Navagraha kirthanams by Muthuswamy Dikshithar -- Suryamoorthe -- Saurashtra ragam dhruva thalam

An erudite scholar like Dikshithar , who was an ardent performer of Srichakra Puja , never overlooked the importance of the navagrahas in our day to day lives. It is a well known fact that none of us could remember our past lives . We come across however many situations in our lives which are beyond our control . Supposing we sit and question the reason for our untoward predicament or unhealthy state of a prolonged nature /order when no reason could be attributed ,  as a last resort we go in search of an astrologer to ward off any planetary evils .

One thing is certain that we never seek astrological help  at the time when every thing goes well with us .Even in modern times with all the advancement of medical remedies and  up to date scientific knowledge, our minds are put to rest only after performing the remedial measures suggested by the astrologist in respect of  planetary disfavour .

Dikshithar has found out an easy method of appeasing the navagrahas or the nine planets . By singing the Navagraha Kithanams  diligently with devotion  we may endear the grace of the planets, and especially the ones pointed out  by the astrologers as in disfavour  at the moment . If singing is not in the capacity of one, then it would suffice one to listen with devotion the respective krithis as sung by the eminent musicians .

However it is better to know the purport of each krithi on Navagrahas with the meaning  and explanation to understand better as we listen to these songs .

The very first song is on Surya Bhagavan . our philosophy is " sarvam brahmamayam jagath " We therefore attribute divinity to  the five elements  and in no less way to the floating planets in the universe and consider them as minions of  God to carry out His orders .


Those who undergo impediments in respect of  spouse, marriage, progeny, education, profession should worship the Sun for relief . On the whole the Sun refers to father, athma, eyes, physical stamina and help from governments as well as Eminent persons .


The krithi is composed in Saurashtra ragam which is one of the auspicious ragams and which can be sung at any part of the day .

Pallavi :=

Surya moorthe , Namosthuthe , sundara chayadhipathe : =  Prostrations to Lord Surya, the spouse of Beautiful Chaya Dhevi,.

 Anupallavi  =

Kaarya kaaranaathmaka jagath prakaasa simha raashyaadipathe : = The Sun is the provider of enlightenment to the world in respect of the cause and effect of each event  ; He is the sign-lord of Simha Rasi , the constellation  called Leo .

Aarya vinutha tejas poorthe , aarogyaadi palada kirthe : =  Your resplendance has been praised by the Learned ;You are the renowned  provider of good health .

Charanam : = 

Saarasa mithra mithra bhaano , sahasra kirana karna soono : = You are the friend of the lotus and as a friendly planet (  in one's horoscope )  you make the person's life shine . You are resplendent and father of Karna .

Krura paapahara krusaano , guruguha moditha swabhaano : =  The one to burn the deadly sins,  the one to please guruguha by your natural brightness .

Surijaneditha sudina maNe ,Somaadi graha shikaamane , : = Praised by the learned , you are the jewel of the day, You are the crest jewel of the other planets like the moon .

Dhiraarchitha karma saakshine , divyathara sapthaaswa rathine : = You are worshipped by the courageous , you are the witness of all actions. You have the divine seven horses driven chariot . The seven horses are said to be the seven colours of the rainbow or seven days of the week .

Saura  ashtaarNa manthra athmane , souvarNa swaroopaathmane  : = The  embodiment of Gayathri Manthra which has the eight-lettered  manthra of three dimensions  addressed to Savita the inner power behind  Surya ,.the one with the golden hued form .

Bharatheesa hari haraathmane ,bhukthi mukthi vitharaNaathmane  : = You are indeed the Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva , three in one ; You who is the bestower of  material gains as well as spiritual progress for liberation ..

The audio version of the song is available with arvindsdad.blogspot.com under Navagraha krithis

Shri Kamalambike (Mangala Kirthanam)-Shri ragam-Khanda jaathi eka thalam

In completion of the Navaavarana Kirthanas this song is dedicated by Dikshithar to Goddess Sri Maha Thripura Sundari  to confer auspiciousness on all those who do the Srichakra worship.The song starts with the name of the raga .

Pallavi : =

Shri kamalaambike shive paahi maam : = The Most Auspicious Kamalaambike ! protect me !

Lalithe , Shripathi vinuthe , sithasithe ,Shivasahithe , : = Who is of the tender form , worshipped by Vishnu , having a mixed complexion of white and dark blue , and who is the companion of Lord Shiva .

Samashti Charanam : =

Rakha chandramukhi , Rakshitha kola mukhi : =Whose face is like full moon, Who protects Vaaraahi , Her chief of the army.


Ramaa vaani sakhi , Raja yoga sukhi : = Who is the friend of  Goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswathi , Who enjoys the bliss of Raja Yoga .

Shaakambari, shaathodari , chandra kalaadhari : = Shaaka denotes vegan food .  Ambari means one who bears . Devi was given the name Shaakambari as she brought grains , fruits etc to appease the hunger of people in the days of yore when they were starved for a number of years . Shaathodari speaks of Devi's slender waist . Devi wears the half crescent moon while sporting the Ardha - Naareeswara Bhava or form .

Shankari shankara guruguha bhaktha vasankari : = One who does auspicious things ;  One who brings within Her fold the devotees of Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga .

Ekaakshari bhuvaneshwari isha priyakari  : = The one who is symbolic of Om the pranava , Goddess of the universe and consort of Lord Shiva .

Shreekari sukakari shri Maha Thripura Sundari : =   The one who bestows auspiciousness and well being and who is Maha Thripura Sundari .

The Soundarya Lahari says " Shivaha shakthya yukthaha yadi  bhavathi shakthyaa  prabhavithum ".
Only with the association of shakthi, Shiva becomes powerful to activate the universe . We may say Shiva represents the pure consciousness who is the witness of the play of sathwa , rajas , and thamas leading to the creation of human beings . These three gunas by various combinations with the five elements create the world..

The Moon , Sun , and fire are within the Shakthi and all planets constellations and Time are Her contribution .

She is the will (icha) , Knowledge( jnana ) and action (kriya)

She is the buddhi , the intellect , manas the mind , and ahankaara the ego .

She represents wakeful, dream and deep sleep state and she is beyond these as athma witnessing these states.

She directs the trimurthies to perform the creation , sustenance and destruction and after which stands beyond that .

She represents the five elements viz ether , air, fire, water and earth .

The moon as the mirror of reflection of Devi holds together all creation and creatures and human beings by playing on their minds

In conclusion we  may say that the navaavarana puja leads human beings  to realize the ultimate through stage by stage acquisition of  power denoted by each aavarana and  worship Sri Maha Thripura Sundari at the bindu as Shiva and Shakthi in unison .

The audio version of this song is available in "arvindsdad.blogspot.com"

Shri Kamalaamba Jayathi-- aahiri ragam--rupaka thalam

This is the ninth aavaranam of the navaavarana krithis composed by Dikshithar.This krithi denotes the sarvaanandamaya chakra .All along we have been travelling through the eight entrances of Srichakra and now we have reached the bindhu which is the innermost aspect of Srichakra or this is the sahasrara chakra as per kundalini yoga.This is directly addressed to Sri Maha Thripura Sundari who is the supreme deity of Srichakra and who confers all prosperity, fulfillment of desires and Supreme Bliss to Her devotees .The raaga mudra   Ahiri is in charanam .

Pallavi :=

Shri Kamalaamba Jayathi Amba Shri  : = Victory unto you ! Shri Kamalaamba , the auspicious mother !

Shringaara rasa kadamba , madamba, chit bimba ,prathi bimbendu bimba : =  My Mother Kamalaamba ,the reflector of my intellect is the cumulative essence of shringaara rasa . She reflects the reflection of the full moon .The unity of Shiva and Shakthi in the ardhanaareeswara thathwa depicts the culmination of shringaara rasa. In each human being She is the athma identifying various things through intellect such as the reflection of the Moon , thereby surpassing even the brightness of the full moon .

Madhyama kaalam

Shreepura bindhu madhyastha ,chinthaamani mandirastha Shivaakaara manchasthitha Shivakaameshaankastha :=

In the centremost point of Srichakra is the Bindu which is known as Sarvaanandamayam ,  on the Pancha Brahmaasana Mahaa Thripura Sundari is seated on the lap of Sadashiva . Pancha Brahmaasana means a cot wherein the upper plank is the lap of Sadashiva and the support of which is made by Brahma, vishnu, shiva, and  Maheswara on four sides .Here the Sivakaameshwara is seated on their support and on His lap Devi is seated
Anu Pallavi =

Sukaraanana aadhyarchitha Mahaathripurasundareem :=Sri Mahathripurasundari was worshipped by Mahavishnu at the time of Varaha avathaara .

Rajarajeswareem srikara sarvaanandamaya chakravarthineem suvaasineem chinthayeham := I meditate on Rajarajeshwari, the auspicious Empress of Sarvaanandamaya Chakra who is a nithya sumangali.

Madhyama kaalam
Divaakara sheetha kirana paavakaadi vikaasa karayaa :=  Who enlightens ( through our minds ) the light from the Sun , the Moon , and Agni the fire.

Bheekara thaapathrayaadi bedana dhureena tharayaa ;= Who is an expert in removing the three types of  afflictions creating fear,  as mentioned in the eighth Navaavarana .

Paakaripu pramukhaadi praarthitha su kalebharayaa := Whose divinity is  worshipped by eminent gods like Indra and others .

Praakatya paraa parayaa paalitho dayaakarayaa := Who manifests both para and apara aspects of life viz. the life here and hereafter protects me with great compassion .

Charanam :=

Sarvaanandamaya Chakra

Shri Maathre Namasthe Chinmaathre  Sevitha  Ramaaharikaavidhaathre := Oh ! Auspicious Mother ! Who is the Mother of Wisdom ! Worshipped by Lakshmi, Vishnu and Brahma !

Vaamaadi  shakthi pujitha paradevathaayaaha  sakalam jaatham : =  From the Goddess Shakthi worshipped by  Sage Vama and others all is born in this world !

Kaamaadi dwaadasabhir upaasitha Kaadi Haadi Saadi Manthra rupinyaahaa premaaspada shiva 

Guruguha Jananyaam preethiuktha  macchitham vilayathu :  = 

Worshipped  by Kama , manmatha and eleven others  as Kaadi vidya starting with ka , Haadi vidya starting with ha and Saadi vidya starting with sa , Devi, who is the embodiment of these manthraas and who is the mother of  lovable and auspicious Lord Muruga, may  let my mind absorbed in the loving devotion to Her.
The twelve devotees are Manu, Lopamudra, Durvaasa, and Manmatha belonging to kaadi vidya .Moon nandikeswara and shanmukha belonging to saadi vidya and kubera agasthya sun, vishnu and shiva belonging to haadi vidya . These worships based on panchadasaakshari manthra contain the secret of creation .

Brahmamaya prakaasini  naamaroopa  vimarshini,kaama kalaa pradarshini , saamarasya nidarshini : =

She is the enlightner of para brahma swaroopa ; She is the interpreter of name and form , She is the ever lasting proof of the equality of Shiva and Shakthi .

In Soundarya Lahari, Shiva and Shakthi are addressed as samarasa paraananda parayoho in sloka no. 34
Their equality is five fold; In poojas like srichakra there is Adhishtaana saamyam. In kriyaas like srishti sththi etc. Anushtaana saamyam . In dance like laasya and thandava Avasthaana saamyam . In names like Shiva Shivaa and Bhairava-Bhairavi , Naama saamyam . In red-hued complexion and the possession of the third eye , Roopa saamyam .

With this keerthna the Navaavaranam is complete .The next song invokes the auspiciousness of Devi to bestow prosperity .

The audio version of this song is available with arvindsdadblogspot.com

 




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