Guru



The letter 'gu (गु)' in the word 'Guru (गुरु)' refers to darkness (ignorance) while the letter 'ru (रु)' refers to light (spiritual knowledge). Thus undoubtedly, the Guru is Brahman who alleviates this ignorance.

Venkata Kavi is also said to have expressed his deep desire to learn music formally from a locally well known musician, Shri Krishna Yogi. But he returned dejected as Krishna Yogi refused to be his Guru. Subsequently, he was advised by his mother to seek the grace of Lord Krshna himself. It is believed that Venkata Kavi beseeched the Lord's grace at the Kalinga Nartana temple in Oottukkadu. According to legend his prayers were answered by the Lord himself. Many compositions lend credence to this fact when we study the lyrics of his compositions on Guru.

parama yoga yaagam vedam padittilen padittadu pol nadittilen
paarvai onrile vilainda bhaagyamidu yaarkkumidu aridaanadu
parimala sad (guru padaaravinda komalam)

"I have neither formally studied the scriptures and yoga nor have I pretended to possess a mastery over them. I was singularly fortunate to obtain all the knowledge and insights through the benevolent glance of my guru."

Sholli mudiyumo (Surati) is another example of this.

sholli mudiyumo engal tooya gurunaathan endan sondamenna sondamenru

aayiram aayiram vedangal sholvadai arul kadaikann onru shollume
naan sheida aananda tavamellam vellume
poyidai yaaridamum shonnaalum puriyaadu
purindavar yaar enru shollume
anda punniya sangattil ennai tallume

As many as 15-20 compositions of Venkata Kavi's on Guru, have so far been found.  Some of these also suggest that he may have had a human pedagogue too. The composer's devotion to the Guru comes across in a telling manner in these compositions.

 

S no Composition Raga Tala
1 Dhyānamē parama Rasamanjari Ādi
2 Ellām gurunāthan Suraṭi Khaṇḍa Tripuṭa
3 Enna puṇṇiyam Reetigowḷa Mishra Chāpu
4 Guru malaraḍi Kharaharapriya Ādi
5 Guru padāravindam Ābhōgi Roopakam
6 Gurukula maṇiyē Ṣhaṇmukhapriya Ādi
7 Gurunāthan varuvārō Khamāch Tripuṭa
8 Innum enna vēṇum Paras Ādi
9 Kādalāhi vasham izhandēn Reetigowḷa Ādi
10 Kaṇ kaṇḍa deivamē Bēgaḍa Ādi
11 Sholla varam taruvāi Sāmā Ādi
12 Sholli muḍiyāmō Suraṭi Ādi
13 Shollinilē Shankarābharaṇam Ādi
14 Tēḍi kaṇḍēnē Malayamārutam Ādi
15 Tiruvaḍi malarō Kharaharapriya Ādi
16 Uyndadu uyndadu Dēvamanōhari Ādi
17 Āyiram āyiram āyiram Vasanta Ādi