Purandhara Dasa the Grand father of Carnatic music – some krithis and their meaning

Purandhara Dasa the Grand father  of Carnatic  music – some  krithis and their meaning

By

P.R.Ramachander

Purandara Dasa(1484-1564) is possibly one of the greatest names associated with Carnatic music and considered as the Father of Carnatic music. People some how prefer to call  him , the grandfather  of carnatic  music,  He belonged to Karnataka and wrote his songs mostly in Kannada, Since he was one of those minstrel poets of that era , trying to popularise devotion to God, he mostly wrote in colloquial Kannada of those days. He is credited to have written more that 40000 songs. Only few of these are available now. His name was Srinivasa Nayaka and he belonged to the rich merchant community. Some incidents in life made him give away all his property and become a minstrel mendicant.
He was the one who systematized the teaching of Carnatic music. His greatness is indicated by the fact that even today his method is followed and the first Carnatic song which is taught to the student is his composition-Lambodhara  Lahumikara  . Apart from songs on devotion, he has also sung about the different aspects of day to day life.
I am   having a very good working knowledge of Kannada but I am mostly confined myself to  translate  songs which are simple and easy to understand. One DR.Chakravarthy Madhusudana a   native of Karnataka   and who has settled in Australia   helped me by translating   large number of songs.

       About 20 years back, some one requested   my daughter to purchase   a book  of Purandara   dasa krithis   with notation  , printed either in Tamil or Hindi or  English.  In spite   of very hard search she could not get it. Ofcourse there  is a Kannada   compilation of his songs   by Kavyapremi published in 1996.My heart  pained a lot. Here is one of the greatest son of Karnataka  and no  one  is  interested   in making  a collection of his songs   and print it  either in Tamil or  English. There is a trust to preserve his name in Bangalore , who have not been able to this job. To my knowledge no locality in Bangalore   has been named  after him. I am not even sure   whether there is a music award  in Karnataka  in his name .Ofcourse there  is a purandara  Mantapa   in Kalyan nagar  , where   there is also a statue of him. The Government of India has also brought a stamp in his memory.

    AS a very small man who    knew how to speak Kannada   I started  typing the  lyrics of some songs in English   and translating them. Dr. Chakravarthy Madhusudan  a Kannadiga   helped n me to trabnslate a few   and himself did a few translations ,Inspite of our great interest we have been able to translate   only 64 songs of  the great Purandhara. The songs translated   and where   they are   available is given  in  :-

1.       Aachaaravillada Naalige  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/aachaaravillada-naalige.html

2.       aadaddella oLite aayitu  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/02/aadaddella-olite-aayitu.html

3.       Alli noDalu raama , illi noDalu raama  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/alli-nodalu-raama-illi-nodalu-raama.html

4.       Amma nimma manegalalli   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/amma-nimma-manegalalli.html

5.       Aneyu Karadare http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/aneyu-karadare.html

 6.       Anthakara Dhootharige  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/anthakara-dhootharige.html

7.       Aparadhi Naanalla   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/aparadhi-naanalla.html

8.       Ba Ba , Ranga  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/ba-ba-ranga.html

 9.       Bandadella Barali http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/bandadella-barali.html

10.   Bhagyadha Lakshmi Baramma  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/bhagyadha-lakshmi-baramma.html

11.   binnahake baayillavayya   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/binnahake-baayillavayya.html

12.   Deavaki Nandana http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/deavaki-nandana.html

 13.   Deva Banda  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/deva-banda.html

14.   Dharma Sravana vetake http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dharma-sravana-vetake.html

15.   Dhaya mado, Dhaya mado  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/dhaya-mado-dhaya-mado.html

16.   E sriyannau nammi   higgalu  beda manave  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2016/03/e-sriyannau-nammi-higgalu-beda-manave.html

17.   Entha punyave http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/entha-punyave.html

 18.   Enu maaDidarenu bhava hingadu   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/enu-maadidarenu-bhava-hingadu.html

19.   Gaja Vadana beduve http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/gaja-vadana-beduve.html

20.   Govinda ninnahttp://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/govinda-ninna.html

21.   Guruvina  Gulaama http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/guruvina-gulama.html

22.   Hari narayanana  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/hari-narayanana.html

 23.   Innu daya baarade   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/innu-daya-baarade.html

24.   Jagadhodharana   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/jagadhodharana.html

25.   Jaya jaya jaya jaanakikaantaa   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/jaya-jaya-jaya-jaanakikaantaa.html

26.   Kaliyugadali Hari Naamava  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/kaliyugadali-hari-naamava.html

27.   Kandenaa Govindanaa http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/kandenaa-govindanaa.html

28.   Karunaakara nee  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/karunakara-nee.html

29.   karuNiso ranga karuNisO   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/karuniso-ranga-karuniso.html

30.   Kodu bega divya mathi Saraswathi  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/kodu-bega-divya-mathi-saraswathi.html

31.   Kolalanu udutha banda , http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/kolalanu-udutha-banda.html

32.   Ksheerabdhi  Kannike, Sri Mahalakshmi  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/ksheerabdhi-kannike.html

33.   Lambodhara lakumikara   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/lambodhara-lakumikara.html

34.   maaDu sikkadalla    http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/05/maadu-sikkadalla.html

35.   MangaLa Tulasi Devige   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/mangala-tulasi-devige.html

36.   Mangalam jaya Mangalam  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/mangalam-jaya-mangalam.html

37.   Maraya beda manave neenu  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2016/03/maraya-beda-manave-neenu-kannada.html

38.   Muddu taro  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/muddu-taaro.html

 39.  Naa MaaDida Karma http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/naa-maaditha-karma.html

 40.   Nambi kettavar illavo  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/nambi-kettavar-illavo.html

41.   Nanda Thanaya http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/nanda-thanaya.html

 42.   Narayana ninna  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/narayana-ninna.html

 43.   Neen Yaako , Ninna hangyaako http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/neen-yaako-ninna-hangyaako.html

44.   Neene gathi enage Vanaja nEthri    http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/neene-gathi-enage-vanaja-nethri.html

45.   Nimma Bhaagya doDDado  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/nimma-bhaagya-doddado.html

46.   Odi Barayaa  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/nambi-kettavar-illavo.html

 47.   Pooje Yaatako http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2016/04/pooja-yaatako.html

 48.   Raagi  Thandeera  Bhikshake  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/ragi-thandheera.html

49.   Raama Mantrava Japiso  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/04/raama-mantrava-japiso.html

50.   Rama Nama Paayasake   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/rama-nama-paayasake.html

51.   Rama, Rama, Rama, Rama  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/rama-rama-rama-rama.html

52.   Ranga Baaro  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/ranga-baaro.html

 53.   Sakala Graha Bala http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/sakala-graha-bala.html

 54.   Sakala Graha bala neene  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/sakala-graha-bala-neene.html

55.   Sanna hejjagalittu http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/sanna-hejjagalittu.html

 56.   Sharanu siddhi vinaayaka  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/sharanu-siddhi-vinaayaka.html

57.   Summane  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/summane.html

58.   Sundara Murthi , Mukhya prana banda  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/06/sundara-murthi-mukhya-prana-banda.html

59.   Tarakka Bhindige   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/tarakka-bhindige.html

 60.   Venkatachala Nilayam  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/venkatachala-nilayam.html

61.   yaadava nee baa  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2014/03/yaadava-nee-baa.html

 62.   Yamanelloo  kaaNanendu  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2012/10/yamanelloo-kaananendu.html

63.   Yare Ranganna   http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2010/04/yare-ranganna.html

64.   Yentha cheluvage  http://translationsofsomesongsofcarnticmusic.blogspot.com/2011/01/yentha-cheluvage.html