Ramashataka Krithis --8th and final krithi

From the Bhakti List Archives

• November 3, 1996


Dear Bhakthaas of Sri Ramachandra: 

This is the home stretch for this series of postings
on the Ramaashtaka Krithis of Sri Dikshitar. This krithi is set in
Ragam Vasantha , a Janya Ragam of the Mela Ragam
Surya Kaantham . It is a wonderful choice to the Surya Kula
Jyothi , Sri Ramachandra, whose beauty is like the eternal spring.. 
Here Dikshitar offers his salutations to the many kalyana gunaas 
of Sri Rama displayed during his incarnation as the son of 
Emperor Dasaratha . The sahitya Vaakyams are as follows : 

PALLAVI :

RAMACHANDRAM BHAVAYAAMI RAGHUKULA TILAKM UPENDRAM

ANUPALLAVI :

BHOOMIJAA NAYAKAM BHUKTHI  MUKTHI DHAAYAKAM
NAMA KEERTHANA TARAKAM NARAVARAM GATHA MAAYIKAM

CHARANAM :

SAKETA NAGARA NIVASANTHAM SAAMRAJYA PRATHA HANUMANTHAM
RAAGENDHU VADANAM BHAgaVANTHAM RAMANEEYA KALYAANA GUNAVANTHAM
KAKUSTHAM DHEEMANTHAM KAMALAKSHAM SRIMANTHAM
NAGESA  NUTHAM ANANTHAM NARA GURUGUHA VIHARANTHAM 
(RAMACHANDRAM BHAVAYAAMI ) 

(MEANING ) :  I meditate on Sri Rama , who is the shining dot on the 
forehead of Raghu Kulam. That Lord incarnated once as the son of
Kasyapa Prajaapathi and the brother of Indra . He is the dear consort 
of Sita Devi,the daughter of Bhoomi devi. He is the magnanimously 
generous one , who gives us  the boons of prosperity on this earth 
and Moksham thereafter. 

He has for His name the glorious Taraka mantram of limitless
 auspiciousness . He set an example as the embodiment
of righteousness during his incarnation as a human son of Dasaratha. 
He is the one , who lifts the veil  of  Maaya for us . 

He lived in Ayodhya as the emperor of Kosala Desam . 
He is seen in the company of Hanuman of great boon-giving power. 
His face shines with the beauty of the full moon. He is 
the Parabrahmam , who hid His glory as the supreme 
Lord by declaring " Aathmaanam Maanusham manyeh ". I meditate on 
His Sharp intellect, divine radiance and  lotus-like beautiful eyes . He is 
the supreme being worshipped by Indran . In all the environments that 
he moved during his Avathaaram -- human assembly, acharya groups ,
forest , caves --as the son of Dasaratha , he performed His divya Leelas 
and displayed His anantha kalyaaNa guNaas .  I meditate with delight 
on this Ramachandra of many glorious attributes, who sports with His
nephew Guruguhan and gladdens his heart .

SRI RAMACHANDRA KARUNAAKARA RAGHAVENDRA
RAAJENDRACHANDRA RAGHUVAMSA SAMUDRA CHANDRA I
SUGREEVA NETRAYUGALOTHPALA PURNACHANDRA 
SITAAMANA: KUMUDHA CHANDRA NAMO NAMASTEH II

MANGALM KOWSALENDRAAYA MAHANEEYA GUNAABHDHAYEH I
CHAKRAVARTHEE TANUJAAYA SARVABHOUMAAYA MANGALAM II

SRI SEETHA LAKSHMAN BHARATHA SATHRUGNA HANUMATH SAMETHA
SRI RAMACHANDRA PARABRAHMANEH NAMA:

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan