Raman was bo… Read Full Bio ↴Susheela Raman (b. 1973) is a singer of Indian descent.
Raman was born in London, later emigrating to Australia with her family. In Australia she studied classical South Indian song and began giving performances. She then began working with Western forms including rock and soul, while continuing to study classical Indian music with Shruti Sadolikar. Her desire to mix Indian with Western music resulted in her first album, Salt Rain, in 2001, followed by Love Trap in 2003.
In 2005, she released Music for Crocodiles. The basis of the album was recorded in Britain (Wiltshire in September 2004); the work was continued the next month with Indian musicians and mixed in Los Angeles.
In 2006 Susheela was again nominated for BBC World Music Award and was the subject of a one hour documentary by French-German TV Channel ARTE, called 'Indian Journey' directed by Mark Kidel. In the same year she independently recorded 33 1/3, which is a set of re-imaginings of music from the sixties and seventies. Artists covered include Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Velvet Underground, Captain Beefheart, Can, Joy Division and Throbbing Gristle. The album features long term collaborators Sam Mills on guitar, VIncent Segal on Cello, and tabla player and percussionist Aref Durvesh. The album was released in April 2007 in France.
In 2011 she released the album Vel.
Susheela continues to research and discover music from South India, studying in 2007 with the Bhakti singer Kovai Kamla.
Mamavatu
Susheela Raman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You who reside in the temple of Kamakoti
Rescue me
Bearing lotus and veena
In your beautiful hands
You give truth to speech
Your feet are worshipped by Emperors and Kings
And your beauty bewitches
Garlanded with gems
You fulfill the desires of the good
Indra himself bown down before you
I, Vasudeva, am your servant
For you are the divine word in its essence
[Sanskrit]
Mamavatu Sri Sarasvati
Kamakoti peta NiVasini
Komalakara Saroja Drita Veena
Seematita Vara Vak
Vibhushani
Rajadiraja Poojita Charane
Rajiva Nayane
Ramaniya Vadane
Sujana Manorata poorana Chature
Nijaguna shobhita manimaya haare
Ajabhava vandinta
Vasudeva
Charanarchita Sakala Veda Sara
The lyrics to Susheela Raman's song Mamavatu are a hymn of devotion to the Hindu goddess Saraswati. Saraswati is often depicted as the goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning. The song begins with an invocation to the goddess Saraswati, who is asked to come and rescue the singer. The singer then describes the goddess's appearance, portraying her as a beautiful and powerful being who holds a lotus flower and a veena, a traditional Indian musical instrument. Saraswati's eyes are wild, like the Rajiva flowers, and her beauty is enchanting.
The second verse of the song describes how Saraswati fulfills the desires of those who are good. Even Indra, one of the major gods in Hindu mythology, is said to have bowed down before her. The singer, Vasudeva, declares himself to be the servant of the goddess, for she is the very embodiment of divine knowledge and wisdom.
Overall, Mamavatu is a beautiful hymn of devotion to the Hindu goddess Saraswati. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the goddess's beauty and power, highlighting her role as the bestower of knowledge, music, and wisdom.
Line by Line Meaning
Saraswati
This line is a direct address to the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, and wisdom.
You who reside in the temple of Kamakoti
The singer acknowledges Saraswati's association with the temple of Kamakoti, where she is said to be the presiding deity.
Rescue me
The singer is asking Saraswati to come to his/her aid and provide him/her with knowledge, skills or any other blessings.
Bearing lotus and veena
Saraswati is often depicted holding a lotus, which symbolizes purity, and a veena, a musical instrument that represents the arts.
In your beautiful hands
The artist is praising Saraswati's graceful appearance and is likely using this line as a way to praise her beauty and elegance.
You give truth to speech
Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge, and the line probably means that she helps us communicate truth through language.
Your feet are worshipped by Emperors and Kings
The feet of a religious figure in Hinduism are often seen as the symbol of the power and divinity of that being. This line likely means that even the most powerful people in society show their reverence to Saraswati by worshipping her feet.
Your eyes are as wild as Rajiva flowers
The line probably means that Saraswati's eyes are beautiful like Rajiva flowers, which are traditionally associated with purity, but wild like nature.
And your beauty bewitches
The artist describes Saraswati's beauty and charm as something that is irresistible and captivating.
Garlanded with gems
The artist is praising Saraswati's beauty by saying that she is adorned with precious gems.
You fulfill the desires of the good
Saraswati is often praised for granting knowledge and wisdom to those who seek it with good intentions.
Indra himself bown down before you
Indra is the king of the gods in Hinduism. This line suggests that even the most powerful god bows down to Saraswati, acknowledging her superior knowledge and wisdom.
I, Vasudeva, am your servant
Vasudeva is a name for Lord Krishna. This line suggests that the singer is dedicated to serving Saraswati and showing her respect and reverence.
For you are the divine word in its essence
Saraswati is often associated with the Vedas, which are Hindu texts that are considered to be a symbol of eternal knowledge. This line suggests that Saraswati is the embodiment of this divine knowledge.
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.