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 |
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