On March 27th, 2022, Sooryagayathri performed a live program from Shankaralayam Mumbai for the Makaram festival. I watched this live program from the Sankarankovil Sankaranayinar temple near Tirunelveli, where the deity is a combination of Lord Shiva and Vishnu.
As I watched the live program with my headphones, I went to the bus stop to catch a bus to Srivilliputhur Andal temple, a place I had never visited before.
While waiting at the bus stop, I commented in the live chat, saying, “I am waiting for the ‘velava velava’ song.” I enjoy this song because it mentions my name, and I love it when Sooryagayathri sings it. However, she began singing ‘Vishamakara Kannan’. Her expressions during the song were even more captivating than the version she released on YouTube.
As I boarded the bus to Srivilliputhur, I continued watching, and the live program ended exactly when I arrived in Srivilliputhur.
One of the songs she sang during this time was ‘Swagatham Krishna’. This song was written by Oothukkadu Venkata Subba Iyer, a legendary figure in Carnatic music who has composed over 500 songs in Sanskrit and Tamil.
The ‘Swagatham Krishna’ song serves three purposes:
1) It welcomes Krishna.
2) It expresses surrender to Krishna.
3) It praises the qualities and deeds of Lord Krishna.
Listen to Sooryagayathri singing ‘Swagatham Krishna’ with her golden voice. You can find the lyrics and their meaning below the video:
Lyrics and Meaning:
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Pallavi
swaagatam krishha saranaagatam krishnaa
madhuraapuri sadanaa mridu vadanaa madhusoodana iha
Anupallavi
Boga Thaptha sulabha supushpa gandha kalapa,
Kasthuri thilaka mahitha mama kantha nanda gopa Kandha
Charanam
Mushtikasura Chanoora malla , Madhu soodhana , Kuvalayapeeda,
Mardhana, Kalinga narthana , Gokula Rakshana , Sakala sulakshana,
Deva sishta jana pala , Sankalpa kalpa , kalpa satha koti samprabhava,
Dheera , Muni jana vihara . Madana sukumara , Daithya samhara, deva,
Madhura madhura rathi sahasa , sahasa Vruja yuvathi jana manasa poojitha.
English translation
Pallavi
Welcome to you Krishna, Surrender to you Krishna
He who lived in Mathura, He who has a tender face, He who killed Madhu
Anupallavi
He who is hot with passion, he who is easy to get, He who is like a flower,
He who applies sandal paste, He who puts musk Thilaka,
He who is honoured, He who is my lord and baby son of Nanda Gopa.
Charanam
Killer of Madhu, wrestlers Mushtika and Chanoora and elephant Kuvalayapita,
He who danced on Kaalinga, He who saved Gokula, He who has all good signs,
H who looked after devas and good people, He who created time just by thought,
He who is powerful in hundred crores of eons, He who is brave,
He who lived with sages, He who is pretty God of love, He who killed Asuras,
He who is sweet to devas, He who is bold in sweet passionate acts,
He who is worshipped in the minds of maidens of Brindavan.
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