Mere To Giridhar Gopala - Raag Madhuvanti by Prewien Pandohi-Mishre

The poetry of 16th century Hindu mystic poet Meerabai is timeless and exemplary in expressing Devotion or love for the Divine . To me, her words breathe an elegant combination of the Shringara, Karuna and Shanti Rasa or the emotions love, compassion/ pathos and serenity.

In the poem “Mere to Giridhar Gopala”, Meerabai declares her love for her beloved Lord Krishna who is the one and only love of her life. Using statements that derive their meaning from the cultural circumstances of her time she enforces her message. The poem has originally been written in the language Marwari and has been put to music in the Bhajan form by many composers ever since.

The bhajan composition I am presenting has been passed on by the Late Shree Koustuv Ray, who was my teacher for a number of years. Some parts of the lyrics have been modified a little from the original text, and out of respect I have kept his version intact. I have only sung the Ashthai (refrain) and the last Antara (couplet).
The composition is set in Raag Madhuvanti , which has a very distinct flavor of romantic sentiments. This Raag was also called Ambika and is said to be invented by Ustad Vilayat Khan Saheb.

The video was produced by DesiYUP and shot by Flamboyant Media in the prestigious concert hall De Doelen in Rotterdam.

Lyrics
Mere to Giridhar Gopal dusro na koi,
Jaake sar mor mukut mero pati soi

Asuvan jal seenchi seenchi prem beej boi
Meera ke Prabhu lagan lagi
Jo hoi so hoi

Translation
There is none other than the Giridhar Gopal for me
Who wears the peacock feather on his turban, is my husband

I have sown and watered the seed of love with my tears
Meera has fallen in love with her Lord Giridhar

Giridhar refers to the instance when Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain.
Gopal refers to Krishna in his early days as the cow-herd.

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