by Damodara Rao Dasu

Patnam Subrahmanya 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, Krutis, 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 Varadacharya have become very famous. He came to be known as Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer due to his stay in Chenna Patnam. Raghu Vamsa Sudhambudhi in raga Kadanakutuhalam is one of his most popular krutis. Mudra(Identification):Venkatesa.

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. Please look at me with mercy.
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.

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 SayanA patita pAvana bhanu kula deepa bhava nASanA ||	You recline on Adi Sesha. You are the savior of the down trodden. You are the light of Sun dynasty who dispels all our worldly sufferings.
C	kanna tanDri nA pai karunincha mani kanna vAri ninnASrayinchitini ninnu nera nammina vADa neetO vinna vinchu konTI vENkatESa nA pai ||	Oh my beloved father, I sought your shelter for mercy. due to my immense faith in you only. Oh Venkatesa, I beg for your grace.

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 ksheeNinche dEhamu sthira mani ||	Why is this fascination for this body which is very temporal. It is bound to decay 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 Lord Venkateswara.

In this kruti Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer expresses immense joy of a devotee in seeing 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 of lords, you have lotus-like navel.
C	sakala lOkAdhAra satchidAkAra sakala jeevESwara sarveSwara sakala pApa hara sAdhu hrudaya vihAra sakala vara dAyaka vEnkatESwara ||	You are the fulcrum of the universe and the embodiment of truth and consciousness. You are the lord of all who annihilates our sins. You dwell in the hearts of sages. Oh Lord Venkateswara, you are bestower of boons.

In this Kruti Patnam Subramaniam Iyer comtemplates various ways of earning the compassion of Lord Venkateswara. He doubts if he should offer something in exchange of God's grace.

P	pari dAna michchitE palintu vEmO ||	Should I think that you'll 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 michchu Taku nE mukkanTi cheli gAnu chakkani chelini nosaga janaka rAjunu gAnu mikkili sainya mivva markaTEndruDa gAnu akkatika meTu galgu Adi vEnkaTESa neeku||	I am not rich Kubera, the friend of Sankara to give you a lot of money. I am not King Janaka to offer you a beautiful companion like Sita. I am not Sugreeva the king of monkeys to provide you with large army. Oh primordial god Venkateswara, will you be compassionate to me ?

In this Kruti, 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 request 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. Oh Lord Venkatesa, I chant your praise, is it fair for you to ignore me.

In this popular Kruti, Subramanya Iyer narrated the great deeds performed by Sree Mahavishnu in various incarnations.

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 jagannAdha ||	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.
C1	jamadagnija garva khanDana jaya rudrAdi vismita bhanDana kamalAptAnvaya manDana agaNita adbhuta Saurya Sree vEnkatESwara ||	As Rama you quelled the pride of Parasu Rama the son of Jamadagni. Oh Rama, victory to you. 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.
C2	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 benefactor of Bridavana community. Oh lotus-eyed Venkateswara, you enlightened the wise with Vedas.

In this Kruti 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 ||	Oh Rama, when will you be affectionate to me ? Indra the Lord of Devata's bows to your feet.
AP	ibha rAja varada nApai inta kOpamEla nayya nee vADanE ||	You are the savior of Gajendra, the elephant king. When 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 vArevaraya 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 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 is this dispute ?

In this Kruti Patnam Subramnia Iyer praises Goddess Amba eulogising her supreme might in shattering the pride of demons to uphold Dharma.

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 koumAri 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. Oh Mahakali! you are primieval. You are the embodiment of Omkara. You are beautiful like lotus. Your gait is dignified like that of an elephant. Your talk is sweet. You stride the whole universe. You dispel sins. You shatter the pride of demons. You are transcendental, pious and well composed.

In this Kruti Subramania Iyer states that it is not uncommon for Lord Venkateswara to grant boons to his devotees.

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.