Dikshithar"s Krithis on Mahalkashmi --2.1

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Among the five Dhanyasi Krithis of Dikshithar,

The one known as "Mangala Devathayaa

Tvyaa Bhaumaanithoham " is dedicated to

Maha Lakshmi. The others are:

 

1. Sri Ranganathaaya Namastheh (Srirangam Krithi )

2. Ramacchandrath Anyam na Jaaneham

(One of the Rammashtaka Krithis )

3. Maayara Naatham Anisam Bhajaami ( On the Lord of Mayilaaduthurai )

4. Paradevathaa Bruhatkuchaambha Samrakshathu Maam

(On the AmbhaaL of Thiruidaimaruthoor ).

 

Dikshitar had many Nathaswara Vidwaans as his

disciples. He seems to have selected the ragam Dhanyaas ,

that is the favorite of Nathaswara Vidwaans for the

mid morning part of the day (Murpagal ).

 

The Sahitya Vakhyams of the Maha Lakshmi Krithi are as follows:

 

Pallavi : Mangala Devathayaa Tvyaa Bhaumaanithoham Sri

 

Anupallavi: Pungava Kamalaalayaa Bhoga Bhogyaalayaa

Jangama Sthavara loka jana sthithi layayaa Jaya

 

Saranam: Haridhraa Kumkuma vasthraalankruta vigrahayaa

Dharidra Dukkaadhi moordhanyaa siva nigrahayaa

Varadaraja Gopala hrudhya sarasija Gruhayaa

VARA LAKSHMYAA Hari hara Guru Guha Bhakthaanugrahayaa

Suraarchita Padhambhujayaa sudhaa Saagara Atmajayaa

sura vinuta Siva Anujayaa Maayaa Bhijayaa Vijayaa (Mangala )

 

Maha Lakshmi has been saluted as "MangaLam MangaLaanaam "

by Swami Desikan in the very first verse of Sri Sthuthi.

She is the one , who confers Auspiciousness to all

Auspicious entities . Dikshithar recognizes Her as that

Mangala Devathaa.He says that he has been extensively

blessed by Her with all Auspiciousness. Swami Desikan Offered

his homage to Maha Lakshmi through the choice words

of "Kalyanaanaam Avikala Nidhi: " to reveal that she is

the eternal, undiminishing treasure house for all riches

and auspiciousness. Dikshitar recognized that such an

Avikala Nidhi resides permanently in Celebrated Thiruvaroor

(Pungava Kamalaalayaa ) .Pungava means that which stands

as a superior entity in its class.

 

He saluted Her as "Bhoga Bhogyalayaa " to reveal to us

that she is the power behind all that is enjoyable (BHogam).

In this world, all Bhogams take their abode (BHogyaalayam )

in Her. This reference relates to the Lakshmi Sahasra Naamam

passage:

 

DEVA BHOGYAA MAHA BHAAGAA PRATIJNAA PURNA SEVADHI :

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SUVARNA RUCHIRA PRAKYAA BHOGINI BHOGA DAAYINEE

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Swami Desikan expresses the same sentiment of Sahasra Naamam,

when he salutes HER as "Sakala Bhuvana Praarthanaa Kamadhenu: "

 

In the next line of Anupallavi, Dikshitar offers his homage

as " JANGAMA STHAAVARA LOKA JANA STHITHI LAYAYAA

JAYA MANGALA DEVATHAYAA TVYAA BAHUMAANITHOHAM "

He says that Maha Lakshmi, who has specially blessed him

is the Empress, who creates , protects and dissolves all the

Chetanas(sentient beings ) and Achetanas (insentient ones ).

This sentiment is a reflection of Adi Sankara"s beautiful verse

that begins with "GHEERDEVATEHTHI " :

 

GHEERDEVATEHTI GARUDA DHWAJA SUNDAREETHI

SAKAMBHAREETHI SASISEKHARA VALLABHETHI

SRUSHTI STHITHI PRALAYA KELISHU SAMSTHITHAAYAI

TASYAI NAMASTRIBHUVANAIKA GUROSTARUNYAI

 

Adi Sankara says that She is the Guru (Acharya ) for the three

worlds. She is worshipped by many names such as

Saraswati , Saakambhari (Bhudevi) , The consort of

Garuda Dwajan (Naarayani ) , Vishnu Durgai et al.

She creates , protects and ultimately in Pralayaa time,

She absorbs them inside Her. Adi Sankara in the above verse

offers his salutations to Maha Lakshmi of such illustrious fame.

Dikshitar echoes the sentiments of Adi Sankara through

his set of choice words :" Srushti sthithi pralaya kelishu

samsthithaayaayai and Jangama Sthaavara loka jana

sthithi layayaa jaya Mangala Devathayaa " . We will examine the

meaning of the Charana Portion of this Sahityam in the next

posting .

 

V.Sadagopan