Thyagaraja and Serfoji by V Sriram

[kvchellappa]

http://www.thehindu.com/society/history ... yndication

[sureshvv]

I like Prof. Sambamoorthy's version better

[MaheshS]

I like Prof. Sambamoorthy's version better

You can't compare a tabloid with a broadsheet

[sureshvv]

The Hindu recently underwent some format changes and now proudly proclaims that it includes "tabloids" for various departments - so the difference may be moot!

[varsha]

I like Prof. Sambamoorthy's version better

reminds me of a joke

Two goats wandered into an alley behind a cinema. There they found a can of film, which one of them devoured.
How was it ? the companion asked .
“Oh ! alright “ he said .”But the book was better “

[sureshvv]

For me Prof. Sambamoorthy's 20th century mysticism (Serfoji's stomach ache) beats Sriram's 21st century cynicism (Thyagaraja composing Govoor pancharatnam in exchange for room, board & transport to Tirupathi).

May be Sriram can dedicate an article to how Govoor became Kovoor.

[MaheshS]

For me Prof. Sambamoorthy's 20th century mysticism (Serfoji's stomach ache) beats Sriram's 21st century cynicism (Thyagaraja composing Govoor pancharatnam in exchange for room, board & transport to Tirupathi).

May be Sriram can dedicate an article to how Govoor became Kovoor.

From Wikipedia entry on the temple,

According to legend, Goddess Kamakshi was performing thapas on Panchagni (fire) in Maangaadu praying to Lord Shiva to marry Her. Her penance was so intense that the whole surroundings became very hot and all living beings started to suffer because of this enormous heat.However since Lord Shiva was deeply meditating with His eyes closed, He did not perceive this. Therefore, all Sages and Devas prayed to Lord Vishnu to save the world from the heat of the penance. Lord Vishnu directed Sri Mahalakshmi to save the world.
Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi came down here to this place in the form of a cow and worshipped Lord Shiva to request Him to open His eyes, so that the world could be saved. Pleased with Her prayers, Lord Shiva opened His eyes, after which the heat of the place subsided and became cooler. As Sri Mahalakshmi worshipped here in the form of a cow, the place came to be known as Kopuri (In Thamizh, Ko means cow) and later corrupted to become Kovur.

[sureshvv]

The place itself is a verdant pasture land and seemingly a heaven for cattle.

[Govindaswamy]

Suresh V.V.

In the song SambhOmahAdEva 'gOpuravAsa" occurs. It is likely that gOpuram became gOvUru and kOvUr in tamizh.
Govindaswamy

[sureshvv]

Yes sir. That seems like the most plausible explanation. Another instance of kOgul that Sriram is fond of tweeting about

[bhakthim dehi]

Gopuravasa is another misinterpretation. Gopuravasthu, Gopuravasa refers to monkey in local parlance.
Go, in sanskrit refers to cow. Hence Gopura means 'land of cows' which is much explained in the sthala puranam. So, Gopura might be a sanskrit equivalent to Kovoor.
Another mistake that Sriram V makes in the interpretation of Kovoor krithis is that Sundaresa in those krithis refer to Sundaresa mudaliyar to pacify him. This is totally wrong, an interpretation made without analyzing other kshetra krithis of this Saint. Be it Lalgudi krithis, Kanchipuram krithis, Thirupathi krithis or Srirangam krithis, to cite a few, Thyagaraja has included the name of the deity and/or name of the kshetra in the mentioned krithis. Saptharisheesa or Mahitha pravruddamba occurs in all the available krithis composed in Lalgudi. Same can be seen in others too.
If we are going to analyze Kovoor krithis keeping this mind, it becomes clear the Saint refer only the Lord who resides there.
Also, if we closely observe, Sundaresa is followed by Gireesha in 3 krithis. Gireesha no way can be an adjective to Sundaresa mudaliyar.
What i am trying to insist is that, these compositions must be analyzed in all the possible angles to avoid misinterpretation.

[sureshvv]

It is indeed a worthwhile effort to retell older day myths & shed new light on them as also comment on them with a more recently informed perspective. In this spirit, Serfoji's stomach ache was probably heartburn caused by a guilt conscience - of having undermined T's devotion & values by attempting to lure him with material gifts. It looks as if he atoned for this transgression subsequently & slept a lot better

[sridhar_ranga]

May be Sriram can dedicate an article to how Govoor became Kovoor.

Govoor? Seriously, Suresh-ji?

IMO Ko is the correct and perfectly valid Tamil word for the Sankrit Go.

Just as Cow is a legit cognate of gau, Ko is the Tamil equivalent of go/gau. Let's deal with it

[arasi]

Sridhar,
tamizhil nIr pulavar! You are a poet in tamizh. Well said.

However, when we sing the songs in telugu, we pronounce the word as gOvUru or koVUr sundarESa?

[vgovindan]

The word 'kOvil' (kOyil) is derived from kO which means God (House of God - temple); it also means cow and king. kOvUr is a perfect Tamil Word. It can never be gOvUr, if so, it should be gOvUru (telugu version because the village comes in the Telugu border). Even today the place is known as 'kOvUr' only. IMHO, Sri tyAgarAja could have misconstrued the syllable 'kO' to mean 'cow' and therefore rendered it as 'gO-pura'. btw the Tirumala pushkaraNi is known as 'kOnEru' - Eru (Telugu) Eri (Tamil). (Please also connect kOnEri rAja puram).

[bhakthim dehi]

Saint Thyagaraja was aware of both these terms;kovoor and it's sanskrit counterpart gopura.
Of the 5 compositions available, 4 were composed in telugu and 1 in sanskrit. This word gopura occurs only in the sanskrit krithi shambho mahadeva. In the telugu krithis, only the term kovoor is seen. When we link sthala puranam with these terms, kovoor most likely refers to cow and not otherwise.
We should make ourselves clear before commenting these composers, as it is very difficult to spot mistakes in these compositions.

[vgovindan]

bhaktim dehi,
Thanks for the advice.

[sureshvv]

Govoor? Seriously, Suresh-ji?

Mea Culpa! Racked my brain to think of another tamil word with kO but could not. Then remembered the tamil song " Go matha engal kula matha".

[shankarank]

Another take on what is actually the Serfoji invitation rejection song: https://youtu.be/rclf1mGHixA?t=3670

http://thyagaraja-vaibhavam.blogspot.co ... -raga.html