by Damodara Rao Dasu

Mysore Vasudevacharya (1865-1961) Mysore Vasudevacharya was a great disciple of Patnam Subrahmanya Iyer. He was Asthana Vidwan in the court of Mysore Maharaja. In the later years of his life, he was invited by the famous Rukminidevi Arundale to head Kalakshetra in Madras. He has about 200 compositions to his credit, which include pada varnams, tana varnams, krutis, javalis, etc. in Telugu and Sanskrit. His famous compositions like Brochevarevaru ra, Devadi deva are very popular. Mudra(identification) Vasudeva

In this kruti of Mysore Vasudevacharya, appeals to himself to worship Sri Rama the protector of devotees, with devotional songs.

P	bhajana sEya rAda O manasa Sree rAmuni ||	Oh my mind, why don't you sing the praise of Sri Rama.
AP	aja bhavEndrAdi nutuni sujanAvana lOluni ||	Brahma, Siva, Indra and other devatas adore him. He is endeared by pious people.
C1	para nAri sahOdaruni pari poorNa kAmuni dharaNijA manOharuni para vAsu dEvuni ||	He is the brother of the supreme goddess Parvati. He is free from all desires. He stole the heart of Sita and he is Supreme Vasudeva.
C2	SaraNa janA dhAruni saraseeruha nEtruni nira vadhi sukha dAyakuni paramAtmuni bhakta pAluni ||	He is the prop for devotees. His eyes are beautiful like lotus. He is bestower of perpetual happiness and is the Supreme Soul. He is the protector of his devotees.

Vasudevacharya seeks the grace of Rama praising his great qualities. He exemplifies this by Mandaradhara, Govardhana, and Gajendra stories.

P	nee daya eTula galgunO rAma neeraja lOchana nirupama suguNa ||	How can I be blessed with your kindness, Oh Rama? Oh lotus-eyed one, your virtues are unparalleled.
AP	Adaramuga nee pAdamu nammina sAdhula vale bhava bAdha lEka yunDuTaku ||	I want to be like ascetics who keep faith and respect for your feet to get rid of the wordly problems.
C1	mandara Dhara gOvinda neevEgati mundu venaka tOchaka ninu nammiti kunda radana Sara dindu nibhAnana sindhu Sayana sura brunda vandita nA pai ||	You bore the Mandara mountain as turtle. Oh Govinda, you are my refuge. Unmindful of pros and cons, I have full faith in you only. Your teeth are like jasmine buds. You are bright like autumn moon. You recline on the ocean and you are adored by all the celestial beings.
C2	sAmaja varada ninnEmani pogaDudu kAma janaka nee kenduku nirdaya Sree manOhara kankAmbara giridhara SyAma sundara suguNA kara nA meeda ||	You showered grace on Gajendra. How can I describe your greatness? You are the creator of Manmadha. Why don’t you be kind? You captivated the heart of Lakshmi. Your attire is golden. You lifted the Govardhana mountain. Oh Syama Sundara, you are the ocean of virtues.
C3	dAsa janula paritApamu lellanu vEsaraka teerchEvAdu neevE kada vAsu dEva jaga deeSa janArdana bhAsura maNi maya bhoosha manjuLa bhAshA ||	You only, untiringly comfort your devoted servants who are in distress. Oh Vasudeva, oh lord of the universe, oh Janardana, you are decorated with gem-studded ornaments. Your speech is delightful.

In this song, Vasudevacharya expresses his gratitude to God Vasudeva for blessing him to be his devotee dispelling the six evils.

P	dEvAdi dEva Sree vAsu dEva kAvumayya nannu karuNAla vAla ||	Oh Lord of all Gods Sri Vasudeva, protect me, You are embodiment of mercy.
AP	ee vELa nA yAru Satrulanu neeve pAra drOli nija bhaktu jEsi ||	Today you dispel all my six enemies namely lust, anger, delusion, greed, arrogance and jealousy ( kama, krodha, moha, lobha, mada, matsarya) and make me your humble devotee.
C	nE jEsina poojA phalamO nA poorvajula puNya phalamO Sree jAnakeeSa ee janmamichchi nannu dhanyuniga bhuvi jEsitivi ||	It may be the result of my prayers. It may be due to the piety (punyam) of my forefathers. Oh Lord of Janaki, you blessed me with this birth and made me fortunate in this world.

In this popular song, Vasudevacharya entreats Rama not to be indifferent to protect him. He expresses that Rama's virtues and merciful nature are beyond any description.

P	brOchE vArevarurA ninu vinA raghu varA nee charanAmbuja munu nE viDajAla karuNAla vAla ||	Oh Rama, who else will protect me, Oh esteemed one of the Raghu dynasty? Oh embodiment of mercy, I can never leave your lotus feet.
AP	O chaturAnanAdi vandita neeku parAkEla nayya nee charitamu pogaDa lEnu nA chinta teerchi varamulichchi vEgame||	Oh lord that is bowed by Brahma and other Gods, why is this indifference towards me? Your life and nature are beyond my description. You please assuage my agony. Bestow me your grace soon.
C	seetApatE nA pai nee kabhimAnamu lEdA vatAtmajA rchita pAda nA moralanu vina rAdA ||	Oh lord of Sita, have you no interest in me? Anjaneya, the son of the wind God, worships your feet. Why don't you pay heed to my lamentation?
C	Aturamuga kari rAjuni brOchina vAsu dEvuDe neevu kadA nA pAtaka mella pOgoTTI gaTTiga nA cheyi baTTi viDuvaka ||	Are you not the same Vasudeva who rescued the king of elephants expeditiously? Kindly dispel all my sins and hold my hand firmly.

In this kruti Vasudevacharya praises Rama as the supreme soul and as the Lord of Sita. He declares that he always kept absolute faith in Rama only.

P	rA rA rAjeeva lOchana rAmA nannu brOchuTaku deenA Srita jana mandAra karuNA pAra vAra ||	Oh lotus eyed Rama, please come to protect me. You are the sacred Mandaara flower for the distressed who seek your protection. You are ocean of compassion.
AP	E rA nee karuNa kalgani kAraNa mEmO kAnarA mArAri vinuta subhada sucharita parAtpara dharaNi jA manOhara ||	Oh Rama, I don't know why you are not compassionate to me. You are adored by Siva. You are bestower of happiness and you are known for your excellent character. You are the supreme soul. You captivated the heart of Sita the daughter of the earth.
C	neevE nA vibhuDani niratamu nee pAdamulanu nera nammiti nee vADani nanu karuNinchi ee vELa nA cheyi viDuvakurA dEva dEva daSaratha nrupa nandana daSa mukhAdi sakala ripu jana haraNa neevanAdaraNa sEyakurA pavanajApta Sree vAsudEva ||	I considered you as my lord and I always had absolute faith in your feet. Pity me as your own and please don't leave my hand. Oh lord of the lords, Oh son of King Dasaratha, you defeated the ten headed Ravana and his clan. Please don't neglect me. Oh Vasudeva, you are very dear to Anjaneya, the son of Vayu the wind- god.