Lord Ganesha and Carnatic music

Carnatic music is very devotional in nature. I would like to add, it is not only due to the compositions themselves, but also because the music itself is undeniably capable of deeply inspiring the artist, while providing the listener with an equally spiritually uplifting experience. The fact that Carnatic music provides an ideal platform for the bhakta in both the artist and the listener to seek a spiritual union with God, is, according to me, the single most important reason why Carnatic music occupies such a sacred place in the South Indian society, and it is probably the greatest aspect of Carnatic music in my opinion.

Lord Vinayaka or Ganesha is the God of the intellect and wisdom and the Lord of good fortune. In fact His name, Ganesha, or Ganapathi literally means 'isha' or 'pathi'(the lord) of 'ga' (the intellect) and 'na' (wisdom or gnana), and also the lord of 'gana', or groups of devotees. Lord Vinayaka is invoked and his grace is sought before embarking on any good deed or noble tasks, as he is called Lord Vigneshwara, the destroyer of obstacles.

Most Carnatic concerts,therefore begin with an invocation to Lord Vinayaka, as the first or second piece, and in the same light it is quite appropriate that one of the first posts on Carnatic journeys should be on the kritis in praise of Lord Ganesha.

In this post I attempt to compile a list of kritis in praise of Lord Vinayaka, in no way intended to be exhaustive, but only the songs I have heard or come across so far. Some of them are very popular, some others are not, but needless to say, all of these ooze devotion to Ganapathi.

These are arranged by first alphabet, and not exactly alphabetically. I will also add the composer's name shortly, but here is the list so far:

The songs italicised are ones that are my favourites:

1. Abishta varada (Hamsadhwani)
   
2. Arul puri (Saraswathi)
3. Bhaja manasa vighneshwaramanisham (Bahudari)
4. Ekadantam Bhajeham (Bilahari)
5. Gajananam bhaje (Kamala manohari)
6. Gajananayutam (Vegavahini)
   
7. Gananayakam (Rudrapriya)
   
8. Ganesa Kumara (Junjhuutti)
   
9. Ganarajena (Arabhi)
10. Gananathaya (Gowla)
    
11. Gam Ganapathe (Hamsadhwani)
12. Ganapate sugunanidhe (Janaranjani)
13. Gnana vinayakane (Gambeera Nattai)
14. Giriraja Sudha (Bangla) (As made famous by Remember Shakti. Surprised ?)
    
15. Gajavadana karuna (Sri Ranjani)
16. Gajavadana beduve (Hamsadhwani)
17. Gam Ganapathe Namasthe (Durvangi)
18. Ganapathiye Karunanidhiye (Kharaharapriya)
19. Gananathane (Saranga)
20. Hastuivadanaya (Navaroj)
    
21. Herambaya (Athana)
22. Lambodaraya (Varali)
    
23. Lambodara mahaganesha (Navarasakanada)
24. Karikalabhamukham (Saveri)
    
25. Karimukhavarada (Hamsadhwani)
26. Karunai seivai Gajaraja (Hamsadhwani)
27. Karuna nidhiye (Hamsadhwani)
    
28. Kai koduthalaiya (Begada)
29. Karunamethaiya (Sivaranjani)
30. Mooladharamoorthi (Hamsadhwani)
31. Mahaganapatim (Nata)
    
32. Mahaganapate (Nata Narayani)
    
33. Mahaganapatim vande (Todi)
    
34. Mahaganapathe ma vallabhapathe (Kanada)
35. Mahaganapathi vaa vaa (Nattai)
36. Panchamathanga (Malahari)
    
37. Paripahi ganadhipa (Saveri)
38. Prasanna Ganapathe (Bahudari)
39. Pranavakaram (Arabhi)
40. Pranamamyaham Srigowri sutham (Gowla)
41. Rakta Ganapatim (Mohanam)
42. Sri Gananatham Bhajare (Isa manohari)
    
43. Sri Mahaganapatiravatu mam (Gowla)
    
44. Swetha Ganapatim (Ragachudamani)
    
45. Sakti Sahita Ganapatim (Sankarabharanam - Nottu svara)
    
46. Sri Muladhara Cakra Vinayaka (Sree)
    
47. Siddhivinayakam (Chamaram)
    
48. Sri Ganesatpparam (Ardradesi)
    
49. Sri Vathapi Ganapathiye (Sahana)
50. Sri Ganapathini (Sourashtram)
51. Sri Vighnarajam Bajeham (Gambeera Nattai)
52. Sri Gananatham Bhajamyaham (Kanakangi)
53. Sri Mahaganapathe Dehi Shivam (Malahari)
54. Sakti Ganapathim Bhajeham (Nattai)
55. Sharanu siddhi Vinayaka (Saurashtram)
56. Sri Ganesha Charanam Gajanana (Thilang)
57. Sri Ganapathiye Thiruvarul (Devamanohari)
58. Sadashiva kumara (Suddhasaveri)
59. Tattvamariya tharama (Reethigowlai)
60. Thanthi ma (Nattai)
61. Uchchishta Ganapatau (Kasiramakriya)
62. Vigneswaram (Malahari)
    
63. Vatapi ganapatim (Hamsadhwani)
64. Vaamaanga sthitayaa (Athana)
    
65. Vinayaka vighna(Vegavahini)
66. Vallabha Nayakasya (Begada)
    
67. Varasiddhi vinayakam (Chala Nata)
68. Vandehinisamaham (Hamsadhwani)
69. Varavallabharamana (Hamsadhwani)
70. Vighna vinayaka murthikku (Madhyamavathi)
71. Vaaranamukha vaa (Hamsadhwani)
72. Vinayaka ninu vina (Hamsadhwani)
73. Vinayaka (Ganapanchaka Ragamalika)

The list goes on, and I will continue to add, as I find some more.

For the lyrics of most of these compositions and other interesting reading, go to:
http://carnatica.net/special/ganesha-aug03-part1.htm