Ramaashtaka Krithis of Dikshithar--Part 3

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NAVARATHRI SIXTH DAY - FRIDAY , OCTOBER 18, 96

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The Bala Khandham and the many acts of valor

of Sri Ramachandra is saluted by Dikshitar in this Krithi .

The Sahiya Vaakyams are as follows for this krithi

set inRaga Sri Ranjani and TALam Triputa :

 

PALLAVI : SRI RAAMACHANDRO RAKSHATHU MAAM

RAKSHASAATHI HARO RAGHUVEERA

 

ANUPALLAVI :BHARATHAKRAJO KOWSIKA YAAGA RAKSHAKO

TAATAKAANTHAKA (SRI RAMACHANDRO RAKSHATHU )

 

CHARANAM : MITHILAA NAGARA PRAVESA

MAHESWARA DHANUR BEDAKHO

SITA KALYANA MAHOTSAVA VAIBHAVA YUTHA

CHITRA VESHAKHO

MADHURYA GAANAAMRUDHA PAANAPRIYA

GURUGUHA VISWASO

MAHADEVI BHAKTHA PARASURAMA

GARVA HAROLLAASA (sRI rAMACHANDRO rAKSHATHU )

 

The Raghuveera Vaibhavam is very much in the mind of

Dikshitar. In the Pallavi and Anupallavi vakhyams , he refers to

the valor of the elder brother of Bharatha and salutes him

as the destroyer of the rakshasas(RAKSHASAATHI HARO) ,

the cause of the death of the violent and shameless

Tatakaa and her sons( TATAKKANTHAKA). He recognizes

and reminisces over the extraordinary skills of

the elder brother of Bharatha (BHARATHAKRAJO )

in archery and the defense of the yagam of Sage Viswamitra

(KOWSIKA YAGA RAKSHAKO) at Siddhaasramam .

 

The first two lines of Charanam celebrate the joyous events

associated with the Sita KalyaNa Vaibhogam . His entry into

the city of Mithila as a majestic prince captivating the hearts of

the citizens of king Janaka's Capital city to marry Maithili

( MITHILAA NAGARA PRAVESA) through the bending and

breaking of the mighty bow of Maheswara ( MAHESWARA

DHANURBHEDAGO ) is saluted here .

 

The grand celebration of the marriage festivities (SITA

KALYAANA MAHOTSAVA VIBHAVAM) and the many

beautiful attires (MAHOTSAVA VAIBHAVA CHITRA VESHAKO)

worn by Sri Rama during the different stages of the marriage ceremony

(Nalangu, exchange of Garlands , PaaNi GrahaNam,

Maangalya DhaaraNam , seven steps around the sacred fire,

Lajaa Homam , gruha Pravesam et al ) are enjoyed by Dikshitar

in his mind's eye and are saluted thru hte first half of

CharaNam.

 

The latter half of CharaNam refers to Sri Rama's

delight in drinking the nectar of music ( MADHURYA

GAANAAMRUTHA PAANA PRIYA ) .

 

Saint Thyagaraja has referred to sri Ramachandra's

deep affiliation to delightful music in many of his krithis.

The great Rama Bhaktha has alluded to the seven

svaras incarnating as beautiful damsels and dancing

in front of this sangita -lola with their tinkling bells ( Sobhillu

Saptasvara krithi in Jaganmohini ragam and

the AtaaNa krithi , Sripapriya ).The bard ofThiruvayaaru

delights in addressing the Lord as Saptha svara chaari in the

AtaaNa krithi referred to above. Among the other pieces

of the Saint 's krithis we find many references to

Sri Rama's supreme talent as a Sangitha Rasika

( Sangita Lola in Kambhoji krithi Sri Raghuvara Aprameya,

Sama Gana Lola in the Sriranga Pancharatna Krithi ) . In Arabhi

Pancharatnam , The saint refers to Sri Rama as the

maintainer of the musical tradition ( SANGITA SAMPRADHAYAKUDU ).

The conception of Rama as Nadha Brahmananda Rupi by

Saint Thyagaraja in his krithis Nadasudha rasambhilanu /Arabhi ,

Talaci nantane/mukhaari and Ni dayace Rama/Yadhukula

Kambhoji is very appropriate to Dikshitar's own salutation to

Sri Rama as " MADHURYA GANAAMRUTHA PAANA PRIYA ) .

 

In one of the two remaining salutatons of CharaNam ,

Dikshitar describes the fond uncle Rama as the one

dear to the heart of the nephew,

ShaNmugan (GURU GUHA VISWASO ) .

 

In the last charaNa vakhyam, MAHA DEVI BAHKTHA

PARASURAMA GHARVA HAROLLAASA: , Dikshitar

refers to the destructionn of the arrogance of the haughty

Parasurama, who challenged the newly wed Rama and

demanded that Ram ashow his valor by bending the Vishnu

Dhanus. He describes Parasurama as the great devotee of

Sri Vidya here. The land of Kerala is known as Parasurama

Kshetram , since Parasurama recovered that land from the Ocean

with his mighty axe. The worship of Bhagvathi in that land is

ancient and Dikshitar refers to tht tradition originating from

Parasurama .

 

Summary of Krithi : May the Maha Veera Rama , who destroyed evil

Rakshasas , Tatakaa and helped sage Viswaitra to

complete his sacred yagam at Siddhaasramam protect me !

May the eledest brother of Bharatha ,

who reached the city of Mithila thereafter and broke the mighty bow of Siva

to qualify for the marriage to Mythili offer me his protection !

May the bridegroom Rama , who exhibited his multifaceted

beauty during the different stages of his marriage to Sita

protect me ! May the Gana Lola , who delights in drinking the divine

nectar of music and who is dear to his nephew Guha save me from

the ills of samsaara ! May the supreme bowman Sri Rama ,who

destroyed the arrogance of Sri Vidya Upasakaa, Parasurama

protect me always !

 

V.Sadagopan