You will be seemingly surprised to see how many of legendary Carnatic singers mispronounce words in a well defined lyric. The well-rehearsed and well-educated legends are where you do not expect the disregard of the inherent meaning of the classic, and the lyrics been around from ages.
Also, It is even more surprising because some of these are ubiquitous words in day to day conversation. The sad part is, this is not limited just with junior artists, seen this with senior singers as well. For example, sharanu is being pronounced as charanu; not sure if they realise this gives a totally different meaning how intended initially. Sharanu is surrender and charanu in feat!
The charanu might still be harmless change. Sharanu siddhivinayaka… if changed charanu siddhivinayaka…; is like changing ‘surrender to Lord Ganesha’ into ‘feat of Lord Ganesha’. It gives different meaning, but still fits the purpose of praising the Lord. But, all such word mutations don’t end so well. Take this example: If you know the song ‘gajaananam bhotaganaadisevitam…’; there is a ‘Phalasaara bhakshitam…’ in-between. A lot of people sing it as ‘palasaara bhakshitam…’; which is about a changing ‘fruit enthusiast’ to a ‘meat eater’!
I thought there will be some heated discussion over the internet. For my surprise, even by the fans of a very conservative art form, this phenomenon is being forgiven by those who noted it. Music might not have a language, but your lyric does.
There is no question on the achievement in this field and dedication, generations of artists have maintained and enriched all attributes of this form of music. Still, if lyrics are ignored, that is one purpose failed. Decades spent on learning music, why not pay a fraction of it to understand the meaning as well?
On a separate note, there is a famous quote in Sanskrit “api mAsam masam kuryAt chandobhangam na kArayet”. This was perhaps written much before Carnatic music became classical. This translates to “you can change, if required, from mAsam (beans) to masam (month) but never ever should break the rhythm of a poem“. In other words, this is the famous poetic licence taken (instead imposed) by pretty much all poets till last century. But note, that was a provision rather than freedom.
The Bach 
I had to smile as I read this…. I am formally studying Tibetan Buddhism under the Nygma Lineage. We were given chants that are written in Sanskrit and when we are in the Temple we will be chanting together as well as practicing at home. I was proud of myself for chanting a line 4×108 and on the 5th day as we chanted together I was horrified I had not quite pronounced the words correctly. The Abbott put me at ease explaining it is about intention, and with the knowledge I can now pronounce the words/meaning correctly. The Sanskrit language is so beautiful, it is disheartening to know the musicians who are vehicles of the language are not more mindful. I have seen the disintegration of language because of tech, to read a handwritten note by someone in their 20’s is often a horrifying experience.
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can you quote some chants you mentions, just curious
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I hope you can help me with this question. The first is the version I was given
Aum, Namo Bangawadeh,
Bei Cha Zye. Guru Bei Yoya, Buro Ba Rajaya
Datagadaya, Ahadeh, Samyasum Budaya, Dayata Aum
Bei Cha Zye, Bei Cha Zye, Maha Bei Cha Zye.
Raja Samuga Deh, Soha
The following week after I had recited the mantra and was disheartened as I had
mispronounced so many words, I searched until I found this version on YouTube
so I could follow the mantra and learn it properly. Of course remembering it is about
intention…
OM namo bhagawate Bhaishjaya guru
vaidurya prabha rajaya tathagataya
arhate samyaksam buddhaya teyatha
om bekhajye bekhajye maha bekhajye
bekhajye rajaya samudgate
svaha
I am interested in learning more about Sanskrit and Pali to help guide me on this
spiritual path.
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Very interesting ! I never heard of this one before, thanks for sharing. To be honest first one you shared is unrecognizable to me, I could manage a little on second one.
Considering it traveled through Himalayas couple of millennium back, it has become a new language (or may be dialect) on its own. I don’t think you need to worry about it being mispronounced in comparison to classical Sanskrit. It has probably evolved into a new language with its own unique pronunciations.
But if you really interested in classical language equivalent of it and meaning, its already there in internet. Please refer :http://www.wildmind.org/mantras/figures/bhaishajyaguru-medicine-buddha-mantra.
Regarding spiritual and Buddhism, you knocked wrong door. I am atheist, so I limit myself learning Sanskrit for non-spiritual part of it.
For e.g.
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2010/09/16/even-in-his-dreams/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2007/05/06/keep-your-words-sweet/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2007/03/08/sanskrit-quotes-on-blogging/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/since-it-is-written-in-books/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2006/08/14/the-weak-the-god-and-sacrifice/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2006/08/07/ahimsa-paramo-dharmaha/
https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2006/08/03/women-dont-deserve-fredom/
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Here is the translation for the second one…
1. OM: we begin with Om, the under-current tone of the universe
2. NAMO: means yielding or full of trust; can also mean to bend or bow, and might mean to melt into
3. Bhagawate: means in intimate relation to the Divine and often means the entire cosmos
4. Bhaishjaye: a name for the Medicine Buddha
5. Guru: Spiritual Master; also means the “that” which transmutes ignorance into wisdom
6. Vaidurya prabha: Divine deep blue light, like that of Lapis Lazuli
7. Rajaya: means Great King
8. Tathagataya: means once came or once gone
9. Arhate: one who has conquered the cycle of birth death
10. Samyaksam buddhaya: perfectly enlightened
11. Teyatha: do it like this
12. OM: again we begin with Om, the under-current tone of the universe
13. Bekhajye bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness
14. Maha bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness (of the darkness of Spiritual Ignorance)
15. Bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness
16. Samudgate: means the supreme heights. Like this, go go go
(my prayer shall go to the highest and the widest and the deepest)
17. Svaha: I offer this prayer and now relinquish it … (to you Medicine Buddha)
The 2nd one is from a Tibetan Buddhist lineage. Buddhism was spread East there for dialects etc would make it difficult to translate if one were to know pure Sanskrit. The 1st one could be a Chinese version.
No worries Atheist, Buddhism is not a religion, the Mantras are not sent to a deity, it comes from within!
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On a separate note: There is a famous quote in Sanskrit “api mAsam masam kuryAt chandobhangam na kArayet” which perhaps written much before Carnatic music became classical. This translates to “you can change, if required, from mAsam (beans) to masam (month) but never ever should break the rhythm of a poem”. In other words, this is the famous poetic licence taken (rather imposed) by pretty much all poets till last century. But note, that was a provision rather than freedom.
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