – | – | ra | – | ma | – | bh | ak | – | – | thu | – | || | ||||
| S | R | , | S | , | , | N | , | S | , | R | M | P | , | R | M | || | P | , | ,, | ,, |
| da | – | – | nu | – | – | mu | – | dra | – | – | bil | – | – | – | la | | | yu | – | – | – |
| || | ; | ; | ; | p | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| Ra | – | ma | – | na | – | – | – | ma | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṡ | , | N | , | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | Ṡ | Ṙ, | Ṡ, | , |
| ma | nu | – | va | – | – | ra | – | kh | – | ad | – | – | – | ga | – | mi | – | vi | – | |
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| Ra | – | ma | – | na | – | – | – | ma | – | | | ||||||||||
| N, | ṘṠ | ,R | N | , | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | N | Ṙ | ṠN | PM |
| ma | nu | – | va | – | – | ra | – | kh | – | ad | – | – | – | ga | – | mi | – | vi | – | |
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| Ra | – | ma | – | na | – | – | – | ma | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṙ | Ṡ | N | Ṡ | N | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | ṠṘ | , | ṠṘ | Ṁ, |
| ma | nu | – | va | – | – | ra | – | kh | – | ad | – | – | – | ga | – | mi | – | vi | – | |
| Ṙ | Ṁ | Ṗ | , | Ṗ | Ṁ | Ṙ | , | Ṙ | , | | | ||||||||||
| ra | – | jil | – | lu | na | y | – | ya | – | | | ||||||||||
| Ṡ | Ṙ | , | Ṡ | , | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | || | N | Ṡ, | N, | , |
| thi | – | ya | – | – | ga | – | ra | ju | – | – | – | – | – | ni | – | ke | – | |||
| || | ; | ; | ; | P | , | N | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | Ṡ | , | | | ||||||
| Ra | – | ma | – | na | – | – | – | ma | – | | | ||||||||||
| N | Ṡ Ṙ | ṀṘ | R | Ṡ | N | N | , | Ṡ | , | Ṙ | , | , | , | Ṙ | , | || | ṠṘ | , | ṠṘ | Ṁ, |
| ma | nu | – | va | – | – | ra | – | kh | – | ad | – | – | – | ga | – | mi | – | vi | – | |
| Ṙ | Ṁ | Ṗ | , | Ṗ | Ṁ | Ṙ | , | Ṙ | , | | | ||||||||||
| ra | – | jil | – | lu | na | y | – | ya | – | | | ||||||||||
| Ṡ | Ṙ | , | Ṡ | , | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | Ṡ | , | , | , | N | , | || | PN | Ṙ, | ṀṘ | N, |
| thi | – | ya | – | – | ga | – | ra | ju | – | – | – | – | – | ni | – | ke | – |
Bantureethi Koluvu Lyrics Meaning
To give you a context, this is the saint yearning to play the royal guard to Lord Sir Rama’s courthouse assembly.
In the Pallavi of bantureethi koluvu lyrics, Sri Tyagaraja pleads to be in his presence day and night metaphorically, asking him to make his guard to serve the lord while he is alive. Reethi Bantu means a royal guard.
In the Anupallavi, the composer talks about abolishing the Arishad Varghas or the demons of mind including the Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada, Matsarya that are lust, anger, greed, delusion, pride and envy, respectively, knocking them back to earth to live the life of human for all their sins. This shows how he wants to be noble and worthy to be his guard and be empowered to do so.
Finally, in the Charanam or the last verse, the composer talks about the undue devotion he has for the lord highlighting him as the epitome of Rama Bhakthi. He considers calling out Rama’s name to be the most divine weapon like a sword case (khadgamu) one could have and feel the goosebumps (Romancham) of being around the beloved god. He talks about the heavy shiny armour (Ghana Kanchukamu) of Lord Rama.
One song, many renditions
Like I mentioned in the beginning, there are many legendary Carnatic musicians who have sang this song with intricate complexities. Some of the most revered renditions are by M.S. Subbulakshmi amma, and Nithyashree Mahadevan.
There is also a small rendition by K.J. Yesudas for the Mollywood movie Kaliyugam reprised by Mohan Sithara. You should listen to these soulful renditions to understand the depth of the scale and Tyagaraja Swamy’s bhakthi.
Performing Bantureethi
For any singer, I’d recommend them to pay their respects to the Trinity of Carnatic Music. Furthermore to keep in mind the devotion that Saint Tyagaraja had when he composed this beautiful krithi. It is essential to learn the meaning of bantureethi lyrics to enunciate and emote the lyrics imagining yourself standing in his shoes.
For instruments, you can use the notation mentioned in this blog and add your flair to it. For dancing or recitals, including complicated dancing elements like adavus, jathis and korvais will enable the dancer to showcase their skills on stage.
Thiruvaiyar festival is a one place you could hear this song often. But, you can also hear this song in Tyagaraja Aradhanai, which is a one day festival dedicated to the saint. This festival is conducted by many sabhas, preferably on his birthday.
To conclude, this is a song that exudes happiness, thanks to the raga and the enticing bantureethi koluvu lyrics keeping the listener in awe throughout the performance.
