by Damodara Rao Dasu


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Mysore Vasudevachar (1865-1961)

Mysore Vasudevacharya was a great disciple of Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer. He was Asthana Vidwan in the court of Mysore Maharaja. In the later years of his life, he was invited by the famous Rukminidevi Arundale to head Kalakshetra in Madras.

He has about 200 compositions to his credit, which include pada varnams, tana varnams, krutis, javalis, etc. in Telugu and Sanskrit. His famous compositions like Brochevarevaru-ra, Devadi deva are immortal.


Mysore Vasudevacharya Keertanas

  • bhajana sEya rAda
  • nee daya eTula
  • dEvAdi dEva
  • brOchEvArevaru ra
  • rA rA rAjeeva lOchana
  • praNamAmyaham Sri saraswati
  • praNamAmyaham Sri gowri
  • ninnE nammiti
  • paluka vadEmi ra
  • vara lakshmi
  • janaki manOharam

    • bhajana sEya rAda - dharmavati - chatusra roopaka

    In this kruti of Mysore Vasudevacharya, appeals to his own heart to perform the bhajana (worship with songs) of Sri Rama who is the protector of all devotees.

    P bhajana sEya rAda O manasa Sree rAmuni || Why don’t you perform “Sri Rama bhajana” (devotional singing), oh my heart.
    AP aja bhavEndrAdi nutuni sujanAvana lOluni || His beginning is unknown. He is worshipped by Brahma, Indra, and other devatas. He is endeared by the pious people.
    C para nAri sahOdaruni pari poorNa kAmuni
    dharaNijA manOharuni para vAsu dEvuni ||     		Perform the bhajana of the brother of the Supreme Woman (Parvati), the absolutely accomplished one, the one who stole the heart of Sita, the Supreme Vasudeva.
    C SaraNa janA dhAruni saraseeruha nEtruni
    nira vadhi Suka dAyakuni paramAtmuni bhakta pAluni ||     		Perform the bhajana of the prop for those who sought his protection, the lotus-eyed bestower of perpetual happiness, the Supreme Soul, the protector of his devotees.


    nee daya eTula – SankarAbharaNam – chatusra tripuTa

    Mysore Vasudevacharya seeks the grace of Rama praising his great qualities. He exemplifies this by Mandaradhara, Govardhana, and Gajendra stories.

    P nee daya eTula galgunO rAma
    neeraja lOchana nirupama suguNa ||     		How shall I be blessed with your kindness, Oh Rama?
    Oh lotus-eyed one, your virtues are unparalleled.
    AP Adaramuga nee pAdamu nammina
    sAdhula vale bhava bAdha lEka yunDuTaku ||     		I want to be like ascetics who keep faith and respect for your feet to get rid of the wordly problems.
    C mandara Dhara gOvinda neevEgati
    mundu venaka tOchaka ninu nammiti
    kunda radana Sara dindu nibhAnana
    sindhu Sayana sura brunda vandita nA pai ||     		You bore the Mandara mountain (as turtle). Oh Govinda, you are my refuge.
    Unmindful of pros and cons, I have full faith in you only.
    Your teeth are like jasmine buds.
    You are bright like autumn moon.
    You recline on the ocean.
    You are adored by all the celestial beings.
    C sAmaja varada ninnEmani pogaDudu
    kAma janaka nee kenduku nirdaya
    Sree manOhara kankAmbara giridhara
    SyAma sundara suguNa kara nA meeda ||     		You showered grace on Gajendra.
    How can I describe your greatness?
    You are the creator of Manmadha (cupid).
    Why don’t you be kind?
    You captivated the heart of Lakshmi.
    Your attire is golden.
    You lifted the Govardhana mountain.
    Oh Syama Sundara, you are the ocean of virtues.
    C dAsa janula paritApamu lellanu
    vEsaraka teerchEvAdu neevE kada
    vAsu dEva jaga deeSa janArdana
    bhAsura maNi maya bhoosha manjuLa bhAshA ||     		You only, untiringly comfort your devoted servants who are in distress.
    Oh Vasudeva, oh lord of the universe, oh Janardana.
    You are decorated by the ornaments studded with gems.
    Your speech is ever delightful.


    dEvAdi dEva – sunAda vinOdini – chaturasra tripuTa

    In this song, Mysore Vasudevacharya expresses his gratitude to God Vasudeva for being blessed to be His devotee dispelling the six evils a man usually struggles with.

    P dEvAdi dEva Sree vAsu dEva
    kavumayya nannu karuNala vAla ||     		Oh God, oh prime God Sri Vasudeva, protect me, oh embodiment of mercy.
    AP ee vELa nA yAru Satrulanu
    neeve pAra drOli nija bhaktu jEsi ||     		Today you dispel all my six enemies (kama, krodha, moha, lobha, mada, matsarya;
    i.e. craving, anger, delusion, greed, arrogance, jealousy) and make me your humble devotee.
    C nE jEsina poojA phalamO
    nA poorvajula puNya phalamO
    Sree jAnakeeSa ee janmamichchi
    nannu dhanyuniga bhuvi jEsitivi ||     		I don’t know whether it (God’s blessing) is the result of my prayers.
    I don’t know whether it is due to the piety (punyam) of my forefathers.
    Oh Lord of Janaki, you blessed me with this birth and made me fortunate in this world.


    brOchEvArevaru rA – khamAs – chaturasra tripuTa

    In this popular song, Mysore Vasudevacharya entreats Rama not to be indifferent to protect him. He expresses that Rama’s virtues and merciful nature are beyond any description by him.

    P brOchE vArevarurA ninu vinA raghu varA
    nee charanAm bhuja munu nEviDajAla karuNAla vAla ||     		Who is there other than you to protect me, oh the most esteemed one of the Raghu dynasty?
    I can never leave your lotus feet, oh embodiment of mercy.
    AP O chaturAnanAdi vandita neeku parAkEla nayya
    nee charitamu pogaDa lEnu nA chinta teerchi varamulichchi vEgame||     		Oh lord that is bowed by Brahma and other Gods, why is this indifference towards me?
    Your life and nature are beyond my description (praise).
    You please assuage my agony. Bestow me your grace soon.
    C seetApatE nA pai nee kabhimAnamu lEdA
    vatAtmajA rchita pAda nA moralanu vina rAdA ||     		Oh lord of Sita, have you no interest in me?
    Anjaneya, the son of the wind God, worships your feet.
    Why don’t you pay heed to my lamentation?
    C
    Aturamuga kari rAjuni brOchina vAsu dEvuDe neevu kadA
    nA pAtaka mella pOgoTTI gaTTiga nA cheyi baTTi viDuvaka ||     		Are you not the same Vasudeva who rescued the king of elephants expeditiously?
    Kindly dispel all my sins and hold my hand firmly.

    rA rA rAjeeva lOchana – mOhana – Adi

    In this keertana Vasudevacharya praises Rama as the supreme soul, as the Lord of Sita and requests Him to protect him. The devotee declares that he always kept absolute faith in Rama only.

    P rA rA rAjeeva lOchana rAmA nannu brOchuTaku
    deenA Srita jana mandAra karuNA pAra vAra ||     		Oh lotus eyed Rama, please come to protect me. You are the sacred Mandaara flower to the distressed who seek your protection. You are the ocean of compassion.
    AP E rA nee karuNa kalgani kAraNa mEmO kAnarA
    murAri vinuta subhada sucharita
    parAtpara dharaNi jA manOhara ||     		Oh Rama, I don't know why you are not compassionate to me. You are worshipped by Sri Krishna. You are the bestower of happiness and you are known for your excellent character. You are the supreme soul.You captivated the heart of Sita, the daughter of the earth.
    C nee vE nA vibhuDani niratamu
    nee pAdamulanu nera nammiti
    nee vADani nanu karuNinchi
    ee vELa nA cheyi viDuvakurA
    dEva dEva daSaratha nrupa nandana
    dasa mukhAdi sakala ripu jana charaNa
    neevanAdaraNa sEyakurA
    pavanajApta sree vAsudEva ||     		I considered you my sole lord and I always had absolute faith in your feet. Pity me as your own and please don't leave my hand. Oh lord of the lords, Oh son of King Dasaratha, you defeated the ten headed Ravana and his clan. Please don't neglect me.Oh Sri Vasudeva, you are very intimate to Anjaneya, the son of Vayu, the wind god.