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Dikshithar"s Krithis on Mahalkashmi --2.1

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • May 8, 1996 


Among the five Dhanyasi Krithis of Dikshithar,
The one known as "Mangala Devathayaa 
Tvyaa Bhaumaanithoham " is dedicated to 
Maha Lakshmi. The others are:

1. Sri Ranganathaaya Namastheh (Srirangam Krithi )
2. Ramacchandrath Anyam na Jaaneham
(One of the Rammashtaka Krithis )
3. Maayara Naatham Anisam Bhajaami ( On the Lord of Mayilaaduthurai ) 
4. Paradevathaa Bruhatkuchaambha Samrakshathu Maam  
(On the AmbhaaL of Thiruidaimaruthoor ). 

Dikshitar had many Nathaswara Vidwaans as his 
disciples. He seems to have selected the ragam Dhanyaas ,
that is the favorite of Nathaswara Vidwaans for the 
mid  morning part of the day (Murpagal ). 

The Sahitya Vakhyams of the Maha Lakshmi Krithi are as  follows:

Pallavi :      Mangala Devathayaa Tvyaa Bhaumaanithoham Sri

Anupallavi: Pungava Kamalaalayaa Bhoga Bhogyaalayaa
                    Jangama Sthavara loka jana sthithi layayaa Jaya

Saranam: Haridhraa Kumkuma vasthraalankruta  vigrahayaa
                   Dharidra Dukkaadhi moordhanyaa siva nigrahayaa
                   Varadaraja Gopala hrudhya sarasija Gruhayaa
                   VARA LAKSHMYAA  Hari hara Guru Guha Bhakthaanugrahayaa
                   Suraarchita Padhambhujayaa sudhaa Saagara Atmajayaa
                   sura vinuta Siva Anujayaa Maayaa Bhijayaa Vijayaa (Mangala )

Maha Lakshmi has been saluted as "MangaLam MangaLaanaam "
by Swami Desikan in the very first verse of Sri Sthuthi.
She is the one , who  confers Auspiciousness to all
Auspicious entities . Dikshithar recognizes Her as that
Mangala Devathaa.He says that he has been extensively 
blessed by Her with all Auspiciousness. Swami Desikan  Offered 
his homage to Maha Lakshmi through the choice words
of "Kalyanaanaam Avikala Nidhi: " to reveal that she is 
the eternal, undiminishing treasure house for all riches 
and auspiciousness. Dikshitar recognized that such an
Avikala Nidhi resides permanently in  Celebrated Thiruvaroor 
(Pungava Kamalaalayaa ) .Pungava means that  which stands
as a superior  entity in its class.  

He saluted Her as "Bhoga Bhogyalayaa " to reveal to us 
that she is the power  behind all that is enjoyable (BHogam).
In this world, all  Bhogams  take their abode (BHogyaalayam )
in Her. This reference relates to the Lakshmi Sahasra Naamam
passage: 

DEVA BHOGYAA MAHA BHAAGAA PRATIJNAA PURNA SEVADHI :
           -------------
SUVARNA RUCHIRA PRAKYAA BHOGINI  BHOGA DAAYINEE  
                                                         --------------
-------------------------- 

Swami Desikan expresses the same sentiment of Sahasra Naamam,
when he salutes HER as "Sakala Bhuvana Praarthanaa Kamadhenu: "

In the next line of Anupallavi, Dikshitar offers his homage 
as " JANGAMA STHAAVARA LOKA JANA STHITHI LAYAYAA
JAYA MANGALA DEVATHAYAA TVYAA BAHUMAANITHOHAM "
He says that Maha Lakshmi, who has specially blessed him
is the Empress, who creates , protects and  dissolves all the 
Chetanas(sentient beings ) and Achetanas (insentient ones ).
This sentiment is  a reflection of Adi Sankara"s beautiful verse
that begins with "GHEERDEVATEHTHI " :

GHEERDEVATEHTI GARUDA DHWAJA SUNDAREETHI
SAKAMBHAREETHI SASISEKHARA VALLABHETHI
SRUSHTI STHITHI PRALAYA KELISHU SAMSTHITHAAYAI
TASYAI NAMASTRIBHUVANAIKA GUROSTARUNYAI 

Adi Sankara says that She is the Guru (Acharya ) for the three
worlds. She is worshipped  by many names such as
Saraswati , Saakambhari (Bhudevi) , The consort of 
Garuda Dwajan (Naarayani ) , Vishnu Durgai et al. 
She creates , protects and ultimately in Pralayaa  time,
She absorbs them inside Her. Adi Sankara in the above verse 
offers his salutations to Maha Lakshmi of such illustrious fame.
Dikshitar echoes the sentiments of Adi Sankara through
 his set of choice  words :" Srushti sthithi pralaya kelishu 
samsthithaayaayai and Jangama Sthaavara loka jana 
sthithi layayaa jaya Mangala Devathayaa " . We will examine the
meaning of the Charana Portion of this Sahityam in the next 
posting .

V.Sadagopan