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

Source of the text -Christian Bhajans


Lyrics text


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


Print   Email