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Musings on Raghuveera Gadhyam-Part 6 (Bala Khandam )

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • September 28, 1996 


8 . KOWMAARA KELI GOPAAYITHA KOUSIKAADHWARA !

Hail to Thee who protected the yagam of Sage 
Viswamitra as if it were a child's play ! 

Here Swami Desikan pays tribute to the extraordinary
valor of Sri Raghavan even as a small boy. He destroyed 
the mighty foes of Sage Viswamitra (the Rakshasas and their
leaders , Maricha and Subahu ) with effortless ease , when they 
interfered with the performance of the sage's Yagam 
at his hermitage.He sent Maricha spinning in the sky over
enormous distance and dumped him inot the ocean 
and yet spared his life this time .He killed the other demon Subahu.
Sri Rama constructed a canopy of arrows over the site of the 
Yagam . Kamban the Illustrious Tamil poet describes the valor of 
Sri Rama this way :

MAnniNAI KAAKINRA MANNAN MAINDHARGAL
KAnnINAI KAAKINRA IMAYIN KAATTHANAR 

( The sons of the emperor Dasaratha , who protects the 
citizens of the earth protected the Yagam of Sage Viswamitra like the 
eye lids protect the eyes).      

This act of valor led Sage Viswamitra to praise Sri Rama 
this way : " I stand accomplished of my purpose (Kruthaarthosmi ),
O mighty -armed (Maha Baaho ) and highly illustrious hero, in that 
the bidding of your Guru (me) has been carried out by you(Valmiki
Ramayanam Sargam 30.26). Kamban salutes Sri Rama as Sundara Villi
(the beautiful one , who handled his bow Kothandam to protect the 
sacred six day Yajnam  of the inhabitants of Siddhasramam 
and Viswamitra) .

Saint Thyagaraja who offered his Satva Sangeetham as his 
Naivedyam to this Raghuveeran all his breathing moments 
sang the praise of the lord in one of his Bowli Divya nama  krithis: 

DEENA JANAAVANA  SRI RAMA 
DAANVA HARAnA SRI RAMA
NIRMALA HRUDHAYA  SRI RAMA
KAARMUKHA BAAnA  SRI RAMA
RAGHU KULA TILAKA SRI RAMA
BRIGHU SUTHA RUPA  SRI RAMA
DASAMUKA MARDHANA SRI RAMA

SIDDHAJANA PRIYA SRI RAMA
PRASIDDHA CHARITRA SRI RAMA

In the last two lines of the salutation , 
the saint pays tribute to Sri Rama of clebrated fame
as the one dear to the residents of Siddhaasramam
(Tapovanam where Vishnu once did penance )

In another song , Saint Thyagaraja sitting at he banks of 
the river Cauveri at Thiruvayyaru saw with his inner eye
(JyanakkaN ) the beauty of the heroic Rama hurling 
Maricha into the ocean with his arrow  (Maanavaasthram ).
Our Sadguru enjoys this scene in his Madhyamaavathi krithi:  

ALAGALALLA LAATAKAGANIYAARANMINI YETU PONGENOH

CHELUVUMEERAGANU MAARICHUNI MADHAMANATHSU VELA 

 Sage Viswamitra's joy is shared and experienced by Saint 
of Thiruvayyaru here. He says: Oh , How must have the heart of 
Sage Viswamira leaped with joy at the sight of the effortless heroism
of Sri Rama when he destroyed the haughtiness of Maaricha .
At that time this Sundara Villis' face had no strain or pressure or
marks of strain(Vikaaram ).He looked so beautiful during this 
effort of a mighty  heroic nature .

Swami Desikan celebrated with this Gadhya portion ,
the  heroism of the young boy Rama ,
who completed the assigned task as if it was  a child's game and 
received the gratitude of  Sage Viswamitra and the residents of 
Siddhaasramam .   

Sri Raghu Veera Parabrahmaneh Nama :