Idigo Bhadradri Keerthana: The Divine Glory of Bhadrachalam
Among many compositions of Bhakta Ramadasu, the soul-stirring Keerthana Idigo Bhadradri, occupies a special place in the devotional compositions of Carnatic music. This 17th century masterpiece is composed by Kancharla Gopanna, revered as Bhakta Ramadasu.
Bhakta Ramadasu constructed the famous Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple at Bhadrachalam during his tenure as Tahsildar of this place.
Through the lyrical beauty of the melodious Keerthana in Varali Ragam, Ramadasu portrays the architectural grandeur and the divine aura of the historic Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple at Bhadrachalam, and invites the devotees to have a gaze upon the majestic temple with golden towers on the banks of River Gautami (a distributory of River Godavari).
This Keerthana is especially sung in Sri Ramanavami celebrations.
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| Courtesy: bhadrachalaramadasu.com |
In his composition 'Idigo Bhadradri' he describes the magnificence of Bhadrachalam temple.
| 🎼 Composition: | Idigo Bhadradri Goutami Adigo Choodandi |
| ✍️ Composed By: | Bhakta Ramadasu (Kancharla Gopanna) |
| Language: | Telugu |
| 🎵 Ragam: | Varali |
| 🥁 Talam: | Adi |
| 🕉️ Deity: | Sri Sita, Rama and Lakshmana |
| 📜 Core Theme: | Glorification of the magnificent Bhadrachalam Temple. |
Idigo Bhadradri: Telugu Lyrics with English Transliteration and Meaning in English
Varali Ragam
ఆరోహణం: స గ1 రి1 గ1 మ2 ప ద1 ని3 స
అవరోహణం: స ని3 ద1 ప మ2 గ1 రి1 స
Arohana (ascending): Sa Ga1 Ri1 Ga1 Ma2 Pa Da1 Ni3 Sa
Avarohana (descending): Sa Ni3 Da1 Pa Ma2 Ga1 Ri1 Sa
పల్లవి / Pallavi
Telugu Lyrics
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
ముదముతో సీత ముదిత లక్ష్మణులు
కలిసి కొలువగా రఘుపతి యుండేది
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Idigo Bhadradri Gautami adigo choodandi
Mudamuto Sita mudita Lakshmanulu
Kalisi koluvaga Raghupati yundedi
Idigo Bhadradri Gautami adigo choodandi
Meaning: "Look there! the magnificent temple of Bhadradri on the banks of river Gautami." The sacred place where Sita Devi and Lakshmana served Raghupati with pure joy and devotion.
చరణం 1 / Charanam 1
Telugu Lyrics
చారు స్వర్ణ ప్రాకార గోపుర
ద్వారములతో సుందరమై యుండేది
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Charu swarna prakara gopura
Dwaramulato sundaramai yundedi
Idigo Bhadradri
Meaning: "The temple with majestic golden entrance towers and boundary walls, shines beautifully radiating an unparalled visual splendor."
చరణం 2 / Charanam 2
Telugu Lyrics
అనుపమానమై అతిసుందరమై
దనరు చక్రము ధగ ధగ మెరిసెడి
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Anupamaanamai atisundaramai
Danaru chakramu dhaga dhaga merisedi
Idigo Bhadradri
Meaning: "Look at the unparalleled, breathtaking beauty of the divine Sudarshana Chakra, glittering flawlessly atop the temple spire."
చరణం 3 / Charanam 3
Telugu Lyrics
కలియుగమందున ఇలవైకుంఠము
నలరు చున్నది నయముగ మ్రొక్కెడి
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Kaliyugamanduna ilavaikunthamu
Nalaru (vaikunthamuna + alaru) chunnadi nayamuga mrokkedi
Idigo Bhadradri
Meaning: "In this Kaliyuga Bhadradri truly shines as Vaikuntham on Earth." This is one of the most celebrated lines of the Keerthana in which Ramadasu proclaims Bhadrachalam temple as the Earthly abode of Sri Maha Vishnu in the Kali Yuga.
Let us bow down and prostrate before Sri Rama who resides here to bless us."
చరణం 4 / Charanam 4
Telugu Lyrics
పొన్నల పొగడల పూ పొదరిండ్లను
చెన్ను మీగడను శృంగారాంబడు
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Ponnala pogadala poo podarindlanu
Chennu meegadanu srungarambadu
Idigo Bhadradri
Meaning: "The pristine temple complex features gorgeous garden houses blooming with Ponna and Pogada flowers, serving as an enchanting backdrop for the divine romance of Sita and Rama."
చరణం 5 / Charanam 5
Telugu Lyrics
శ్రీకరముగ రామదాసును ప్రకటముగ
బ్రోచే ప్రభు వశము
ఇదిగో భద్రాద్రి గౌతమి అదిగో చూడండీ
English Transliteration
Srikaramuga Ramadasunu prakatamuga
Broche Prabhu vasamu
Idigo Bhadradri
Meaning: "This is the blissful sacred abode of Sri Rama who protects His devotee Ramadasu (Sri Rama's slave).
The final line expresses Ramadasu's immense gratitude and complete surrender to Sri Rama.
✨Spiritual Significance
The keerthana has spiritual weightage and describes the temple as "Ila Vaikuntham": Vaikuntham manifest on Earth. Ramadasu describes Bhadrachalam temple not just as a physical structure, but as Ilavaikunthamu.
It signifies that a visit to this sacred place with sincere devotion to Sri Rama grants divine blessings and inner peace. The glittering Chakra and the golden towers highlight the divine protective power. It symbolises that having a look at this magnificent temple destroys ego and gives cosmic protection.
The keerthana is a best example of unconditional devotion and absolute surrender (Saranagati Tatvam). Even when Ramadasu was facing hardships i.e. 14 years of imprisonment, his focus remained entirely on Sri Rama proving that true bhakti (devotion) transcends all physical sufferings.
📌Key Takeaway: The song beautifully captures the divine heritage of the 17th-century architectural splendour. Bhadrachalam is elevated to Ilavaikunthamu in the Kaliyuga.
The lyrical composition of Ramadasu reflectis his absolute devotion and resilience, which touched Sri Rama who came down to Earth to release him from the prison.
Besides enriching the Carnatic classical music with his compositions, he also authored Telugu Satakams (100 verses). He wrote Dasarathi Satakamu (దాశరథి శతకము) and Dasarathi Karunaa Payonidhee' (దాశరథీ కరుణా పయోనిధీ) which is a collection of nearly 108 poems on Sri Rama.
Gopanna was a Tahsildar (tax collector) in the Bhadrachalam region in the court of Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah. He used the collected money in the construction of Bhadrachalam temple. And he was imprisoned in the Golconda prison Hyderabad for misusing the money. He spent 14 years of imprisonment where he spent in writings on Sri Rama.
As per a version, Sri Rama and Lakshmana appeared to Tana Shah in the form of tribes and repaid the amount used by Gopanna. Sri Rama, thus, rescued Gopanna.
The last line of all his Keerthanas invariably contains his name 'Ramadasa' or 'Ramadasu'.
👤 Bhakta Ramadasu: The 17th Century Telugu Saint Poet and Carnatic Music Composer
Born as Kancharla Gopanna in Nelakondapalli village in Khammam Dist of Telangana, became popular as Bhakta Ramadasu. The famous 17th century Telugu saint poet and Vaggeyakara is an ardent devotee of Sri Rama, who composed around 200 Telugu keertanas alongside the famous Dasarathi Satakamu (దాశరథి శతకము), a collection of 108 poems on Sri Rama.
While serving as the Tahsildar under Sultan Abul Hassan Tana Shah, Gopanna utilized state tax collections to reconstruct the crumbling Bhadrachalam temple. This led to his 14-year imprisonment at the Golconda Fort, a period where his agonizingly beautiful compositions bloomed. Legend beautifully holds that Lord Rama and Lakshmana themselves appeared in disguise to pay off his debt to the Sultan, ensuring his miraculous release. He signature-stamped all his compositions with the direct phrasing of his name, 'Ramadasu'.
His devotional compositions in praise of Sri Rama remain an integral part of Telugu devotional music traditions. His compositions are renowned for their devotion, poetic beauty, and emotional depth.
Conclusion
Idigo (Adigo) Bhadradri, is one of the famous Carnatic devotional compositions of Sri Ramadasu. Through this composition, he gives a beautiful mental image of the Bhadrachalam temple and describes the beauty of the temple with the glittering Sudarshana Chakra on the banks of the sacred river Gautami (a distributory of River Godavari).
ॐ Insights into Hinduism by Sobha Kalyani Chivukula
Listen the Keerthana from the melodious voice of Sri Balakrishna Prasad garu.
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