DIKSHITAR"S MAHA LAKSHMI KRITHIS--PART 5 .1

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MangaLa Kaisikhi Raaga Krithi

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Inthis postng, I will attempt to understand the

deep meanings of Dikshitar's salutations to

Maha Lakshmi in the Ragam Mangala Kaisikhi .

This is an Upaangha Rakti Raagam , which

is a Janya Raagam of the Mela Kartha , Maaya

MaaLava Gowlai . Just as Saint Thyagaraja was fond of

composing Krithis in Karahara Priyaa Mela Kartha and

its Janya Raagaas, Sri Dikshitar was fond of composing

Krithis in the Mayaa MaaLava GouLai and its many

Janya Raagaas.

 

TheSignificance of the Name MangaLa Kaisikhi

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Although the Name Kaisikhi has the two meanings

of (1) Fine Hair and (2) the sentiment of Love , the

context here makes us choose the first meaning.

Maha Lakshmi is invoked here as the Goddess

with auspicious tresses of Hair. It is like saluting

Her as Sughandha Kundalaambhaal or AliveNi

in the Shyamaa Sastrigal tradition..

Her bluish black hair with divine fragrance is one

of Her 32 Saamudhrikaa LakshaNams or signs of

beauty of a Padmini type of women . One is reminded

of the Sahasra Naamam of Lalitha Parameswari ,

" Champakaasokha pumnaaga Sowgandhika Lasat

Kachaa" . That Naamam states that AmbhaaL's

coiffure has the natural fragrance of the Champakaa,

Asokhaa and Pumnaagaa blossoms. Maha Lakshmi"s

beautiful tresses reminding one of the bluish-black

color of the VaNdu and the exquisite fragrance of Paarijathaa

and other four divine flowers that grow in the garden of Indra.

The link to Paarijaatha flower adorning MangaLa Kaisikhi"s

coiffure is appropriate, since the Paarijaathaa tree

came out of the Milky Ocean during the time of churning

of that Ocean for Nectar by the Lord . Indra took that tree

for his garden and later Krishna wrested from him in a

battle and planted it in Satyabhaamaa"s garden. It is indeed

a Raaga of fragrant memory to invoke Maha Lakshmi.

 

SAAHITYA VAAKYAMS

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PALLAVI: Sri Bhargavee Bhadram Meh Disathu

Sri Ranga Dhaameswari

 

ANUPALLAVI: Sowbhaagya Lakshmi Satatam Maam Avathu

Sakala Loka Janani Vishnu Mohini

 

CHARANAM : Madana Guru Guha Maaninee Mama Manasi Thishtathu

Madhukara Vijaya MangaLa Kaisikhaa Nivasathu

Sadhana Madhyeh Maha Lakshmee Sadhaa Viharatu

Saamaja Hema Kumbha Snaapitaa Vijayathu

Padha Nayana Aanana Kara Nalinee

Parama Purusha Pranayinee

Vadana Kamala Guru Guha Dharanee

Vara Nuta Ranganaatha RamaNee (Sri Bhargavee)

 

This Krithi is a wonderful and moving prayer to Sri Ranganayaki,

the empress of Srirangam. Dikshitar recognizes Her as having

arisen in the Vamsam of Bhrugu Maharishi. Hence , he salutes Her

as Bhargavi. Bhrigu Maharishi is one of the ten patriarchs created by

the first Manu according to Manu Smruthi. He is also considered

as the direct son of Brahmaa and therefore a brother of Sivaa elsewhere..

In Archaavataarams , Maha Lakshmi is born as Ayonijaa

and is raised by Maharishis like Bhrigu . For Instance ,

at Thiruvahindrapuram, she was born inside a golden lotus

(Hemaabhja Valli ) and was raised by Bhrugu Maharishi

and then given in marriage by him to Sri Devanaathan

of that Kshetram Hence, Maha Lakshmi has the name of

Bhargavi to reveal Her lineage.

 

Dikshitar prays in the Pallavi to Bhargavi and requests

the boon of Auspicious happenings to him. He says:

May the empress of Srirangam hailed as Bhargavi

confer on me MangaLlams (Bhadram Meh Disathu).

 

In the Anupallavi Vakyams, He rcognizes Her as

Sowbhagya Lakshmi , the mother of all the

worlds and Vishnu Mohini. The Lord took "Mohini"

rupam and enchanted the world . Maha Lakshmi

enchants even the Enchanter (Vishnu Mohini ).

She is indeed the Madhava Manohari as Vishnu

Mohini.

 

In the Anupallavi, Dikshitar prays also to Her

Sowbhagya aspects this way :

 

"Sowbhagya Lakshmi Satatam Maam Avathu".

 

He asks for the permanent protection of

Sowbhagya Lakshmi, who confers all blessings

and good fortune. His prayer is similar to

Sri Prandara Dasa"s In Sri Ragam : "Bhagyata

Lkshmi Bhaarammaa , Nammama Nee

SOWBHAGYATA LAKSHMI Bharammaa" .

Purandra Dasa also refers to the Vishnu Mohini

Concept in that song also, when he says: "AkkareyuLLa

Sri ALagiri Rangana Sokka Purandara Vittalana

RaaNi , -- Sowbhagya Lakshmi Bharammaa ". Her

Sowbhagyam is serving Her Lord as the Maha Pathivrathaa..

Purandara Dasa in his Thodi Raga Krithi reveals

that sowbhagyatvam this way:

 

"Yenu DhanyaLO , Lakumi ,Emtha MaanyaLO,

Saanuraagaadhimtha Hariya Taaneh ,seva MaaduthihaLu.

Sarvatrati Vyaaptha Naatha Sarva Dhosha Rahita Naatha

Sarva Vandhya Naatha Purandara Vitalneh Sarva Kaaladiseh

VisuvaLu ( Yenu DhanyaLO ) . Her Own Sowbhagyam

gives Her the power to confer Sowbhagyam to others

as Sowbhagya Lakshmi.

 

CHARANA VAAKHYAMS WILL BE COVERED IN THE

NEXT POSTING.

 

V.Sadagopan