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132 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

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“RAMA RAGHUKULA JALANIDHI” (KApi)

Is it possible for Brahma even to know your greatness

and glory ?

When Vibhishana sought your refuge, you, without

minding that he was the brother of the enemy of Gods,

sages and men,. accepted him, proclaiming at the same time

your general resolve to protect all who seek refuge (what-

ever may be other considerations), and made him Lanka- pati

You blessed Sankara, Sità, Lakshmana, Anjsneya,

Parvati, Sugriva, Bharata, Satrughna, and Vibhishana

with Divyachakshus (divine insight) to enable them to see

your divine Riipam. You also arranged that Sankara

should utter in the ears of the men of this world your

Taraka Mantra TT

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" CHINTISTUNNADE” (Mukhari)

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"SÁRAMÉGÁANI" (Pantuvarali)

Oh Mind! Rama Namam alone is the precious thing

worthy to be coveted. Why bother with the thought of

other paths, listening to the words of all and sundry? Did

not sage Narada, who constantly drinks the nectar of Rama

Nima and traverses the whole Universe with the name of

Narayana on his lips, lovingly initiate Valmiki with this

mantram ?

did not Suka Brehma, who had drunk deep the nectar

of Rama Nama, uttering the holy name of Hari, earning un-

equalled glory and losing himself (in transcendental bliss),

give the mantra to Parikshit ?

Did not Lord Siva, delighting in Samagina, the Lord of

Kailas, with all earnestness, drink the nectar of Rama Nima,

besides unceasingly uttering the holy name, initiate his

beautiful consort, Párvati with the mantram, explaining its

great efficacy and significance ?

“MELU MELU” (Sowr&shtra)

Oh Mind! the happiness that Rama Nima. gives to one is

positively higher than

Nama Mühütmya 137

the pleasure which a man of intense thirst derives on drink-

ing water,

the pleasure which a man of dire poverty derives on coming

by a treasure-chest,

the pleasure which people suffering from unbearable

drought derive when they get nectar-like water in

the well,

the pleasure which a helpless man in fright derives when

he acquires courage,

the pleasure which a hungry man derives when he gets a

sumptuous feast,

the pleasure which one derives in meditating upon Sri

Rama, the bestower of prosperity,

the pleasure which a man in an undesirable angry mood

derives when he calms down;

the pleasure which an utterly ignorant man derives when

he suddenly acquires proficiency in all branches

of knowledge,

the pleasure which a true devotee of Rama with proficiency

in music derives,

the pleasure which peple, without associating with ignorant

secular-minded people, derive from spiritual experience,

the pleasure which one derives after a successful Vedantic

inquiry,

the bliss which one derives from realization of Nirguna Para-

Brahma,

138 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

the happiness which one derives from worship, free from

taint of RAjasic and Tamasic gunas, and

the happiness which was vouchsafed to Lord Siva. This

fact is testified to by Lord Siva himself and sages like

Valmiki, Parvati and Hanuman.

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."EVARANI NIRNAYIMCHIRIRA” (Dévamritavarshini)

What do people determine you to be and how do they

worship you? As Siva, as Madhava, as Brahma, or Para-

brahma? I prostrate before those wise ones, who found the

solution by picking out and combining the soul of each of

the two mantras—Mà from Siva Mantra (Panchakshara) and

Ra from Narayana Mantra (Ashtakshara).

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"TELISI RAMÁCHINTANATO" (Pürnachandrikà)

Mind! chant the Lord's name with understanding and

thought of Ràma, stopping the wanderings of the mind (clos-

ing the gates of the mind) at least for a minute and realising

the true significance of the form of the great Redeemer.

140 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

'Rüma' is the name for woman also. If when uttering

that word, your mind dwells on that object, you will have

only to wrestle with lust and other passions. But ‘Rama’ is

the name for Parabrahmam also, and if your mind dwells on

it, while utteing the word, your life's ills will come to an

end.

‘Arka’ is the name for the poisonous tree. By thinking

of that object while uttering the word, how can your restless

(monkey) mind get controlled ? ‘Arka’ is the name for the

sun also. If you visualise him when uttering the word, your

tendency to disputation and ignorance will vanish.

‘Aja’ is the name for agoat. If you think of it only

when uttering the word, how can your true desires be ful-

filled? ‘Aja’ is the name for Brahma also If you think of

him when uttering the word, you will be blessed with

victory.

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“RAMA NIYEDA PREMA” (Kharaharapriya)

Will the man that is devoid of devotion to you know the

sweetness of your holy name? Willa man in the garb of a

woman realize the character of a chaste woman? Will milk

come forth for the child from a tiger which has put on the

mask of a cow ? Could people, who have no self-realization

try to preach to others?

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142 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

"SUKHI YEVARO” (Kanada)

Who is the blessed and happy one that enjoys the bliss

of Rama Nàmam which is the best of all mantras calculated

to save men from bondage ?

Who is that blessed one, who unflinching from truth,

serves all humanity and who, without disregard or hatred

towards other Gods, sings always Rama Nama, with music

associated with fixed and pure swara?

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“NAMA KUSUMAMULACHE" (Sriraga)

ships the feet of Rama with the flowers of His Name.

See above pages 105-106

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“RAMA NAMAM BHAJARE” (Madhyamavati)

Oh Mind! Take the holy name of Sri Rama and

chant it.

Why roam about like a thief?

Embrace the blessed feet of Lord Ranganathaand chant

his name.

Wherever you may be, seek Sri Hari as the only God,

get lost in his marvellous beauty and chant his name-

144 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS

Stop wandering, see in you the Lord, with charming

face like the moon, ask of him what you want and chant His

name.

Having secured the rare human body, dispel all doubts,

pray that you may be blessed with mukti and chant His

name, addressing him as Vaidehi's fortune.

Following the teachings of the stainless Great Ones, do

your SAdhana and get rid of the disease of Sams&ra, chant-

ing the name of the Lord.

Be you helpless or wise, offer your body to the Lord

with love and devotion.

Besides Sri Rama, the ideal and the fortune (Bhagyam)

ofthe good and the wise, who have conquered greed,

anger, lust, etc,, there is no refuge for one.

Nama Mahatmya 145

"SMARANÉ SUKHAMU” (Janaranjani)

. For one born as man, the chanting of the holy Rama

Naima, in the way the desireless Tyágarája does, is itself

happiness; and for Raja Yogis it is bliss (ànandam) Does

not the constant hearing of Rama Nama transform the Nama

itself into a glorious form, filling the heart with love divine ?

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"BHAJANA SEYA RADA” — (At&na)

Oh! Mind! Why can you not make Ráma Bhajana

which is the great mantra constantly meditated upon by

146 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

Brahma, Rudra and other Gods? Thinking always in the

mind the smiling face of Sri Rama adorned with golden

cloth, shining with ruby-hued lips, beautiful white teeth and

glossy cheeke; why can you not listen to the appeal of

Ty&garija to make Rima Bhajana with the redeeming

Rama Nama, which will enable you to cross the ocean

of Samsara.

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"HARI YANUVANI" (Todi

Who is equal to one who chants the name of Hari,

driving out of the mind various thoughts that arise, main-

taining steady devotion, casting away discordant religious

differences, earnestly longing and pining, installing the

holy feet of Lord Hari in the heart, regarding them as

coveted wealth as sage Suka and other great saints did,

treating as the snake's poison the company of those who do

not appreciate the happiness above mentioned, and treating

as real wealth conversation with genuine devotees and

getting transported to ecstacy on meditating on the names

of one adored by Ty4garaya.

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sita

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"SARIYEVVARE SRI JANAKI” (Sri Ranjani)

You are matchless. You have qualified yourself perfectly

in associating with Paramátma Sri Rama to serve him by

constantly keeping him in prosperity. You have chosen to

follow him to the dreadful forest and provide him in every

place with royal comforts and pleasures.

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"MA JANAKI" (Kambhoji) -

Oh Rama! You have become great and famous by

taking the hand of our Siti (in marriage), and have acquired,

Bhakta Mahdtniya—Bata 149

thereby, the glory of being Ràvana's vanquisher. She

accompanied you to the forests, as ordained by you, she

left her real form beside Agni (the fire) and took a Maya

form to follow the Rakshasa Ravana; stayed under the

Asoka tree; though offended at his words, desisted from

killing him (by her indignant look) and wanted to leave

the credit of killing the enemy only to you.

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“SRI JANAKATANAYE” (Kalakanthi)

Oh Daughter of Janaka, the blessed abode of refugees !

Oh Consort of Sri Raghu Rama, bedecked with shining

gem-ornaments! Pray, protect me always! You are the

150 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS

wind that destroys the clouds of demons like the hundred-

headed R&vana; you are the indweller of the hearts of

devotees; your feet shine with the lustre of gems set in the

crown of Indra.

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“DEHI TAVA PADA” (Sahina)

Oh! Vidéhi, Redeemer of the fallen! Pray, vouchsafe

to me constant devotion to your blessed feet. Oh! the

giver of temporal and spiritual benefits and the mother of

Brahma and Manmathal Oh! Devi born of the ocean :

Bhukta Mahétmya—Lakshmana 151

adorned with golden jewels, delighted by the musical

chanting of Agastya; Oh! the consort of Sri Rama! The

whole Universe is your form. Your hair is beautifully black

as the bee. You are the queen of the protector of (Viswa-

mitra’s) yàga; you are the cause of my fortune; you

protect those that take refuge in you. You are the destro-

yer of the arrogance of the hundred-headed Ravana. You

have beautiful, red lotus eyes and dwell in the heart of

Tyagaraja. l

“MITRI BHÁGYAME" (Kharaharapriyà)

Lakshmana's fortune is unique. He had the rare

privilege of rocking Sri Ráma in gem-bedecked seshatalpa

152 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

and of getting thrilled when rare ragas were being sung to

the delectation of Sri Rama, praising the Tattvartha (of

the Lord's) incarnation.

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"PÁHI RAMA DUTA” (Vasanta Varali)

Oh Ràma's Messenger! Bless me. You have crossed

the ocean and killed Ravana’s son, (Akshayakumara) Your

Bhakta Mahatmya 153

lotus-like face shines like the fully risen sun. You are as

brilliant as myriad suns. You hold the blessed feet of Sri

Rama in your hands. You are the wind to disperse the

cloud of the sins of the iron age. You are like Agastya to

the ocean of dreaded R&akshasas. You always carry out

(successfully) whatever task is assigned to you. Oh! Dweller

under the Párijàta tree! You move as fast as the wind.

You conquer evil spirits by the strength of your feet. You

are the redeemer of sinners. You are well-versed in

the Vedas and SAstras. You are the best of beings; you

are the pure-minded- You are full-of compassion. You

have a body which resembles in hue Mount Meru. You

are the foremost among the Lord’s devotees. You are a

giver of boons.

154 TYAGABAJA KIRTANAS

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"KALUGUNA PADA NIRAJA" (Pürna Lalita)

Oh Vayutanaya! Shall I ever be privileged to witness

your service to the Lord? You are foremost among devotees;

who shines with Supreme Bliss as the result of the frequent

Darsana of the Lord!

Can I also have the fortune to see directly the Lord of

the Universe, Sri Rama, passing through his daily routine of

getting up early morning, having his Amruta Snàna, holding

your hand, offering Bhoga to Sri Rangesa, partaking of the

prasáda through Sitá's blessed hands and commanding you

to read the holy Purana?

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"ENTANI NE" (Mukhari)

How can I adequately describe the rare fortune and

merit that Sabari had, while scores of the great wives of the

sages in the world had them not. She was privileged to see

the Lord directly to her heart's content, offer Him delicious

fruits, prostrate before His holy feet with body in thrill and

attain freedom from rebirth in the presence of the Lord

Himself.

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156 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

"VINATASUTA" (Huséni)

PBV

| Come, O VinatAsuta (Garuda) and accept my praise.

Come to cut asunder the heavy serpent fetters (with

which 1, Prahlada, am bound).

O Hero who shines with spotless glory, having con-

quered the lord of the angals and brought nectar !

Come quickly, O my Lord who is the vehicle of Vishnu.

This is the time (for you) to protect one who is your equal in

devotion»

O brave one who feeds on serpents, the servant of the

Lord adored by Tyágarája, who else but you is my refuge?

SUNDARA DASARATHA" (&8 1)

Oh Bewitcher of people! Son of Dasaratha !

157

p prostrate immediately bofore you. I see before me Sita Devi

shining in your lap, Bharata holding an umbrella in his

hand for you, virtuous Anjaneya standing by your side,

Vanaras serving you, Agastya, Vasishtha, Markandeya, Gau-

tama and other sages praising you. Oh Ocean of mercy

that protects Ty&gar&ja!

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“PAKKALA NILABADI" (Kharaharapriya)

Pray! can you not enable me to visualise well the

beautiful way in which you constantly stand by the Lord on

either side and serve him? Oh charming Sita and dutiful

Lakshmana! Do you prostrate before him with your bodies ?

Do you sing his holy name with love? Do you meditate on

him forgetting yourselves ?

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“ BHAKTUNI CHARITRAMU" (Bégada)

Oh Mind! Listen to the good conduct of a devotee of

Sitáràáma, who without attachment to sense-pleasures, seeks

him, becomes a jivanmukta and enjoys supreme bliss.

He (the Bhakta) should not boast of having done japa

and tapas; he should not behave and speak with a

hypocrite's mentality ; he should not wander about with the

160) TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

ambition that there should be no equal to him; he should

not be fickle-minded and be deluded by his attachment

to wife and children; he should not regard worldly

prosperity as real; he should not entertain any differential

attitude between Siva and Vishnu; he should not earn a

living by posing that he is the only honest and qualified

man in the world; he should not allow himself to be

unmindful of the blessed feet of Sri Rama, the prop of

Anjaneya ; he should not allow himself to be swayed by

Rajasic and Tamasic qualities; he should not expect His

grace without earning and deserving it; he should not

give up his attempts to prepare his mind for the path of

Raja Yoga; he should never forget Sri Rama-the Raja

Sikhamani.

161

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162 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

"ATADE DHANYUDURA" (K&pi)

He alone is blessed who constantly meditates on the

lotus feet of Sri Rama, the refuge of Anjaneya, who

unflaggingly engages himself in N&masankirtana to his

heart’s delight, who dances in the presence of the Lord,

singing hke Tumburu with Tambura in hand, who spends

his time cheerfully, always keeping the company of the

good, who shakes off all worries from his mind and keeps

himself hilarious, realising that all else is unreal, who wards

off the six inward enemies, greed, lust etc. which hide the

real truth of the Lord from his vision, who reposes his entire

faith in Sri Rama who has the glorious reputation of being

the dispeller of men’s distress and worldliness, who having

had the advantage of the Brahman birth has secured the

ever-lasting fruit of salvation, who has kncwn the real

significance of the holy name of blessed Sri Rama, the strict

observer of Sastraic injunctions and upholder of Dharma,

who does not put on false garbs out of greed for money and

who does not deceive himself, who fixes his mind on the

beautiful form of Sri Rama during congregational worship,

(bhajana), who attains supreme bliss early as a result of all

the strenuous efforts above-mentioned and who, without

associating with Rajasic people, reposes his faith in Rama.

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“KARUNA ELAGANTE” (Varali)

The grace of the Lord whois atthe service of that

devotee of His who realises the oneness of the Paramátma

and the jivitma manifests itself in the following manner:

The recipient will not utter a lie, will not approach low

people with requests, will not serve even kings, will not

forget (to worship) the sun, will not eat meat, will not drink,

will not injure others, will not give up learning, will not

have the three desires (for wife, wealth and progeny),

164 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS

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