Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram

Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram (sometimes called "Ram Dhun") is a popular Bhajan (Hindu devotional song) that was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi. [Dalton, p. 109] It is believed to be a variation of a traditional bhajan by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, which is based on a mantra by the 17th century Marathi saint-poet Ramdas. It was sung by Gandhi and his followers as they walked during the 241 mile Salt March to Dandi. [cite web |url= http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/History/Gandhi/Dandi.html|title=Dandi: Salt March |accessdate= 2007-11-16 |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=|publisher=Lal, Vinay. University of California, Los Angeles |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

Lyrics

The version popularized by Mahatma Gandhi is:

रघुपित राघव राजाराम ,पतित पावन सीताराम

सीताराम सीताराम,भज प्यारे तू सीताराम

ईश्वर अल्लाह तेरो नाम, सब को सन्मित दे भगवान

Transliteration:
:Raghupati Raaghava Raaja Raam, :Patita paavana Siita Raam,:Siita Raam, Siita Raam,:Bhaj pyaare tu Siita Raam,:Ishwara Allah Teero Naam,:Sab ko Sanmati de Bhagavaan.

Translation::Lord Rama, Chief of the house of Raghu,:Uplifters of those who have fallen, (O divine couple) Sita and Rama,:Beloved, praise Sita and Rama,:God or Allah is your name, (meaning that the supreme can be called by many names):Lord, bless everyone with this wisdom.

The original lyrics are

Raghupathi raghava rajaraamPathithapaavana seetharamSundhara vigraha meghashyamGanga tulasi salagramBhadra girishwara seetharamBhakatha janapriya seetharamJanaki ramana seetharamJaya jaya raghava seetharam

Sometimes these words are added:

जय रघुनंदन जय सिया राम जानकी वल्लभ सीताराम

Transliteration:
:Jai Raghunandan, Jai Siyaa Raam, :Jaanakii Vallabh Siita Raam.

In Popular Culture

Elements of the chant were included in the song "uTho-uTho he bharat" in the movie Bharat Milap (1942), the song "de dii hamen aazaadii binaa khaDg binaa Dhaal" in the movie Jagriti (1954), in the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), in the Kannada film Gandhi Nagara (1998), and in the movie Gandhi (1982). It was also the title of a Tamil movie produced in 1977. Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram has been recorded by several well-known singers. The song is an important motif in the 2006 Bollywood film, "Lage Raho Munna Bhai".

The Ananda Shankar version of "Raghupati" was featured in the 2005 video game "".

Notes

References

*cite book |last=Dalton |first=Dennis |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Mahatma Gandhi: Nonviolent Power in Action |year=1993 |publisher=Columbia University Press |location= |isbn=0231122373

External links

* [http://streams.gandhiserve.org/music_online.html Audio Recordings]
* [http://www.hitxp.com/music/popularnotes/151103_3.htm Keyboard Notes of Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram]