Syama Sasthri's Mayamma - Nattakurunji - a question

[HarishankarK]

Hi Everyone,

Pallavi:
mAyammA nannu brOvavammA mahAmAyA umA
Anupallavi:
satyAnandA sAnandA nityAnandA AnandA ambA

Charanam:
shyAmakrSNa jananI tAmasamEla rAvE dEvI
shyAmaLE nIlOtpalE himAcala sutE suphalE shivE
(svarasAhitya)
mAdhavAdi vinuta sarasijAkSi kanci kAmAkSi tAmasamu sEyakarammA
marakatAngi mahA tripurasundari ninnE hrdayamupaTTukoni

I was going through the lyrics of Sri Syama Sastri's Nattakurunji krithi and noted that he has used the mudra phrase - Syama Krishna Janani here instead of the usual Syama Krishna Sodari found in his krithis.

Since most of his krithis are on Devi (Parvati) the phrase Syama Krishna Sodari seems very appropriate and as an intelligent prayoga where his mudra and also the fact that Devi is Sri Krishna's sister comes out naturally. And also the fact that both Sri Krishna and Devi are Syama varna (colour) stands out.
But when he uses Syama Krishna Janani it is not as appropriate as Devi is not the mother of Sri Krishna. But I understand that Sri Syama Sastri is addressing the Goddess as his mother. But it does not fit as well as Syama Krishna Sodari. Somehow it does not serve dual purpose.
Any inisights on why this change in prayoga for this krithi?

Thanks,
Harishankar

[keerthi]

It is a misconception that SS has used his signature only in the stock phrase shyAma-kRSNa-s(ah)odari. See below for other types -

in durusuga and O jagadamba - 'shyAma-kRSNa-vinuta',
in kanaka-saila-vihArinI and the bhairavi gItam - ' shyAma-kRSNa-paripALini';
in pAhi srI girirajasute - shyAma-kRSNa-sadvarade
in Emani migula vaRNintu the expression is shyama-kRSNa-cintitA,
in the tODi svarajati, pAlincu kAmAkSi and the kAmbhoji song devi nI padasArasamule 'shyama-kRSNa-nuta';
in brova samayamide - punnAgavarALi - shyAmakRSNa-hRdayAmbujanilayA

I'm sure there must be more examples. However it is true that shyAma-kRSNa-s(ah)odari is the most popular mudra phrase used by SS. Anyway, all of this is beside the point since this nATakuranji song is of doubtful origins and may not have been by SS.

[HarishankarK]

Thanks Keerthi, very informative. My bad that because of my limited knowledge of SS songs I assumed that Syama Krsna Sodari was the major mudra.
And I never once doubted that the Nattakurunji song could have been written by anyone else. So that is also news.