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164 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
will not exhibit any exultation even should he become a
jivanmukta, will not prove deceitful or treacherous, will not
be fickle-minded and make himself unhappy, will not
swerve from his aim, believing full well that the Lord is
eternal witness.
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“URAKE GALGUNA” (Sah&na)
Can Rama Bhakti be had easily by those who always
cherish in their minds that worldly life is the ideal to be
coveted? It must be difficult of attainment except for
those blessed souls who regard family, relations and
material wealth as evanescent, those who have the darsana
of pious men, serve them constantly, listening to their
instructions, meditate in their mind on Hari, realizing
that He is in everything and thus attain salvation and
those fortunate people, who discarding worship charac-
166
terised by Rajasa Guna always chant the holy jewel of the
mantras, which sanctifies the tongue of Tyagaraja.
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"NALINA LOCHANA" | (Madhyamá vati)
© Lotusseyed Lord! Will any human being attain
salvation by reposing faith in others except you ?
If one does spurious contemplation hke a crane, will his
object (of attaining salvation) be fulfilled ?
Ifa woman places implicit faith in a lewd paramour,
will he be able to show her the right path ? i
Can one cross the ocean of Samsâra with a small river
orait ?
168 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
If a man becomes a slave to wily wicked women, will
Manmatha (at whose prompting he has become a victim)
initiate him in Jnana Yóga ?
If a sterile woman is fed with milk and other nutritious
food, will she secrete milk ? .
However generously you may give wealth to D&Ay&dis,
will they show affection to you?
However much you may manure and sow a barren land;
will it yield anything?
However much you may prostrate befere a Gangaravi
tree, will it be able to save you (like the holy peepul tree) ?
If you grow nice-looking silk-cotton trees, will they
yleld sweet fruits ?
Can attendants and servants have the glory of the
grand abhishekam (intended for Gods) ?
If one does Tapas with attachment and avarice, will he
attain salvation? 0 you embodiment of truth, the pure
and supreme Being!
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"KANUGONU SOUKHYAMU" (Nayaki)
Is the blessedness of having direct darsanam of Sri
Rama, which Tyàgaràja had, possible even for Brahma?
It can be had by one, only if he has the Lord's grace.
With body in one place and mind elsewhere, putting
on the appropriate garb—those who cheat the public,—
will success be theirs ?
170 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"PADAVI NI SADBHAKTIYU" (S&laga Bhairavi)
One attains real status, only when he has true devotion
to you.
Is it a status to be learned in Vedas, Sastras and
Upanishads without knowing and realising their essence ?
Is it a status to be possessed of wealth, wife, progeny
and house and be associated with kings as friends ?
Is it a status to impose on the world by display of Japa,
Tapas and Siddhis ?
Is it a status to secure enjoyments through yagas
conducted with desire and avarice ?
Is it a status to be ignorant of the divine character of
Sri Rama ? '
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"ADI KADU BHAJANA" (Yadukulakámbhóji)
Oh Mind! Thatis not Bhajana. It is one thing to do
contemplation with the mind and quite a different thing to
fix it on external sense objects. It is not Bhajana to hanker
after greatness, to thirst for low sensual enjoyments, to put
on false garbs for the approbation of people and go on
merrily.
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17? TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“TELIYALERU ” (Dhénuka)
They can never know the path of devotion, they can
only roam about and dream about it, those who with the
sole purpose of earning money, put on the guise of worthy
men, wake up and bathe early in the morning, smear their
bodies with ashes and count with their fingers.
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"ENTA MUDDÓ" (Bindumalint)
See above page 9
"KALINARULAKU" (Kuntalavaréli)
Have not the wise said that there is no purpose gained
by speaking to the worldly-minded of the Kali-age the
glories of the Lord? It is like expecting bulls to appreciate
the taste of aval ( parched and flattened rice). Such
people put on the garb of a devotee only for the sake of
their family, wealth, property and for name and fame and
for earning status. f
174 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“YEMANDUNE” (Srimani)
What shall I say to you of the wonderful ways of men in
this world? Without knowing the glory of your Mantra,
they speak of it as if itis an ordinary thing. Full of Tamas,
slaves to lust, with a mind devoid of compassion, they go
=about, thinking themselves great, and dabble in spiritual
lore, with a desire only to fill the stomach.
================================================
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“MANASU NILPA SAKTI” (Abhogi)
If one is unable to control and concentrate his mind.
will any amount of worship with sweet bell and flower
Formal worship, Rituals ete. condemned. 145
conducted by him be of any avail? How can a bath in the
Kaveri or the Gang& save one, if he is eaten up with
arrant haughtiness ?
If a Somayaii's wife runs after beautiful paramours, will
he become fit for the heaven (through the S6ma y&ga
conducted by him with her)?
If a man who is a slave to lust and anger does tapas,
wil! such tapas save him ?
=================================================
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"PARIPALAYA PARIPALAYA” (Ritigowla)
Oh Raghun&tha! Protect me.
My body is your favourite abode, my steadíast mind is
the golden throne, (Asana), my meditation of your blessed
feet is the holy Gangà water (for abhishekam), my loving
devotion is the garment (vastram) for you, my praise of your
great glory is sweet-smelling sandal paste (gandha) for
you, my chanting of your sacred name is the full-blown
Formal worship, Rituals ete. condemned. 177
lotus flower (pushpa), the effect of the past misdeeds is the
burning of the incense before you (dhüpa), my devotion to
your holy feet is the all-day light burning before you (dipa),
the fruit of my devout worship is the offering (naivedya) for
you, the permanent happiness that I derive is the tambila
for you, your darsana (seeing you) is itself dipArAdhana
(waving of light) This is the true worship done by
Tyagaraja. ?
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“MANAVI NALAGINCHA” (Nalinakanti)
Oh Mind! Why can't you listen to the request of one
like myself who has known the noble Ramachandra’s com-
passionate heart? I shall tell you the whole secret. Seeing
the suffering of those who have been drawn in by the
rituals prescribed by the KarmakAnda of the Vedas- and of
those who have been wandering in the forest of Samsara,
he has shown himself in a human incarnation to show the
path.
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"MANASU SVADHINAMAINA” (Sankarabharanam)
To the great one who has control over his mind, where
is the need for other mantras and tantras ? For one who
realises that he is not the body, where is the need for mak»
ing penance (lapas)? For one who has realized that every-
thing is only yourself, where is the need for differentiation
Formal worship, Rituals ete. condemned. 179
in Asramas (status in life)? Will one, who considers the
whole universe as MAyà, be deluded by the charm of
women? Toone who has been throughout life free from
vicious sense-enjoyments, what need is there to be worried
with the cycle of birth and death ?
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"NIBHAKTI BHAGYA” (fayamanóhari)
Oh! Embodiment of Nada, Oh Incomprehensible one!
That life alone is life which is privileged to swim constantly
in the blessed ocean of devotion to you, Be he born as Sura
(god) or a Bhüsura (Brahman), (without such devotion), he is
only a burden to the earth. Mere observance of Vedic
rituals wil only increase distress, entailing the cycle of
birth and death.
180 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
Lord Hari himself will come down to see you. Seeing
you, He will feel elated.
Realising how indulgence in sensual enjoyments brings
in only death and the like, lovingly sing the praise, in ever
increasing measure, of my Lord, the heroic Sri Rama, the
prop of the Universe, the fulfiller of devotees’ desires, the
blessed one, the Supreme among Devas, of incomparable
beauty, the All-merciful one.
Formal worship, Rituals eto. condemned 181
Lord Hari does not so easily respond to Japa, Tapas and
Yagna as He does to fervent prayers and to praises of
His Glory:
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182 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
"GAMAYAMU DELISI" (Asavérl)
If, with a due sense of the appropriate, one does not
acquire Punya, what does it matter, if that thoughtless fool
lives or is dead ?
Listen properly, O Mind! Dharma done with quietude
will surely be successful:
It is quite immaterial whether a madman is or is not
pleased at hearing good poetry:
It is of no consequence whether blind eyes, however
large, remain open or closed.
It is of no value if a Pünaka Pia for Brahmans is done
in Muhammadan quarters:
It is immaterial whether on earth a millionaire, who
does not give, lives or is dead.
It is immaterial if a song which does not relate to Sri
Rama is cr is not sung.
It is immaterial whether one takes a human body or
not, if in his heart there is no devotion to Sri Rama.
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“DHYANAME VARAMAINA" (Dhany&si)
The Rama Dhyana (meditation of Sri Rama) is itself the
most efficacious Gang4-Sn&nam, (bath in the holy Ganges).
Any number of plunges in the waters will not remove
the stain of deceit and treachery:
The Dhyànam should be made with a mind that loathes
the coveting of others’ wealth and women, and is not prone
to injure others by word or deed and whole-heartedly longs
for Sri Rama.
184 TYAGABAJA KIRTANAS
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"KOTINADULU" (Todi)
Oh Mind! Listen to the counsel of Tyágarája, the great
devotee of Sri Raghun&tha. For those fortunate souls who
constantly and directly see the beautiful form of Rama, crores
of holy rivers are present at Dhanushkoti (the tip of Rama's
bow) itself, rivers like Ganga with its source at the Lord's feet
and the Kaveri deriving its glory from Sri Rangan&tha; why
should one wander from place to place (on Tirtha yàtra) ?
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“YAGNADULU” (fayamanóhari)
Oh Mind! Are there people who can match in respect
of ignorance those that declare that sacrifices conduce to
happiness ?
Those who ara given to the performance of sacrifices
are devoid of wisdom, are demonical in their mentality and
are inclined to be cruel to animals.
Carrying with them the tendencies of innumerable past
births, attracted by sense enjoyments which are highly
poisonous and always attached to external objects, they
do not realize (the nature of) Sri Rama worshipped by
Tyagaraja.
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"NADACHI NADACHI" (Kharaharapriy4)
To be happy in the company of Sri Ráma, the Perfect
and Selt-exultant Lord, who shines with Sità, people walk
and walk to distant AyOdhya, but do not see the Lord there
(due to lack of real devotion) Similarly, people praise the
Lord without knowing the path which secures redemption
from birth and death, putting on the false cloak, opening
and closing the eyes alternately and rolling rosary in hand:
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"BALAMU KULAMU" (5?06?)
What is the use of mere bodily strength and high birth ?
As the inevitable result of Rama Bhakti, a man natuarlly
acquires all siddhis.
Crows and fish always dive into water: Can it be taken
as sacred morning ablution ?
Cranes keep their eyes shut. Is it divine meditation ?
Goats feed on patra (sacred leaves, Tulasi ete.) Is it
indicative of devout fast?
Birds soar high: Can they compare with the Sun and
‘the Moon?
If ordinary people in Sadhus’ garb happen to be in a
cave, can they be taken to ba really great sages ?
Can monkeys in the forest be taken as leading merito»
rious Vanavásam (hermit's life) ?
If beggars in the garb of Saivite devotees (Jangams) are
silent, can they bs taken as genuine Mounis?
If children go about uncovered, could they be taken as
Digambaras, Sadhus who have abandoned even clothing?
The devotion of the real Bhaktas of Sri Rama, the
saviour of Tyágarája, is acceptable to all people as a current
coin.
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"DARSANAMUSEYA" (N&rayana Gowla)
See above page 52
188 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
Bare Learning, Arts, Siddhis and Astrology Condemned:
=
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“MAMAVA SATATAM" (Jaganmóhini)
Oh Lord, who is away from people who have mere
scriptural lore to their credit, divorced of devotion! Be my
constant protector.
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“RKSHINAMAI TIRUGA" {Mukhari)
Oh Mind! Give up the siddhis (yogic achievements)
which are perishable and bring you rebirth. Perishable are
the fruits of the study of Sanskrit, drama, poetics, vedas,
puranas, and of the performance of sacrifices, Japa and
Tapas:
The (real) road is the worship of Rama; (then) all that
one (the devotee) does, the Lord will accept with approba-
tion and vouchsafe to him the highest state that is everlast-
ing.
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"VINATÁSUTAVAHANA" (Jayantaséna)
Sri Rama! I prostrate before you who have Garuda as
your vehicle, to my heari's content. What isthe use of
living without having your constant darsana? Of what
avail is life which is spentin cheating people? Does it:
conduce to happiness or bring in any benefit to indulge in
disputations about different religious faiths? Real happi-
ness in this world comes only through the company oi the
holy and the pious:
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“KALALA NERCHINA” (Dipaka)
Though one may learn well all the sixtyfour arts, the
tide of past Karma cannot be stemmed, if they (the arts) are
cultivated for the sake of one's livelihood. You are the
cause of both prosperity and adversity. Cast your compas-
sionate eye (on me).
Was Simgari Muni able to eat with avidity the mound
of gingelly that he desired and got?
Was Vibhishana able to take to his Lanka, Lord Ranga-
nAtha? A
192 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“BHAJANA SEYAVE” (Kalyani)
Oh Mind! Do with due devotion Rama Bhajana which
is highly prized by Brahma, Rudra and all holy men. Having
acquired knowledge of Nada, Pranava, the seven Svaras,
Veda, Grammar, Puranas and the sixtyfour arts, and having
taken the human body which enables you to realize happi-
ness, why should you, without knowing the way to salva-
tion, indulge in vain disputes and discussions ?
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“BHAKTI BICCHA MIYYAVE" (Sankarabharanam)
Pray, give me the alms of the highest type of Bhakti
(Satvika) towards R&ma who is beyond even salvation,
Universal Sakti and the Trinity! Deceitful persons, accom-
plished in Puranas, Agamas, Süstras, Vedas, practising Japa
and preaching, are like corpses dressed in lace turban and
adorned with precious jewels.
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“NRUPALAVALA” (Nadavaringini)
Oh! Lord of Kings! Dispeller of the sins of refugees!
Oh! The moon ofthe Solar Race!
People desiring salvation adopt the siddhis as the
means to secure that end, but they find that they prove
obstructive to their real purpose and finally realize that
they are deluded. Pray, have mercy and save me.
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"GRAHABALAMEMI" (Révagupti)
Of what avail is the strength of the planets? The real
strength is that of Rama's blessing. What can the strength
ot planets do to one who meditates upon the effulgent form
of the Lord, and to the men of discernment like Tyágarája
who are steeped in devotion to Hari whose power destroys
the virulent inner enemies like Kama, the five great sins
and the evil effects of the nine planets?
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"SARASIRUHANANA" (Mukhari)
Oh Ràma! This is just the time for your grace. I can-
not countenance those who, day in and day out, indulge in
coveting others' women, feeding them and sporting with
them. In the present Kali age, ideal Brihmanhood is
extinct and low life has set in; people indulge in high telk
of Brahman and live thereby.
196
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“ENDUKO BAGA TELIYADU” (Móhana)
Why is it that people of this kali age do not realise well
that this body is perishable? They build big houses with
stones, gather a number of attendants around themselves,
fill their stomachs and grow their own bodies, neglecting
their obligations to their relatives, quests and others and
gazing idly at hoarded wealth in bags and boxes.
Employing inequitous ways, they deprive other people
of their money for their own sustenance, run after women
like dogs, become a prey to several diseases and waste
their patrimony to the effect that people deride them, salva-
tion is lost and successive rebirths are certain:
Why is it that people, who are unable to bear the
trouble which they themselves have brought upon them by
associating with cheats, do not take itto be the result of
their past karma as wise rn do? Why do they not learn
to worship the Lord of the Universe, whom Ty&garaja
adores, discarding desires for material possessions, taking
them to be impermanent like dew.
198 TYAGARAJA KIBTANAS
"SARIÉSI VEDUKA” — (Tivraváhin)
Oh Rama! Isit fair for you to treat alike your real
devotees and the votaries of Manmatha and enjoy the fun ?
In this world, those who are well-versed in sexual science
and indulge in flattery get appreciated and amply rewar-
ded, while those, who have mastered Bhakti Sástra, are
sneered at and ridiculed:
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“EVARU TELIYANU" (Punnáàgavaráli)
Who understands? People do püjà without understan-
ding. Can they understand, those who wander from place to
place, coveting and enjoying others' money and women and
earning livelihood? Under the baneful influence of hired
mistresses, they make it their only business to find fault with
their parents and brothers and forget your holy feet. They
believe that wife and children are permanent; and for their
200 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
sake, ruin others’ families and undergo untold suffering at
the hands of Yama, making themselves liable for the travail
of rebirth. Indulging in falsehood even with worthy men,
they spend their time in flattering ignorant rich folk, and
when discouraged by them, they quarrel with them and
spend their time uselessly in the company of depraved
people; out of envy they do not behave respectfully and
honour is shown where money is plenty: Such people can
never have any longing for you, nor know who your true
devotees are; They vretend to possess real capacity lo know
the truth and declare that the Universe is unreal. Such is
their false devotion. Oh my Father! What sort of renuncia-
tion is this? Is this their great adeptness? Let those (false)
Yogis who, without knowing the real nature of their material
body and what their fate will be engage themselves in
meditation, do so.
Sri Ráma! Why should you still neglect me without
protecting me?
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“MOSABOKU VINAVÉ" (Gowlipantu)
Listen! don't deceive yourselí and do not give up the
company of the good. Don't deceive yourself without know-
ing Sri Rama who removes the distress of his servants. The
miseries caused to one by association with low people persist
almost eternally. If you have firm and full faith in the Lord,
all your desires will be fulfilled. Running after money and
women will only bring you trouble and restlessness in this
life and hereafter. Meditation on the Adorable One will lift
your mind to the divine. Hanging upon uncultured
moneyed men will lead you only to faults.
202
TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
ALAMBANA—BHAGAVAN
hta datva and Ananya bhakti
Ishta-daiva— Ananya-bhakti 203
===========================
“VADERA DAIVAMU" (PantuvarAli)
He alone is God
who has earned the undying fame for all time for his
never-failing word :
who has incarnated on the earth with bow in hand to
destroy the mighty Rakshasas and protect Indra and other
Devas and all the good people of the earth;
who shines in the world with the great redeeming
name with which Lord Siva initiates people ignorant of the
right path, so that they may cross the ocean of Samsára and
attain salvation ;
who was born in the Solar race and, adored by Brahma,
earned the appellation of Sitapati to receive the worship
from Tyagar&ja’s hands.
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203