Dwaadasha Stothra

The pioneer of devotional music

While learning about the various Hari Daasas and their contribution to Hari Bhakthi through their songs, one must not forget the musical genius of Madhwaachaarya, the avataara of Vayu Devaru who is the only entity capable of singing the “Saama Veda”.

Madhwa composed hymns in Sanskrit (that lent themselves to singing). This laid the foundation for Carnatic music and ‘Daasa Sahitya’ where ‘sahitya’ (lyrics) takes precedence over ‘laya’(rhythm). These songs belong to a genre called, “Gandharva gaana”. Acharya Madhwa also introduced Yaksha-gaana (different from Gandharva gaana) and “bayalaata”(theatre form that includes Yaksha-gaana).

The hymns are popularly believed to have been composed while Madhwaachaarya carried the idol of Krishna from the banks of the Arabian Sea at Malpe to the temple at Udupi. But, scholars opine that these hymns were not composed at one go but at different times, in varied situations as they are composed in different metres and “raagas”. The hymns are collectively called ‘Dwaadasha stothras’ and have the ankitha, “Ananda Tirtha”. They contain the essence of Tattvavaada. Lyrical, meaningful and joyful, they were meant for singing in chorus (each hymn had a refrain that the disciples could sing) and dancing along the way while undertaking “yatras” to Badri, Kashi etc.

The actual songs of Madhwaachaarya are said to be only eleven, with the twelfth being a song composed by Hrishikesha Tirtha, a close disciple of Madhwaachaarya. Madhwaachaarya would ask Hrishikesha Tirtha to chant the shlokas from the Bhaagwatha which he would elucidate, as the ‘shruthi’ of his chanting matched the ‘shruthi’ of Madhwa’s narration! Madhwaachaarya's singing enthralled everyone, it is said that he even coaxed a withered plant to bloom with his euphonious voice.

As mentioned in the previous Spiritual Nugget, it is a common practice for a devotee or disciple to sing any one of the Dwaadasha stothras when Naivedya is being offered to Krishna, the most popular ones being, Vande Vandyam Sadaanandam Vaasudevam Niranjanam and Preenayaamo Vaasudevam… One may recall that the bull that used to carry Madhwachaarya’s granthas had chanted the Dwaadasha Stothra. (This bull was cursed by a student to die of a snake bite but was saved by Madhwaachaarya). Hence, it is a belief amongst some that singing one of the Dwaadasha stothras at the time of Naivedya protects one from poisoning.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_KTqgS1bB5yt7a6EIDcWPjAKPM9WgmnO

Sanskrit to Kannada

Renowned scholar, Vidyavachaspathi Bannanje Govindachaarya translated the Sanskrit hymns to Kannada over four decades ago, and they have been sung by Sangeeta Vidya Nidhi Vidyabhushana.

It is the good fortune of those who can understand Kannada to listen to these translated hymns which seem to have gained through the translation and the spiritual genius of Bannanje Govindachaarya and the fervent singing of Vidyabhushana. Bannanje Govindachaarya had stated that each time he heard the songs in Sanskrit, new meanings revealed themselves and had he translated them in successive years the songs in Kannada would be very different from the ones we know now.

Bannaje Govindachaarya has translated numerous scriptures to Kannada. His signature style was to call the translations, “Kannadada kannadiyalli” (through the mirror of Kannada, literally).