Syama Sastry (1762-1827) Syamasastry lived in Tanjavur of Tamilnadu. He was a great devotee of the Goddess Bangaru Kamakshi. He learnt music from Sangeetaswami and then from Pachimiriam Adiappaiayyar. While in Tanjavur, he composed many keertanas on his favorite deity, Kamakshi. He moved to Madurai, where he then composed very popular krutis in praise of the goddess Meenakshi. Most of his songs are in Telugu, though a few are in Sanskrit and Tamil. He is well known for his sweet songs in Ananda Bhairavi. Syamasastry, Deekshitar, and Tyagaraja, who are known as the Trinity of Karnatic Music, revitalized the art form with their valuable and everlasting contributions. Mudra: Syama Krishna sodari

In this kruti Syamasastry extols with many attributes the supreme embodiment of energy, Sri Kamakshi. Addressing her as mother who protects the Universe, he prays her to bestow her grace on him.

P	pAlinchu kAmAkshi pAvani pApa Samani ||	Protect me Oh sacred Kamakshi. Oh Mother, you are destroyer of sins. ||
AP	chAlA bahu vidhamugA ninnu sadA vEDukonna nA yandEla ee lAgu jEsEvu veta hariyinchi vE vEgamE nannu ||	When I have been imploring you always in so many ways, why are you not responding? Please dispel my distress expeditiously. ||
C	swAntambu lOna ninnE talachEnu janula kella nee vELa santOshamu losagEvani neevu manO radha phala dAyini kAntamagu pEru ponditivi kAruNya moorti vai jagamu kApADina talli kadA nEdu needu biDDanu lAlinchi||	You are known for showering happiness on the righteous men who always meditated upon you in their inner hearts. You fructify the desires of their heart and secured fame. You are the embodiment of compassion who saved this world with motherly love. I am your child. Please shower your love. ||
C	ee moorti inta tEjOmayamai iTuvale keerti visphoorti iTlAna ya gu Na moorti trilOkamula joochina naina kaladA Emi toli nOmu nOchitinO nee pAda padma darSanamu nE mAru labhinchina krutArthuDa naiti nA manavi yAlinchi ||	This sacred idol with indescribable effulgence and with inspiring glory is the embodiment of all virtues. Can such a sight be found anywhere else in this Universe? I don’t know what rituals I performed to be blessed with the sight of your lotus feet. Oh Mother, listen to my prayer. ||
C	rAjAdhi rAja rAjanmakuTa taTa mani rAji bhAjAla nija sannidhi dEvi samastha janula kella varadA rAja mukhi syAma krishna nuta kAncheepuree Swaree vikacha rAjeeva daLAkshi jagatsAkshi O prasanna parA Sakti swara sAhityam: kanaka giri sadana lalita nija bhajana santatamu chEyani janudan vinumu nikhila bhuvana jananee ipuDu mA durita peeDa tola ginchi ||	Your feet are glittering when the emperors are bowing with their gem studded crowns. I crave to remain in your presence. You bestow boons to all. Oh Queen, you have a shining face. Syama Krishna worships you. You are the supreme godess of Kancheepuram. Your eyes resemble the petals of a lotus. You are Universal. You are pleasant. You are the Supreme energy. The Meru mountain is your abode. I always worship you sincerely. You are the mother of the Universe. Please redeem us from our sins and bestow your boons. ||

Syama sastry praises the noble qualities, the enchanting beauty and the boundless compassion of Meenakshi.

P	sarOja daLa nEtri himagiri putri nee padAmbujamule sadA namminA namma Subhamimma Sree meenAkshamma ||	Oh daughter of Himagiri, your eyes are like petals of lotus. I have faith in your lotus feet. Oh Mother Meenakshi (one who has fish shaped eyes), bestow me happiness. ||
AP	parAku sEyaka varadAyani nee vale daivamu lOkamulO galadA purANi Suka pANi madhura vENi sadA sivuniki rANi ||	Is there any other God in this world who bestows boons like you. Don’t be indifferent towards me. You are primeval. Your tresses look like a black swarm of bees. You hold a parrot in your hand. You are the queen of Sada Siva. ||
C	kOri vachchina vAri kella nu kOrke losagE birudu kadA ati bhAramA nannu brOva talli krupA vAla nE tALa jAla nE ||	You are famous for fulfilling the wishes of your devotees. Am I a burden to you? I can not bear this delay, Oh all merciful Goddess. ||
C	indu mukhi karuNinchu mani ninnentO vEDu konTini nA yandu jAgElanammA maryAda gAdu dayAvathi neevu||	You have moon like face. I sought your grace repeatedly, why this delay? It is not befitting you. You are the repository of kindness. ||
C	sAma gAna vinOdini guNa dhAma SyAma krishNa vinuta Suka SyAmalA dEvi neevE gati rati kAma kAmyada kAva vE nannu||	You immerse pleasantly in the music of Samaveda. You are the abode of noble qualities. You are worshipped by Syama Krishna. You re my refuge, Oh Syamala Devi. You enchant even Rati and Manmatha (Gods of Love). Protect me, Oh Mother. ||

Syamasastry describes the great qualities of Sri Kamakshi and prays her to protect him without any delay. He adds that he has the utmost faith in her compassionate nature.

P	birAna varA lichchi brOvumu ninu nera nammiti ||	I have implicit faith in you. Grant me boons and protect me. ||
AP	purAri manO hArini Sree kAmAkshi ||	Oh Sri Kamakshi, you won the heart of Siva. ||
C	tAmasambu sEyaka neevu karuNa nidhi kAvA parANmukha mika nEla vinu sarOjAkshi ||	Don’t hesitate. You are the repository of compassion. Why this indifference, please listen, Oh lotus faced one. ||
C	kAmita tArtha dAyaki dEvi nata kalpa latikA purANi madhura vAni sivuni rAni gada ||	You bestow the fruits of our desires. You are the Kalpalatika, wish fulfilling creeper. You are timeless. Your talk is sweet. You are the consort of Siva. ||
C	SyAma krishNa sOdari gowri paramESwari girija anAdha rakshaNambu salipi dEvi nanu ||	You are Syama Krishna’s sister, the Supreme Goddess Gowri. You are the daughter of the mountains (Himalaya). Please come to protect us, the helpless. ||