Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram (sometimes called Ram Dhun) is a popular bhajan (Hindu devotional song) that was a favourite of Mahatma Gandhi. These lyrics were taken from original Hindu text "Shri Nama Ramayanam" written by Lakshmanacharya.
Contents
Original lyrics:
रघुपति राघव राजाराम पतित पावन सीताराम सुंदर विग्रह मेघश्याम गंगा तुलसी शालग्राम भद्रगिरीश्वर सीताराम भगत-जनप्रिय सीताराम जानकीरमणा सीताराम जयजय राघव सीतारामGandhian Lyrics
The version that is most common was put to music by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, and was sung by Gandhi and his followers as they walked during the 241 mile Salt March to Dandi.
The version popularized by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar and the Gandhian movement:
Hindi
रघुपति राघव राजाराम, पतित पावन सीताराम सीताराम सीताराम, भज प्यारे तू सीताराम ईश्वर अल्लाह तेरो नाम, सब को सन्मति दे भगवानTransliteration (IAST):
raghupati rāghav rājārām, patit pāvan sītārām sītārām, jai sītārām, bhaj pyāre tu sītārām īśvar allāh tero nām, sab ko sanmati de bhagavānTranslation:
Chief of the house of Raghu, Lord Rama, Uplifters of those who have fallen, Sita and Rama, Sita and Rama, Sita and Rama, O beloved, praise Sita and Rama, God or Allah is your name, May God bless all with true wisdom.In popular culture
Elements of the chant were included in the song "uTho-uTho he bharat" in the movie Bharat Milap (1942), the song "de dii hamen aazaadii binaa khaDg binaa Dhaal" in the movie Jagriti (1954), Purab Aur Paschim (1970) and in the film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), in the Kannada film Gandhi Nagara (1998), and in the movie Gandhi (1982). It was also the title of a Tamil movie produced in 1977. Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram has been recorded by several well-known singers. Pete Seeger included it on his album "Strangers and Cousins" (1964). The song is an important motif in the 2006 Bollywood film, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, and is featured in the movie Gandhi, My Father. The game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories featured the song on one of the radio stations Radio Del Mundo The 2013 film Satyagraha also has a song based on 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'. Rakesh Roshan's superhero film Krrish 3 contains a song named 'Raghupati Raghav'. The arrangement by Jyotishka Dasgupta is an official piece of Grade 2 Electronic Keyboard from Trinity College London, where it is simply named Bhajan. Sheila Chandra recorded a version titled Bhajan on her 1992 album Weaving My Ancestors' Voices.