Gajavadana Karuna Sadana by Papanasam Sivan

Song : Gajavadanaa   Composer : Papanasam Sivan

gajavadanaa karuna sadana

raagam: shree ranjani



22 kharaharapriya janya
Aa: S R2 G2 M1 D2 N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 M1 G2 R2 S
taaLam: aadi
 
Language: Tamil (with lots of sanskrit words in it)

pallavi

gajavadana karuNA sadana shankara bAlA lambOdara sundara

anupallavi

ajanamarEndranum munivarum paNiyum pankaja caraNA sharaNam sharaNam shrI

charanam

nIyE mUvulagirk-kAdhAram nIyE shivakAma mantra sAram
nIyE vAzhvilen jIvAdhAram nI aruLvAi sumukhA OmkAra 


Meaning : 


pallavi

gajavadana karuNA sadana shankara bAlA lambOdara sundara

Gajavadana - The one with the elephant face; karuna sadana - one who is full of love for his people; shankara bala - son of shankara; lambodara - "lamba udhara"  - the one with a big stomach; sundara - beautiful 

anupallavi
ajanamarEndranum munivarum paNiyum pankaja charaNA sharaNam sharaNam shrI 

ajanamarendranum - indra, the one who is the head of all Devas; munivar - the ones who have extraordinary powers by doing penance, sages; paniyum - they come and bow before thee; pankaja charana - you have feet like lotus; sharanam sharanam - I bow before thee

charanam

nIyE mUvulagirk-AdhAram nIyE shivakAma mantra sAram
nIyE vAzhvilen jIvAdhAram nI aruLvAi sumukhA OmkAra  

niye - you ; muvulagir - for the three worlds; adharam - support; shivakama - shiva agama, meaning the mantras and vedas; saram - essence of; vazhvilen - in my life; jivadharam - foundation of life; ni - you; arulvai - bless me; sumukha - the one who is always smiling, auspicious faced; omkara - who is in the form of OM - the most important mantra in hinduism


Papanasam sivan, is a poet who had sung a number of songs and kritis which are popularly sung on not only carnatic cutcheries but also on tamil cine field. 

In this song, he praises Lord Ganapathy who is the first and foremost God in the hindu pantheons. 

Lord Ganesha has an elephant face. He is full of love and affection for his followers. He is the son of Lord Shankara (Shiva). He has a big stomach but he is beautiful. 

Even Lord Indra, the head of all devas and great sages and come and bow before Lord Ganesha. Before anyone starts any important work, they invoke Lord Ganapathy. Every single yaga and yangna, done to invoke other Gods or Goddesses also start with the invocation of Ganesha only. Lord Ganesha has a lotus feet which all these people come and kneel before. I also kneel before thee!

Lord Ganesha! You are the one who is the foundation of all three worlds: the heavens, the earth and the world below. You are the foundation and essence of the 'sivagama' which is the essence of all vedas. You are the foundation of my life too. I bow before thee. Bless me. You are the one who is always smiling and the one with the most auspicious of the faces. You are the mantra "OHM" which is supposed to be the most essential of and the most important of all mantras out there. 

Some links to this song : 

1. Savitha Narasimhan :

2. Unni Krishnan : 

Hari Tum Haro Jan ki peer : Meera Bhai

Song : Hari Tum Haro Jan ki peer    By : Meera Bhai

Raag : Dharbari Kanada

Aa: N2 S R2 G2 R2 S M1 P D1 N2 S
Av: S D1 N2 P M1 P G2 M1 R2 S

Taal : Adi

Lyrics : 

Hari tum haro jana ki pīr

draupadī kī lāj rākhī tum badhāyo cīr
 
bhakta kārana rūpa narahari dharyo āp śarīr
 
hiranyakaśyapa mār līnho dharyo nāhina dhīr

būdate gaja rāja rākhyo kiyo bāhar nīr

dāsi mīrā lāl giradhar dukha jahāń tahāń pīr

This is a wonderful song by Meera Bhai. We all know about Bhaktha Meera. A quick introduction to Meerabhai for those who want to know more about her can be found here : http://www.chittorgarh.com/meera-bai.asp


Meaning : 

I found a line by line, word by word meaning of this song in the website : http://mmadan.wordpress.com/2007/07/08/ms-subbulakshmi-hari-tum-haro/

I am reproducing the same here with thanks to the author. I don't think I can do better than how it is put together by the author:

hari tum haro jana ki pīr
Almighty Lord God, remove the sufferings of Your slaves.

draupadī kī lāj rākhī tum badhāyo cīr
You protected the honor of Draupadi, Lengthening the garment that covered her.

bhakta kārana rūpa narahari dharyo āp śarīr
For the sake of Your devotee, You assumed the form of Nrsimhadeva.

hiranyakaśyapa mār līnho dharyo nāhina dhīr
You killed Hiranyakasipu With Your fierce form.

būdate gaja rāja rākhyo kiyo bāhar nīr
You rescued the drowning elephant Gajaraj, Taking him out of the water.

dāsi mīrā lāl giradhar dukha jahāń tahāń pīr
Oh Master Giridhara! I am only Your maidservant, Mira.
Here and there, there is only suffering and pain.

This is a very short but very very sweet song. Meera talks to Krishna, her master. She always considers herself as Krishna's maidservant and slave.

She talks about how Krishna saves everyone and why He is the only one who can save her now.

Krishna protected Draupathi when she was defenseless in front of Duchchathana. Draupathi was losing her saree and though everyone was there, nobody came to her help. Nobody came to protect her modesty. Draupati had 5 husbands, not just one. And, all of her five husbands were present in that place when this cruelty was inflicted on her. And yet, none of them helped her. The great Bhishma was there. The great guru Drona was there. The great guru Krupa was there. And yet, nobody helped her. She called out to Krishna. And, though Krishna was not even physically present there at that time, yet, Krishna was the one who saved her. The moment Draupati called out to Krishna, her saree began to grow and grow. Finally a tired Dhuchchathana fell down, not able to do the task he started to do.

For Prahaladha, Krishna took the form of Man-Animal - 'Nara-Simham'. Lord Vishnu was waiting in every single place of the palace for the child prahaladha to point out his tiny fingers and tell his father, the cruel Hiranyakasibu that 'Lord Vishnu Resides here'. The moment Prahaladha showed one place and told his father that the Lord is there too, Lord came out of that very place to kill Hiranyakasibu.

And, the lord saves not just His human devotees. He also saved the elephant which was caught in a swamp and was caught by a crocodile. When the elephant called out to the Lord, the Lord Hari came running to save the elephant.

If all these devotees were saved by the Lord, then the Lord and only the Lord can save me, this maidservant, this slave, Meera too. And, without Krishna, here and there and everywhere, there is only pain.

Some links for this song :

1. By MS who acted as Meera in her early days :

Kushaloodi Manamellaam : Ooththukkadu Venkata Kavi

Song: kuzhaloodi manamellaam   : By : Oothukkadu Venkata subba Iyer

 
raagam: kaambhOji

Aa: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 S
Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S N3. P. D2. S

 
taaLam: aadi

 
pallavi:

kuzhalUdi manamellAm koLLai koNDa pinnum kurai Edum enakkEdaDI tOzhi
(kuzhal)

 
anupallavi

 
azhagAna mayil Adavum (miga)
kATril ashaindADum koDi pOlavum

agamagizhindilagum nilavoLi tanilE tanai marandu puLLinam kUva
ashaindADi miga ishandODi varum nalam kANa oru manam nADa
takumIdu ena oru padam pADa takiTa tadhimi ena naTam nADa
kanru pashuvinavum ninru puDai shUzha enru malarumukha iraivan kanivODu
(kuzhal)

 
charaNam

 
makara kuNDalam Adavum adarkkErppa makuTam oLi vIshavum
migavum ezhilAgavum kATril miLirum tugil Adavum
(madhyama kaalam)

 

Meaning : 

pallavi:

kuzhalUdi manamellAm koLLai koNDa pinnum kurai Edum enakkEdaDI tOzhi
(kuzhal)

When Lord Krisha plays his flue, our heart and mind get sucked into that melody emanating from the flute. Once your heart and mind are filled with happiness from that lovely music, can there be any sorrow? can there be any unfulfilled wishes? There cannot be!

The phrase 'kollai konda pinnum' is a beautiful one. Krishna just does not fill your heart with music. He steals your heart and mind. When your heart and mind are not with you anymore, can you feel anything? When the person stealing it is Krishna, and when the stolen heart becomes his, it can only be filled with the divine bliss!!

 
anupallavi

azhagAna mayil Adavum (miga)
kATril ashaindADum koDi pOlavum

agamagizhindilagum nilavoLi tanilE tanai marandu puLLinam kUva
ashaindADi miga ishandODi varum nalam kANa oru manam nADa
takumIdu ena oru padam pADa takiTa tadhimi ena naTam nADa
kanru pashuvinavum ninru puDai shUzha enru malarumukha iraivan kanivODu
(kuzhal)

A peacock is dancing around. It looks as if there is a creeper dancing around. 

In the beautiful lovely moon light, there are birds which are chirping around. One's heart goes out wanting to see these lovely sights. There are sounds of singing. There  are sounds of dancing. There are cows with their little ones. 

All of these are happening around lord Krishna. Krishna is on his flute with the mellifluous melodies filling the entire world...

 
charaNam

makara kuNDalam Adavum adarkkErppa makuTam oLi vIshavum
migavum ezhilAgavum kATril miLirum tugil Adavum
(madhyama kaalam)

As Krishna plays his flute, his earrings are also dancing. The crown that Krishna wears shows the spotlight on it. This scene is like the one we are all familiar with on our TV sets. In a dance program, a spotlight is shown on the dancer as she dances. And, similar to that, here, as the earrings dance around, the crown shows the spotlight!!  This is a beautiful sight. And, along with all this, Krishna's clothes are also dancing. 

Overall, this is a beautiful song by Oothukkadu Venkata kavi. The song conjures up the scenes of Lord Krishna playing his flute and the entire world dancing to those tunes. Right from the cows, the peacock, the creeper, everything is dancing. The birds are chirping around. Krishna's earrings are dancing. His crowns are playing the role of showing the spotlight on the dancers. His clothes are dancing. And in the process, as the entire world is dancing around, without we knowing, our hearts are stolen. Stolen by Krishna. Stolen by the music. 

When your heart is not with you, when your heart is with the Lord, how can you ever feel any sorrow? You can only be filled with bliss. The divine bliss. 

And, whenever I hear this song, whenever I sing this song, the divine bliss fills me all over. I am sure it will envelope and fill you too!

Some links to this fantastic song by eminent musicians : 

1. Sudha Raghunathan   : 

 

2. Maharajapuram Santhanam: 

3. Yesudas : 

4. A dance performance by Sunanda Arasu:

Nannaati Baduku : By : Sri Annamacharya

Song: NaanaaTi baTuku

Kriti by : Sri. Annamaachaarya

Rag : Revati

language : Telugu

---

Aa: S R1 M1 P N2 S
Av: S N2 P M1 R1 S
taaLam: aadi

Pallavi :

nAnATi batuku nATakamu
kAnaka kannati kaivalyamu 

nanati - daily day to day 

batuku - life

natakamu - drama  (natakam in tamil also means drama)

kanaka kannati - that which is seen and yet not seen

kaivalyamu - liberation / salvation

Meaning : The everyday life is but merely a drama. What is seen and yet unseen constitutes the drama. Beyond these stands salvation and liberation from this drama.

CharaNam 1 :

puTTuTayu nijamu pOvuTayu nijamu
naTTa naTimi pani nATakamu
yeTTa neduTagaladI prapaNcamu
kaTTagaTapaTiti kaivalyamu
(naanaaTi)
 

puttu tayu - to be born

poovu tayu - to leave; to leave the body behind; to be dead

nijamu - the truth

natta nadimi - in between these two (as said above - the birth and the death) (natta nadu in tamil also means right in the middle)

pani - work ; what we do (pani in tamil also means the work we do)

natakamu - drama

yetta nedu tagaladi - which is right in front  of us

prapanchamu - the prapancha; the universe

kattakadapatidi - the one which is the ultimate final one; the last one

kaivalyamu - the salvation; the liberation,mukthi

Meaning : The two ends are to be born and to be dead. Those are the truths. Whatever we do in between these two ends constitutes the drama which unfolds. We see the universe and the life which is right in front of us but we don't see what is beyond. We don't see the one which is beyond the universe and the time. That is where the salvation is. 

CharaNam 2 :
 

kuTicEdannamu Shoka cuTTeDidi
NaTu mantrapu pani nATakamu
voDigaTTu konina vubhayakarmulu
gaTidATinapuDE kaivalyamu
(naanaaTi)
 

kutichedi - what we relish; eat; drink (kudichathu = that we drink in tamil)

annamu - food / rice (annam = food in tamil)

shoka - dress / cloth

cuttedidi - wrapping around the body (cuttudhal in tamil also has the same meaning : to wrap around)

natu mantrapu - what is in the middle

pani - work

natakamu - drama

vubhayakarmulu - the two duties / the dual duties as mentioned above

gatidatinapude - when you cross beyond this

kaivalyamu - salvation / liberation

Meaning : We eat our food. We wrap a cloth around our middle. Between these and our end is the drama. when we cross beyond this, we see the salvation.

ChraNam 3:
 

tekadu pApamu tIradu puNyamu
naki naki kAlamu nATakamu
yeguvane ShRI vEngkaTEShvaru Telika
gaganamu mIdidi kaivalyamu
(naanaaTi)

takadu - does not get cut

papamu - sin

tiradu - no completion of ; not enough of

punyamu - good deeds

naki naki - is something to laugh about (in tamil : 'nagai' - to be laughed at)

kalamu - time ; because of time; bound by time

natakamu - drama

yeguvane - the one who is a higher place; the only higher place

Shri vengateshvaru - Lord Sri Venkateswara

gaganamu - akasam; sky; the universe

mididi - beyond the skies and the universe

kaivalyamu - salvation/ liberation

 

Meaning : Our sins don't dwindle. Our good deeds don't extend. In between these, we do something and that is the much laughable  drama. Beyond these there is one and only one Lord Sri Venkateshwara. Beyond the universe He is there and that is where the liberation is.

Commentary : 

When one goes thru this kriti, one is reminded of   William Shakespeare and his lines in the Drama  As you like it - the famous poem "All the world's a Stage"

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts....

Very much like the bard, Annamacharya talks about the life as a mere drama.  The drama gets enacted day in and day out. The drama is what we see as we are all in the midst of it. But, the salvation, the liberation lies outside the drama. The wise ones are able to recognize this and go beyond. 

We are born. We die. Between the two extremes lies the drama. We all eat. We all dress up. Between all this lies the drama. 

In this drama, our sins add up. Our good deeds dwindle. There is one Lord Sri Venkateshwara who stands above all these. He is the one who is outside all this drama. He is the one who is conducting the drama. He is the one who is enjoying the drama. So, if you want to get out of the drama, catch his lotus feet. Realise that all these are mere drama and go out. That way is where liberation lies.

Nanati baduku - 1

Nanati baduku - 2

Nanati Baduku - 3

Shriman Narayana : Shri Annamacharya : Bowli

Shriman Narayana : Ragam: Bauli  Talam: Adi : Composer : Shri Annamacharya

raagam: bowLi

Aa: S R1 G3 P D1 S
Av: S N3 D1 P G3 R1 S

taaLam: aadi
Composer: Annamaacaarya
Language: Sanskrit

pallavi

shrIman nArAyaNa shrIman nArAyaNa

shrIman nArAyaNa nI shrIpAdame sharaNu

Anupallavi

kamalAsati mukhakamala kamalahita

kamalapriya kamalekShaNA

kamalAsanahita garu.dagamana shrI

kamalanAbha nI padakamalame sharaNu || 1 ||

charaNam

parama yogijana bhAgadheya shrI

paramapuruShA parAtparA

paramAtmA paramANurUpa shrI

tiruveNkaTagiridevA sharaNu || 2 ||

Meaning : 

pallavi

shrIman nArAyaNa shrIman nArAyaNa

shrIman nArAyaNa nI shrIpAdame sharaNu

Narayana is never without His consort, Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi is referred to as "Shri". Even in addressing people, we call him "Shrimaan...." this is just to ensure that the person being referred to is blessed with the grace of Goddess Lakshmi. 

Here, Nayarayana is also referred similarly. And, the addressing goes on for three times. 

I  bow to such a feet. I take shelter in such a feet. 

Anupallavi

kamalAsati mukhakamala kamalahita

kamalapriya kamalekShaNA

kamalAsanahita garu.dagamana shrI

kamalanAbha nI padakamalame sharaNu || 1 ||

His wife is Kamala - Goddess Lakshmi, who sits on the lotus flower. He has the face like a lotus flower. He tends lotus. He loves lotus flower. He has eyes like lotus flowers. He sits on a lotus posture. He rides on Garuda, the eagle. He has a lotus flower coming out of his Navel. 

I pray for your lotus feet.

charaNam

parama yogijana bhAgadheya shrI

paramapuruShA parAtparA

paramAtmA paramANurUpa shrI

tiruveNkaTagiridevA sharaNu || 2 ||

He is the one who brings good fortune  to yogis. He is the supreme one. He is the great soul who is everywhere. He has the shape of the atom. He is the one who makes the atom what it is. He is the one who is there in Tiruvenkatagiri - Tiruppati.

Interesting points to note from the Kriti: 

Shriman Narayana : His name gets addressed three times to start with. This is a song which is typically sung as 'suprabhata' to Lord Venkateswara of Tiruppati. The Lord Venkateswara is like a King. And, it is a typical thing to address the king three times as the king comes into the court. Shri Annamacharya has structured the kriti as if he is addressing the Lord coming into the court where thousands of devotees are waiting. And, he is addressing the Lord three times. 

Kamala : The usage of this term in the anupallavi is beautiful.'Kamala' is used a total of eight times in the Anupallavi. "Srimannarayana" in sanskrit is called "Ashtakshara" - the mantra with 8 letters in it. It is only fitting that the Kamalavasa's connection with Lotus flower is mentioned eight times : 

Kamala Sati - with a wife "Kamala"

Mukha Kamala - with a face like lotus

Kamala hita - He does good deed like a lotus flower; He is soft like a lotus flower; He tends to Lotus

Kamala Pirya : He loves lotus

Kama Lekshana - with eyes like lotus flower

Kamalasanahita - in the lotus posture

Kamala nabane - with a navel from which a lotus flower springs up

Pada kamalame - The one with the lotus feet 

Paramanu rupa : Shri Annamacharya lived in the 15th century. From 1408 to 1503. That time, the scientific world did not even know of 'Atom'. But, here is the 15th century poet and he is beautifully talking about the basic building block of life and how Tiruvenkatapati is there in that building block also.

Sriman Narayana : Sung by Smt.MS.Subbulakshmi :

Sriman Narayana in Nadhaswaram

Jagadodharana Adisidale Yasode : Purandaradasa

Song: jagadOddhaaraNaa

---

jagadOddhaaraNaa 

Raag :kaapi

22 kharaharapriya janya

Aa: S R2 M1 P N3 S
Av: S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S 

taaLam: aadi

Composer: Purandara Daasar
 

Language: KannaDa

pallavi

jagadOddhAraNa ADisidaLe yashOde
(jagadO)

anupallavi

jagadOddhAraNa maganendu tiLiyuta suguNAnta ranganA AdisidaLe yashOde
(jagadO)

caraNam 1

nigamakE silukada agaNita mahimana magugaLa mANikyana ADisidaLa yashOde
(jagadO)

caraNam 2

aNOraNIyana mahatO mahImana apramEyana ADisidaLa yashOde
(jagadO)

caraNam 3

parama puruSana paravAsudEvana purandara vittalana ADisidaLu yashOde
(jagadO)

---

Meaning:

pallavi

jagadOddhAraNa ADisidaLe yashOde
(jagadO) 

jagad : the world

uddharana : the one who saves it; ensures that it gets into the right path

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him

The kriti is all about the mother that Yasode is. And, her innocence in taking her son as her son and not seeing beyond it. Who has got that kind of boon? Who has got this kind of 'bagya'? The great lord, the one who is the saver of the world, who has saved the world in all his 10 avatars, is playing with Yasoda. And, yasode is playing with him purely as her son.

anupallavi

jagadOddhAraNa maganendu tiLiyuta suguNAnta ranganA AdisidaLe yashOde
(jagadO) 

jagad : the world

uddharana : the one who saves it; ensures that it gets into the right path

maganendu tiliyuta = thinking that he is just her son 

sugunanta rangana = the one who is full of virtues, 'end of all suguna tatvas'

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him  

 

The lord is full of virtues. He is the embodiment of all good characters. He is the one who makes the world a good place to live. He ensures that the demons are killed and the sages are saved. But, Yasode is oblivious to all this. She is playing with him. Just as her son. 

caraNam 1

nigamakE silukada agaNita mahimana magugaLa mANikyana ADisidaLa yashOde
(jagadO) 

nigamake = to the vedas, even for vedas

silukada = not caught by; not available for

aganita = who cannot be counted

mahimana = bigger than

magugala = among the children

manikyana = like a gem

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him  

 

Yasode is playing with the one whom even the vedas have not really found. He is the one who cannot be counted. He is the one who is bigger than everyone else. He is the one who is a gem amongst the children. But, Yasode is playing with him just as her son and no more than that. 

caraNam 2

aNOraNIyana mahatO mahImana apramEyana  ADisidaLa yashOde
(jagadO) 

anoraniyana = smaller than the 'anu=atom' = smaller than the smallest of the atoms

mahato = big

mahimana = bigger than

aprameyana = unlimited; not measurable 

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him  

Yasode is playing with the one who is bigger than the biggest things in the world. She is playing with the one who is unlimited and not really measurable. She is playing with the one who is smaller than the smallest of the atoms. She is playing with the one who is all of these but she is playing with him without really knowing who He is. She is playing with him as if he is just her son. 

caraNam 3

parama puruSana paravAsudEvana purandara vittalana ADisidaLu yashOde
(jagadO) 

parama purusana = the best one among men

paravasudevana = who is the God of all the world

purandara vittalana = the vittala at pandarapura; who is being praised by this Purandaradasa

adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him  

He is the best among men. He is the God of all the world. He is the Vittala of Pandarapura. He is the one who is being praised by Purandaradasa now.  But, Yasode played with him without knowing who really He is. She played with him just as a son.  

This "Purandara Vittala" as everyone knows, is Purandaradasa's Mudra. This is similar to Dikshithar's "Guruguha" and Shyama sastri's "Shyama krishna" and Thyagaraja's "Thyagaraja" type of mudras. 

Interesting points : 


1. The story: 


The story is something everyone knows. Yasode never really knew the truth about her son. For her, she is her son. Her child. There were miracles happening all over the place in Gokulam but Yasode was always afraid that something will happen to her precious child. There were so many demons who came there to kill the child. Though all of them were killed in return, Yasode never really put it all together and saw her child for what He was. For her, he was always a child. A really naughty child at that. A child who was almost always upto some mischief. Even when the Lord opened His mouth and showed the entire world to her, He made her forget that and continue as if nothing really happened. 


2. The comparison with "Enna Thavam Seithanai" (tamil song):


The similarities with the "Enna Thavam Seithanai" also in Kaapi Ragam, in tamil, by Papanasam Sivan, is absolutely striking. The bhava is very similar. 


Here, in this song, Purandaradasa  just hints at the innocence of Yasode. Her fierce loyalty to her son, her assumption that her child is just like any other child, her love for Him and the Krishna Leela that flowed in Gokulam are broadly hinted at in this song. Papanasam sivan goes one step further and clearly talks about Yasoda's great boon in having Krishna as her child. 


May be, Papanasam Sivan was inspired by this Purandaradasa's kriti. If someone who knows these great Vaggeyakkara's life can explain, it would be my pleasure.


God may be the greatest of all men. He may be smaller than the smallest atom and bigger than the biggest things in the world. He may be the saviour of the world. But, He is still Krishna and He is still the son to her mother. And, what a great soul Yasode was! Who can get a life like this!!

1. MS Subbulakshmi : 

2. Sudha Ragunathan

3. KV Narayanaswami

4. Some media fire links :

www.mediafire.com/?02qgjqvojd0m :   MS Subbulakshmi

www.mediafire.com/?fm0odwgi0nz : Not sure who this is

www.mediafire.com/?rmjnzdlmwz  : Not sure who this is


http://www.mediafire.com/?4zwnqgvomy5 Lalgudi Jayaraman

 

 Note : The kriti lyrics and the details about the kriti have been taken from Karnatic.com

Gajavadana Beduve : Purandara Dasar : Hamsadwani

Song: gajavadanaa bEDuvE  

Lyrics are from Karnatic.com 

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gajavadhana bEDuvE
raagam: hamsadwani

29 dheera shankaraabharaNam janya
Aa: S R2 G3 P N3 S
Av: S N3 P G3 R2 S

taaLam: Adi

Composer: Purandara Daasar
Language: KannaDa 

pallavi

gajavadhanaa bEduvE gowri thanaya
trijaga vanditanE sujanara porevanE 

anupallavi

pAshAnkushadhara parama pavitra
mooshikavAhana munijanaprEmA
(gaja) 

charaNam

mOdadi ninnaya pAdava tOrO
sAdhu vanditane Adaradindali
sarsijanAbha shri purandara vithalana
niruta neneyuvante daya mADO

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Meaning:
 

gajavadhanaa bEduvE gowri thanaya
trijaga vanditanE sujanara porevanE 

 

gajavadana = the one who has the elephant face

beduve = I pray to you

gowri thanaya = Gowri's son

trijaga = the three worlds (earth, the world above and the world below)

vanditanE = worshipped by

sujanara = good people 

porevanE  = protector

O my dear elephant faced God! You are son of Goddess Gowri (parvathi). You are worshipped by all the three worlds. You are the protector of all the good people such as the sages and sadhus.

I pray to you .

pAshAnkushadhara parama pavitra
mooshikavAhana munijanaprEmA

pAshAnkushadhara = the one who has the weapons, pasa and angusam

parama pavitra = the most sacred
mooshikavAhana = the one who has the mouse for his vehicle   

munijanaprEmA = the one who is loved by sages/ one who loves sages

You have the weapons with you such as the noose (pasa) and the goad (angusa). You are the supreme God. You are the one who has mouse as the means of transport. you love and are affectionate towards sages. They also love you.

mOdadi ninnaya pAdava tOrO
sAdhu vanditane Adaradindali
sarsijanAbha shri purandara vithalana
niruta neneyuvante daya mADO

mOdadi = with pleasure

ninnaya = your

pAdava  = feet

tOrO = show

sAdhu vanditane = one who is worshipped by sadhus and sages

Adaradindali = respectfully

sarsijanAbha = the one who has lotus in his navel

shri purandara vithalana = God Purandara Vittala
niruta = always

neneyuvante = make me remember, make me think of

daya mADO  = show mercy     

I want to sing on your feet. Please kindly and happily, show me your feet. You are the one who is worshipped by sages and sadhus. Please give me the ability and power to worship Lord Purandara vittala - the one who has the lotus navel.

Interesting points from the songs : 

* "Purandara Vittala" is the mark of Shri Purandaradasa. One can see this in all his songs

* Purandaradasa asks Lord Ganesha, to give him strength and focus to sing about Lord Purandara!

* Lord Ganesh has "pasa" which is the noose - which is typically carried by the God of Death - yama. Here, He shows that he is beyond death and if you go to His feet, you don't have to worry about death.

* An elephant may be very big. But, it is controlled by the weapon : Goad - Angusam. Similarly, Ganesha carries it and shows that one has to have self control.

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1) Artist unknown - from Youtube:

2) Kumari Sindhoora moorthy :

3) Vinay Mallikarjun:

4) Dr. Nagavalli nagaraj & Ranjani Nagaraj

5) Shri K Jesudas  : http://www.raaga.com/play/?id=72589