Hariharaputhram.(khanda ekam: thaalam) - 2

Charanam:
Phalguna maasa pournimaavathaaram.=He was born on a full moon day of phalguna maasa
(some say this is makara sankranthi day.Others say it is the month of maasi).
Pandya keralaadi desa prabhaavam.= Illuminated the kingdoms of pandia and kerala.
Pushpa sara ikshu kaarmukhadharam.= He sports the arrow s of flowers and bow of sugarcane
in His hands.
Pulla kalhaara dhanda dhara karam.= He holds in His hand full blown reddish fragrant
water-lily as staff.
Kali yuga prathyaksham.= His form perceptible in Kaliyuga.
Garvitha daksha siksham.= Punishes arrogant persons with skills.
Vara guruguha antharangam ratha gaja thurangam.= Resides in the heart of distinguished
Guruguha and who posseses chariots, elephants and horses.
This song is available with arvindsdad.blogspot.com under the heading M.S.Subbulakshmi.

Hariharaputhram. (Thaalam:Khanda Ekam.) -1

Next comes the song "Hariharaputhram" in vasantha raagam set to thalam Khanda ekam.
Pallavi:

Hariharaputhram shasthaaram sadaa bhajeham.=I always sing the glory of the son of Hari and Hara,Shasthaa.
Maya kaaryam thyjeham.=I discard the illusion created by Maya, the ignorance.
Anupallavi:
Muraharaadi mohitha Shouri giri vihaaram.= Attracted by Vishnu and others He resides in Sabhari malaa.
Murali bheri vaadyaadi priyakaram.=He likes the music of flute and drums.
Praarthitha puthrapradam.=Grants progeny to those who seek.
Vasantha natha bhrindam.= Worshipped in the spring season.
Deergaayushpradam.= Gives long life.
Deena jana sukhapradam.= Bestows happiness for afflicted people

Paarvathi Kumaaram Bhaavaye -Rupakam

raaga: Nattaikurinji. Rupaka thaalam.
This krithi was composed by Dikshithar at Virinjipuram
where there is a beautiful temple of Maargabhandu.This temple is 2000 years old.Virinjipuram
is situate at 15 miles from Vellore.
Pallavi:

Paarvathi kumaaram bhaavaye sathatham.=I always meditate on Lord Subrahmanya who is the son of Parvatha Raajakumaari, Parvathi.

Saravana bhava Guruguham Sri.= Lord Muruga was born and emerged from SaravaNa Poigai
a pool in the Himalayaas.
Charanam:
Maargasahaaya priya sutham .= He is the beloved son of Maargasahaaya(Lord Shiva)
Maadhavaadhyamaraadhinutham.=Worshipped by Maadhava and other Devas.
Maanikya makuta shobhitha .=With the crown resplendent with gems.
Maanitha guna vaibhavam, =With celebration of His venerable nature.
The audio/video link is available in u tube rendered by Srirangam Rajagopalan.

Gajaananayutham.- Adi Thaalam

Next krithi is "Gajaananayutham" in raga aka vegavaahini.Dikshithar composed this song
on Lord Ganesa at rockfort temple at Tiruchi. This is set to adi thalam
Pallavi:
Gajaananayutham Ganeshwaram bhajaami sathatham Sureshwaram.=
I worship always the elephant- faced Ganeshwara who is also the lord of devas.
Charanam:
Ajenhdra pujitha Vigneshwaram.=The lord who wards off obstacles is woshipped by Brahma and Indra
GaNaadi sannutha pada padmakaram.=Worshipped by Bhutha GaNaas and posseses lotus like feet and hands.
Kunjara bhanjana chathurathara karam.=Whose clever hands killed Gajaasura
Guruguhaagrajam pranavaakaaram.=who is the elder brother of Guruguha and represents akaaram in the symbol Om.The raaga mudra "aka" is brought out here.
The audio link can be had from arvindsdad.blogspot.com under maharajapuram Santhanam.

Saarasa Dhala Nayanaa.-2 (thriputa thaalam)

Charanam :
Maagamaasothsava prabhaava maanitha guruguha.=The celebration to the Lord in the month of
panguni as per tamil calendar,the raaga mudra kamaas,and the swaraakhshara ma,ga,ma are
catching our attention and also the prabhaava or the speciality of the function.
Vanditha bhava.=The venerable Guruguha worships Vishnu.
Gokula jana paala,Gopika manohara,Govardhanadhara.=The three acts of Krishna are mentioned
by way of addressing Him viz. the protector of yadavaas, the enticer of gopikaas,One who raised
govardhana mountain to protect yaadavaas from the fury of rain god Indra.The song ends with
this.
The audio of this song sung by smt.N.C.Vasanthakokilam is available with arvindsdad.blogspot.com.

Saarasa Dhala Nayana.-1.(thriputa thaalam)

The next krithi being dealt with is Saarasa dala nayanaa.Dikshithar has composed this krithi in
praise of Rajagopalaswamy at Mannargudi.The thala dealt with is triputa.
Pallavi: Saarasadala nayanaa sankata harana
hare govinda maampahi
LOrd Krishna's eyes are compared to the lotus petals.He is the remover of untoward happenings.
Hari! Govinda! protect me!.
Anu Pallavi: neerajaasanaadi pujithaanga sri Ramaantharanga shubaanga
Murahara abhaya prada Mukunda yaadava kula bhushana.
Neerajaasana indicates Brahma.Neerajaa the lotus emanated from Vishnu's naval wherein seated
Brahma and worshipped by Him. Then follows the epithets in praise of Krishna,who is close to ramaa's heart,the one who has auspicious body,slayer of Muraasura,Remover of the anxiety of
those who surrender,Great Liberator and the gem of yaadava clan.

Sri Ranga Pura Vihaara.-3 ( rupaka thaalam )

Charanam.
Pankajaaptha kula jalanidhi soma.= the friend of lotus i.e Surya.As mentioned earlier Ramaa
belongs to Surya kula.The friend of lotus is further qualified by comparing the relationship
between the ocean and the Moon.
Vara pankaja mukha Pattabhi Raama.=Eminent and with a face like lotus the crown king Raama.
Pada pankaja jitha kaama Raghu raama.= Now, dikshithar brings out first the comparison of Raama's feet with lotus.We have already exalted the worship of the lotus feet of the Lord
in Chaturdasa raagamaalika.Raama is also jitha kaama, the conquerer of kaama being one of the purushaarthaas,Raama of Raghu dynasty.
Vamaanka gatha Seetha vara vesha seshaanka shayana.=With Seetha on His left lap,her consort
Raama has Adisesha for His bed.
Bhaktha santhosha enaanka ravi nayana mridubhasha.= One who pleases the bhakthaas and
has the eyes like the Moon(eNaanka means one who has a black deer on his body) and the
Sun, and is soft spoken.
Akalanka darpana kapola visesha muni sankataharana govinda venkata ramana mukunda
His cheeks are like unblemished fine mirror,He is the remover of obstacles for the sages.
He is addressed as Govinda,Venkata Ramana and Mukunda.
Sankarshana moola kanda Shankara guruguhaananda. = He is the primordial Being and the source of joy to Lord Shiva and Murugaa.With this ends the song and the audio link can be had
from arvindsdad.blogspot.com under the heading M.S.Subbulakshmi.
There is a beautiful rendering of this song by Ranjani-Gayathri in you tube.Just visit the site and enjoy.

Sri Ranga Pura Vihaara.-2 (Rupaka thaalam)

Anu Pallavi.
Angaja janaka deva brindaavana saarangendra varada ramaantharanga.
Angaja is Manmatha and he is the son of Vishnu.The story goes that he was born to Krishna
and Rugmini and named as pradyumna.Immediately after he was born he was stolen by Sambaraasura and thrown into the ocean.He was swallowed by a giant fish and found alive when
the fish was cut open in the kitchen of Sambaraasura and later brought up by Mayaavathi
the wife of Sambaraasura as she was attracted by the beauty of the child.Here Angaja janaka
is Vishnu who is the protector of devas and brindaavana Saarangendra.Saarangaa here denotes
gajendra whose cry for Naraayana immediately released his foot from the crocodile. He is also
close to Lakshmi's heart.
Shyaamalaanga vihanga thuranga sadayaapaanga satsanga.
Vishnu is bluish black hued,has Garuda as the vaahana,His side glances are full of grace and He is always associated with the company of good people.

Sri Rangapura Vihaara.-1 ( Rupaka thaalam)

The famous krithi in Raaga Bridaavana Saaranga composed by sri Dikshithar in rupaka thalam is
Sri rangapura vihaara.The pallavi starts as:
Sri ranga pura vihaara jaya kodanda raamaavathara raghu veera.
Though the krithi is on Ranganatha, at Srirangam,it partly relates to the Ramar sannidi therein.
Srirangam is one and foremost of the 108 divyadesams of vaishnavites.It is in the islet formed
by the two rivers Kaveri and kollidam.sri=beautiful,arangam=the land between two rivers.
Lord Ranganaatha is in the posture of yoga nidhra.However He is said to revel(vihaara) in the kshetra,probably due to the beauty of the place.Ramaa's bow kodanda is hailed victorious.
In raamaavathaara Sri Rama is called Raghuveera, the scion of raghuvamsa.
The ancestry of Rama is traced back to Surya.Their race produced eminent kings in the
names of Harish chandra, Dileepa,Raghu,Aja,Dasaratha and Raama.

chathurdasa raagamaalika 9

Now,the reverse order of the fourteen ragaas start here to end this composition
to reach the pallavi through the following epithets on Lord Shiva.
Guruguhesa sura naresam anisam.= (I worship) always the Lord of guruguha(Dikshitar),
gods and kings.
The above line is rendered in raaga bhupaala following the last charanam.
Raaga Devakriya
guja bhudhaadi graha gathi vihitham.= planets like mars, mercury etc. move as per His order.
Raaga Kambodhi.
Varadam anala ravi sasi nayanam.= Bestower of gifts, has three eyes viz. Surya being the right eye,
Chandra being the left eye(as Devi forms Shiva's left part), and agni(fire) emanated from the third eye,which burnt Manmatha and a spark from which created Lord Skanda.
Raaga Shankaraabharanam.
Vanaja chandra sannibha vadanam.= The face that equals in splendour the lotus and the moon.
The word "vana" denotes forest as well as water.Here the meaning water is taken to denote
lotus just as in the words neeraja,ambhuja etc.
Raaga Saaranga.
Parama hamsaananda narthanam.= Here the dance of Shiva is said to be that of paramahamsa
depicting eternal happiness.The word hamsa distinguishes the state of the bird swan which
ia happy in water as well as on land. The swan is equally famous for separating milk from water.
Like wise Paramahamsaas are ever happy seeing only good from in and around.
The dance of Shiva is said to posses 108 variants and the one performed at the time of
dissolution is known as aananda thaandavam.
Raaga Bhairava.
Pathitha paavana karanam agha haranam.=The one who purifies the down trodden and also
destroys the ahankaara in the mind.
Raaga Lalitha.
Paratharam parama manolaya jayam.=Who is the supreme being and controls our minds as
antharaathma.(inner soul)
Raaga Sama
Paraadi vaak prakaasaanandamayam.= The one who generates the four phases of speech production.
The Bhagavathi Tattva mentions these four phases.First, the vaak beyond (paraa vaak)
That is the place where the idea originates as the first impulse.The shoot which springs from the invisible seed is the voice that sees(pashyanthi).
The potential of sound still in the thought form is the intermediary voice.(madhyama)
The exteriorized sound in the form of articulate syllable is the voice manifest.(vaikaari).
With this, the composition comes to the conclusion and the following raagas are sung
with the epithets at the end of anupallavi,viz. Mohanam,Gaula,Natai,Gauri, Arabhi and Shri raaga to reach the pallavi.

The audio link for this song is available in "arvindsdad.blogspot.com" under the label "M. L. Vasanthakumari - 2 "

chathurdasa raagamaalika 8

Next charanam is in devakriya raagam.Sri dikshitar very aptly applied this raaga to
describe the revelry of Lord Shiva in divine activities. We should also remember
that all the charanams deal with each of the attributes of Shiva and as we follow the attributes one by one we should add " I worship"i.e bhajeham in our minds.
Vadaanya devakriyaa kelanam.= Revels in the activities of the munificent gods.
Srshti stithi vilaya tirodhaana anugraha kaaraNa kriya kelanam
In soundarya lahari Shankara describes that Devi conducts the five activities of
creation, protection, destruction,concealment and blessing respectively through
Brahma,Vishnu,Rudhra,Mahesha and Sadaashiva.In Lalitha Sahasranaamaavali
Devi is known as "pancha kritya paraayanaa.The same activities are mentioned
in the second line of this charanam.
Next charanam is in raaga bhupalam.This is the last Charanam after which
the reversal of raagaas to revert to the pallavi commences.
Vaidyalinga bhupaala paalanam.=Protector of patron Vaidyalinga,the one who supported
sri Dikshitar.
Sripura nRtibhaaga gartha theera sthitha vara bhupaala paalanam.=The place denotes kuzhikkarai(gartha=hollow.theera=bank) wherein dwelt the patron of Dikshitar.This place
is said to be in the southwest quarter of Sripuram.

chathurdasa raagamaalika 7

The next charanam is composed in raga Shankaraabharanam
Sadaa aashrayaami shankaraabharanam.=I worship always the One decorated with
auspicious ornaments.
Lord Shiva's ornaments are none other than the snakes,the chief of which being
vaasuki, surrounding His neck. In the next line these ornaments are further
qualified besides being auspicious.
Chinthithaartha vitharanam dhurinathara maanikyamaya shankaraabharanam.
The bestower of all our desires,having the purest gems, forms the auspicious ornament of Shiva.
The next charanam is in kaambodhi raaga.
Sadgathi daayaka ambhoja charanam.=The lotus feet bestow moksha on the aspirant.
Lotus is the symbol of creation as Brahma,the creator emanated from the naval lotus
of Vishnu.His consort Lakshmi who is the lotus goddess sits at His feet.The highest
form of worship is always towards Lord's feet.
In the same way when we observe the form of Nataraja,the abhaya mudra points
downward towards the uplifted foot,which denotes the aim of the devotee to obtain
liberation from worldly life,by worshipping it.
Dharmaarthaadi nikhila purushaartha prada samarthathara ambhoja charanam.
The four goals of life are dharma(righteousness), artha(material wealth), kama(desire),
moksha(liberation).
The meaning is that the lotus feet will bestow all the four goals and also all the fulfilment
of desires.

chathurdasa raagamaalikaa 6

The charanam in raga bhairava:
Chidaakaasa bhairavam puraharam.= The name Bhairava represents Shiva as the
annihilator.He is the destroyer of ahankaara or the ego in chidaakaasa , in the firmament of
consciousness. He is purahara, the destroyer of three worlds viz. the heaven,the swarga
the ether,the akaasa and the earth,the prithvi.
The story goes that the devas, swayed by the demons, once requested Lord Shiva to destroy the three worlds.Accordingly Shiva assumed the bhairava rupa, having the earth as the chariot
Brahma as the charioteer, vishnu as the arrow,and mount Mandara as the bow and destroyed
tripura.
Vidi kapaala trishuladhara bhairavam puraharam.= having on His trishula one head of brahma.
This happened due to an argument with brahma.Brahma cursed in return that Shiva has to beg food while holding the skull in His hand.
The next charanam is in raga saaranga.
ChitSabheswaram Saarangadharam.= dancing in the inner consciousness and having a deer in His hand.
In certain versions Shiva is said to posses the deer in his hand. The deer represents tranquility.
In the next line it is further qualified as "Daarukaavana tapodhana kalpitha saarangadharam
meaning the peace acquired by the ascetics living in the Dharuka vana.This denotes the pine forest near Chidambaram.
There is another meaning for the word saaranga indicating the bow. As per Mundakopanishad
having the bow as upanishads one should aim the sharp arrow of meditation by drawing it with
the mind at the target of Brahman.

chathurdasa ragamaalika 5

The charanam starts with raga sama.
Sadaasivam saamagaana vinutham.= The eternal Siva worshipped with saama veda chants.
Sadaasiva is one of the five aspects of paramasiva viz. Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Aghora and Sadaasiva
Prakrithyaadi saptha rupa saama gaana vinutham.= the prakrithi is the basic intonation of the
verse in saamaveda from which the vikritis viz the intonations of seven vikritis emanated.
The charanam in raga lalitha
Sanmaathram lalitha hrudaya viditham.= blissful and known by devotees with tender hearts
Kama krodaadi rahitha lalitha hrudaya viditham.= They should also rid themselves of the
vices viz. kaama,lust krodha,anger lobha,greed matha, pride and maathsarya, envy.

Chaturdasa ragamalika - 4 - shri visvanatham bhajeham

anu pallavi continued,
Guruguha sammohanakara lingam.=the lingam which fascinates guruguha
GURUGUHA is the mudra of sri dikshitar
Panchikritha panchamahabhutha prapnchadi mohanakara lingam.=the fivefold
combinations of the five elements viz.the earth,water,air,fire,ether the varied forms in the universe
enchantingly created by the lingam
the anu pallavi ends with reverse order of ragas ending with shri raga.
Virinchi vishnu rudra murthi mayam which is rendered in raga mohanam.=trimurthi aspect of shiva
raga gaula:vishaya panchaka rahitham abhayam.=not affected by five senses and fearless.
raga nattai:nirathisayaasukhada nipuna tharam.=gives unsurpassed happiness of expertise.
raga gauri:nigamasaram ishvaram, amaram.=essence of vedas,lord and immortal
raga arabhi:smaraharam,paramashivam,atulam.=slayer of kama,most auspicious, and none to
equal
raga shri:sarasa sadaya hridaya nilayam,anisam.=(incessantly I worship) the one who has his abode in the hearts of emotion and compassion
the trimurthi tattva of brahma vishnu and shiva is also depicted in the rising,noon and setting of the Sun.
(to continue)

Chaturdasa ragamalika - 3 - .shri visvanatham

The anupallavi continues in the raga nattai.
chithra visva nataka prakasam.=illumines the varied drama of the universe.
jagath prakaasaka bhaskara shashanka koti koti prakaasam=which is like the world illuminating
sun and the moon in infinite numbers.
could we take the liberty of comparing this with the illuminating self in all of us which gives us the
knowledge of our inner and outer world?
Next line of anupallavi is in gaula raga.
Govindaadi vinutha gaulaangam.=possessed of white limbs and worshipped by govinda and others.
kshira kundendu karpooraadi vijaya bhasithoddhulitha gaulaangam=the white limbs besmeared with ashes outshines milk,jasmine,theMoon,camphor etc.

chathurdasa ragamalika - 2

The anupallavi starts with gauri ragam
sri visalakshi gaurisam = Visala is one of the eight looks of parvathi that is a look that flowers from within gauri is parvathi may be whose age is about eight. The kalyana of parvathi is always sung as gauri kalyana vaibhogame. the isa of visala and gauri is shiva.
sakala nishkala rupa = lord of white hue. Shiva burnt manmatha with his eye of fire. His body is smeared with ashes.
satchidananda maaya gaurisham = Who is pure existence, consciousness and bliss.
We note that the first line speaks of sakala rupa and the second line speaks about sachidananda maya.
Sri dikshitar followed smaartha tradition. Smaartha worship is based on smriti even though their philosophy is advaitha as expounded by shankara. They worship as family deity either surya, shiva, devi, vishnu, ganesha or muruga.
No wonder sri shankara composed shlokas on various deities. So did our venerable dikshitar
by composing kritis on various deities

chaturdasa ragamalika - 1

At first i am taking up the chathurdasa ragamalika varnam composed by Sri Muthuswamy dikshitar in chaturasra eka thalam (adi thalam).
The pallavi consists of two auspicious ragas viz. sriragam and arabhi.

shri visvanaatham bhajeham = I worship the Lord of the universe.

chathurdasa bhuvanarupa = in the form of fourteen worlds

ragamaalikaabharana dharanaanthakaranam = wears in his heart the garland of ragas.

According to hindu mythology there are seven worlds upward and seven worlds downword wherein the departed soul is placed as per good and bad deeds done on earth. Earth is supposed to be the lowest of the upward worlds and the place of return once the fruits of karma are exhausted.This is also the place to get rid of karmas to get moksha.

Next line of pallavi is composed in raga arabhi

Shrithajana samsaara bhithyaapaham = destroys the fear of worldly existence for those who take refuge in Him.
adhyatmikadi taapatraya manobhityapaham = destroys the fear caused by three factors viz. adyathmika-bodily and mental pains, adibhautika - caused by external factors such as men, beast, reptiles, animate and inanimate objects. adidhaivika-superhuman ones such as planetary influence, evil spirits etc.

(to be continued)

dikshitar krithis

I have been listening to the dikshitar kritis rendered by various artistes, paying attention
only to the melody of the music in them.
It was a chance occurrence that I started focussing on their meaning and other explanations
given by various experts and lo, I virtually stumbled upon a treasure which was awe- inspiring.
I wish to place on record the meanings of the songs along with the explanations I could gather from the net here and there.
I trust certainly this would help those who search for the meanings of the words with reference to the context at one place.