Re Re Shri Ramachandra Geetham
A simple yet elegant geetham in Raag arabhi widely learnt during the early stages of training is “re re shri ramachandra geetham.”It is set in Raag Arabhi Adi thalam and embodies devotion and musical clarity.
Let us explore the musical features, lyrics, its meaning and the significance of learning this geetham in the world of Carnatic music.
Raag Arabhi
| Arohana | S R2 M1 P D2 S |
| Avrohana | S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S |
| Melakarta raag | Shankararbharanam |
Raag Arabhi is a janya raag of Shankarabharanam, i.e. the 29th melakarta raag. The sound of the raag is often associated with the adjectives bright, bold or devotional.
Key features of Re Re Shri Ramachandra geetham ragam Arabhi
- The raag omits the swars G and N consisting of S R M P D in arohana and avrohana.
- The presence of 5 swars in arohana and 7 in avrohana makes it a audava-sampurna raag.
- It has a majestic, energetic character
- Raag Arabhi is associated with Veer and Bakti rasas
- The phrasing of this raag is quite straightforward and is one of the raags suitable for beginners.
Re Re Sri Ramachandra, a beginner lesson
| Features | Details |
| Title | Re Re Shri Ramachandra |
| Genre | Carnatic Geetham |
| Ragam | Arabhi (Janya of Shankarabharanam) |
| Talam | Adi Thalam |
| Composer | Paidala Gurumurthy Sastri |
| Language | Telugu |
| Structure | Simple melodic line without pallavi, anupallavi, charanam divisions |
| Significance | Introductory piece in Carnatic music, praise of Lord Rama |
| Rasa | Bakti rasa |
| Arohana | S R₂ M₁ P D₂ Ṡ |
| Avarohana | Ṡ N₃ D₂ P M₁ G₃ R₂ S |
Adi Thalam
Adi thalam is one of the most commonly used thalam and Re Re Shri Ramachandra Geetham tala also happens to Adi. It consists of 8 beats.
The structure of Adi thalam:
4 + 2 + 2
Where one lagu and two thiruthams count to 8 beats.
Who composed Re Re Shri Ramachandra geetham?
Re Re Shri Ramachandra Geetham composer was Paidala Gurumurti Sastri. He was a Telugu composer who lived in the 18th century. He has composed a good number of geethams, lakshana geethams. These compositions gave an idea about the features of carnatic ragas, both janya and janaka. Lakshana geethams also have the info about the type of swaras used in a raag and the time it is performed.
Sastri used his technical knowledge to introduce students to classical raags and thalams through simple and structured geethams. Raag Arabhi geetham is one of his most popular geethams there.
Re Re Shri Ramachandra geetham notation
| P – P | M M | P – | M G R | S R | M G |
| Re – re | shree | ra – | – – ma | chan – | – – |
| R R S | S D | R S | R – – | R – | S R |
| – – – | – – | – – | ndra – – | – – | ra ghu |
| M G R | R S | S – | P M M | P – | P – |
| vam – sha | ti la | ka – | ra – gha | ven – | thra – |
| P M P | M G | R R | M G R | S R | S S |
| a – – | – – | – – | a – – | – – | – – |
| S D R | S R | S S | D S | D D | D P |
| a – – | – – | – – | a – – | sri the | ja na |
| P M P | D S | S – | R S R | M G | R R |
| po – sha | ku – | re – | see – – | tha – | – ma |
| M G R | M M | P M | P – P | P – | P – |
| no – – | ran – | ja nu | re – re | thi – | ra – |
| P M P | D S | S R | M G R | S R | S S |
| ra – va | na – | su ra | an – dha | ku – | re – |
| S D R | S R | S S | D S – | D D | D P |
| a – – | – – | – – | a – – | – – | – – |
| P M P | D S | S – | S – S | D D | D P |
| a – – | ya ya | re – | thi – na | ja na | man – |
| P M P | M G R | R R | |||
| tha – ru | ma – – | ma va |
Re Re Shri Ramachandra geetham meaning
Gurumurthi Sashtri, Re Re Shri Ramachandra Geetham composer, joyfully invites Lord Rama to listen to him. He mentions that Lord Rama belongs to the noble raghu clan. Sashtri adds that he is one of the most precious and divine members of that clan.
Shrita jana poshaga in re re shri ramachandra geetham translates to, protector of all the souls that surrender to the Lord and take refuge in him. For he embodies courage and strength.
He is the mighty and the great one, defeating Ravana, who abducted Sita and upheld the justice that’s been shaken.
He proceeds to praise Lord Rama, like a divine tree that grants wishes to the humble, poor and the helpless devotees. And requests to protect him and everyone in this Arabhi ragam geetham.
Final Thoughts
This geetham is a stepping stone into the vast sea that is Carnatic Music. It is also important to understand the cultural and religious significance of Ramachandra Geetham. Book a free demo with us to learn more about Carnatic composition.
FAQs
Learn the arohana and avrohana of the raag and start learning the notation. Understand the thalam and start to focus on the pitch accuracy. Finally, add the sahithyam and learn Re Re Sri Ramachandra with notation.
It’s a prayer like invocation of Lord Rama who helps those who take refuge in him.
Paidala Gurumurti Sastri wrote Re Re Sri Ramachandra beginner lesson
re re shri ramachandra geetham is not featured in any movie
It is written in Telugu.
Raag Arabhi is the ragam (melody) of re re shri ramachandra geetham.
Lyrics and meaning of Re Re Sri Ramachandra can be found online including our website.
