Rajamati (song)

"Rājamati" (Nepali: राजमति) is a traditional Newari ballad about an unsuccessful love quest, and is the best known song in Newar society of Nepal.[1] Written by Seturam, this song was composed in 1908. It was recorded in the studio in Calcutta (kolkata), it dates from the early 19th century and is based on a true story.

The song in Nepal Bhasa also gained fame because it was played in London during the state visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana to England in 1850.[2][3]

It was first recorded on gramophone disc by maestro Seturam Shrestha in Kolkata in 1908.[4] A movie of the same name and based on the story of the song was released in 1995.[5]

Prem Dhoj Pradhan Prem Dhoj Pradhan was the second person to professionally record the folk song Rajamati. In 1952, Prem Dhoj Pradhan encountered Rajamati[6] and immediately recognized both its historical significance and its unrealized potential to reach a wider audience. He re-composed the piece in a modern musical style and refined its lyrics with the help of lyricist Durga Lal Shrestha, before recording it in 1963 at the Hindustan Recording Company in Calcutta.on a 78 rpm gramophone disc.[7] The widely known and popularly performed version of Rajamati[8] heard today is largely based on Pradhan’s re-composition, which played a major role in reviving and popularizing the song nationwide.

Synopsis

Rajamati was a beautiful girl from Kathmandu who attracted many suitors. However, despite her protests, a devious matchmaker marries her off to a poor family. She was born in Taha Nani, Itum Bahal, a historic neighbourhood in central Kathmandu. [9][10]

In the song, a man who is infatuated with Rajamati expresses his love for her and threatens to leave home, go to Kashi and become an ascetic if he doesn't get to marry her. He then describes her hair, eyes, complexion, and the mole on her cheek. The song also recounts a famous incident involving Rajamati: how she once went to collect water from the spout at Maruhiti, tripped over a large stone, and fell flat on her back.[2]

Evidence of a real Rajamati

In 1995, artist Uday Charan Shrestha created a painting of Rajamati. He started researching in 1993, and after two years, he finished the oil painting, which took him almost six months to complete. A poster of the painting was published in the Samdhyatimes in 1996 to celebrate the Nepal Sambat New Year. During his research, the artist found evidence in the form of documents from the Archaeology Department of the Nepalese government. In 1884 BS (1827 AD), Rajamati Bada, a widow, sold 64 moharu of her house in Taabaa, located in Lagan. The sale was witnessed by Wilawati Bada (son) and Bhajumati Bada (uncle-in-law). Similarly, 60 moharu of Guthi land (dyaguthi) was sold in 1892 BS (1835 AD).

Movie

A movie of the same name and based on the song and directed by Neer Shah was released in 1995. It is the second big screen film to be made in Nepal Bhasa.[11] Prem Dhoj Pradhan sang the Rajamati[12] song again in a movie, as he was the one who revived it, and he performed it in several different versions. Since then, the song has been recorded by many artists.

Lyrics

Prachalit Lipi

𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐎𑐸𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐖𑐶𑐎𑐾 𑐰𑐳𑐵 𑐥𑐶𑐬𑐟𑐷
𑐴𑐵𑐫 𑐧𑐵𑐧𑐵 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐔𑐵…
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐩𑐧𑐶𑐮 𑐢𑐵𑐳𑐵 𑐎𑐵𑐳𑐷 𑐰𑐣𑐾 𑐟𑐾𑐮 𑐧𑐹𑐧𑐵
𑐴𑐫𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐫𑐸 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐔𑐵….

𑐳𑑃 𑐢𑐵𑐳𑐵 𑐎𑐸𑐮𑐶 𑐎𑐸𑐮𑐶 𑐩𑐶𑐏𑐵 𑐢𑐵𑐳𑐵 𑐧𑐵𑑃𑐮𑐵 𑐧𑐵𑑃𑐮𑐵
𑐳𑐎𑐸 𑐩𑐶𑐫𑐵 𑐩𑑂𑐴𑑂𑐫𑐵 𑐩𑐔𑐵 𑐮𑐵
𑐏𑑂𑐰𑐵 𑐢𑐵𑐳𑐵 𑐟𑐸𑐫𑐸 𑐏𑑂𑐰𑐵 𑐏𑑂𑐰𑐵𑐮𑐾 𑐣𑐶𑐐𑐵 𑐟𑐷 𑐡𑐸
𑐟𑐴𑐵 𑐣𑐣𑐶𑐫𑐵 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐔𑐵….

𑐏𑐾𑑄 𑐏𑑂𑐰𑐮𑐵 𑐢𑑂𑐫𑐵𑐎𑑂𑐰𑐾 𑐡𑑄, 𑐥𑐳 𑐧𑐖𑐶 𑐢𑐸 𑐡𑑄
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐨𑐸𑐮𑐸 𑐳𑐸𑐮𑑂𑐬𑐸 𑐡𑑄
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐐𑐣 𑐡𑐸, 𑐂𑐟𑐸𑐩𑑂 𑐧𑐵𑐴𑐵𑐮𑐫𑑂 𑐕𑐩𑑂𑐴 𑐡𑐸
𑐴𑐫𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐄 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶-𑐔𑐵

𑐣𑑂𑐴𑐵𑐥𑐵 𑐰𑐩𑑂𑐴 𑐟 𑐟𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐶 𑐠𑐎𑐸𑑄, 𑐮𑐶𑐥𑐵 𑐰𑐩𑑂𑐴 𑐔𑐶𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐷 𑐠𑐎𑐸𑑄
𑐰𑐫𑐵 𑐮𑐶𑐥𑐵 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶-𑐔𑐵
𑐟𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐶 𑐠𑐎𑐸𑑄 𑐩𑐫𑑀 𑐖𑐶𑐟, 𑐔𑐶𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐷 𑐠𑐎𑐸𑑄 𑐩𑐶𑐮𑐾 𑐩𑐖𑐸
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐧𑑂𑐫𑐵𑐴𑐵 𑐫𑐵𑐣𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐄

𑐟𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐶 𑐠𑐎𑐸 𑐫𑐵 𑐟𑐵𑐫𑐵 𑐡𑐸, 𑐔𑐶𑐴𑑂𑐬𑐷 𑐠𑐎𑐹 𑐫𑐵 𑐥𑐵𑐫𑑀 𑐡𑐸
𑐬𑐵𑐫𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐫𑐵 𑐰𑐶𑐖𑐎𑐣𑐶 𑐡𑐸
𑐧𑐶𑐖𑐎𑐟𑐶 𑐩𑐬𑐸𑐩𑑂𑐴, 𑐎𑐮𑐵 𑐖𑑂𑐴𑑂𑐟𑐶 𑐩𑐫 𑐧𑐸𑐧𑐵
𑐴𑐫𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐫𑐸 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐵𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐔𑐵……

𑐠𑐵𑐣𑐾 𑐫𑐵 𑐠𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶, 𑐎𑑂𑐰𑐣𑐾 𑐫𑐵 𑐎𑑂𑐰𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶
𑐧𑐶𑐔𑐾 𑐮𑐵𑐎 𑐩𑐬𑐸𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶
𑐩𑐬𑐸𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶𑐂 𑐮𑑅 𑐎𑐵 𑐰𑐩𑑂𑐴, 𑐟𑐐𑑂𑐰 𑐮𑑀𑐴𑑃𑐟𑐫𑑂 𑐮𑐸𑐦𑐶𑑄 𑐴𑐵𑐣𑐵
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐠𑐳 𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐣𑑂𑐴𑐵

𑐟𑐶𑐳𑐵 𑐣𑑄 𑐟𑐶𑐫𑐎𑐵, 𑐐𑐸𑐖𑐬𑐵𑐟𑐷 𑐥𑐸𑐫𑐎𑐵
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐧𑑂𑐫𑐵𑐴𑐵 𑐫𑐵𑐣𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐄
𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶 𑐧𑐶𑐮 𑐢𑐵𑐳𑐵 𑐎𑐵𑐱𑐷 𑐰𑐣𑐾 𑐩𑐏𑐸 𑐧𑐸𑐧𑐵
𑐴𑐫𑐵 𑐧𑐶𑐄 𑐬𑐵𑐖𑐩𑐟𑐶-𑐔𑐵

Devanagari

राजामति कुमति जिके वसा पिरती
हाय बाबा राजामति चा…
राजामति मबिल धासा कासी वने तेल बूबा
हया बियु राजामति चा….

सँ धासा कुलि कुलि मिखा धासा बाँला बाँला
सकु मिया म्ह्या मचा ला
ख्वा धासा तुयु ख्वा ख्वाले निगा ती दु
तहा ननिया राजामति चा….

खें ख्वला ध्याक्वे दं, पस बजि धु दं
राजमति भुलु सुल्रु दं
राजमति गन दु, इतुम् बाहालय् छम्ह दु
हया बिउ राजमति-चा

न्हापा वम्ह त तह्रि थकुं, लिपा वम्ह चिह्री थकुं
वया लिपा राजमति-चा
तह्रि थकुं मयो जित, चिह्री थकुं मिले मजु
राजमति ब्याहा याना बिउ

तह्रि थकु या ताया दु, चिह्री थकू या पायो दु
रायामति या विजकनि दु
बिजकति मरुम्ह, कला ज्ह्ति मय बुबा
हया बियु राजामति चा……

थाने या थहिति, क्वने या क्वहिति
बिचे लाक मरुहिति
मरुहितिइ लः का वम्ह, तग्व लोहँतय् लुफिं हाना
राजमति थस पाल न्हा

तिसा नं तियका, गुजराती पुयका
राजमति ब्याहा याना बिउ
राजमति बिल धासा काशी वने मखु बुबा
हया बिउ राजमति-चा

Romanized

Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati
Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā
Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā
Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.

San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā
Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā
Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du
Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā.

Khen khwalā dhyākway dan, pasa baji dhu dan
Rājamati bhulu sulu dan
Rājamati gana du, Itum Bāhālay chhamha du
Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.

Nhāpā wamha Tarhi Thakun, lipā wamha Chirhi Thakun
Wayā lipā Rājamati-chā
Tarhi Thakun mayo jita, Chirhi Thakun mile maju
Rājamati byāhā yānā biu.

Tarhi Thakun yā tāyo du, Chirhi Thakun yā pāyo du
Rājamati yā bijakani du
Bijakani marumha, kalā jita mayo bubā
Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.

Thane yā Thahiti, kwane yā Kwahiti
Biche lāka Maruhiti
Maruhitii la kā wamha, tagwa lohantay luphin hānā
Rājamati thasa pāla nhā.

Tisā nan tiyakā, Gujerati puyakā
Rājamati bhyāhā yānā biu
Rājamati bila dhāsā Kāshi wane makhu bubā
Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.[13]

Translation

Oh dear Rajamati, if you come to me, I will give you my love. If she is not given to me, I will go to Kashi, my father. Bring her to me. Her hair is curly and her eyes are beautiful. Is she the daughter of a man from Sankhu? Her face is fair and there are two moles on it. Oh dear Rajamati of Taha Nani. There are eggshells in the corner and rice flakes from the market have been ground to dust. Rajamati's hair is dishevelled. There is one in Itum Bahal. Bring me dear Rajamati. The girl in front is Tarhi Thakun; the one behind her is Chirhi Thakun. Dear Rajamati is behind them. I don't like Tarhi Thakun; Chirhi Thakun is unsuitable. Marry me to Rajamati. Tarhi Thakun has a 'tāyo' locket and anklets, and Rajamati has ear ornaments. I do not want a wife without ear ornaments. Bring me, dear Rajamati! Thahiti lives in the north, Kwahiti in the south. Between them lies Maruhiti. She went to Maruhiti to fetch water and tripped on a large stone. Rajamati fell flat on her back. Decorate her with jewellery and let the flutes play. Marry me to Rajamati. If Rajamati is given to me, I will not go to Kashi, Father. Bring me, dear Rajamati.

See also

References

  1. ^ Grandin, Ingemar (1989). Music and media in local life: Music practice in a Newar neighbourhood in Nepal. Linköping University. ISBN 9178704804, 9789178704804. Page 89.
  2. ^ a b Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. ISBN 81-208-0963-7. Page 42.
  3. ^ Bisht, Kapil (November 2011). "A walk into the heritage" (PDF). ECS Nepal. Retrieved 2 July 2012. Page 66.
  4. ^ Rajamati Kumati, राजामती कुमती, Original Song By Seturam, Tasvir Ma Nepal, retrieved 4 March 2025
  5. ^ "Rajamati". Nepali Movies. 29 April 201. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  6. ^ Rajamati (Original 1963) - Prem Dhoj Pradhan. YouTube. Prem Dhoj Pradhan. 26 October 2016.
  7. ^ "Prem Dhoj Pradhan". Artist Nepal. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  8. ^ Rajamati (Original 1963) - Prem Dhoj Pradhan. YouTube. Prem Dhoj Pradhan. 26 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Kathmandu kaleidoscope". Walking tours. Kathmandu: MD Publishing Co. 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. ^ "Know your city". The Kathmandu Post. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  11. ^ "Rajamati". Nepali Movies. 29 April 201. Archived from the original on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
  12. ^ Rajamati Movie (1995) - Prem Dhoj Pradhan. YouTube. Prem Dhoj Pradhan. 26 October 2016.
  13. ^ Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of :Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. ISBN 81-208-0963-7. Page 141.

Prem Dhoj Pradhan "Rajamati" 1963.[1]

  1. ^ Rajamati (Original 1963) - Prem Dhoj Pradhan. YouTube. Prem Dhoj Pradhan. 26 October 2016.
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