Sri Ramaashtakam by Mutthuswamy Dikshithar--Part 1

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THIRD DAY OF NAVARATHRI

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Sri Venkatesa Sthotram celebrates the Archaa

murhti of the sacred seven hills as Daasarathi

through this following verse :

 

ABHIRAAMA GUNAAKARA DAASARATHEH

JAGDEKHA DHANURDHARA DHEERAMATEH I

RAGHUNAYAKA RAAMA RAMESA VIBHO

VARADHO BHAVA DEVA DHAYAAJALADEH II

 

Sri Venkataraman , the precious son of emperor

Dasarathaa , the unmatched bowman wielding Kodhandam ,

the scion of the vamsam of Raghu , the Lord of the Universe ,

the ocean of mercy , the boon giver , the one who never

changes His mind once he has offered refuge under His

lotus feet , the consort of Maha Lakshmi is hailed here .

With the choice of the words , " Abhiraama GuNaakara "

He is recognized as the home of samastha KalyANa guNAs.

These GuNAs are not only auspicious as described in

Sri RamaanujA's Gadhyam passage , but hey are also

of great comfort to the Prapannas . They are thus of a desired quality

(Abhiraamam ) . They are of a hope giving nature and hence desired

by all of those , who climb those sacred hills from wherever they are .

This slokam reminds Him of His promise " Dhadhaam Yethath

Vratham Mama " and appeals to Him to fulfil that commitment .

 

Sri Venkataachalapathy and service to Him as envisaged by the

Acharya of Ahobila Mutt in the context of his 71st birthday is

some thing we come across once in our life time. When some one

sits under the shade of the Lord 's comforting presence at Thiruppathi and

enjoys the sweet experience of the meditation of Him and his

Abhiraama GuNaas , we are also part of that PuNyam , if our

contributions to that Kaimkaryam gets mixed with that pilgrimage

to those holy hills . Hence , I encourage you to contribute whatever you

can to this timely effort . The Kaimkaryam is not confied to one

Acharya or a tradition. It is universal in scope. When I met this

Acharya in August at Kanchi , he made an observation that stuck in

my mind . He said : " Satakopan, when people contribute to the

different Kaimkaryams , what do I do with the money that they

entrust me ? I am not making a diamond ring for myself. It is still

the same KaashAyam (ochre robes ) for me . ".

 

When the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt completed His Kaimkaryam

of building the southern Gopuram of Sri Ranganatha , the contributors

were from every faith and tradition including ILaya RaajA , Kanchi

Sankara Mata peetathipathi , the two Andavans et al . Hence , I will

encourage you to make a symbolic contribution to this lodge

building effort at Thirumalai and when you visit Thiruppathi

stay at this new building under the shade of the Sumukhan of

the seven hills .

 

In the spirit of salutation to the lotus feet of the Raghuveeran

covered with fresh flowers of undiiminsihing fragrance due to their

association with the Lord's CharaNaaravindham , I will summarize the

Krithis of Dikshithar on Sri Ramachandra. Although Dikshithar was

" outdone " by Thyagaraja swamigaL in the krithis dedicated to

Sri Ramachandra, there are some jewels in the repertoire of

Dikshithar regarding his salutations to Sri Venkataraman .

They are set in the eight vibakthis of Sanskrit grammar . There are

a few more also and the Rama Bhakthi of Dikshitar reaches its

peak with the MaNirangu Krithi dedicated to sri Pattabhi Raman .

 

The Krithis of Dikshithar on Lord Ramachandra , the Raghuveeran are :

 

1. RAMA RAMAKALI KALUSHAVIRAAMA --RAGAM : RAMA KALI

2. KSHITHIJAA RAMANM CHINTAYEH--DEVAGHAANDHAARI

3.SRI RAMACHANDROH RAKSHATHU--SRI RANJANI

4.SRI RAMAM RAVIKULAABDHI SOMAM--NARAYANA GOWLAI

5. RAMACHANDRENA SAMRAKSHITHOHAM --MAANJI

6. RAMACHANDRAQAYA NAMASTEH RAAJIVA LOCHANAAYA--THODI

7.RAMACHANDRAADHANYAM NA JAANEHAM--DHANYAASI

8. RAMACHANDRASYA DAASOHAM --DHARMAVATHI

9. RAMEH BHARATHA PAALITHA RAAJYAM ARPAYAAMI--JYOTHISVARUPINI

10. RAMACHNADRAM BHAVAYAAMI RAGHUKULA TILAKM

UPENDRAM ---VASANTHA .

11. MAAMAVA PATTABHI RAMA --MANIRANGU

 

KRITHIS 3,4,5,6, 7,8 ,9 AND 10 ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED

AS THE RAMAASHTAKA KRITHIS SET IN DIFFERENT VIBAKTHIS.

THERE IS A REASON FOR CHOICE OF EACH VIBAKTHI TO BRING OUT

THE DIFFERENT ASPETS OF BHAKTHI AND PRAPATTHI OF A DEVOTEEE.

 

I WILL ATEMPT TO GIVE THE MEANINGS AND COMMENTS ON THESE

PRECIOUS RAAMAASHTAKA KRITHIS OF SRI MUTTHUSWAMI DIKSHITHAR

NEXT .

 

V.Sadagopan