Jai Jagdeesh harey
Posted on: November 25, 2011
“Anand Math” (1952) is a novel written by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay which was first published in 1882. This novel served as a major source of inspiration for Indian freedom fighters against the British rulers. The British rulers banned this novel and this ban was lifted only after India gained independence. “Vandematram”, a song contained in the novel became Indian’s national song.
Indians who were born in independent India are familiar with “Anand Math” thanks to the song “Vandematram” and thanks to the movie “Anand Math” (1952) which was based on this novel. This movie was produced by Filmistan and it was directed by Hemen Gupta. The movie had actors like Prithviraj Kapoor, Pradeep Kumar, S. L. Puri, Jankidas, Ranjana, Bharat Bhushan, Murad, Geeta Bali etc in it.
Songs of most Hindi movies are written by lyricists specially commissioned for writing these songs. But there are occasions when songs come pre written by people who lived decades ago, and sometimes centuries ago. That is the case with at least two songs of “Anand Math” (1952). First of them is obviously the song “Vande Matram” which was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of “Anand Math”. There is another song in “Anand Math”(1952) which is written by a person who lived several centuries ago, and who could not have imagined in his wildest of dreams that his creation would some day be used this way. This song in fact is a collection of hymns and that too in Sanskrit. They were written by Sanskrit scholar Jaidev who lived circa 1200 AD, and was a court poet of King Lakshman sen of Bangal. Technically this song was not part of “Anand Math”. Rather it is part of Poet Jaidev’s “Geet Govinda”, also known as Dashavtaar Stotram. The verses describe the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.
The song is picturised on Prithviraj Kapoor and Geeta Bali. In the song, only 5 shlokas depicting 5 avataars of Lord Vishnu ( out of 10 avataars) have been sung. They are Mina (Fish), Waman (Dwarf), Rama, Buddha and Kalki. Hemant Kumar and Geeta Roy (Dutt) sing this song with crystal clear pronunciation of Sanskrit verses. The song starts with a low pitch and as Prithviraj Kapoor appraoches over the staircases towards Geeta Bali, the voice pitch increases and reaches a crescendo at the end.
One must admire the efforts of Hemant Kumar for whom this was his first Hindi film as a Music Director. Likewise Geeta Roy (Dutt) and Hemant Kumar deserve lots of praise for this brilliant overlapping rendition at a time when song recording was done on a single track probably with a single mike. Geeta Roy (Dutt) continuously sings overlapping with Hemant Kumar and that’s where it would have been a tricky job at the time of recording of this song.
The lyrics of this song as well as other details were sent to me by Mr Sadanand Kamath, who has listened to this song umpteenth times ever since he bought a 78 rpm record of this song in early 1970s. He watched the picturisation of the song for the first time a few years back. He was toying with the idea of noting down the lyrics of this song for the last one month but he was getting daunted, since the lyrics are in heavy duty Sanskrit. But finally he took the plunge and he has come up with this effort which will be greatly appreciated by music lovers.
This blog mainly discusses songs from Hindi movies which are in Hindi language, but there have been cases when songs of other languages have also been discussed since they were part of Hindi movies. We have discussed a song in English in this blog which was written by a 19th century English poet. Here is this Sansktit song which is written by a Sanskrit scholar of 13th century.
Song-Hare murare madhu kaitabh hare (Anand Math)(1952) Singers-Hemant Kumar, Geeta Dutt, Lyrics-Poet Jaidev, MD-Hemant Kumar
Lyrics (verses)(Provided by Sadanand Kamath)
hare muraare
hare muraare madhu kaitabha haare
gopaala govinda mukunda shaure
hare muraare madhu kaitabha haare
gopaala govinda mukunda shaure
pralaya payodhijaale,
dhrutavanasi vedam
vihitavahitra charitra makhedam
keshava,
dhrita meena shareera,
jai jagadish hare
ae ae ae
keshava,
dhrita meena shareera,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
ae ae ae
keshava
chalaayasi wikramane,
balimadbhuta waamana
padanakha nira janita janapawana
keshava,
dhrita wamana roopa,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
keshava,
dhrita waamana roopa,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
ae ae ae
keshava
vitarasi dikshu rane,
dikpatikamaniyam
dashamukha mouli balim ramaniyam
keshava,
dhrita rama shareera,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
keshava,
dhrita rama shareera,
jai jagdish hare
jai jagadish hare
ae ae ae
keshava
nindasi yajnyavide rahaha shrutijatam
sadaaya hrudaaya darshita pashughaatam
keshava,
dhrita buddha sharira,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
mlechcha nivaha nidhane kalaayasi kara vaalam
dhumaketumiwa kimapi karalam
keshava,
dhrita kalki shareera,
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
jai jagadish hare
keshava,
dhrita buddha shareera,
jai jagidish hare
ae ae ae
keshava,
dhrita kalki shareera,
jai jagdish hare
ae ae ae
5 Responses to "Jai Jagdeesh harey"
November 26, 2011 at 6:35 pm
gosh i never imagined that this song was a shloka. up until a few years back (when i last saw it) i used to ridicule the slow pace at which Prithviraj Kapoor climbs the stairs etc. and the general murmuring the singer is doing in the back ground. i ve seen this song in a new light only today. thank you atul for helping me understand whats going on
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September 29, 2020 at 1:25 pm
It would be nice if we can get HINDI (not angrezi) translation of this song line by line to be able to totally enjoy this amazing song. I can guess some of the meaning but not all. A properly done translation – not a commentary – will be highly welcome. Thank you for your laudable efforts.
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March 3, 2024 at 4:14 pm
i listen to Jai Jagdish Hare of Film Anand Math whenever I feel Low without understanding a single word except Jai Jagdish Hare and I feel much better. I don’t know why it is a song of hope for me? Can Atul please provide the meaning of the Shlokas that you have painstakingly collected. Thanks,!
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March 3, 2024 at 4:17 pm
can Atul try to provide meaning of Shlokas in Hindi/English or both
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
November 25, 2011 at 1:52 pm
Dear Mr. Atul.
I’ve this movie Anand Math in my possesion, and all the songs are superb.But this one, Jai ‘Jagadish Harey, is a well known song for me, because in my childhood, in Surinam, my father and brothers were singing this song oftenly. It was really a great joy, when some years ago I found a cd, with Hemantda songs, also Mohe ka parda kaala hai. Believe it or not, people say that winning a lottary is great luck, I say, no, finding a cd with songs you’re looking for a long time, and suddenly it’s yours, that’ s LUCK. The movie and de cd, what can I wish more.
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