Viriboni Varnam – Bhairavi

Introduction

Viriboni Varnam is set in the Raagam Bhairavi. Now Bhairavi is an important Raagam in the Carnatic World. Why is it that you ask? I have an answer. This Raagam is one of the unshakable raagam, which while sung, or played, uses heavy Swarasthanas, which are very unique. To call it an unparalleled Raagam, is not wrong, as there is no match for this Raagam in the Carnatic World. 

It is believed that this Raagam is more than 300 years old. It is still being used widespread, in both carnatic and cinema. This Raagam will remain for 300 years more and will be one of the most prominent Raagams with which the classical music gets a separate identity. Viriboni Varnam is one of the oldest compositions in this raagam. The more hues of Bhairavi a musician uses, the more talented he is, according to the scale of Carnatic compositions. 

Technical Facts of Bhairavi

The exact standards of the Raagam Bhairavi is something that all musicians strive to attain. When they sing the right notes in the right flavour of the Raagam, it is recognised as one of the crowning moments of the Raagam. Bhairavi shares its name with another raagam, Natabhairavi, which is considered to be Bhairavi’s Parent Raagam. There is a saying in Tamil. “Thaai ettadi paainja, kutti padhinaaru adi paayum” which translates to if the mother can leap eight feet, the offspring can leap sixteen feet. This saying is apt for Bhairavi. 

Natabhairavi glows, whereas Bhairavi shines. Bhairavi notes are arranged in an orderly fashion in both ways. But the thing you have to notice here is, Bhairavi takes the higher variant of Dha in the ascent and the lower variant of Dha in the descent. Since it borrows a note from outside, it is called Bashanga Raagam. Notes in this Raagam are sung in a detailed manner. Hence tremendous practice and proper guidance from a teacher is required for mastering Bhairavi. 

Viriboni Varnam

Viriboni Varnam is a composition of Pachchimiriyam Adaiyappayya. He is from the 18th century. Adaiyappayya is the guru of Syama Sasthri, one among the trinities of Carnatic Music. He is knows as “Tana Varna Margadarsi” as he has contributed many Tana varnams to the list of Carnatic Compositions. He indeed has composed a lot of Varnams, but till date, his Viriboni remains undaunted and unsurpassed. Bhairavi Ata Thala Viriboni varnam contains Dasavidha Gamakas (ten types of vibratos) and the varnam is often compared to the marching of the ants. This is because singing this varnam is a brisk experience. 

This song is set in praise of the Lord Rajagopalan, Krishna in layman terms. The song is set from the perspective of a girl who is yearning for Rajagopalan’s attention in love for him. Its a calling for the God, to see her love and acknowledge it. This Krishna is a deity in Mannargudi, Tamil Nadu, which is called “Dakshina Dwaraka” which means that Mannargudi is the Dwaraka of the South. MS. Subbulakshmi’s Viriboni will move anyone to tears.

Song: Viriboni(Varnam)

Talam: Khandajati atta

Composer: Pachhimiriyam Adi Appayya

Aro: S G2 R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2  Ṡ 

Ava:  Ṡ  N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S

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Related blog: Evvari Bodhana – Abhogi Ragam