Musings on Raghuveera Gadhyam-Part 6 (Bala Khandam )

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8 . KOWMAARA KELI GOPAAYITHA KOUSIKAADHWARA !

 

Hail to Thee who protected the yagam of Sage

Viswamitra as if it were a child's play !

 

Here Swami Desikan pays tribute to the extraordinary

valor of Sri Raghavan even as a small boy. He destroyed

the mighty foes of Sage Viswamitra (the Rakshasas and their

leaders , Maricha and Subahu ) with effortless ease , when they

interfered with the performance of the sage's Yagam

at his hermitage.He sent Maricha spinning in the sky over

enormous distance and dumped him inot the ocean

and yet spared his life this time .He killed the other demon Subahu.

Sri Rama constructed a canopy of arrows over the site of the

Yagam . Kamban the Illustrious Tamil poet describes the valor of

Sri Rama this way :

 

MAnniNAI KAAKINRA MANNAN MAINDHARGAL

KAnnINAI KAAKINRA IMAYIN KAATTHANAR

 

( The sons of the emperor Dasaratha , who protects the

citizens of the earth protected the Yagam of Sage Viswamitra like the

eye lids protect the eyes).

 

This act of valor led Sage Viswamitra to praise Sri Rama

this way : " I stand accomplished of my purpose (Kruthaarthosmi ),

O mighty -armed (Maha Baaho ) and highly illustrious hero, in that

the bidding of your Guru (me) has been carried out by you(Valmiki

Ramayanam Sargam 30.26). Kamban salutes Sri Rama as Sundara Villi

(the beautiful one , who handled his bow Kothandam to protect the

sacred six day Yajnam of the inhabitants of Siddhasramam

and Viswamitra) .

 

Saint Thyagaraja who offered his Satva Sangeetham as his

Naivedyam to this Raghuveeran all his breathing moments

sang the praise of the lord in one of his Bowli Divya nama krithis:

 

DEENA JANAAVANA SRI RAMA

DAANVA HARAnA SRI RAMA

NIRMALA HRUDHAYA SRI RAMA

KAARMUKHA BAAnA SRI RAMA

RAGHU KULA TILAKA SRI RAMA

BRIGHU SUTHA RUPA SRI RAMA

DASAMUKA MARDHANA SRI RAMA

 

SIDDHAJANA PRIYA SRI RAMA

PRASIDDHA CHARITRA SRI RAMA

 

In the last two lines of the salutation ,

the saint pays tribute to Sri Rama of clebrated fame

as the one dear to the residents of Siddhaasramam

(Tapovanam where Vishnu once did penance )

 

In another song , Saint Thyagaraja sitting at he banks of

the river Cauveri at Thiruvayyaru saw with his inner eye

(JyanakkaN ) the beauty of the heroic Rama hurling

Maricha into the ocean with his arrow (Maanavaasthram ).

Our Sadguru enjoys this scene in his Madhyamaavathi krithi:

 

ALAGALALLA LAATAKAGANIYAARANMINI YETU PONGENOH

 

CHELUVUMEERAGANU MAARICHUNI MADHAMANATHSU VELA

 

Sage Viswamitra's joy is shared and experienced by Saint

of Thiruvayyaru here. He says: Oh , How must have the heart of

Sage Viswamira leaped with joy at the sight of the effortless heroism

of Sri Rama when he destroyed the haughtiness of Maaricha .

At that time this Sundara Villis' face had no strain or pressure or

marks of strain(Vikaaram ).He looked so beautiful during this

effort of a mighty heroic nature .

 

Swami Desikan celebrated with this Gadhya portion ,

the heroism of the young boy Rama ,

who completed the assigned task as if it was a child's game and

received the gratitude of Sage Viswamitra and the residents of

Siddhaasramam .

 

Sri Raghu Veera Parabrahmaneh Nama :