Kayo Shri Gowri
Kayo Shri Gowri(ಕಾಯೋ ಶ್ರೀ ಗೌರಿ) was the official anthem of the Kingdom of Mysore, under the rule of the Wadiyar dynasty. The song was composed by Basavappa Shastry (1843-1891), the court poet of the Mysore Court under the rule of Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar, who reigned between 1868 and 1894.[1]
History
In 1831, the princely state of Mysore was taken under British rule on pretext of maladministration. In 1881, after much deliberation, it was decided that the state would be given back to the Wodeyars. The princely state of Mysore was reconstituted and restored to Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar by the "Rendition of 1881". To commemorate this occasion, Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar asked Basavappa Shastry, the court poet of Mysore durbar, to compose a state anthem.
Lyrics
Lyrics of the Mysore State Anthem in Kannada
ಕಾಯೌ ಶ್ರೀ ಗೌರಿ ಕರುಣಾಲಹರಿ
ತೊಯಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶಂಕರೀಶ್ವರಿ
೧. ವೈಮಾನಿಕ ಭಾಮಾರ್ಚಿತ ಕೋಮಲಕರ ಪಾದೇ
ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ವಿತ ಭೂಮಾಸ್ಪದೆ ಕಾಮಿತ ಫಲದೇ
೨. ಶುಂಭಾದಿಮ ದಾಂಭೋನಿಧಿ ಕುಂಭಜ ನಿಭ ದೇವೀ
ಜಂಭಾಹಿತ ಸಂಭಾವಿತೆ ಶಾಂಭವಿ ಶುಭವೇ
೩. ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮೆಂದ್ರ
ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೆ"
Romanised transliteration of the lyrics of the Mysore State Anthem:
Kayou Sri Gowri, Karuna lahari,
Thoya Jakshi, Shankareeshwari
1. Vaimanika Bhamarchitha Komalakara Padhe
Shreemanvitha Bhoomaspade Kamitha Phaladhe
2. Shumbadima Dhambhonidhi kumbaja nibha devi
Jambhahitha Sambhavithe Shambhavi shubhavee
3. Sri jaya chamundike Sri Jayachamendra
Namankitha Bhomeendra Lalamana Mudade
Literal Meaning in English
Great Gowri, thou lotus eyed Goddess benign,
Pour forth on our Raja thy blessings divine.
Thou lady celestial, of the loveliest grace,
Upholding all being -unbounded as space.
As Indra to the demons - Agasthya to the sea- Thou makest all powers of evil to flee.
All good that men seek is by thy hand outpoured,
The consort co-equal of Sambhu, thy Lord.
O Chamundi, dark visaged lady divine,
Watch over Thy namesake of chamendra's line.
Mysore State Anthem; during Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV:
During the lifetime of Late H.H. Maharaja Krishna Raja Wadiyar IV {1895 (Regency of His mother)-1902-1940}, the third stanza was modified as under:
ಶ್ಯಾಮಾಲಿಕೆ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಸೊಮಕುಲಜ ಕೃಷ್ಣ<br> ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೇ ||೩||
Shyamalike Chamundike Somakulaja Krishna<br> Namamkita Bhumindra Lalamana Mudade ||3||
Mysore State Anthem; during Maharaja Jaya Chama Raja Wadiyar:
During the rule of the last King, Late HH, Sri. Jaya Chama Raja Wadiyar (1940-1950), the last charana was further modified and was set to music in Raga: shaMkarAbharaNa in trishrajAti Eka tALa, by the famous maestro Late Vainika Praveena V. Venkatagriyappa
ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮೇಂದ್ರ<br> ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭುಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೆ |೩|
Sri jaya jamundike Sri Jayachamendra<br> Namankitha Bhomeendra Lalamana Mudade |3|
MP3 format https://soundcloud.com/namma-kannada-naadu/mysore-state-anthem
Music
The prayer is set in Raag Dheerashankarabharanam (Carnatic) and Bilawal (Hindustani). The western chords are in C major (Ionian scale). The song gained immense popularity and for a while was sung by school children across the state as their morning prayer.
Historical notes
A favourite of the Maharaja, the anthem was played when Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore visited Bangalore in 1919 to deliver his speech on the “Message of the Forests.” He had come to the city at the invitation of Sir Albion Bannerjee who was first counsellor under Diwan Sir. M. Kantharaj Urs. Legend has it that Tagore’s “Anondo Loke…” which is a very popular number was heavily inspired by “Kayo Sri Gowri…” Here is the Mysore National Anthem of the erstwhile state of Mysore …and here is Anondo Loke Both invoke the spirit of freedom