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Dear Members of the Bhakti List,

 

Sri Sadagopan's excellent summary of Goda Devi's tribute to Rama and

Krishnavatarams immediately brings to mind Sadguru Thyagaraja's anubhavam

of these two Avatarams in his Arabhi Pancharatna Krithi "SAdinchane".

 

The CharaNam of this Krithi contains the essence of Thyagaraja's outpourings.

In this Krithi Sadguru Thyagaraja refers to Lord Krishna as the son of

Devaki and Vasudeva in the line "Devaki VasudevulaNe" and then points out

that Carnatic music originates from him (Rangeshudu Sadganga Janakudu

Sangita Sampradayakudu). Thyagarajaswami then alludes to

Lord Krishna's Leelas with the Gopis of Brindavan in the line

"Gopi Janamanorathamusangalegane GeleyuchesEvAdu". Immersed in his

appreciation of Lord Krishna, Thyagaraja suddenly changes gears and

declares "HarE Ramachandra Raghukulesha Mrudusubhasha Sheshasayana ParanAri

Sodaraja...." where he pays homage to the majesty of Lord Rama, the

descendent of Raghu, one whose speech is sweet and cultured, who is reclining

on the serpent bed, who treats women other than his wife (ParanAri) like his

sisters.

 

One must place Sadguru Thyagaraja's anubhavam of Lord Rama and Lord Krishna

in the context of being a Parama Bhakta of Raghava Simha. Given this

background, it is easy to see that Sadguru Thyagaraja associates everything

majestic with Lord Rama. Accordingly, Lord Rama epitomizes Sthairya,

Dhairya, Shourya, Parakrama, KaruNya, Madhurya, Gambhirya, Audarya, Satya

Kama, Satya Sankalpa, Krutajnya and Vatsalya. Therefore, in the eyes of

Thyagaraja Lord Rama is incomparable. It is in this light that one must

interpret his mocking question to Lord Krishna "You who teased the Gopis of

Brindavan and stole their hearts and minds, how can you be the Paramatma

that Lord Rama was?" Further testimony in support of this line of reasoning

can be found in the following Krithis:

 

In the Krithi Namoralanuvini (in the Raga

Arabhi) Sadguru Thyagaraja asks of his Abhimana Daivam Lord Rama

"SabalO Manamu POvu Samayamuna Asathi Yemichhemo" (What property did

Draupadi give you for you to rush to her rescue when she was being

disrobed in the Saba?). Although, it was Lord Krishna that came to her

rescue, Apadandhava to Thyagaraja is forever Lord Rama.

 

In Prahlada Bhakti Vijayam, Thyagaraja renders the Krithi "Daya Rani Daya

Rani" in the Raga Mohanam. In it he praises the Sarva Rakshakatvam aspect

of his Abhimana Daivam Lord Rama (who appeared in the form of Narasimha

protect Prahlada). Interestingly, this work is devoid of any reference

to the Ugra aspect associated with Lord Narasimha

 

In the process of dwelling on the Arabhi Pancharatna krithi, it occured to me

that Thyagaraja on purpose chose ragas with oscillatory behavior of the

"Rishaba swaram" in composing his Pancharatna Krithis in the Ragas Natai,

Gowlai, Arabhi, Varali and Sri. In particular, the Rishabam in Natai starts

at its natural position and dips down to its nadir in Gowlai and again

oscillates between a crest and trough in Arabi and Varali respectively,

before attaining its natural position in Sri Ragam. It is another coincidence

that the Rishaba swaram attains its natural position in Natai and Sri Ragams

which are Mangala Ragams. Sri Sadagopan came up with a brilliant explanation

of this oscillatory behavior. I request him to post his insights on the

Bhakti list for the benefit of other members who may be interested.

 

Sri Sita Lakshmana Hanumath Sametha Sri Ramachandra ParabrahmaNe Namaha,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy