Sri Guru JagannAtha dAsara Kruthigalu: Observations
The first kruthi is “Karava pididhu kAyo enna” is tuned to the rAga “PanthuvArali” and set to RupAka tala. Please connect this to VidvAn’s previous rendering of Purandara dAsa kruthees “Chandra ChUda Shiva Shankara pArvathi Ramanane” and “PongolalanUdhutiha yadukulOtthunga” of the past (and) the famous kruthi of Saint ThyAgaraja “Shiva Shiva Shiva enarAdha,” a hallmark of Chembai VaidhyanAtha bhAgavathar (Guru of Sri Jesudas).
This is one of the oldest rAgas and goes also by the name kAmavardhini in Carnatic music circles and its equivalent in Hindustani music is PUrvi (or) PUriya dhanashree. The most interesting part of the composition is that Pallavi-Anupallavi, and first and second part of all three charanams are rendered in first and second kAlams, respectively. As is usually the case, the artist has chosen this wonderful rAga and rendered the kruthi with a lot of bhAva and clarity (diction of the lyrics); the music orchestration is done very well and effectively conveys the content.
Guru JagannAtha dAsaru, an ardent devotee of rAyaru commences the kruthi with a prayer: Guru RAghavEndra, the crown among saints (yativara Sri Guru RAghvEndra ranna), please protect me by holding my hand (karava pididu kAyo enna). In the anupallavi, dAsaru likens rAyaru to the divine tree “Kalpataru”(sura pAdapane) that is capable of bestowing devotees’ desires (sharana janara). DAsaru describes rAyaru as an ocean of mercy (karuna sAgarane nee), surrenders at his lotus feet (tava charana yugalakke moreya pokkenu) and pleads to be kind to him (karunisennanu) without askance (doora nOdade) of any sort.
The first charanam continues this prayers; DAsaru is asking rAyaru who is going to protect him (Aru kAyvaru pElo enna); why rAyaru is continuing to neglect him (nee doora nOduvadEno ghanna) and reminds rAyaru that His title (ninna birudu) of being the one that bestows the desires of the surrenderer (sAridavarishtavannu beeruvanembo) is being lost (POgihado). In the second part of the charana, dAsaru implores rAyaru to bless him with the company of His devotees in a poetically excellent way: I’ve taken refuge (sAridenu) in you knowing that you are completely merciful (bhUri karunAkara); without fail (doora nOdade: notice the refrain from the anupallavi) please enjoin me (sErisennanu) with devotees (janarolu) that have the blessing of receiving (sweekaripa) fragrance (saurabha) emanating from your lotus feet (tava pAda paduma).
In the second charanam, dAsaru outlines reasons for this request: The suffering (bhAdha) faced in this wretched ocean of samsara (durula bhava ambhudhi) has gone far above my levels of tolerance (enna meeri pOgihyado agAdha). dAsaru further mentions that the intimate connection that rAyaru (ninna sambhandha) had with him has been severed (dooravAgihyadho) due to him being engrossed in worldly desires, expressed poetically as being entangled completely in the bondage caused by cupid’s arrows (ghOra madana shara bandhadhindha). Mentioning rAyaru as extremely merciful (parama karuniye nee: notice again the previous refrain here), he requests rAyaru to remove his ignorance (ennaya marulu mathiyanu bidisi) although he is an ordinary commoner (parama pAmaranAdha) and prays to give him the company of His devotees (ninnavaranodane sEriso) as he is a good soul (chAru taranAdha enna).
In the third charana, dAsaru further his request: He mentions that he had to repeatedly take birth (hutti bandheno) as a dumb-minded soul in this world (Srishtiyolage mathi mandhanAgi) due to the fact that he was in bad company (dushta janara samgadinda) and failed to perform service at His feet (ninnaya pAda mutti bhajisadarindha). He prays rAyaru to consider him to be a sincere devotee (shatpadhOpama = bee) (enisi) like a bee at the lotus feet of (nija pAda paduma) Guru JagannAtha Vittala (dAsara Amkitha matthu avara bimba roopa) that enjoins the title of remover of difficulties (Kashta hara: bhava rOga hara) and bless him with knowledge and devotion so that he attains AparOksha gnyAna and escapes from the samsaric cycle (enna putti baradanthe mAdu).