by Damodara Rao Dasu

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giripi nelakonna - Sahana - Adi

This Keertana tells that Bhadrachala Rama appeared in the dream of Tyagaraja in all splendor and promised to bestow him salvation in ten days.

P giripai nela konna rAmuni guri tappaka ganTi bhadra || I saw Rama, who settled on Bhadragiri, very clearly.
AP pari vArulu viri suraTula chE nila
baDi visaruchu kosaruchu sEvimpaga ||
His devotees were standing and serving him, waving floral fans.
C pula kankituDai yAnandASru
vula nimpuchu mATa lADa valenani
kaluvarincha gani padi pooTala pai
gAcheda nanu tyAgarAja vinutuni ||
Tyagaraja was thrilled and his eyes were filled with joy.
He tried to talk. In his dream Rama said that He would give him salvation in ten days.

girirAja suta - bangAla - Adi

This Keertana is in praise of Sri Ganapati, the remover of all obstacles.

P girirAja sutA tanaya sadaya || Oh benevolent son of Parvati, the daughter of Himagiri.
AP sura nAdha mukhArchita pAdayuga
pari pAlaya mAm ibha rAja mukha ||
Oh elephant headed god, you are worshipped by the king of devatas (Indra), protect us.
C gaNa nAdha parAtpara SankarA gama vAri nidhee rajaneekara
phani rAja kankaNa vighna nivAraNa SAm
bhava Sree tyAgarAja nuta ||
Supreme Gananatha is dear to the Vedas like the moon to the oceans.
King of serpents is his bracelet.
He is the remover of all obstacles.
He is Sankara's son, he is worshipped by Tyagaraja.

gAna moorte - gAna moorti- Adi

In this kruti Tyagaraja sings the praise of Sri Krishna stating that he is the embodiment of music that captivated the heart of Rukmini.

P gAna moortE Sree krishna vENu
gAna lOla tribhuvana pAla ||
Oh Sree Krishna, you are the embodiment of melodious music. You are engrossed in playing your divine flute. You are the protector of the three worlds (Bhoo, patala and swarga lokas). Protect me.
AP mAninee maNi Sree rukmiNi
manasApa hArA mAra janaka divya ||
You captivated the heart of Sri Rukmini, the jewel among women, you created Manmadha (Cupid). You are divine.
C nava neeta chOra nanda sat kiSOra
nara mitra dheera nara simhva Soora
nava megha tEja nagajA sahaja
narakAntakAja nata tyAgarAja ||
You stole butter. You are the good child of Nanda. You are the friend of Arjuna. You are brave. You are the valiant Narasimha. You have the brilliance of lightening. You are the brother of Parvati. You are the destroyer of Narakasura. You are eternal. Brahma bows to you. You are the embodiment of Tyagaraja's music.

guru lEka - gowri manOhari - jampa

In this kruti Tyagaraja stresses the importance of Guru to enlighten us with the subtle realities of life, and to drive away the distress caused by the worldly bonds.

P guru lEka eTu vanTi guNi ki teliyaga bOdu || However talented and scholarly a person is, he will not be truly enlightened unless he has the grace of an ideal Guru.
AP karu kaina hrudrOga gahanamunu goTTa sat || The harsh and tough afflictions causing pain to ones heart can only be cured or assuaged by the Sadguru.
C tanuvu suta dhana dAra dAyAdi bAndhavulu
janiyinchi chedaru jAlini karuNa tO
manasu nanTaka manchi mandanuchu tatwa bO
dhana chEsi kApADu tyAgarAjAptu Dagu ||
All the attachments and happiness due to one's body, children, wealth, wife, cousins and relatives are just a passing phase of life and are bound to vanish. Only a Sadguru illuminates by teaching the subtle realities and philosophic truths. Only he can administer a suitable medicine and save us. Such Sadguru is dear to Tyagaraja.