The existence of Mysore State Anthem was bought to my notice by my dad, who during his primary school days would sing the anthem every day.
In 1881, the British decided to give back the state of Mysore to the Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar. Rao Bahadur Bhakshi Narasappa played an important role in the deliberations with the British to get back the Mysore state to the royal family of Mysore.
When the state was resurrected back, Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar requested Abhinava Kalidasa Basavappa Shastry, who was known as father of Kannada Theater and was also the royal guru to compose the Mysore State Anthem. Sri Basavappa Shastry wrote the anthem “Kayo Shri Gowri…” in Sanskrit and this was sung in the Carnatic music tune (raga) – Dheerashankarabharanam the equivalent is Bilawal in Hindustani music and Western Ionian mode (major scale). The tune contains the notes S R G m P D N S. The Anthem was extremely popular and was sung in all schools across the state.
Picture – Emblem of erstwhile Mysore State
Following is the lyrics of the Mysore State Anthem:
Kannada script:
ಕಾಯೌ ಶ್ರೀ ಗೌರಿ ಕರುಣಾಲಹರಿ
ತೊಯಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಶಂಕರೀಶ್ವರಿ
೧. ವೈಮಾನಿಕ ಭಾಮಾರ್ಚಿತ ಕೊಮಲಕರ ಪಾದೇ
ಶ್ರೀಮಾನ್ವಿತ ಭೂಮಾಸ್ಪದೆ ಕಾಮಿತ ಫಲದೇ
೨. ಶುಂಬಾದಿಮ ದಾಮ್ಬೋನಿಧಿ ಕುಮ್ಬಜ ನಿಭ ದೇವಿ
ಜಮ್ಭಾಹಿತ ಸಂಭಾವಿತೆ ಶಾಂಭವಿ ಶುಭವೀ
೩. ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಶ್ರೀ ಜಯಚಾಮೆಂದ್ರ
ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೆ
Picture – Mysore State Map
English script:
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 jamundike Sri Jayachamendra
Namankitha Bhomeendra Lalamana Mudade
The third stanza was modified during the rule of Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV as follows:
ಶ್ಯಾಮಾಲಿಕೆ ಚಾಮುಂಡಿಕೆ ಸೊಮಕುಲಜ ಕೃಷ್ಣ
ನಾಮಾಂಕಿತ ಭೂಮೀಂದ್ರ ಲಾಮನ ಮುದದೇ ||೩||
Shyamalike Chamundike Somakulaja Krishna
Namamkita Bhumindra Lalamana Mudade ||3||
Below are the videos of Mysore State Anthem in slow and fast versions:
Slow version
Fast version
