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Ramaashtaka Krithis of Sri Dikshithar --Fourth Vibakthi Krithi .

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • October 29, 1996 


Dear Rama BhakthAs :

Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshithar composed the fourth Krithi 
on Sri Ramachandra in Ragam Thodi and TaaLam Triputa.
This is one of the 8 krithis composed by him in Raga Thodi
devoted to different Gods and Godesses . Two of the above eight  are on 
Sri Krishna of Guruvaayur and on  Sri Rama as the fourth Vibakthi
krithi of Raamaashtakam. The remaining six  are on Kamalaambikai of 
Thiruvaarur ( Navavarana Krithi ), Dakshyaayini, Maha Ganapathi , 
Subramanya , Brihadeeswari of Tanjore and
VedaraNyeswarar(Siva ) of VedaaraNyam. 

Saint Thyagaraja on the other hand has left us atleast 32 krithis 
in  (Hanuma)Thodi to illustrate the various , glorious aspects of 
this evening Rakthi raagam . He pours out his heart to Sri Rama 
in most of his krithis in his unique conversational mode.
Among the 32 of his krithis in Thodi , we find three addressed 
to Rama Sahodari / AmbAL (Dharma Samvardhani of Thiruvaiuru , 
Neelathayaakshi of Nagapattinam , Pravruddha Srimathi of Lalgudi ) 
and ShaNmugan . Rest of them are addressed to Sri Rama , 
his Ishta Daivam . The most poignant of these krithis is in Thodi  , where 
he confesses to Rama About his worthlessness . He says : O Rama ,
 What  value do I have without your DAYA ( Nee Daya Ravalegaga
neh nentha vaadanu Rama ?) .  Sri Dikshitar is not used to
emotional dialogs with his Ishta daivams . Hence in his Thodi 
krithi in exquisite Sanskrit , he appproaches Rama with  reverence 
and formalitiy and offers his salutations. 

The sahitya Vaakyams of Dikshitar's Thodi krithi  are as follows :

PALLAVI :
 
RAMACHANDRAAYA NAMASTEH 
RAAJIVALOCHANAAYA VARAAYA

ANUPALLAVI : 

SAMA GAANA LOLAAYA SADHU JANATHI PAALAYA
KOMALATARA GURUGUHANUTAAYA KOTI MAARA LAAVANYAAYA

CHARANAM :

DASARATHA RAJAKUMAARAAYA DHANDAKAARANYA VIHAARAAYA
KOWSIKA KRUTHA MAGA RAKSAKAAYA KANAKAMANI MAALAADHARAAYA
DASAGREEVA PRAANA HARAAYA DAASA VIBISHANA PAALAKAAYA
KUSA LAVA SITAA SAMETHAAYA KAPI BRUNDHAADHI MANOHARAAYA

In Pallavi , Sri Dikshitar offers his salutations to the eyes of Sri Ramachandra
that  remind him  of the beauty and tenderness of a Lotus flower. 
He salutes Him as a supreme being ( RamachnadrAya VARAAYA Namasteh ).
The choice of the word Varaaya meaning that he is a Sreshtan
is consistent with the Sundara Khandam verse , Where Hanumaan 
describes Him as :

RAMO NAMA VISESHAJNA: SRESHTA: SARVADHANUSHMATHAAM
RAKSHITAA JEEVALOKASYA DHARMASYA CHA PARANTHAPA : 

In Anupallavi , Dikshitar salutes Rama's attachment to Sama Gaanam
(Sama Gaana Lolaaya Namasteh ) ; His protection of Sadhu Janaas 
is next saluted as saadhu janaathi paalaaya namasteh. Adi Kavi
Valmiki praises Rama's protection of all the Lokas and the Sadhus 
this way :

RAMO BHAMINI LOKASYA CHATURVARNASYA RAKSJITHAA I
MARYADHAANAAM CHA LOKASYA KARTHAA KAARAYITHAAA CHA SA: II

The Dharma Vigraha Svarupam of the Lord  and Bhaktha Daakshinyam 
of Sri Rama is celebrated here . 

In the remaining portion of the Anupallavi , the unmatchable beauty 
of Rama and His  worship by the beautiful  Guruguha is 
referred to . Sage Valmiki has aptly described Rama's beauty in another 
Sundara Khaandam verse this way :

AADITYA IVA TEJASVEE LOKAKAANTHA: SASEE YATHAA I
RUPAVAAN SUBHAGA: SRIMAAN KANDARPA IVA MURTHIMAAN II

In the charana Vakyams , Dikshitar pays his tribute to the prince 
of Ayodhya and the son of emperor Dasaratha , who roamed the 
forests of DandakaaraNyam protecting Saadhu Janam ( Dasaratha
Rajakumaaraaya Dandakaaranya Vihaaraya namasteh ). This 
beautiful prince wearing golden chain studded with precious stones 
is recognized next as the brave one , who fought  the asuras at 
Siddhaasramam and protected the Yajnam of Sage Viswaamitraa
(Kowsika krutha maka rakshaakaaya kanaka mani maalaadharaaya
namasteh ) . The bravery of Rama , who protected Vibhishana and
took the life of the evil RavaNaa is saluted next with the words 
" Dasagreeva praaNa haraaya VibhishaNa Paalakaaya Namasteh ".
The final line of CharaNam sees him as Pattabhi Raman , whose 
appearance as the emperor on the throne of Ishvaakus captivated the 
heart of the asembled army of monkeys that  assisted Him in the 
battle ( Kapi Brundhaathi Manoharaaya Naamsteh ). The final 
salutation is to Sri Rama as Jaanaki RamaNan in the company of 
His consort Sitaa Devi and their two sons , Kusa and Lava  
who mastered the singing of Srimad RamaayaNam 
from Sage Valmiki ( Kusa Lava Sitaa Samethaaya Sri Ramachandraaya
Namasteh ).

NAMOSTHU RAAMAAYA SALAKSHMANAAYA 
DEVYAI CHA TASYAI JANAKAATHMAJAAYAI 

Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan