# Mysore Vasudevachar

Mysore Vasudevacharya (28 May 1865 – 17 May 1961) was an Indian musician and composer of Carnatic music compositions who belonged to the direct line of Thyagaraja's disciples. Vasudevachar's compositions (numbering over 200) were mostly in Telugu and Sanskrit. Some of his most popular kritis include Brochevarevarura in Khamas raga, Devadideva in Sunadavinodini, Mamavatu Sri Saraswati in Hindolam, Shankari Ninne in Pantuvarali, Bhajare Re Manasa in Abheri and Ra Ra Rajeevalochana Rama in Mohanam. He presided over Madras Music Academy's annual conference in 1935, when the Sangeetha Kalanidhi award did not exist. But everybody who presided over the annual conference in the 1930s was later conferred the award. He was a recipient of the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan.
He is credited with two writings in Kannada, one of them an autobiography called Nenapugalu (memories) and Na Kanda Kalavidaru (the musicians I have met) in which he wrote the biographies of many well known musicians. Mysore Vasudevachar also taught in Rukmini Devi's Kalakshetra, (founded in 1936). He was already quite old by then, but thanks to Rukmini Devi he agreed to shift to Kalakshetra. He became the chief musician in Kalakshetra and helped in setting the Ramayana to music. He died in 1961 at the age of 96. He lived a simple and austere life devoted to the study of Sanskrit and music.
S. Rajaram, his grandson, worked at Kalakshetra, eventually taking charge of the institution at Rukmini Devi's request. Vasudevachar had composed the music for only the first four kandas and it was left to Rajaram to finish the work. An accomplished musician and Sanskrit scholar, he was amongst the few musicians, the sole repository of Vasudevacharya's compositions. S. Krishnamurthy (1922–2015), his other grandson worked at All India Radio and translated his Vasudevachar's memoirs into English. He has also published a memoir of his own.

## Early life

Vasudevacharya was born in an orthodox Madhwa Brahmin family in Mysore and started learning music from Veena Padmanabhiah, the chief musician of the Mysore court. He also mastered Sanskrit and allied fields such as Kavya, Vyakarana, Nataka, Alankaram, Tarka, Itihasa, Purana having studied at the Maharaja Sanskrit college in Mysore while learning music privately.
He then went on to learn from the famous composer-musician Patnam Subramania Iyer supported by the Maharaja's generous stipend and imbibed the music of not only his Guru but also other great maestros of the Thanjavur-Cauvery delta. Vasudevacharya eventually became the chief court musician (Asthana Vidwan) at the Mysore court. He was known for his madhyama-kala tanam singing which he learnt from his Guru. Patnam Subramania Iyer often requested his sishya "Vasu" to help him with the sahitya (lyric) aspects of his compositions. This aspect of his training undoubtedly helped Vasudevacharya as a composer. He was adept in all the aspects of Carnatic music especially Ragam Alapanam, Tanam, Neraval and Kalpanaswaram.

## Career

He published a large number of his compositions in the book Vasudeva Kirtana Manjari. His compositions in Telugu have such sweetness and lilt, and beautifully blend with the tune of the raga as do the Sanskrit compositions, which are mellifluous. His songs reflect his mastery of Sanskrit and show his erudition and scholarship in Sanskrit literature. He considered his insight into Telugu as a gift from Thyagaraja (Thyagaraja's bhiksha). Unlike the Dasa kuta songs, his compositions don't have any Dvaita undertones but many have the words "Paramapurusha Vasudeva" or "Vasudeva" which means the supreme Vasudeva/Lord Vishnu which incidentally is also his mudra or signature.
True to his Vaishnava heritage and the Thyagaraja shishya parampara to which he belonged, most of his compositions are in praise of Lord Rama. In addition to Kritis and Keertanas, he also composed Varnams, Thillanas, Javalis and slokas. His admiration for the trinity of Carnatic music specially Thyagaraja resulted in Srimadadi Thyagaraja Guruvaram in Kalyani, Shri Ramachandra (a ragamalika) and two other ragamalikas in praise of Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri. Vasudevachar's compositions are thus like sugar candy which gives one instant pleasure and yet lingers on in the mind and heart long after.

## Compositions

| Composition | Raga | Tala | Language | Audio Links |
| Nannubrova rada | Madhyamavati | Adi | Telugu | |
| Mama hrudaye | Reetigowla | Kanda Jati Tripura tala | Sanskrit | |
| Marachitive | Purvikalyani | Adi | Telugu | |
| Pranamamyaham | Gowla | Adi | Sanskrit | |
| Bhajana Seyarada Sriramuni | Dharmavati | Rupaka | Telugu | Vairamangalam Lakshminarayanan (Part 1) Vairamangalam Lakshminarayanan (Part 2) |
| Brochevaarevarura | Khamas (raga) | Adi | Telugu | K J Yesudas MS Subbulakshmi Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna Bombay Sisters G. N. Balasubramaniam |
| Vanajaksha- Varnam | Mandari | Adi | Telugu | |
| Lambodaramavalambe | Kambhoji | Tupamaros | Telugu | |
| Girija ramana natajana sharana | Gambhiranata | Adi | Sanskrit | Vani Sateesh |
| Gokula Nilaya | Abheri | Adi | Sanskrit | TM Krishna |
| Mamavatu sri sarasvati | Hindolam | Adi | Sanskrit | Priya Sisters Sudha Raghunathan |
| Mari Mari Vaccuna Manava Janma | Kambhoji | Adi | Telugu | |
| Nikela Daya Radu Ramachandra | Kadana Kutuhalam | Adi | Telugu | |
| Nimishamaina Sri Ramayana Rada | Sama | Adi | Telugu | |
| Ninne Nammitinayya Sri Rama | Simhendramadhyamam | Misra chapu | Telugu | |
| Ra Ra Rajeeva Lochana | Mohanam | Adi | Telugu | |
| vara lakshmi namostute | Gowrimanohari | Rupaka | Sanskrit | |
| Sri Chamundeshvari | Bilahari | Adi | Sanskrit | |
| Devi Kamalalaye | Garudadhwani | Adi | Sanskrit | |
| Shankari Ninne | Kamavardhini | Misra Chapu | Sanskrit |
| Bhajare Re Manasa | Abheri | Adi | Sanskrit | S Sowmya |
| RamaNeeDayaradha | Bhairavi | Misrachapu | | |
| Pranamami | Keeravani | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 February 23 |
| SambhoSankara | KedaraGowla | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 October 13 |
| ManasaVachasa | Begada | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 May 4 |
| VamanaManisam | Naayagi | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 July 14 |
| Madhusudana | Natakurinji | ThisraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 August 4 |
| Namamyaham | Bilahari | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 May 5 |
| SriKesava | Bhairavi | ChatusraRoopakam | | |
| BhajaMadhava | Hindustani Kaapi | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 September 1 |
| Sangarshana | Aabhogi | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Jan 19 |
| IdhiNeeku | Kamanashrama | Misrachapu | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Oct 7 |
| SathathamSri | Kalyani | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Oct 27 |
| Upendra | Kamaas | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Jun 9 |
| Inthaparakela | Kamaas | ChatusraRoopakam | | |
| Paripahimam | Kaanada | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Mar 3 |
| Vasudeva | Kaanada | Kantatriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Feb 9 |
| Thrivikrama | Kambhoji | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Mar 11 |
| Srimadhadhi | Kalyani | Roopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Jan 29 |
| Neekendhuku | SimhendraMadhyamam | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1955 Nov 27 |
| SmaraBhoomi | Megaranjani | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1955 Jul 24 |
| Kalinarulagu | Mayamalavagowla | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Aug 24 |
| Srivasudeva | Ramapriya | Thisraroopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Sep 28 |
| Maamavaasu | Saama | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Jul 15 |
| Purushothama | Saveri | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Mar 23 |
| Pranamatha | Kaanada | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Nov 25 |
| Paahimam | Thodi | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Feb 17 |
| Brovamma | GowriManohari | Thisraroopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Jan 20 |
| Saradhe | Yadukulakambhoji | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Aug 19 |
| Ganasudha | Karaharapriya | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Apr 22 |
| Ragavendra | Darbar | Kantatriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Jan 8 |
| Bhavayeham | Behag | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Apr 15 |
| PahiKrishna | Behag | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Aug 3 |
| NinnuvinaNannu | Bhairavi | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Jun 3 |
| SivePaahi | Suruti | Kantatriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Dec 21 |
| Sridhara | Jayanthasri | ChatusraRoopakam | | |
| Dayaledhemi | SimhendraMadhyamam | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Oct 26 |
| Varamulosaki Suddasaveri | SuddhaSaveri | ChatusraTriputa | | |
| HarePariPahi | Kedaram | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Jul 20 |
| NeeKabhimanamu | Kokilapriya | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Apr 1 |
| Janardhanam | Chakravaham | Kantatriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1958 Jun 15 |
| NeeDayaEtula | Sankarabharanam | Aadhi | | |
| KarunaPayoNidhe | Suruti | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Sep 15 |
| ParipahimamSri | Dhanyasi | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Dec 9 |
| SrivasudevaSri | Devagandhari | Thisraroopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1957 Nov 10 |
| Karuninchi | NavarasaKannada | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1955 Jul 31 |
| KaruninchiBrova | Budharanjani | Aadhi | | |
| DevakiThanaya | Pushpalatha | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1955 Dec 25 |
| GurukripaLeka | Pushpalatha | Thisraroopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Jan 22 |
| Neekentha | Bhavapriya | Aadhi | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 May 20 |
| NeePaadamu | Nayaki | ChatusraTriputa | | |
| IdhiSamayamu | Natakapriya | ChatusraRoopakam | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Mar 25 |
| EnthaNinne | Naatakurinji | ChatusraTriputa | | Swara-sahitya available in Sudesamitran edition dated 1956 Dec 23 |