Neelambari--The magnificient ,  Mother's tranquliser

Neelambari is derived from the 29th Mela raga Dheeresankarabharanam, which corresponds to the Bhilawal Thaat of Hindustani music. It is a Sampoorna-Sadhava raga. It is a Ubhaya Vakra raga. Dha is omitted in the Avarohana. Swaras taken are Chatusruti Ri, Antara Ga, Suddha Ma, Chatusruti Dha and Kakali Ni.

Arohana: Sa, Ri2, Ga3, Ma1, Pa, Dha2, Ni3, Sa* Avarohana: Sa*, Ni3, Pa, Ma1, Ga3, Ri2, Ga3, Sa* This raga has got a soothing effect and is used in singing of lulabies, lalis and oonjal songs. This raga evokes karuna, bhakthi and vatsalya rasa and shines more in vilambit (slow) alapana. In temples, it is sung in the night to make the Lord sleep. 

The Megharaga Kurinji of Tevaram pann is the same as Neelambari. There are popular compositions in Neelambari like "Amba Neelambari" and "Shringara Lahari" composed by Lingaraj Urs. Various kritis, Padams, Tevarams and Tirupugazh

I have several times seen the effect of neelambari on children/babies.When the mother outs the baby in "Thooli" the baby kicks her/his legs so wildly and even come out of the thooli by all circus .The same baby when put back in the thuli and the floating raga of Nilambari on look at the mother, gets tranquilised by the song and goes to sound sleep.Though some scientific studies revealed that there is no varation in the sleeping architecture I simply dont believe.Some of the things in this world are not explained by science like predicting a earth quake or Tsunami and science cannot contradict the physical happenings..With a prejudiced view you pull some people and put them in bed, plugging lot of electronic probes all around their head and body and oscilloscopes flashing /surrounding them ,  singing  nilambari  will not work because of the psycho transients of the minds  under such circumstances.A child upto five years is far from all these psychos , politics, science and what not.It knows only a mothers hug. a mothers care for her/him, the mothers kisses, the mothers passion and love and the divine script/language between a child and mother cannot be simulated by the electronic devices in the world or explained by science.

I have physically seen umteen times that with even some thalattu casettes on . a child sleeps within 3 minutes

Scientific debates/claims are meaningless and cannot be entertained or acceptable to me.Whatever I have experienced with my own eyes, ears are more important for me.

To conclude with Iron heart I can say Nilambari is a tranqulising raga and can only be perceived by a mother and a child and is beyond science.

The following songs are set to nilambari and worth mentioning:

andhappakkam vaazhndhavan (Veettukku Veedu)
vaasi vaasi (ThiruviLaiyaadal)
Varam thanda saamikku.. (Sippikkul Muthu)
Chinna nakku chimilu mookku thalelo (Odi viLayAdu thAthA)
*pallavan pallavi (Kalanggarai ViLakkam)
*Poove ilaye poove (Kozhi Koovudu){ has traces of neelambari}
*en veettu thottathil -- [Gentleman]
 

This is famous lyric of the lullaby used my south Indian mothers.When you fo thru the lyrics it reveals the force of consolation between a mother and child.If the same lyric is tuned in Neelambari what a lovely message it is for the child.What more a child wants than the message in Neelambari.

Aararo arirao araaro ariraroa,
Yar adichu nee azharaey un anjana kan mayi karaya….
Aararo arirao ariraro ararooo….
Athai adichalo aralipoochendaley,
Chithi adichalo shanbhagapoo chendaley,
Mama adichano malligapoo chendaley
Thatha adicharo thamarapoo chendaley
Patti adichalo paal pottum kayiyaley,
Anda paatiyaaa aduchalo unai pathuviralaley
Kovalachivakkazhuda kunnado yen nabhi
Kannam chivakkaazhuda karayado yen manasu,
Yaaradichu nee azharey kanney nee kannurangu
Yaradicha kanneeru aarai perugiradu
Aararo ariraro araaro ariraro.

Another great song in Niambari from MSS praising Srirangam Renganathar is a mesmerising  song unforgettable ,I wish you also enjoy this.