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Raghu Veera Gadhyam--AyodhyA khAndam(Continued )

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • November 6, 1996 


GS 23 : BHARADWAAJA SAASANA PARIGRUHITA 
VICHITRA CHITRAKOOTA GIRI KATAKA TATA 
RAMYAA VASATHA ! JAYA! JAYA !  

(meaning ) :O Raghu Veera  who obeyed the instructions of Sage 
Bharadwaaja and resided in the foot hills of Chitrakoota
mountain  in a beautiful residence built by LakshmaNaa !
Hail to Thee ! Hail To Thee !
( Remeniscences ) :Sri Rama befriended the king of forest hunters, Guha 
and enjoyed his hospitality and displayed His Sowlabhya
GuNam through recognizing Guhan  as the fourth brother of His 
besides Lakshmana , Bharatha and Satrugnaa. With Guha's help,
He crossed the river Ganga and took leave of him   and reached 
Sage Bharadwaja's aasramam om the other side of the river Yamuna.
The sage was surprised to see the royal travellers in hermit's dresses 
and inquired about  what happened . Learning the circumstances 
that led to the royal party's journey through the forest,
Sage Bharadhwaajaa instructed Rama to establish His residence 
few kilometers from his own Asramam at a site located on the foot hills of
the beautiful chitrakoota mountain . Rama obeyed the sage's command 
and accepted the kaimkaryam of His brother LakshmaNaa , who 
constructed a delightful residence according to the codes of 
building construction . 

Sage Bharadwaja in poet Kamban's words describes the 
beauty of Chitrkootam as being more than the loveliness of
Indra's svarga Logam ( ViNNInum Inithaal , Devar kai thozhum
Chitthirakootam ) . He points out that Chitrakootam is so sacred that 
even the Devas raise their hands in salutation . 

In an entire section named "Chittirakoota Patalam " , poet 
Kamban describes the extraordinary beauty of the mountain,
its flora and fauna in a manner similar to the descriptions 
found in the 94th sargam of Ayodhyaa Khaandam. Here, Sage 
Valmiki presents Rama as the describer of the divine beauty of 
the Chitrakoota mountain to his beloved wife . Sri Rama 
describes the auspicious peak of Chitrakoota mountain as
" CHITRAKOOTASYA KOOTOAYAM DRUSYATEH SARVATA:
SUBHA: " . Thereafter, he states : " If for my part, O Darling 
Sita  , I shall be able to spend this period of exile extending 
over 14 years (as though in sport ) , with You . O Sita and 
Lakshmanaa! adhering to the path trodden by the virtuous 
and conforming to the highest discipline imposed by myself ,
I shall derive joy enhancing the piety of my race ".

IMAM THU KAALAM VANITEH VIJAHRIVAAMSTVAYAA
CHA SEETEH SAHA LAKSHMANENA I
RATHIM PRAPATSYEH KULADHARMA VARDHINEEM 
SATAAM PATHI SVANIYAMAI: PARAI : STHITHA : II
-- Ayodhyaa Khandam , Srimad RamAyaNam : verse 27

Kulasekhara Azhwaar saw the Tillai Thiruchitrakootam
Divya Desam at  Chidambaram as the southern Chitrakotam
and offered his mangalaasAsanam of Tillai EmperumAn and 
composed ten verses serving as SampurNa RaamayaNam.

Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar worshipped Tillai Thiruchittira Kootatthu
Govindarajan and offered his Naada Naivedyam to the Archaa
murthy there through four brilliant krithis set in RaagAs Rathipriyaa
(same as the 62nd Mela ragam Rishabha Priyaa) , Mesa Bhowli ,
Surutti and Mukaari .Summary of the meanings of these Krithis along
with the commentary on the Kulasekhara Azhwaar's pasurams are 
contained in a book ( AravaNai Tuyinrohn )  that I had the good fortune 
to publish in 1993 at  Tillai Thiruchitrakootam. 

Azhwaar describes his daasyaa state to the Bhagavathaas of 
the Emperumaan of Tillai Thiruchitrakootam this way :

O Ramachandra! I take refuge at  the holy feet of the Bhagavathaas , 
who have performed SaraNaagathi at your lotus feet. ( Pasuram 3)

This earth is indeed sanctified  by the movement of those Bhagavathas,
who raise their hands in salutation to Sri Rama of Chitrakootam
with their Anjali mudra ( Pasuram 5).

I do not consider any kingdom superior to the one of having the lotus
feet of the Lord of Tillai Thiruchitrakootam on my head ( Pasuram 7) 

My mind does not ever forget the Lord of Thillai Thiruchitrakootam. 
Hence no inauspiciousness will befall me  ( Pasuram 9 )

O  Servants of the Lord  ! Please recognize the archa murthy staying
forever to bless you as Vaikunta Naathan at Tillai Thiruchitrakootam 
and eulogize him and perform Nitya Kaimkaryam to Him and receive 
His full blessings ( Pasuram 10 ).

Such is the glory of Chitrakootam celebrated by Sage Valmiki , 
Kulasekhara Azhwaar,  Kamban and Dikshitar.

Sri Chitrakoota vaasineh  ,  Sri Ramachandra Parabrahmaneh Nama:

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan