Yashodha & Krishna – Mother & Child

There are many facets to love and when we talk about the special bond between a mother and child, Yashodha and her famous son Krishna comes to mind. The stories that describe the relationship and interplay between them are well-known. There are several songs in different languages by famous composers centred around this theme that I had a hard time picking out a few.

In the Kannada song Jagadhodharana, a composition of Purandaradasa in raga Hindustani Kapi, Yashodha only sees Krishna as her son – the same son who is a saviour of the world, a slayer of demons, a gem among children and much more. But to his mother, Krishna is her child and she is oblivious to anything else. Here is an old Doordarshan recording of MS Subbalakshmi singing this classic song. I am told it was one of the singer’s favourites.

The Tamil song Thaaye Yashodha in raga Thodi composed by Oothakadu Venkatasubba Iyer describes the pranks played by Krishna by the gopis to Yashodha. The song is an account of a naughty boy’s mischief yet the lyrics are captivating and creates strong visual imagery. I can only imagine the mother’s reaction when she hears of her son’s antics described in such a manner. Here is a rendition of the song by vocalist Madurai Somasundaram (Somu). Madurai Somu was a maverick musician known for his soul-stirring music especially his rendition of Tamil songs. and antics on stage.

The Telugu song Muddugare Yashodha in raga Kurinji by Annamacharya describes Krishna being cossetted by his mother Yashodha and likens it to a tub of pearls drowned in her kisses. Here is a rendition of this song by Ranjani and Gayathri.

In the Surdas bhajan Rani Tero Chirjeeyo Gopal, the composer wishes that Gopal, son of Yashodha (addressed as Rani or Queen) lives for a long time. Perhaps it is a desire to experience more of the beautiful relationship between this mother and child. Here is a rendition of the bhajan in raag Yaman by Pandit Jasraj.

Do share with me your favourite songs that describe this beautiful mother-son relationship! For a longer playlist of songs celebrating motherhood click here.

This article appeared first in Citizen Matters