Deva Sri Tapasteertha pura / Madhyamavathi / Misrachap / Thyagaraja / Sankari Krishnan

Krithi: Deva Sri Tapasteertha pura
Ragam: Madhyamavathi
Thalam: Misrachap
Composer: Thyagaraja

Vocal: Sankari Krishnan

Sankari Krishnan is a renowned Carnatic vocalist from Tamil Nadu, known for her rich adherence to tradition and scholarly approach to music. Born into a family of educators, she began her musical training under K. S. Subramanian of Tiruvanaikoil before pursuing advanced tutelage under the legendary Padmabhushan G. Jayaraman, whose bani (style) she continues to uphold with devotion. An academic achiever, she holds an M.A. and M.Phil in Music from the University of Madras, where she was a gold medallist. Sankari Krishnan is an A-Grade artiste with All India Radio and has performed widely in India and abroad, including the United States, Singapore, and Malaysia. Beyond concerts, she is known for her thematic presentations such as Thiruppavai, Divyanama Keertanas, and Divya Prabandham. She has served as a lecturer at Mother Teresa Women’s University and as senior faculty at Brhaddhvani under Dr. Karaikudi S. Subramanian. Her discography includes albums like Yadukula Kamboji, Sukhanandham, and Kandar Shasti Kavacham. Widely respected for her disciplined artistry and depth of expression, Sankari Krishnan stands as one of the prominent contemporary torchbearers of the G. Jayaraman school of Carnatic music.

Violin: V V Srinivasa Rao
Mridangam: Trissur C Narendran

This krithi is a prayer by Thyagaraja Swami to Lord Siva of Tapasteerthapura (present-day Lalgudi). He praises Siva’s power, compassion, and purity, his vanquishing of death and demons, his blue throat, and his abode with the divine Mother while humbly seeking immediate devotion (bhaktim adhuna). Beyond mythological imagery, the krithi emphasizes the Lord’s transcendence over pride and attachment, portraying him as the universal protector and guide. At its core, it is an intimate appeal for spiritual awakening and divine grace in the present moment.

Pallavi
Deva shrI tapasteerthapura nivasa dehi bhaktim adhuna

Anupallavi
Pavana pravrdha shrimati hrdbhavana sakala jaga-davana shri maha

Charanam 1
Pasha hasta ganesha harana palashanari nutesha varada
kusheshayari dharasharebha mrgesha sapta rshisa deva

Charanam 2
Nilagala surajalanuta natapala girisha vishalaphala
krpalavala sushila gaurIlola shiva mam palayadbhuta

Charanam 3
Nagapujita naga danujahara agamardana vagadhipa vinuta-
ganita guna ragamada duragahara shri tyagaraja

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Meaning:

O Lord, resident of the sacred town Sri Tapasteerthapura (present-day Lalgudi, Tiruttavathurai in Tamil Nadu). Please grant me true devotion at this very moment.

O Lord who abides in the heart of the holy and mighty Mother Srimathi (the divine consort at Lalgudi Temple ), O great and auspicious protector of the entire universe.

O Lord who subdued Yama, the god of death who wields the noose, O Lord praised by Indra, the vanquisher of the demonic hosts and the gracious bestower of boons, O wearer of the crescent moon, radiant with the energy of the lotus, O lion-like Lord who overpowers the elephant-formed demons that oppress the Earth, O Lord of the Seven Sages ( Siva is worshipped in Lalgudi as Sapta Ṛṣhiswara, meaning Lord of the Seven Sages) my reverent salutations to you.

O blue-throated Lord, praised by the hosts of celestials and protector of those who worship you, O Lord of the mountains, with broad forehead, ocean of compassion and embodiment of virtue, O Lord Siva, beloved of Gauri, wondrous one protect me.

O Lord worshipped by the serpent Sesha, O destroyer of the elephant-demon Gajasura, O Lord praised by Indra (the smiter of mountains)or by Kṛiṣhṇa, the subduer of the serpent Kaliya, and by Brahmaā, Lord of Sarasvathi, O One of innumerable virtues, far removed from attachment and pride, destroyer of all sin, O Lord of this humble Tyagaraja, the resident of sacred Sri Tapasteerthapura, bestow upon me true devotion now.

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