Vrindavan, 2017.02.05 (Krishnaa Kinkari and VT): The irrisistible rhythms of the folk songs called “rasiyas” are synonymous with the Holi season, which started in Vraj on Vasant Panchami. They are characterised by exuberant melodies and repetitive phrases which are very joyful and uplifting.
Most of the songs depict the divine romance of Shri Radha and Krishna. Rasiyas are often sung for the Divine Couple in temples, to the heart-beat of a large, flat Persian frame drum called the daph.
“Rasiya” is probably the most frequently used word during the Holi season. It refers to the Lord and characterizes Him as a Beau, Lover, Dandy or a very fanciable cheeky Personality who is enchanting and fascinating, dripping with loving sentiment, and the Supreme Enjoyer of His devotees’ love.
Like the word rasik, the root of the word rasiya is of course rasa (रस), which means liquid, delightful juice or the bliss of sacred relationship. Thus Rasiya is the most fitting Name to invoke during Holi as the Lord and His Beloved soak each other completely in the colors of love.
The following four songs are some of the most common rasiyas that you will hear in Vraj during the season of Holi. We hope to provide more such songs throughout this blessed Spring season.
Mriganaini Ko Yaar Naval Rasiya
Poet: Purushottam
मृगनैनी को यार नवल रसिया
अतलस कौ याकें लहँगा सोहै
झूमक सारी मनबसिया
mṛganainī ko yār naval rasiyā
atalas kau yākẽ lahaṅgā sohai
jhūmak sārī manabasiyā
The Youthful Krishna is the Rasiya (Player-Lover) of Holi. His Lady, Shri Radha, is supremely enchanting, with lovely wide eyes like a doe’s. Her gathered skirt is made of reams of fine silk cloth and Her matching veil is sparkly and very pleasing to see.
छोटी छोटी अंगुरिया मुदरी सोहै
बीच आरसी मनबसिया
बाँह बरा बाजबंद सोहै
हियरे हमेल दिपै छतिया
choṭī choṭī aṅguriyā mudarī sohai
bīc ārasī manabasiyā
bā̄h barā bājband sohai
hiyare hamel dipai chatiyā
On Her dainty fingers She is wearing fine rings, and upon one of them is a beautiful mirror [which She uses to sneak glances at Her Beloved]. Her wide armlets are very attractive and a lovely necklace glorifies Her chest.
बड़ी बड़ी अँखियन कजरा सोहै
टेढ़ी चितवनि मेरो मन बसिया
गोरी गोरी बंहियन हरी हरी चुरियाँ
बंद जंगाली मनबसिया
baḍī baḍī ãkhiyan kajarā sohai
ṭeḍhī citavani mero man basiyā
gorī gorī bãhiyan harī harī curiyā̄
band jaṅgālī manabasiyā
Her large eyes are decorated with kajal and Her sidelong glances steal away the heart. Her fair arms are adorned with green bangles, while Her ornate blouse of a lovely blue shade has truly swept away His mind.
रंग महल में सेज बिछाई
लाल पलंग पचरंगा तकिया
पुरुषोत्तम प्रभु की छवि निरखे
सबै छोड़ व्रज में बसिया
raṅg mahal mẽ sej bichāī
lāl palaṅg pacaraṅgā takiyā
puruṣottama prabhu kī chavi nirakhe
sabai choḍ brij mẽ basiyā
Up in Her palace, She has prepared a red sofa with pillows of five colours. The Poet Purushottam says, “Seeing this beauty of the Beloveds, I will leave everything else and simply go to live in Braj.”
Brij Mandal Des Dikhay Rasiya
Poet – Purushottam
ब्रज मंडल देस दिखाय रसिया
तेरे बिरज में मोर बहुत है
कूकत मोर फटै छतिया
brij maṇḍal des dekhāy rasiyā
tere biraj mẽ mor bahut hai
kūkat mor phaṭai chatiyā
Oh Beloved Rasiya ji! Show us Your wonderful Braj land! In Braj there are many peacocks who puff out their chests as they sing.
तेरे बिरज में गैय्या बहुत है
पी पी दूध भई पटिया
तेरे बिरज में ज्वार बाजरौ
हरी हरी मूंग उरद कचिया
tere biraja mẽ gaiyyā bahut hai
pī pī dūdh bhaī paṭiyā
tere biraj mẽ jvār bājarau
harī harī mūṅg urad kaciyā
In Your Braj there are many many cows: by drinking their milk the folk become strong and healthy. In Your Braj grows so much barley, millet, green moong and urad lentils.
तेरे बिरज में बंदर बहुत है
सूनो भवन देख घुसिया
पुरुषोत्तम प्रभु की छबि निरखें
तेरे चरन मेरो मन बसिया
tere biraj mẽ bandar bahut hai
suno bhavan dekh ghusiyā
puruṣottam prabhu kī chabi nirakhẽ
tere caran mero man basiyā
In Your Vraja there are many many monkeys. Whenver they see a house with no-one in it, they go inside to loot! The poet Purushottam now sings, “When I see You, my dear Lord, my heart surrenders at Your feet!”
Meri Chunri Pai Par Gayo Daag Ri
Poet – Vraj Das
मेरी चुनरी पै परि गयो दाग री
ऐसो चटक रंग डार्यो
औरन सों होरी नाँय खेले
याकी मोही सों लग गई लाग री
merī cunarī pai pari gayo dāg rī
aiso caṭak raṅg ḍāryo
āuran sõ horī nā̄y khele
yākī mohī sõ lag gaī lāg rī
[With divine stubbornness, a gopi complains (or perhaps she is actually boasting!)] My entire veil is covered in stains of colour! Such deep dye He used! He does not want to play with anyone else! He has fixed His heart on me alone!
मोंहू सो अधिक और ब्रज सुंदरि
ये मोहि सों खेलै फाग री
बलि ब्रज दास आस ब्रज छोडे
ऐसी होरी में लगि जाय आग री
mõhū so adhik aur brij sundari
ye mohi sõ khelai phāg rī
bali brij dās ās brij choḍe
esī horī mẽ lagi jāy āg rī
There are so many Braj Gopis more beautiful than me, but He only wants to play Holi with me. I feel like leaving Vraj. Let such Holi play go up in flames!
Khaatir Karle Nai Gujariya
Poet – Meghshyam
खातिर करले नई गुजरिया
रसिया आयो तेरे द्वार
khātir karle naī gujariyā
rasiyā āyo tere dvār
“Oh lovely young Lady, Your Beau has arrived at your door; make Him welcome!
यह रसिया तेरे नित नहीं आवें
प्रेम होय जब दरसन पावे
अधरामृत को भोग लगावै
कर महमानी अब मत चूके
समय न बारम्बार
yah rasiyā tere nit nahĩ āvẽ
prem hoy jab darasan pāve
adharāmṛt ko bhog lagāvai
kar mahmānī ab mat cūke
samay na bārambār
This charming Rasiya does not come along every day. Only those who truly love Him get to see Him and taste the nectar of His lips. So, make no mistake; take Your chance and make Him Your guest!
हिरदै की चौकी कर हेली
नेह को चन्दन चरच नवेली
दीक्षा ले बन जइयो चेली
पुतरिन पलंग बिछाय
पलक की करले बंद किवार
hirdai kī caukī kar helī
neh ko candan carac navelī
dīkṣā le ban jaiyo celī
putarin palaṅg bichāy
palak kī karle band kivār
Make Your heart into a chair in which He can sit, oh Sakhi. Caress Him with sandal paste filled with all Your love; take initiation and give up Your home to become His disciple! Spread out a sofa in the pupils of Your eyes and close the door of Your eyelids.
रसिया कहै सोई तू करियो
सोलह कर बत्तीस पहरियो
सास ननद कौ डर मत करियो
दै दै दान सूम की संपति
जीवन है दिन चार
rasiyā kahai soī tū kariyo
solah kar battīs pahariyo
sās nanad kau ḍar mat kariyo
dai dai dān sūm kī saṁpati
jīvan hai din cār
Do exactly what He tells you to without worrying about Your mother or sister in law. Adorn yourself with sixteen types of ornamentation and don Your skirt made with 32 yards of cloth. Don’t be like a miser over wealth! Give Him whatever He asks of You; life is too short!
सबते तोड़ नेह की डोरी
यमुना पार उतर चल गोरी
निदरक खेल्यो करियो होरी
श्याम रंग चढ़ जाय
वा दिना है जाय बेड़ा पार
sabte toḍ neh kī ḍorī
yamunā pār utar cal gorī
nidarak khelyo kariyo horī
śyām raṅg caḍh jāy
vā dinā hai jāy beḍā pār
Break all Your ties of affection with anyone else. Oh fair One, cross over to the far banks of the Yamuna River and go with Him. There, play Holi fearlessly! The poet Meghshyam now sings, “When You are dyed with that Dark One’s colour, then You will cross the ocean of worldly life!”
[Featured Image by Yugala Priya]
The post Songs for the Holi Season: Some Popular Rasiyas (Part 1) appeared first on Vrindavan Today.