Sri Ramaashtakam by Mutthuswamy Dikshithar--Part 1
From the Bhakti List Archives
• October 15, 1996
THIRD DAY OF NAVARATHRI * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Sri Venkatesa Sthotram celebrates the Archaa murhti of the sacred seven hills as Daasarathi through this following verse : ABHIRAAMA GUNAAKARA DAASARATHEH JAGDEKHA DHANURDHARA DHEERAMATEH I RAGHUNAYAKA RAAMA RAMESA VIBHO VARADHO BHAVA DEVA DHAYAAJALADEH II Sri Venkataraman , the precious son of emperor Dasarathaa , the unmatched bowman wielding Kodhandam , the scion of the vamsam of Raghu , the Lord of the Universe , the ocean of mercy , the boon giver , the one who never changes His mind once he has offered refuge under His lotus feet , the consort of Maha Lakshmi is hailed here . With the choice of the words , " Abhiraama GuNaakara " He is recognized as the home of samastha KalyANa guNAs. These GuNAs are not only auspicious as described in Sri RamaanujA's Gadhyam passage , but hey are also of great comfort to the Prapannas . They are thus of a desired quality (Abhiraamam ) . They are of a hope giving nature and hence desired by all of those , who climb those sacred hills from wherever they are . This slokam reminds Him of His promise " Dhadhaam Yethath Vratham Mama " and appeals to Him to fulfil that commitment . Sri Venkataachalapathy and service to Him as envisaged by the Acharya of Ahobila Mutt in the context of his 71st birthday is some thing we come across once in our life time. When some one sits under the shade of the Lord 's comforting presence at Thiruppathi and enjoys the sweet experience of the meditation of Him and his Abhiraama GuNaas , we are also part of that PuNyam , if our contributions to that Kaimkaryam gets mixed with that pilgrimage to those holy hills . Hence , I encourage you to contribute whatever you can to this timely effort . The Kaimkaryam is not confied to one Acharya or a tradition. It is universal in scope. When I met this Acharya in August at Kanchi , he made an observation that stuck in my mind . He said : " Satakopan, when people contribute to the different Kaimkaryams , what do I do with the money that they entrust me ? I am not making a diamond ring for myself. It is still the same KaashAyam (ochre robes ) for me . ". When the 44th Jeeyar of Ahobila Mutt completed His Kaimkaryam of building the southern Gopuram of Sri Ranganatha , the contributors were from every faith and tradition including ILaya RaajA , Kanchi Sankara Mata peetathipathi , the two Andavans et al . Hence , I will encourage you to make a symbolic contribution to this lodge building effort at Thirumalai and when you visit Thiruppathi stay at this new building under the shade of the Sumukhan of the seven hills . In the spirit of salutation to the lotus feet of the Raghuveeran covered with fresh flowers of undiiminsihing fragrance due to their association with the Lord's CharaNaaravindham , I will summarize the Krithis of Dikshithar on Sri Ramachandra. Although Dikshithar was " outdone " by Thyagaraja swamigaL in the krithis dedicated to Sri Ramachandra, there are some jewels in the repertoire of Dikshithar regarding his salutations to Sri Venkataraman . They are set in the eight vibakthis of Sanskrit grammar . There are a few more also and the Rama Bhakthi of Dikshitar reaches its peak with the MaNirangu Krithi dedicated to sri Pattabhi Raman . The Krithis of Dikshithar on Lord Ramachandra , the Raghuveeran are : 1. RAMA RAMAKALI KALUSHAVIRAAMA --RAGAM : RAMA KALI 2. KSHITHIJAA RAMANM CHINTAYEH--DEVAGHAANDHAARI 3.SRI RAMACHANDROH RAKSHATHU--SRI RANJANI 4.SRI RAMAM RAVIKULAABDHI SOMAM--NARAYANA GOWLAI 5. RAMACHANDRENA SAMRAKSHITHOHAM --MAANJI 6. RAMACHANDRAQAYA NAMASTEH RAAJIVA LOCHANAAYA--THODI 7.RAMACHANDRAADHANYAM NA JAANEHAM--DHANYAASI 8. RAMACHANDRASYA DAASOHAM --DHARMAVATHI 9. RAMEH BHARATHA PAALITHA RAAJYAM ARPAYAAMI--JYOTHISVARUPINI 10. RAMACHNADRAM BHAVAYAAMI RAGHUKULA TILAKM UPENDRAM ---VASANTHA . 11. MAAMAVA PATTABHI RAMA --MANIRANGU KRITHIS 3,4,5,6, 7,8 ,9 AND 10 ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED AS THE RAMAASHTAKA KRITHIS SET IN DIFFERENT VIBAKTHIS. THERE IS A REASON FOR CHOICE OF EACH VIBAKTHI TO BRING OUT THE DIFFERENT ASPETS OF BHAKTHI AND PRAPATTHI OF A DEVOTEEE. I WILL ATEMPT TO GIVE THE MEANINGS AND COMMENTS ON THESE PRECIOUS RAAMAASHTAKA KRITHIS OF SRI MUTTHUSWAMI DIKSHITHAR NEXT . V.Sadagopan
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