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Ramaashtaka Krithis ---7th vibakthi krithi

From the Bhakti List Archives

V. Sadagopan • November 3, 1996 


Dear Rama Bhakthaas : 

Sri Dikshitar composed his seventh Ashtaka Krithi 
in the 68th melakartha Ragam  , Jyothi swarupiNi . 
In Dikshithar's sampradhaayam , it was known as 
"Jyothi ". He had composed one more  Krithi in this 
ragam on Rama sahodari known as "Paramjyothishmathi 
Parvathi --". This mela ragam belongs to the Aditya chakram 
and is therefore appropriate for eulogizing the Surya 
Kula Tilakam , Sri Ramachandran. 

This is a scintillating krithi dealing with the Padhukaa 
Pattabhishekam and the return of Sri Ramachandra to
Nandigramam and then to Ayodhya to be crowned as 
Pattabhi Raman . 

The sahitya Vaakyams are as follows :

PALLAVI :

RAAMEH BHARATA PAALITHA RAJYAMARPAYAAMI
RAJAATHIRAJA PUJITHA CHARANAM NAMAAMI

CHARANAM:

AMARESAADHI SAKLA DEVATHAA MODHENA
ANTHARANGA GURUGUHAANANDA MRUDHU GADHANEH
SAMASTHA MUNI GANA SAADHU JANAAADHI VANDHANEH
SAANANDHAYUTA SEETHAA MANOHARA MADHANEH (RAAMEH )

In pallavi , Dikshitar salutes the family and admirers of  Sri Rama 
in the spirit of  " TAM VISHNUM BHARATHAAGRAJAM RAGHUVEERAM
SEETHAA SAMETHAM BHAJEH ". Dikshitar places at the feet of 
Sri Ramachandra the kingdom protected by Bharatha for fourteen 
years with the help of Sri Rama Paadhukaa . Swami Desikan 
composed more than 1000 verses in honor of the Padhukaa of
Sri Ramachnadra( Ranganatha) . Those Padukas were the representative
of Rama to guide Bharatha to rule the kingdom for fourteen 
years untl Rama returned from exile in the forest and the conquest of 
RavaNaa.  In hi ssecond verse of Padhukaa Sahasram , Swami Desikan
pays his tribute to Bharatha this way :

BHARATHAAYA  PARAM NAMOSTHU TASMAI
PRATHAMODHAAHARANAAYA BHAKTHIBHAAJAAM I
YADHUPAJNAMASESHATHA: PRUTHIVYAAM
PRATHITHO RAGHAVA PAADHUKAA PRABHAAVA : II

(MEANING : The illustrious one ,who first wore Sri Ramachandra"s
Padhukaas on his head was His brother  Bharatha. He conducted 
the affairs ofthe state as the representative of the sacred padhukaas , 
when Rama chose to spend fourteen years to honor his father's word .)
This verse salutes Bharatha as the first blessed soul , who illustrated
the meaning and holiness of the Lord's Padhukaas. Bharatha spread 
the glory of Rama Padhukaas through his worship of them for fourteen 
years.

Dikshitar joins the ranks of Bharatha in extolling the incident realted 
to Paaadhukaa Pattabhshekam and Bharata's Rajya paripaalanam
as the representative of Rama Padhukaas. Dikshitar offers to Sri Rama
the kingdom protected by Bharatha and salutes the lotus feet associated
with those Padhukaas and worshipped by the emperors of the land
( RAJAATHIRAJA PUJITHA CHARANAM NAMAAMI ).

The charaNa vakhyams describe the Pattabhisheka scene and 
Rama's gentle gait as he walked to the throne and admired by 
his nephew Guruguha an dby Indra and all the Devaas ( AMARESAADHI
SAKALA DEVATHAA MODEHNA , ANTHARANGA GURUGUHAANANDA
MRUDHU GADHENA --CHARANMA NAMAAMI ). He was seated on
the throne of the Ishvaakus with joyous Sita , who was captivateD 
by his incomparable beauty ( SAANANDAYUTA SITAA MANOHARA 
MADHANEH -- CHARANAM NAMAAMI ) . The sages and Rishis assembled 
to witnes sthis pattabhshekam scene were exhilirated by the auspicious
darsanam of the Lord with His consort and eulogized Him. Dikshitar
salutes the holy feet wearing the Paadhukas revered by Bharatha in 
this krithi . 

I conclude this posting with a Slokam of Rama KarNaamrutham 
composed by a Sankaraacharya of kanchi Kamakoti Peetam:

SAKALA SUKRUTHA RATNAM SATYAVAAKYAARTHA RATNAM
SAMADHAMAGUNA RATNAM PAATHU MAAM RAMA RATNAM I
PRAAYA NILAYA RATNAM PRASPUTADHYOTHI RATNAM
PARAMA PADHAVI RATNAM PAATHU MAAM RAMA RATNAM II

Sri Ramachandra Parabrahmaneh Nama: 
 
Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan