a beautiful kriti by shri muthusamy dikshitir on sree lakshmi! !

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Dikshitar's farewell to this world took place in the month of Arpisi

(Aswija) in 1834 on the Chathurdasi day preceding Deepavali. On that

day Dikshitar woke up, as usual in the early hours, and after going

through Yogic practices, began taking his bath. He had then a vision

of Sri Kasi Annapurneswari, and while he was gazing on it, it

vanished. Immediately Dikshitar remembered what Chidambaranatha Yogi

had said before the shrine of Annapurneswari at Kasi, "she will give

you not merely food in this life but also Moksha after it". He felt

that his end was near. Then he finished his bath and performed

Navaravarana Puja to the Devi, and sang the kriti "Ehi Annapurne," in

Raga Punnagavarali.

 

 

 

After the Puja was over, Dikshitar moved on to the drawing room.

There a distinguished visitor rushed to see him. It was the Maharajah

of Ettayyapuram. It was unusual for the Maharajah to meet him at this

hour, and he was visibly excited. What had happened was that the

elephant called "Gangeya" on which the Maharajah used to ride got

wild at dawn, and breaking loose, marched on to the cremation ground,

where it stayed on. All efforts to bring it under control proved

unsuccessful. When the Maharajah got information of this he got

alarmed and feared that it forebode some calamity to him. So he

hastened to see Muthuswami Dikshitar, and get his blessings. After

relating to him what had happened, he prostrated before him, and

said "You are my Guru. My mind is perturbed at what has happened.

Kindly tell me whether any evil will befall me."

 

 

 

Dikshitar sat in contemplation for a while, and said " Maharajah, be

assured. It betokens no evil to you."

 

 

"I am so happy", said the maharajah.

 

 

"What about my kingdom?Will there by any peril to it?".

 

 

"There is no peril to your kingdom," assured Dikshitar.

 

 

I am so happy. It is all your blessing, my Guru." So saying, the

Maharajah departed.

 

 

 

 

Then shortly thereafter the sishyas of Dikshitar assembled in the

drawing room, and began to recite his kritis. Dikshitar told them "To-

day is Chaturdasi, and it is a parva day, sacred to the Devi. Sing

kirtanas on the Devi." The sishyas then began to sing "Minakshi me

mudam dehi" in Raga Gamakakariya. When the song was finished,

Dikshitar said, "It looks as if the Devi is going to break my bonds.

Sing this kirtana once more."

 

 

They did so, and while they were singing the words "Minalochani

Pasamochani" in the Anupallavi, Dikshitar shuffled off his mortal

coils. Shortly thereafter the elephant "Gangeya" calmed down, and of

its own accord, left the cremation ground and returned to the stable.

 

The whole of Ettayyapuram was plunged in deep sorrow on hearing that

Dikshitar had died. The Maharajah of Ettayyapuram was shocked at the

news and, rushing to get a last sight of Dikshitar, he cried "When I

saw you in the morning, you were all a glow with divine splendour

(Tejas). I thought only about my welfare, and asked you about it, and

found comfort in your assurance that no harm will come to me or to my

kingdom. But your loss is to me greater than the loss of my kingdom.

You are an avatara of Lord Kartikeya and verily you have now returned

to your abode, on the eve of Skandasashti". On the order of the

Maharajah, the body of Dikshitar was cremated at a place specially

selected and a Samadhi was erected there. It has now become a place

of pilgrimage for all lovers of art and of religion

*******************************************************

dIKSHITIR COMPOSED A BEAUTIFUL SONG ON SREE MAHALAKSHMI IN Tiruvarur.

DSHITIR WAS STEEPED IN poverty... dikshitar's wife had complained

about their poverty and was goading her husband to seek the favour of

the King. He composed this song as a lesson to her and as a prayer to

Lakshmi. The Goddess appeared in the dreams of Dikshitar's wife and

advised her. The lady was suitably chastened and in gratitude,

Diskhitar composed Mangaladevataya Tvaya in Dhanyasi.

 

 

hiraNmayIm lakshmIm sadAbhajAmi hInamAnavAshrayamtyajAmi

 

ciratara sampatpradAm shIrAmbudhitanayAm harivakshasthalAlayAm

hariNIm caraNakisalayAm karakamaladhrtakuvalayAm

marakatamaNimayavalayAm

 

shvEtadvIpavAsinIm srI kamalAmbikAm parAm bhUtabhavya vilAsinIm

bhUsurapUjitAm varAm

 

mAtaramabjamAlinIm mANikyAbharaNadharAm gItavAdhyavinodinIm

girijAptAm indirAm

 

shItakiraNa nibhavadanAm shritacintAmaNisadanAm pItavasanAm guru guha

mAtulakAntAm lalitAm

{ hiraNmayIm }

 

Meaning:

 

I sing about the Golden form of Lakshmi and will henceforth never

sing the praises of weak mortals.

 

She provides permanent wealth and is the daughter of the Ocean of

Milk. She resides in the heart of Hari, she is the feminine form of

Hari and her feet are like tender creepers. In her lotus hands she

holds lotus flowers and is embellished with emerald studded bangles.

 

Resident of the white island, she is the most superior Kamalambika.

She resides in the past and future and is the special one worshipped

by the mortals. She is the mother who wears lotus garlands and jewels

studded with gems. She loves the music from instruments and is

Indira, the friend of Girija. Her complexion is like the moon's. She

is like the touchstone which gives all good fortune, to her devotees.

She wears yellow raiments and is the charming wife of Subrahmanya's

maternal uncle.

 

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