|
Patnam Subrahmania Iyer (1845-1902)
Subrahmanya Iyer was born in a great musical family of Tiruvayaru. He had the privilege of learning music from a direct disciple of Tyagaraja, Manumbu Chavadi Venkata Subbaiyer. There are about a hundred varnams, kritis, tillanas, and javalis to his credit. His compositions are in Telugu and Sanskrit. He has a galaxy of students, among whom Mysore Vasudevachar and Tiger Varadachar have become very famous. He came to be known as Patnam Subrahmania Iyer due to his stay in Chenna Patnam. Raghu Vamsa Sudhambudhi in raga Kadhanakuthuhalam is one of his most popular krutis.
Mudra(Identification):Venkatesa.
|
aparAdhamu lanniyu – latAngi – Adi
In this kruti, Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer requests Lord Venkatesa to pardon all his faults expeditiously because he considers Him as the most merciful.
| P |
aparAdhamu lanniyu manninchi Adarinchumayya nEjEsina ||
|
Oh lord, kindly pardon me for all the offenses I commited and take me in to your fold. |
| AP |
krupa jEsi nA manavi Alakinchi kree ganTa chooDa samaya midE ||
|
This is the right time for you to listen to my humble request.
Look at me mercifully from the corner of your eye.
|
| C |
vEga nannu brOvu mani ninnu entO vEDu kontigA
Sree vEnkatESa iTu jAgu sEyaka nA veta tALaka nE jAli chendi
ninnu emchu konna nA || |
I begged for your mercy incessantly, Oh Venkatesa, don’t delay any more.
Unable to bear my grief, I sought for your mercy.
|
ennaDu nee krupa – vAchaspati – Adi
In this kruti, Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer begs for the mercy of Lord Venkatesa, stating that he has immense faith in Him only.
| P |
ennaDu nee krupa kalugunO ina kula tilaka nannu rakshimchuTa ku nee ||
|
When will I be blessed with your mercy?
Oh hero of the Sun dynasty, when will you protect me?
|
| AP |
pannaga SeyanA patita pAvana bhanu kula
deepa bhavanASanA ||
|
You recline on Sesha serpant.
You are the savior of the down trodden.
You are the light of Sun dynasty.
You dispel all our worldly sufferings.
|
| C |
kanna tanDri nA pai karUnincha mani kanna vAri ninnA Srayinchitini
ninnu nera nammi vADa
neetO vinna vinna vinchu konTI
vENkatESa nA pai || |
Oh my beloved father, I sought your shelter for mercy.
I have immense faith in you only.
I beg for your grace, oh Venkatesa.
|
eTu nammina – sAvEri – Adi
In this kruti, Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer eulogizes the temporal nature of physical existence of the body in this birth and implores us to remember Lord Venkateswara to attain everlasting bliss.
| P |
eTu nammina O manasa inchu kaina yOchana sEyaka ||
|
You may believe in different ways, but a little bit of thinking (makes you realize the truth). |
| AP |
chuDu kanTi rOga peeDita mai chEDi kshee Ninche dEhamu sthira mani ||
|
Why this fascination for this body which is very temporal,
which is bound to decay, afflicted by diseases? |
| C |
maTTi kunDa kanTe heena mainaTTidi mATi mATI ki rAdu deeni pai
vaTTi mOhamu chenduchunu varada vEnkaTESwaruni ||
|
This body is worse than an earthen pot.
Opportunity of utilizing this body for divine purpose is
not possible again and again.
Fascinated by delusion, you forget the Lord Venkateswara.
|
ninnu joochi – sowrAshTra – Adi
In this keertana Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer expresses immense joy in seeing the divine Lord Venkateswara. He extoles that He is the embodiment of truth and consciouness and that He dwells in the heart of his devotees.
| P |
ninnu joochi dhanyuDaiti neeraja nEtra ||
|
Oh lotus eyed Lord on seeing your divine countenance I am blessed. |
| AP |
vanajAsanAdi vandita charaNa
vanaja nAbha dEvAdi dEva ||
|
Brahma whose seat is lotus bows to your feet
Oh lord you have lotus at your navel. |
| C |
sakala lOkAdhAra satchidAkAra
sakala jeevESwara sarveSwara
sakala pApa hara sAdhu hridaya vihAra
sakala vara dAyaka vEnkatESwara ||
|
You are the fulcrum of the universe
You are the embodiment of truth and consciousness.
Oh Lord of all creatures, You are the lord of all.
You are annihilator of all sins.
You dwell in the hearts of sages.
You bestow every boon, Oh Lord Venkateswara!
|
pari dAna - bilahari - jampa
In this keertana Patnam Subramaniam Iyer comtemplates various ways to earn compassion of Lord Venkateswara. He doubts if he should offer something in exchange to earn God's grace.
| P |
pari dAna micchitE palintu vEmO || |
Should I think you protect me if I offer something in exchange. |
| AP |
parama purusha Sree pati nA pai neeku
karuNa kalga kunna kAraNa mEmayya || |
Oh Venkateswara the lord of Sree Lakshmi you are the supreme.
What is the reason for your reluctance to pity me? |
| C |
rokka micchu Taku nE mukkanTi cheli gAnu
chakkani chelini nosaga janaka rAjunu gAnu
mikkili sainya mivva markaTEndruDa gAnu
akkatika meTu galgu Adi vEnkaTESa neeku|| |
To give you money, I am not Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and the sister of the three-eyed Sankara.
To offer you a beautiful companion like Sita, I am not the king Janaka.
To provide you with large army I am not Sugreeva the king of monkeys.
How will you be compassionate Oh my prime god Venkateswara! |
marivEre - shaNmukhapriya - Adi
In this keertana, Subrmania Iyer prays to Lord Venkateswara humbly stating that he has none else to beg for help.
| P |
mari vEre dikkevarayya rAma mATi mATiki delpa valenA || |
Oh Rama! Who else is there for me to seek protection ? Should I reveal it again and again? |
| AP |
dari dApu lEni nA jAli teerchi daya chEsi brOchE dora neevu gadA || |
I have no hope in the near vicinity. Please assuage my grief.
Are n't you the lord that protects me? |
| C |
ninnu chAla nammi yunna vADanuchu nee chittamunakE telisi yunDaga
sannutAnga Sree vEnkatESa neevu nannu brOvaka yunDuTa nyAyamA || |
You know fully well that I have absolute faith in you.
Of Lord Venkatesa, I chant your praise, Is it fair for you to ignore me. |
raghu vamSa sudhAmbudhi - kadana kutoohalam - Adi
In this popular keertana, Subramanya Iyer narrated the great deeds performed by Sree Mahavishnu in various incarnations that is Vamana, Rama and Krishna.
| P |
raghu vamSa sudhAmbudhi chandra Sree rAma rAja rAjeSwara || |
Oh Sree Rama! The king of Kings! You are like the moon to the nectar like ocean of Raghu Dynasty. |
| AP |
agha mEgha mAruta Sree kara asurEndra mrigEndra vara jagannAtha || |
You are like the powerful wind dispelling the clouds of sin.
You are the bestower of prosperity. Oh Lord of the Universe you bestowed boons
to Bali the king of demons and also to the Gajendra the king of Elephants. |
| C |
jamadagnija garva khanDana jaya rudrAdi vismita bhanDana
kamalAptAnvaya manDana agaNita adbhuta Sowrya Sree vEnkatESwara || |
As Rama you quelled the pride of Parasu Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Victory to you Oh Rama!
Siva and the other devatas are amazed when you lifted Siva's bow.
You are the jewel of Surya Dynasty that performed innumerable heroic deeds. |
| C |
bhrugu nandana kavi bhanjana brindAraka brinda hita
nigamAntava subudhAvana neerajAksha Sree vEnkatESwara || |
As Vamana you destroyed the pride of Sukra Charya the guru of Demons and son of Sage Brugu. As Krishna you are the benefactor of Bridavana community.
You enlightened the wise with Vedas. Oh Lotus eyed Venkateswara! |
abhimAna mennaDu - bEgaDa - Adi
In this keertana Patnam Subramania Iyer questions the sincerity of his Lord's affection for him. He pleads that he never bothered him for the day-to-day needs. He requests Lord Venkateswara not to forsake him.
| P |
abhimAna mennaDu kalgu rAma amarEndra vandita pAda nApai || |
When will you be affectionate to me, Oh Rama ?
Indra the Lord of Devata's bows to your feet. |
| AP |
ibha rAja varada nApai inta kOpamEla nayya nee vADanE || |
You are the bestower of the boon to Gajendra, the elephant king. Afterall I am yours. Why are you so angry with me? |
| C |
anna vastramula kEmi trOva yani yenna Daina ninnu aDigi nAna
kanna tanDri neevEyani nammi yunTi karuNa kaligitE chAlu
nani yunDagA tinnagAnu neevu veeDa nADa joochitE
nannu brOchu evaraya vennu Daina Sree vEnkaTESa
na vinnapambu vina rAda nAtO vAdA || |
Did I request you to show me the means to get food and clothing ?
I only believed that you are my father. It is enough if you are kind to me.
If you forsake me who else is there to protect me.
Oh Venkatesa you are none other than Krishna, the butter thief. Why don't you listen to my request ? Why dispute ? |
nee pAdamulE - bhairavi - Adi
In this keertana Patnam Subramnia Iyer praises the goddess Amba eulogising her supreme might in shattering the pride of demons to uphold Dharma (righteousness).
| P |
nee pAdamulE gati yani neerAjAkshi parASakti || |
Oh Lotus Eyed Amba, You are the supreme power. I have implicit faith in your sacred feet. |
| AP |
Sree pancha nadeeSwaruni rANi amba Srita jana pAlini dharma samvardhani || |
Oh Amba, you are the consort of Panchanadeeswara (Siva). You uphold Dharma and protect your devotees. |
| C |
kAmita phala dAyaki kowmAri kAma dahanuni manOhari Sankari
O mahA kAli sanAtani OmkAri sarasija nibhAvani
sAmaja suma gamani sukha bhAshini sakala lOka gamani pApa Samani
pAmarAsura mada vibhanjani parAtpari pAvani niranjani || |
Oh Koumari you fructify our desires. You are Sankari that captivated the heart of Sankara the destroyer of Manmadha ( cupid ). Oh Mahakali! you are primieval. You are the embodiment of Omkara. You are beautiful like the lotus. Your gait is gentle and dignified like that of an elephant. Your talk is pleasant and sweet. You stride the whole universe. You dispell sins. You shatter the pride of uncivilized demons. You are transcendental, pious and well composed. |
varamu losagi - keeravAni - roopakam
In this keertana Subramania Iyer states that it is not uncommon for Lord Venkateswara to grant boons to his devotees. He adds that he hates to approach others for help.
| P |
varamu losagi brOchuTa nee karudA jagadAdhAra || |
Oh Lord of the Universe is it new for you to protect your devotees bestowing boons. |
| AP |
parama dayAkara sugunA bharaNa nE kOrina || |
You are the ocean of kindness. Virtues are your ornaments. You always grant my wishes. |
| C |
udara pOshaNArdhamai yorula manasu karuga balki
nadi yoka bhAratamounu tudanu sukhamu gAnaka nA
madi ni chinta nonduchu vEmaru neetO delpitigA
madana janaka vEnkaTESa manasu neeku kaligi yunTE || |
It is a pain to utter words to derive sympathy from others. I did not find any pleasure in it. So I revealed my heart to you many times. Oh Venkatesa, the progenitor of Manmadha, if you are sympathetic, please protect me. |
|
