Ramaashtaka Krithis--Sixth Vibakthi Krithi

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Sri Dikshitar composed the sixth krithi in his

Ramaashtakam series in the 59th Mela Ragam,

Dharmavathi . The Chatussruthi Daivatham and Kaakali

Nishada svara sthaana Devathais are used in the feminine

raga of Dharmavathi to worship the manohara purushan,

who is the embodiment of Dharama( Dhrmo Vigrahavaan ).

It is an interesting coincidence that the Mela Ragam next to

Dharmavathi is Nitimathi with Shatsruthi Daivatham and Kaakali

Nishada praadhanya svarupam. Dharmam goes befor e Nithi ,

it looks ! The great emperor , whose rulership was celebrated as

Rama Rajyam seems to enjoy Sri Dikshitar's adoration in

Raga Dharmavathi .

 

The sahitya Vaakyams for this SAMASHTI krithi are as follows :

 

PALLAVI :

 

RAAMACHANDRASYA DAASOHAM SRI SITAA NAYAKASYA

GURUGUHA HITASYA

 

CHARANAM :

 

SAAMA DHAANA BEDHAADI CHATURASYA

SAJJANA PAALASYA DHUSHTA HARASYA

SAMACHARA SAMPRATHAAYAKASYA

SABARI MOKSHA PRATHASYA VARASYA

(RAMACHANDRASYA DAASOHAM )

 

In pallavi , Sri Dikshitar emphasises Daasyam

( one of the nine modes of Bhakthi , the other 8 being

SravaNam, Keerthanam, Paada Sevanam, Archanam,

vandanam , Sakhyam and Aatma Nivedanam ) in this

krithi. In the previous krithi , he stated his ananya Bhakthi to

Sri Rama. Now , he experiences the Bhavam of Daasyam .

Saint Thyagaraja has composed many krithis to express

his servitude to Rama in the manner in which Hanuman and

LakshmaNaa demonstrated earlier . Some of the Krithis of the bard

expressing Daasya mode of Bhakthi are :

 

1.Tava Daasoham --Ragam PunnAgavarALi

2. Upachaaramu cesevAru--Bhairavi

3. Banturiti Kolu--Hamsanaadam

4.Centane Sadaa-- KuntalavarALi

 

The spirit of what Saint Thyagaraja states in the last

Krithi is similar to the mood of Dikshitar , when he

describes himself as "Ramachandrasya Daasoham ".

The bard of Thiruvaiyaaru expressed his mental state in

the KuntalavaraaLi piece as follows :

 

" O Rama ! Just keep me by your side , as you do

Hanuman and Bharata. You need not tell me much or

often. I shall understand whatever work you think of and

I will cheerfully carry it out. "

 

In Charana Vakyams , Dikshithar reminds one of the Kaapi

NaarayaNi piece of Saint Thyagaraja " Sarasa Saama Dhaana

Bheda Danda Chathura " . Dukshitar's choice of words is

" Saama Dhana Bhedaadhi chaturasya " , He leaves out

Dandam. Both thus celebrate the adeptness of Sri Rama

in statesmanship by wielding the four expedients,

Conciliation(Saama) , Winning over through gifts(Dhaana) ,

Dividing the enemies and conquering ( Bheda) and Punishing by

display of valor (Dandam ). While thinking about the Chathushtayam

(Four means) , the fourth expedient is very much on Dikshitar's mind

and hence he goes on to eulogize Rama as " Sajjana Paalasya,

Dushta Harasya) . The establishment of Dharma thru different

incarnations (Dharma Samsthapanaarthaaya Sambhavaami

YugE yugE) and the protection of the Sajjanaas (Bhaktha Paalanam )

and the destruction of the wicked (Dushta Nigraham ) are alluded to

by Dikshitar in the second line of CharaNam.

 

In the third line , Dikshitar slautes Rama as " Samayaachara

Sampradhaayakasya " . Ramasya Daasoham . Samayaachaaram

is the ancient code of conduct defined by Saastraas. Rama never

swerves from that Aachaaram .

 

In the final line , Dikshitar refers to another servant of Sri Rama.

The lady on the banks of Pampaa river by the name of Sabari

served the Lord thru her unique hospitality and received the blessing of

Moksham from the Lord Hmself. This Dikshithar refers to as

"Sabari Moksha Pratasya ". The Bhagyam of Sabari has been

celebrated by Saint Thyagaraja in Mukhari piece ( Entaninne

varninthunu? Sabari Bhagya ). Describing her indescribable

bhagyam, the Sadguru says : " She was privileged to see the Lord

directly to her heart's content , offer Him delicious fruits, prostrate

before His holy feet in thrill and attain freedom from rebirth

( Punaraavritthi Rahita Padam ) in the presence of the Lord

Himself.

 

Sri Dikshitar concludes with the final salutation , "Varasya

Ramachandrasya Dasoham ". Vara refers to either Sitaavara ,

the Nada Lola as described by Saint Thyagaraja in his

Devagaandhaari krithi or Raghukula Sreshtan. Sri Dikshitar

sums up by stating that he is the servant (Daasa ) of such

a Sreshtan with all of the above KalyaaNa GuNaas.

 

RAAMAABHIRAAMAM NAYANAABHIRAAMAM

VAACHAABHIRAAMAM VADANAABHIRAAMAM I

SARVAABHIRAAMAM CHA SADHAABHIRAAMAM

VANDEH SADHAA DASARATHIM CHA RAAMAM II

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan