Ramaashtaka Krithis ---7th vibakthi krithi

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Dear Rama Bhakthaas :

 

Sri Dikshitar composed his seventh Ashtaka Krithi

in the 68th melakartha Ragam , Jyothi swarupiNi .

In Dikshithar's sampradhaayam , it was known as

"Jyothi ". He had composed one more Krithi in this

ragam on Rama sahodari known as "Paramjyothishmathi

Parvathi --". This mela ragam belongs to the Aditya chakram

and is therefore appropriate for eulogizing the Surya

Kula Tilakam , Sri Ramachandran.

 

This is a scintillating krithi dealing with the Padhukaa

Pattabhishekam and the return of Sri Ramachandra to

Nandigramam and then to Ayodhya to be crowned as

Pattabhi Raman .

 

The sahitya Vaakyams are as follows :

 

PALLAVI :

 

RAAMEH BHARATA PAALITHA RAJYAMARPAYAAMI

RAJAATHIRAJA PUJITHA CHARANAM NAMAAMI

 

CHARANAM:

 

AMARESAADHI SAKLA DEVATHAA MODHENA

ANTHARANGA GURUGUHAANANDA MRUDHU GADHANEH

SAMASTHA MUNI GANA SAADHU JANAAADHI VANDHANEH

SAANANDHAYUTA SEETHAA MANOHARA MADHANEH (RAAMEH )

 

In pallavi , Dikshitar salutes the family and admirers of Sri Rama

in the spirit of " TAM VISHNUM BHARATHAAGRAJAM RAGHUVEERAM

SEETHAA SAMETHAM BHAJEH ". Dikshitar places at the feet of

Sri Ramachandra the kingdom protected by Bharatha for fourteen

years with the help of Sri Rama Paadhukaa . Swami Desikan

composed more than 1000 verses in honor of the Padhukaa of

Sri Ramachnadra( Ranganatha) . Those Padukas were the representative

of Rama to guide Bharatha to rule the kingdom for fourteen

years untl Rama returned from exile in the forest and the conquest of

RavaNaa. In hi ssecond verse of Padhukaa Sahasram , Swami Desikan

pays his tribute to Bharatha this way :

 

BHARATHAAYA PARAM NAMOSTHU TASMAI

PRATHAMODHAAHARANAAYA BHAKTHIBHAAJAAM I

YADHUPAJNAMASESHATHA: PRUTHIVYAAM

PRATHITHO RAGHAVA PAADHUKAA PRABHAAVA : II

 

(MEANING : The illustrious one ,who first wore Sri Ramachandra"s

Padhukaas on his head was His brother Bharatha. He conducted

the affairs ofthe state as the representative of the sacred padhukaas ,

when Rama chose to spend fourteen years to honor his father's word .)

This verse salutes Bharatha as the first blessed soul , who illustrated

the meaning and holiness of the Lord's Padhukaas. Bharatha spread

the glory of Rama Padhukaas through his worship of them for fourteen

years.

 

Dikshitar joins the ranks of Bharatha in extolling the incident realted

to Paaadhukaa Pattabhshekam and Bharata's Rajya paripaalanam

as the representative of Rama Padhukaas. Dikshitar offers to Sri Rama

the kingdom protected by Bharatha and salutes the lotus feet associated

with those Padhukaas and worshipped by the emperors of the land

( RAJAATHIRAJA PUJITHA CHARANAM NAMAAMI ).

 

The charaNa vakhyams describe the Pattabhisheka scene and

Rama's gentle gait as he walked to the throne and admired by

his nephew Guruguha an dby Indra and all the Devaas ( AMARESAADHI

SAKALA DEVATHAA MODEHNA , ANTHARANGA GURUGUHAANANDA

MRUDHU GADHENA --CHARANMA NAMAAMI ). He was seated on

the throne of the Ishvaakus with joyous Sita , who was captivateD

by his incomparable beauty ( SAANANDAYUTA SITAA MANOHARA

MADHANEH -- CHARANAM NAMAAMI ) . The sages and Rishis assembled

to witnes sthis pattabhshekam scene were exhilirated by the auspicious

darsanam of the Lord with His consort and eulogized Him. Dikshitar

salutes the holy feet wearing the Paadhukas revered by Bharatha in

this krithi .

 

I conclude this posting with a Slokam of Rama KarNaamrutham

composed by a Sankaraacharya of kanchi Kamakoti Peetam:

 

SAKALA SUKRUTHA RATNAM SATYAVAAKYAARTHA RATNAM

SAMADHAMAGUNA RATNAM PAATHU MAAM RAMA RATNAM I

PRAAYA NILAYA RATNAM PRASPUTADHYOTHI RATNAM

PARAMA PADHAVI RATNAM PAATHU MAAM RAMA RATNAM II

 

Sri Ramachandra Parabrahmaneh Nama:

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan