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.

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

ತೋಯಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶಂಕರೀಶ್ವರಿ

೧. ವೈಮಾನಿಕ ಭಾಮಾರ್ಚಿತ ಕೋಮಲಕರ ಪಾದೇ

ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ವಿತ ಭೂಮಾಸ್ಪದೆ ಕಾಮಿತ ಫಲದೇ

೨. ಶುಂಭಾದಿಮ ದಾಂಭೋನಿಧಿ ಕುಂಭಜ ನಿಭ ದೇವೀ

ಜಂಭಾಹಿತ ಸಂಭಾವಿತೆ ಶಾಂಭವಿ ಶುಭವೀ

೩. ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮೆಂದ್ರ

ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೇ

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.

Modifications to the song

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

ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೇ ||೩||

Shyamalike Chamundike Somakulaja Krishna

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

ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭುಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೆ |೩|

Sri jaya jamundike Sri Jayachamendra

Namankitha Bhomeendra Lalamana Mudade |3|

MP3 format https://soundcloud.com/namma-kannada-naadu/mysore-state-anthem

Mysore State Anthem; during Maharaja Sri Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar

During the rule of the current King, H.H. Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the last charana was further modified as follows. Sangita Vidwan Dr. R.S.Nandakumar visualised this concept and directed its performance for the first time in our recent history. Sri Nandakumar has composed the song.

ಯದುವೀರಶ್ರೀಕೃಷ್ಣದತ್ತ ಚಾಮೇಂದ್ರನೃಪನ;

ಮಹಿಶೂರ ಸಿರಿಪುರದ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೇ. |೩|

Yaduvīraśrīkr̥ṣṇadatta cāmēndranr̥pana;

mahiśūra siripurada lalāmana mudadē. |3|

Music

The prayer is set in Raag Dheerashankarabharanam (Carnatic) and Bilawal (Hindustani). The western chords are in C major (Ionian mode). 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

References

https://www.thenewsminute.com/lives/173