മഹിത മാനസാ
Mahitha Mānasa
CMSI Ref. Number | MA-MAL-02-DCS-017 |
Title |
Mahitha Mānasa മഹിത മാനസാ |
Language | Malayalam |
Author of text | Jose Chunkan, C.M.I. |
Composer of melody | Ramakrishnashram |
Performer(s) | Joseph Palackal |
Date of composition of text/melody | |
Category | |
Performance space | |
Performance context | |
Typesetting by | Sherin Joseph |
Style | |
Transliteration | |
Recordings | DCS-017 Mahita Manasa - Christian Bhajans by Dr. Joseph J. Palackal |
Comments | In the 1970s, the inculturation movement was at its peak at Dharmaram College, the major seminary of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, in Bengaluru. Liturgical and paraliturgical celebrations had an “Indian” character in the use of prayer vocabulary and music. Fr. Jose Chunkan, CMI, a philosophy student at Dharmaram, wrote the lyrics of this bhajan for a Bible service to celebrate Diwali, in 1972. Fr. Chunkan, who is from the Trichur province of the CMIs, had heard the melody at Sharada Madham, a convent of the Ramkrishna Mission in Thrissur. He wrote the lyrics to the melody and meter of the bhajan. The vibrant melody in 7/8 rhythm in rag 'Bhageshri' suited well for the occasion of the festival of lights. Soon, the bhajan became a part of paraliturgical celebrations at Dharmaram. I used to be the lead singer of this bhajan on many occasions. Naturally, I decided to include it in the Long Play record. Fr. Michael Purattukara, CMI (1948-2016), who was into adapting the Indian style of Sanyasa, was familiar with the members of the Sharada Madham. Fr. Michael got us permission to use the melody with Christian words for the LP. Prof. Pratapkumar J. Toliya made the music arrangement and conducted the recording at the H. M. V. studio in Chennai in April 1978. .... Read more |