''Vanchi Bhumi'' (alternatively ''Vanji Bhumi'') was the
national anthem
A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and European n ...
of the erstwhile
Kingdom of Travancore
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Computer scientists and mathematicians often voc ...
which now forms part of Kerala. It was formally known as the Vanchishamangalam meaning "Hail the Lord of Vanchi". It was played by the Travancore radio every night as the last item.
Vanchi Bhumi, meaning the "Land of Vanchi", is a reference to the city of
Thiruvanchikulam
Thiruvanchikulam Siva Temple (medieval Thiruvanchaikkalam Temple) is a Hindu temple situated in Kodungallur in Thrissur district of Kerala state, India.
Constructed in the Kerala style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been bui ...
,
Kodungallur
Kodungallur (; also Cranganore, Portuguese: Cranganor; formerly known as Mahodayapuram, Shingly, Vanchi, Muchiri, Muyirikkode, and Muziris) is a historically significant town situated on the banks of river Periyar on the Malabar Coast in Thr ...
the capital of the
Later Cheras
Later may refer to:
* Future, the time after the present
Television
* ''Later'' (talk show), a 1988–2001 American talk show
* '' Later... with Jools Holland'', a British music programme since 1992
* ''The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts'', or ...
, and the "Lord of Vanchi", the Later Chera's
tutelary deity
A tutelary () (also tutelar) is a deity or a spirit who is a guardian, patron, or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture, or occupation. The etymology of "tutelary" expresses the concept of safety and ...
,
Vanchinathan
Vanchinatha Iyer (1886 – 17 June 1911), popularly known as Vanchinathan or Vanchi, was an Indian independence activist.
He is best remembered for assassinating Robert Ashe, the Tax Collector of Thirunelveli who was instrumental in closing ...
, a name for Hindu god
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
.
Written in
Malayalam language
Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...
, it was the anthem of the Kingdom of Travancore until 1947, and the merger of Kingdom of Travancore with
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
The anthem ran thus:
''Vanchi Bhumi (Malayalam)''
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: സഞ്ജിതാഭം ജയിക്കേണം
: ദേവദേവൻ ഭവാനെന്നും
: ദേഹസൗഖ്യം വളർത്തേണം
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: ത്വച്ചരിതമെന്നും ഭൂമൗ
: വിശൃതമായി വിളങ്ങേണം
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: മർത്യമനമേതും ഭവാൽ
: പത്തനമായി ഭവിക്കേണം
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: താവകമാം കുലം മേന്മേൽ
: ശ്രീവളർന്നുല്ലസിക്കേണം
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: മാലകറ്റി ചിരം
: പ്രജാപാലനം ചെയ്തരുളേണം
: വഞ്ചിഭൂമിപതേ ചിരം
: സഞ്ജിതാഭം ജയിക്കേണം.
''Vanchi Bhumi (Romanization)''
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: sañjitābhaṁ jayikkēṇaṁ
: dēvadēvan bhavānennuṁ
: dēhasakhyaṁ vaḷarttēṇaṁ
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: tvaccaritamennuṁ bhūmau
: viśr̥tamāyi viḷaṅgēṇaṁ
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: martyamanamētuṁ bhavāl
: pattanamāyi bhavikkēṇaṁ
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: tāvakamāṁ kulaṁ mēnmēl
: śrīvaḷarnnullasikkēṇaṁ
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: mālakaṟṟi ciraṁ
: prajāpālanaṁ ceytaruḷēṇaṁ
: vañcibhūmipatē ciraṁ
: sañjitābhaṁ jayikkēṇaṁ.
''Vanchi Bhumi (Translation)''
: O Lord of Vanchi Land!
: Thou should hail forever, most gloriously!
: The God of gods*, the Lord*, daily
: Shall promote thy physical well-being!
: Thy legend , in earth, daily,
: Should be famous and glorified;
: All of the human minds
: Should be thy abode;
: The family of thine
: Should prosper graciously.
: Evading the sadness, forever
: Thou should protect the subjects.
References
External links for Audio
Vancheesha Mangalam as recorded by the Travancore Government in 1938Audio of the Anthem.{{Nationalanthemsofasia
Anthems of Indian states
Kingdom of Travancore
Year of song unknown
Songwriter unknown