BHAYA BHANJANA VANDANA SUN HAMARI……..

               

Some words, some phrases have such power  that they are able to motivate us  when  ever we listen to those words; specially in songs and poetic expressions . Songs consist of combination of words and phrases in a rhythmic fashion which create  images . This song sung by Manna Dey, written by Shailendra was composed by Shankar Jaikishan for the film ,’Basant Bahar’,

The film has many beautiful classical songs such as ‘ketaki, gulab, juhi, champak ban ghume’, sung by the  famous classical singer Pandit Bhim Sen Joshi and Manna Dey,( it is a duet/competition), but for me the Bhajan in discussion stands out.

Before talking of the power of song , the various artists who made it possible be introduced. Manna Dey,the singer. When he arrived in Mumbai he assisted Sachin Dev Burman and owing to his rich classical voice and knowledge of music was in demand for all difficult songs which required wide range/scale/pitch. This song is indeed difficult but he makes it easy.

Shailendra  remains  supreme in composing variety of songs, not only for Shankar Jaikishen  but for other  music composers such as S D Burman and  SalilChaudhary. He also wrote some famous bhajans such as ;’ na mein dhan mangu na rattan mangu( Kala Bazar), Duniya na bhaye mujhe( Basant Bahar), Jago mohan pyare( Jagte raho) and Shivji bihane chane palki sajayke bibhuti lagayke ( Munimji) and others

Bharat Bhushan  who is hero of the film ‘Basant Bahar’ to which the song belongs ,remains an underrated actor , successful in his time as an actor who always underplayed and was never overdramatic. In my opinion he was always cast well in the roles he played be it , ‘Baiju Bawra’, ‘Barsaat ki raaat’, ‘Mirza Galib’or ‘Basant Bahar’. Matching with his personality he played low key roles of a singer, poet, lover very well.

This song ( Bhajan) belongs to all three-Shailendra( lyricist), Manna Dey( singer)and Bharat Bhushan ( Actor). But the primary role is of Shailendra for creating this landmark Bhajan .

The most remarkable  quality about this song is that the manner in which it addresses God is different from other Bhajans which may be melodious but are appeasing, praising, appealing  the Almighty. Here he is addressed as ‘Bhaya Bhanjan’( the one who  demolishes/shatters /perishes -Fear )  .

Unlike normal devotees here the singer is merely asking for a glimpse of ‘Bhaye Bhanjan’. And in my opinion that is what we need in life – Free from Fear. Fear of failure, fear of the powerful, our insecurities-social, economic etc. Instead of asking for richness and wealth if ask for only freedom from fear we shall be able to achieve on our own. What is distinct in this plea is that the devotee is asking for very little , a small support from ‘Bhaye Bhanjan’.

The lovely images , the offerings  to God are also new and unique. The Bhajan  goes like this:

Bhaya bhanjana vandana sun hamari

Daras tere mange ye tera pujari

( O the one who removes all fears, listen to  my prayer

This devotee seeks your Appearance )

As stated earlier he is invoking the God by calling him as Fear-Demolisher ! This is a new form of address not totally absent in other invocations but yet  something fresh which draws attention of the reader as well as that of the Almighty!

The first stanza is also interesting in terms of imagery :  Stanza  1    

Geeton  ke  phoolon  ki  mala  banakar                                            

Laya  hoon  dil aarti mein  sajakar

Ye sanson  ki  sargam  karoon   tujhko  arpan

Tujhe  aur  kya  doon  mein  thehra   bhikar

Daras  tere  mange ye  tera  pujari…

 (  with  garland of flowers consisting of songs

I have come  to offer my heart decorated in prayer - plate to worship you

I breathe the full scale as song as offering !

What else can I give; I am a mere popper !

Daras tere mange….. )

Here the devotee is offering his songs as garland of flowers. His musical notes as offering. He is a singer and says has nothing else to offer as he is a poor person. Singing to God is also ,therefore an offering

Aaja    madhur  swapan  si  muskarati                  stanza2

Mun  ke  bujhe  deep  hanse  kar  jagati

Jape  dil  ki  dharkan   tera  naam hardam

Utar  jyot  kirnon  ki  lekar  sawari

Daras  tere  mange ……

(   appear as sweet dream smiling

And lighten my dark life

My heart chants your name always

Descend   on the shaft of light as carrier

I seek your appearance )

There is third stanza too but here I  discuss only  the two stanzas which are sufficient and representative of the ideology. In the second stanza he continues with his plea to appear in his dreams and smile at him  as this would bring light in his dark life . He says that he is ever chanting his name and finally invokes God to descend  on the shaft of light/rays  as carrier( Hindu Gods have their carriers- Shiv-Nandi the Bull, Vishnu- Garud the eagle, Ganesh-Mouse etc, Durga-Lion)

The purpose of this was to bring forth that Words have tremendous power to motivate us and indeed poets when they combine certain words /phrases they invoke such everlasting images that remain in your mind. This particular song sung by Manna Dey and written by Shailendra for the film ‘Basant Bahar’ is one such song. The Nucleus of this Bhajan – “Bhaye-Bhanjana’. Invoking Supreme as one who perishes Fear. Offering garland of songs( geeton ki phoolon ki mala banakar) and asking God to descend on a Shaft of light( Utar Jyot kirnon ki lekar sawari). These images are strong and immensely rejuvenating.