Purandara Dasa and Thirupathi VenkataramaNan: Par t 3

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Dear VenkataramaNa Bhakthaas :

 

One evening Dasar was resting on a pial

of a house in the Sannadhi street of Lower

Thirupathi after his darsan of Sri Govindaraja

of Keezha Thirupathi ( This is the Archa murthy

consecrated by Sri Ramanuja few hundred years

earlier ) . Next morning Dasar was going to climb the

seven hills for the darsanam of Lord Srinivasa of

upper Thirupathi . He had finished his SandhyA

anushtAnam and was engaged in Dhyanam of

Sri Venkatesa. It was getting dark . He saw then a

most beautiful lady rushing with a Veena in her hand.

Dasar was awe struck at this unusual sight and was emboldened

to ask the young woman as to where she was going in

such haste at that hour.She answered : " Sir , I am rushing

to play the Veena at the Sannidhi of ThiruvenkatamudayAn".

Dasar said : " Amma! You should not travel alone at night in the

mountainous region. May I therefore accompany you for the

sake of your safety ". The lady replied : " Sir, Thank you . I will be

very happy if you could accompany me. My name is Ramaa Devi ."

 

Both Dasar and Ramaa Devi climbed the hills and arrived at

the gates of the temple of Srinivasa after ardha Jaamam .The temple gates

were closed for the day. There were no one near the temple at that late

hour. When Ramaa Devi put her foot on the steps of the front gate

of the temple , the doors automatically opened . Both of the visitors

entered and the temple gates shut themselves behind them .. Dasar was wonder

struck

and travelled to the Garbha Graham of Lord Srinivasa with Ramaa Devi .

At hat time , Ramaa Devi addressed Dasar and asked him to hide behind

one of the pillars of the ardha Mandapam to have the darsanam of the Lord.

She entered the sanctum sanctorium and began to play on her Veena songs

in praise of the Lord of the seven hills. On hearing the divine music ,

Lord Srinivasa appeared as Sanka -Chakra -Peethaambharadhaari

and danced before her to the accompaniment of the music. Dasar was

thrilled to hear the divine music and to see the Lord's extraordinary dance .

 

Lord Srinivasa decided to test Dasar , who was known for his short

temper. The Lord stopped His dance and took the Veena from the

Lady's hand and began to play. He purposely introduced Apaswarams

in his playing , which fell like molten lead in Dasar's ears. Dasar was

livid with rage and he came ourt of his hiding place behind the stone pillar

and castigated the Lord this way : " O Lord of the Universe who is the

embodiment

of Naadam ! How can I put up with you and your

Apaswarams ? Is it fair ? " After being addresses this way , Lord Srinivasa

and the Lady who played the Veena disappeared instantaneously. Dasar

recognized his AparAdham and asked forgivenness of the Lord through

the following four songs :

 

1. SRINIVASAA NINNE PAALISO-- ANANDHA BHAIRAVI, ADI TAALAM

2. BHAARAYAA VENKATARAMANAA BHAKTHARANIDHIYEH--VASANTA/ADI

3.THIRUPATHI VENKATARAMANA --MADHYAMAAVATHI/ADI

4. NAANENU MAADITHENU VENKATARAAYA --KAMBHODHI/ADI

 

WHEN Dasar completed singing of these four songs , the Lord and

the Lady who climbed the hills with Dasar reappeared . The Lord revealed

that the lady , who offered Veena worship was none other than Saraswathi Devi .

Both of them blessed Dasar . The grateful Dasar composed two songs right

there on the Goddess of Learning Saraswathi Devi for blssing him this way

with the apoorva , antharanga darsanam of the Lord of Thirumalai . These

two songs are : Kodubhega Divyamathi Saraswathi in Raga Saraswathi

and Paalisamma Muddhu Saaradehyenna Naalikeyalli Nilla Bharathe in

Raga Nagaswaaraali . Afte that he sang many songs in praise of the Lord

of Thirumalai until the Suprabhaatham time. He incorporated the visesha

Naamaangitham "VenkataramaNaa" in these songs composed

and sung in presence of the Lord. Lord Srinivasa was delighted with

Dasar and blessed him and lifted him with His divine hands and placed

him before sunrise at the front pial of the house , where Dasar was resting

prior to the trip up the hills with Saraswathi Devi.

 

I will write about these songs in the next posting.

 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan