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Dikshithar"s Mahalakshmi Krithis--1

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 6, 1996 


Dear Memebrs of the Bhakthi Group:

I will focus on the Desisimharavam Krithi
of Sri Dikshithar first.The Raga Desisimharavam 
in  the Dikshitar Sampradhaayam is known today
as Haimavathi . This is the 58th mela karthaa ragam. 

Beisdes the Krithi on Mahalakshmi known as 
" Hari Yuavatheem Haimavathim Aaraadhayaami satatam 
Jananeem Sri ", Dikshithar has  also composed two more krithis
in this Ragam: 

1.  Sri Kanthimathim Sankara Yuvathim Sri Guru Guha Jananim
Vandeham" on Thirunelveli AmbaaL, Sri Kanthimathi 
2." Mathuraambhikaayaam Sadhaa Bhakthim Karomi "
on the Haalasya Nagara Nayaki.

The Krithi on Maha Lakshmi has Gaaandhaara Eduppu.
The one on Kanthimathi has Rishabha Eduppu and the 
one on Mathurai Meenaakshi starts with the Panchama
svaram. There  are Maantric significance for these choices,
which we will not go into here.

In the krithi "Hari Yuvatheem Haimavatheem " , the composer
celebrates Her as  Naarasimhee , the consort of Bhagavan
Narasimhan. Therefore , he salutes her as " Nara Hari Hrudhya
Vaasini " in the Charana Vaakyam. As I indicated earlier this Krithi
is a samashti Krithi without Anupallavi. 

He points out that Naarasimhee , the" Hari Yuvathi",  is resplendent in 
Her Nitya Yowanam or permanent Youthful beauty. The whole Krithi is 
as follows: 

Pallavi: Hari Yuvatheem Haimavatheem Aaraadhayaami Satatam
Akhila Loka Jananeem Sri (Hari Yuvatheem )

Charanam : Nara Hari Hrudhaya Vaasini  Nama Rupa Prakaasini
Guru Guha Maanasa Ranjani Guninuta Niranjani 

This maiden with everlasting Beauty is also revered by Lakshmi
Sahasra Naamam as" Baalaa Kumaree YUVATHI  Karunaa 
Bhaktha Vatsalaa ". It seems that Dikshitar adopted this 
Naama from the Sahasra Naamam . 

He placed  the Raga Mudra in the Pallavi as Hari Yuvatheem
HAIMAVATHEEM ".  Here he points out that She has the color of 
Gold as  celebrated by the Lakshmi Sahasra Naama passage:
" Visvambharaa HAIMAVATHI Samudrecchaa Vihaarini ". 

In pallavi, he saluted Her " Akhila Loka Janani " tatvam in the 
spirit of the Vedic text " Isvareem Sarva Bhoothaanam" Jananeem 
Sarva Dehinaam " . Dikshitar acknowledged that he worships 
Her always with the Sahityam words " Hari Yuvatheem Satatam 
Aaraadhayaami. "

Dikshitar follows the cue of Lakshmi Sahasra Naamam again,
when He salutes Maha Lakshmi as " Nara Hari Hrudhaya Nivaasini ".
The Sahasra Naama passage corresponding to this Salutation is 
" Vairochini NAARASIMHEE  Jeemuthaa Subhadekshanaa ". 
Swami Desikan salutes Naarasimhee , the consort of the 
Adbhuta Kesari in Daya Satakam as follows:

DHAYEH VRUSHAGIREESITUR  DHANUJA  DIMPBHA DATTA  STHANAA
SAROJA SADDHRUSAA DHRUSAA SAMUDHITAAKRUTHIRDHRUSYASEH

Here, Swami Desikan visualizes Maha Lakshmi standing as Dayaa Devi
in the eyes of Bhagavan Narasimhan and blessing Prahlaada with those
cool glances and  feeding Her child with the milk of Jnanam and making 
him happy. 

The next of the salutation of Dikshitar is" Naama Rupa Prakaasini " .
He says that She is shining in  a resplendent manner in the hearts
of Her devotees through the form of  Her Naamas  as they invoke Her
with these Naamaas. As the devotees invoke Her through the Lakshmi
Sahasra Nama paasage, 

" PADMAANANEH PADMAKAREH SARVA LOKAIKA PUJITEH
SAANIDHYAM KURU MEH CHITTTEH VISHNU VAKSHASTHALA STHITEH ",

She enters the heart s of the devotees and shines there with Her splendor.

The last wo salutations of Dikshitar in the charanam are:
1.Guru Guha Maanasa Ranjani
2. Guni  Jana Nuta Niranjani 

Through Her Darsanam, She fills the heart of Her nephew ,
Guhan/Murugan , with indescribable Joy (Guru Guha Maanasa Ranjani).

Through the last salutation " Guni Jana Nuta Niranjani ", Dikshitar
acknowledges that She is of the Niranjana Svarupam that is worshipped 
by Sadhu Janams. She is of blemishless nature and is worshipped by 
people of pure minds. The pasage in Lakshmi Sahasra Naamam 
elaborating Her Niranjana Svarupam is as follows:

MAHAA MAAYAA MAHAA NANDHAA BRAHMA NEETHIR NIRAASRAYAA
EKA SVARUPAA TRIVIDHAA SANKYAADHITAA  NIRANJANAA 

Thus Dikshitar chose Ragam Desi SIMHAARAVAM to remind one of  the 
garjanaa of Narasimha to celebrate Naarasimhi of the golden hue with 
many excerpts from the Sahasra Naamam dedicated to Her.

In the next posting, I will cover the Dhanyasi Krithi " Mangala Devathayaa
Tvyaa Bhumaanithoham  Sri " , which slautes Vara Lakshmi and will
describe the significance of Maaya Bhijam, which is the seed utterance 
associated with Maha Lakshmi .

Our Thayaar Thiruvadigaleh Saranam

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan