Narayana is never without His consort, Goddess Lakshmi. Goddess Lakshmi is referred to as "Shri". Even in addressing people, we call him "Shrimaan...." this is just to ensure that the person being referred to is blessed with the grace of Goddess Lakshmi.
Here, Nayarayana is also referred similarly. And, the addressing goes on for three times.
I bow to such a feet. I take shelter in such a feet.
Anupallavi
kamalAsati mukhakamala kamalahita
kamalapriya kamalekShaNA
kamalAsanahita garu.dagamana shrI
kamalanAbha nI padakamalame sharaNu || 1 ||
His wife is Kamala - Goddess Lakshmi, who sits on the lotus flower. He has the face like a lotus flower. He tends lotus. He loves lotus flower. He has eyes like lotus flowers. He sits on a lotus posture. He rides on Garuda, the eagle. He has a lotus flower coming out of his Navel.
I pray for your lotus feet.
charaNam
parama yogijana bhAgadheya shrI
paramapuruShA parAtparA
paramAtmA paramANurUpa shrI
tiruveNkaTagiridevA sharaNu || 2 ||
He is the one who brings good fortune to yogis. He is the supreme one. He is the great soul who is everywhere. He has the shape of the atom. He is the one who makes the atom what it is. He is the one who is there in Tiruvenkatagiri - Tiruppati.
Interesting points to note from the Kriti:
Shriman Narayana : His name gets addressed three times to start with. This is a song which is typically sung as 'suprabhata' to Lord Venkateswara of Tiruppati. The Lord Venkateswara is like a King. And, it is a typical thing to address the king three times as the king comes into the court. Shri Annamacharya has structured the kriti as if he is addressing the Lord coming into the court where thousands of devotees are waiting. And, he is addressing the Lord three times.
Kamala : The usage of this term in the anupallavi is beautiful.'Kamala' is used a total of eight times in the Anupallavi. "Srimannarayana" in sanskrit is called "Ashtakshara" - the mantra with 8 letters in it. It is only fitting that the Kamalavasa's connection with Lotus flower is mentioned eight times :
Kamala Sati - with a wife "Kamala"
Mukha Kamala - with a face like lotus
Kamala hita - He does good deed like a lotus flower; He is soft like a lotus flower; He tends to Lotus
Kamala Pirya : He loves lotus
Kama Lekshana - with eyes like lotus flower
Kamalasanahita - in the lotus posture
Kamala nabane - with a navel from which a lotus flower springs up
Pada kamalame - The one with the lotus feet
Paramanu rupa : Shri Annamacharya lived in the 15th century. From 1408 to 1503. That time, the scientific world did not even know of 'Atom'. But, here is the 15th century poet and he is beautifully talking about the basic building block of life and how Tiruvenkatapati is there in that building block also.
uddharana : the one who saves it; ensures that it gets into the right path
adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him
The kriti is all about the mother that Yasode is. And, her innocence in taking her son as her son and not seeing beyond it. Who has got that kind of boon? Who has got this kind of 'bagya'? The great lord, the one who is the saver of the world, who has saved the world in all his 10 avatars, is playing with Yasoda. And, yasode is playing with him purely as her son.
uddharana : the one who saves it; ensures that it gets into the right path
maganendu tiliyuta = thinking that he is just her son
sugunanta rangana = the one who is full of virtues, 'end of all suguna tatvas'
adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him
The lord is full of virtues. He is the embodiment of all good characters. He is the one who makes the world a good place to live. He ensures that the demons are killed and the sages are saved. But, Yasode is oblivious to all this. She is playing with him. Just as her son.
Yasode is playing with the one whom even the vedas have not really found. He is the one who cannot be counted. He is the one who is bigger than everyone else. He is the one who is a gem amongst the children. But, Yasode is playing with him just as her son and no more than that.
anoraniyana = smaller than the 'anu=atom' = smaller than the smallest of the atoms
mahato = big
mahimana = bigger than
aprameyana = unlimited; not measurable
adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him
Yasode is playing with the one who is bigger than the biggest things in the world. She is playing with the one who is unlimited and not really measurable. She is playing with the one who is smaller than the smallest of the atoms. She is playing with the one who is all of these but she is playing with him without really knowing who He is. She is playing with him as if he is just her son.
purandara vittalana = the vittala at pandarapura; who is being praised by this Purandaradasa
adisidalu yasode = yasode played with him
He is the best among men. He is the God of all the world. He is the Vittala of Pandarapura. He is the one who is being praised by Purandaradasa now. But, Yasode played with him without knowing who really He is. She played with him just as a son.
This "Purandara Vittala" as everyone knows, is Purandaradasa's Mudra. This is similar to Dikshithar's "Guruguha" and Shyama sastri's "Shyama krishna" and Thyagaraja's "Thyagaraja" type of mudras.
Interesting points :
1. The story:
The story is something everyone knows. Yasode never really knew the truth about her son. For her, she is her son. Her child. There were miracles happening all over the place in Gokulam but Yasode was always afraid that something will happen to her precious child. There were so many demons who came there to kill the child. Though all of them were killed in return, Yasode never really put it all together and saw her child for what He was. For her, he was always a child. A really naughty child at that. A child who was almost always upto some mischief. Even when the Lord opened His mouth and showed the entire world to her, He made her forget that and continue as if nothing really happened.
2. The comparison with "Enna Thavam Seithanai" (tamil song):
The similarities with the "Enna Thavam Seithanai" also in Kaapi Ragam, in tamil, by Papanasam Sivan, is absolutely striking. The bhava is very similar.
Here, in this song, Purandaradasa just hints at the innocence of Yasode. Her fierce loyalty to her son, her assumption that her child is just like any other child, her love for Him and the Krishna Leela that flowed in Gokulam are broadly hinted at in this song. Papanasam sivan goes one step further and clearly talks about Yasoda's great boon in having Krishna as her child.
May be, Papanasam Sivan was inspired by this Purandaradasa's kriti. If someone who knows these great Vaggeyakkara's life can explain, it would be my pleasure.
God may be the greatest of all men. He may be smaller than the smallest atom and bigger than the biggest things in the world. He may be the saviour of the world. But, He is still Krishna and He is still the son to her mother. And, what a great soul Yasode was! Who can get a life like this!!
trijaga = the three worlds (earth, the world above and the world below)
vanditanE = worshipped by
sujanara = good people
porevanE = protector
O my dear elephant faced God! You are son of Goddess Gowri (parvathi). You are worshipped by all the three worlds. You are the protector of all the good people such as the sages and sadhus.
pAshAnkushadhara = the one who has the weapons, pasa and angusam
parama pavitra = the most sacred
mooshikavAhana = the one who has the mouse for his vehicle
munijanaprEmA = the one who is loved by sages/ one who loves sages
You have the weapons with you such as the noose (pasa) and the goad (angusa). You are the supreme God. You are the one who has mouse as the means of transport. you love and are affectionate towards sages. They also love you.
sAdhu vanditane = one who is worshipped by sadhus and sages
Adaradindali = respectfully
sarsijanAbha = the one who has lotus in his navel
shri purandara vithalana = God Purandara Vittala
niruta = always
neneyuvante = make me remember, make me think of
daya mADO= show mercy
I want to sing on your feet. Please kindly and happily, show me your feet. You are the one who is worshipped by sages and sadhus. Please give me the ability and power to worship Lord Purandara vittala - the one who has the lotus navel.
Interesting points from the songs :
* "Purandara Vittala" is the mark of Shri Purandaradasa. One can see this in all his songs
* Purandaradasa asks Lord Ganesha, to give him strength and focus to sing about Lord Purandara!
* Lord Ganesh has "pasa" which is the noose - which is typically carried by the God of Death - yama. Here, He shows that he is beyond death and if you go to His feet, you don't have to worry about death.
* An elephant may be very big. But, it is controlled by the weapon : Goad - Angusam. Similarly, Ganesha carries it and shows that one has to have self control.
shyamakrishnuni sodhari = sister of krishna, who has dark color
kaumAri = who is always young
umA shrI mInAkShammA = goddess uma, goddess meenakshi
shamkariyO = goddess sankari
mahArajmI = queen of the universe
rakShimchuta = please save me / protect me
kidhi samayamu= this is the time
My dear Goddess Lalitha! You are Uma. You are Meenakshi. You are the sister of Lord Krishna, who is dark. You reside in teh mountain Meru. You are always young. You are the devi of Lord sankara and hence you are called sankari. You are the empress. You are the queen of this whole universe. please save me. Please protect me. It is time for it. It is time you protected me.
Stories in this kriti :
Kalapa lathika :
It is said that there is a tree called "kalpaka vruksha". The tree fulfills all the wishes the ones who are underneath it. With it around, whatever you wish, whether good or bad, come to be realised. Shyama sastri tells us that Goddess Lalitha is like that tree. However, as she is a beautiful woman, and women are generally compared to creepers which are thin rather than thick as a tree, he compares Goddess Lalitha to the "kalapa lathika". Also, while the kalapa vruksha gives all the good and bad, this 'kalpa lathika" fulfills only if the wishes are good. It does not fulfill your wishes if those wishes are bad for you.
One of the stories about 'Klapaka vruksha" is this : one man, wandered in the forest and was lost. He took rest underneath the kalapaka vriksha, not knowing its nature. He was hungry. He wished for a feast. Immediately, there was this feast in front of him. He was happy and frightenend at the same time. However, because he was hungry, he finished his meals. Then, he wished for a comfortable cot with pillows. Immediately, there was this lovely cot with pillows! He then wished for beautiful women to massage his aching feet. There were two of them massaging him in no time. He was deeply worried now. He then thought : this is a jungle. What if there comes a lion now and eats me? No sooner than he had the thought, there materialized a lion which killed him immediately and ate him.
But, this 'kalapa lathika' will not grant the wishes if those are bad for the devotees. It will fulfill only if it is good for them. That is the difference between the 'kalpa vruksha' and this 'kalpa lathika'.
Janani :
She is the one who created the entire world. "jaga janani" is an often used phrase by all her devotees. Though it is said that Brahma created the world, the 'mahamaya' or the goddess maya, which is a part of devi, goddess lalitha actually created the world according to saktha sect.
All the Gods worshipping the Goddess Mother :
This is another traditional practice in the 'saktha' tradition. All the 3 Gods : Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva all fall on the lotus feet of Goddess Lalitha. The same thing is said by slokas such as "Lalitha sahasranama" and bakthi literature such as "Abirami anthathi:" It goes like this : "harihara brahmendradhi sevitha"
Sumeru madhya nilaye :
This is straight from Lalitha sahasranama. Shyama sastri calls devi as "Lalitha" here. And, he goes on to use the same phrases and praises that Lalitha sahasranama uses. Devi, Goddess, resides in the mountain meru. It is said to be in kailasha.
Shyama Krishuni sodhari :
This is the 'mudra' that Shyama sastri uses in all his kritis. Devi Goddess is also the sister of the Shyama coloured - dark colored Krishna. In fact, one of the famous idols in almost all of the tamilnadu marriage halls is that of Lord Vishnu, marrying off his sister to Lord Shiva. This happens because Shyamala, devi goddess, is Vishnu's sister. As Krishna is Vishnu's incarnation, she is the sister of Krishna.
One of the stories about how Shyama Sastri started using his mudra "shyama krishna sodari"
SHYAMA SASTRI, one of the Music Trinity, waschristened Shyamakrishna at birth. What made him address
Devi Kamakshi of Thanjavur as his sister (Shyamakrishna Sodari) in all his kritis is an interesting story handed
down by the temple archakas of his time, according to Swaminantha Atreya, the asthana Sanskrit vidwan
of the Kanchi mutt. Those were the days when the temple for Goddess Kamakshi was being built by Thulajaji,
the Maratha ruler of Thanjavur. Shyama would practise the songs in his wonderful voice sitting on the tower
meant for the temple bell. His aunt who was fond of him used to send him milk through her little daughter. One
day the girl came calling him "Anna" (brother), placed the bowl of milk by his side and disappeared. Shyama
noticed her angelic charm that day with the necklace of the deity adorning her neck. He at once ran home
only to reprimand his mother for having sent her decked with the deity's jewel.When he learnt that she had not
sent the girl that day, as she was not available he knew that Goddess Kamakshi had come to enslave him.
The first kriti that flowed from his lips praising Her grace was "Oh, Jagadamba' in Ananda Bhairavi which was
later followed by about 300 kritis with his mudra `Shyama Krishna Sodari'. Did she not address him as
"Anna"?
Of the 300 kritis only 50 are sung now. A master of puns, how Sastri predicted his end is amazing.
When people came to offer their condolence on his wife's death he said, saaga anjinaal, seththu aarinaal, ("She was afraid to die, but in death she attained peace" — this was how others understood the words). But what he actually conveyed was that he was to die in five days — saaga aindunaal — and that was the sixth day of her death (seththu aarunaal). As predicted Shyama Sastri attained Goddess Kamakshi's feet on the eleventh day. By :V. SUNDARAM taken from: http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2002/05/10/stories/2002051000870600.htm
It is not known whether Shyama Sastri has sung any song on any God or Goddess other than Devi. To my knowledge, there are no kritis even on Ganesha though typically anyone would start with a Vigneshwara kriti and only then move onto the God or Goddess of his devotion. If there is any song by Shyama sastri on Ganesha / other deities, please do let me know. I would be very grateful.
Meaning :
Pallavi:
mari vEre gati evarammA
mahilO nannu brOchuTaku ||
mari : further / again /other than
vere : no other
gati : refuge
yevaramma : who is there mother? (yevar = who in tamil; similar meaning in telugu also; amma = mother)
mahilo =ideal person
nannu = me
brochutaku= for protecting
Anupallavi:
SaraNAgata rakshaki neevEyani
sadA nammiti nammitini minAkshi ||
Sharanagata= the ones who come and worship you, who come and fall on your feet
raksaki = taking care of them; protecting them
sada = always
nammiti = trusted
nammitini = trusted (same word in a different way, repeated for emphasize)
Charanam 1:
madhurApuri nilaya vANi ra
mA sEvita pada kamalA
madhu kaiTabha bhanjani kAtyAyini
marALa gamana nigamAnta vAsini ||
madhurApurinilaya = who lives in Madurai (Meenakshi)
vani = goddess saraswati
rama = goddess lakshmi
sevita = worshipped by
padakamala = lotus feet
madu kaitabha = the demons madu and kaitaba
bhanjani = killed them
katyayani = goddess katyayani
marala = swan
gamana = gait / walk like
nigamanta vasini = who resides in the scriptures
Charanam 2:
varamichchi Seeghrame brOvu Si
vAmbA idi neeku baruvA
nera dATavu neevu gadA Sankari
sarOja bhavAdi surEndra poojitE ||
varamicci =bless me
shighrame = fast
brovu = protector
shiva amba = shiva's consort
idi = this
niku = for you
baruva = burden
neradAtavu = you will not fail
gada = isn't it?
shankari = goddess shankari
saroja bhavadi = the one who was born in a lotus = lord brahma
surendra pujite = worshipped by indra who is the leader of all Devas
Charanam 3:
Suka SyAmala ghana SyAma krishNuni
sOdari koumAri
akaLanka kalAdhari bimbAdhari
apara krupAnidhi neevE rakshimpa ||
shuka = who is happy
shyamala = goddess shyamala
ghana shyamakrishnuni = krishna's who is dark blue in color
sodari = sister
kaumari = the one who gave birth to lord Kumara - lord muruga ; skanda
akalahnka = One with a forehead akin to an unblemished mirror
kaladhari = who supports; takes care of all the fine arts
bimbadhari = who has lips red like the bimba fruits ("kovai" fruits in tamil)
apara krpanidhi = who is full of bliss; ocean of compassion
nive = you only
raksimpa = can save me
Swara sahityam:
pada yugamu madilO talachi
kOriti vinumu mada gaja gamana
parula nutimpa gAne varamosagu
satatamu ninu madi maravakanE
madana ripu sati ninu hrudayamulO
gati yani dalachi stuti salipE
mudamu tO phalamosanguTaku dharalo
natAvana kutoohala neevEgA ||
pada yugamu = lotus feet
madilo dalachi = thinking of in the head
koriti = request
vinumu mada = please listen
gaja gamana = walk like elephant
parula = others
nutimpa = extolled
gane = ganas; group
varamosagu = shower boons
satatamu = always
ninu = about you
madi = think of
maravakane = will not forget
madana ripu = who burnt cupid
sati = consort of
gatiyani = you are the refuge
dalachi = meditate
stuti = worship
salipe = those who worship
mudamu to = my happiness
phalam = results
osagu = confers
dharalo = in the world
natavana = devotees
kutuhala = concerned about
nivega = like you
Detailed meaning and commentary:
Pallavi :
mari vEre gati evarammA
mahilO nannu brOchuTaku ||
Oh Goddess Meenakshi, please protect me. Who else is there on this earth to protect me? You are the person who has to protect me. If you don't who will? Asks Sastri.
Anupallavi :
SaraNAgata rakshaki neevEyani
sadA nammiti nammitini minAkshi ||
When somebody comes to you and falls on your feet, asking for protection, giving up completely their ego, you take care of them. I also have absolute faith in you. I know that you are the only person who can protect me. Meenaksi, I believe in you. Meenakshi, I believe in you. Sastri repeats the "I believe you" twice over here for emphasize. "nammiti nammitini"...beautiful way of telling Meenakshi how much I need you.
Charanam : 1
madhurApuri nilaya vANi ra
mA sEvita pada kamalA
madhu kaiTabha bhanjani kAtyAyini
marALa gamana nigamAnta vAsini ||
You are in Madurai (This is in Tamilnadu. This is not the Matura which is typically associated with Krishna)
Both Saraswati and Lakshmi worship your lotus feet. You are the one who destroyed the demons Madhu and Kaitabha. You are the Goddess Katyayini who has the beauty and the grace of movement a swan. You are the quintessence and the gist of all the vedas and scriptures.
This is interesting. Typically, the story is that the demons "madhu and Kaitabha" were killed by Lord Vishnu. But, the story is that the demons, both Madhu and Kaitabha came to kill Brahma and steal the vedas, devas invoke the mahamaya. The mahamaya releases Vishnu from her. Vishnu fights with both the demons but is unable to kill them immediately. The demons thought they were better than Lord Vishnu and proudly offered one boon to Him. Lord Vishnu also used it and asked the demons " you should be killed by me". Trapped, the demons, granted the same with one condition : that they should be killed in a place where there was no water. Remember, it was maha pralaya time and the whole earth was surrounded by water. Vishnu smiled, took both of them onto his thighs and killed them both.
The interesting thing is that Lord Vishnu arose from the devi mahamaya. That is what Devi Mahatmiyam also says. That is exactly what Shyama Sastri tells us now. Though the weapon which killed the demons might be Lord Vishnu, the weapon was fired by Devi right? And hence, it is Devi only who killed Madhu and Kaitabha and saved the world and also the earth and Brahma and the vedas.
Devi. If you can save the world, the vedas and Brahma, you can very easily save me. Please do is the plea being made by sastri here. For a detailed note on the story from Devi Mahatmiyam, check here : http://mantraaonline.com/devi-mahatmyam-1/
Charanam : 2 :
varamichchi Seeghrame brOvu Si
vAmbA idi neeku baruvA
nera dATavu neevu gadA Sankari
sarOja bhavAdi surEndra poojitE ||
Oh Amba, bless me and please do it fast. Sivamba, it is not a big task for you. Oh Sankari,you will never fail in whatever you undertake. Brahma, Indra and others worship you.
Brahma is indicated as "Saroja Bhava" here. He was born on a lotus from the Nabhi of Vishnu. Indra is indicated as "Surendra" as he is the leader of all "suras" meaning devas. If you note, the word, 'a-suras' is used to indicate demons - which is the opposite of 'suras'.
Charanam : 3 :
Suka SyAmala ghana SyAma krishNuni
sOdari koumAri
akaLanka kalAdhari bimbAdhari
apara krupAnidhi neevE rakshimpa ||
You are the Shyamala who lives in peace. You are Koumari. You are the sister of Syama Krishna who is dark blue. You are unblemished. The beautiful crescent moon rests and graces your head.Your lips are red like 'Bimba' fruits.You are the ocean of compassion. You alone should protect me.
Shyamala the sister of Shyama Krishna. This repeats in many stories. Whether you see the story where Kamsa tries to kill the 8 children of Vasudeva, where the 8th child he tries to kill actually turns out to be Devi Shyamala and tells him that the slayer of him is actually growing up in some other place; or the story of Meenakshi's marriage where Meenakshi is given away in marriage to sundareswarar by Lord Vishnu, Devi Gowri or Shyamal is the sister of Lord Vishnu.
How come devi has a crescent moon adorning her head? It comes from Lord Shiva who has the crescent moon adorning his head! Since devi and Lord Shiva are one and the same, the moon appears on Devi's head also. Another key point here is that Shyama sastri was an ardent devotee of Goddess Kamakshi. And, the crescent moon appears on Goddess Kamakshi only!
Swara sahityam :
pada yugamu madilO talachi
kOriti vinumu mada gaja gamana
parula nutimpa gAne varamosagu
satatamu ninu madi maravakanE
madana ripu sati ninu hrudayamulO
gati yani dalachi stuti salipE
mudamu tO phalamosanguTaku dharalo
natAvana kutoohala neevEgA ||
I think of your feet and ask for boons. I request you. Please listen my requests. You have majestic walk like an elephant.You shower boons to those who ask for it. Here I am - I always think of you. Please don't forget me.You are the consort of Siva - who is the enemy of cupid. I always keep you in my heart.You always and every time, reward your devotees.Who else is there on this earth so much concerned of devotees?
This passage is so full of stories. Here, Shyama sastri reminds us of the story where Lord Shiva killed the lord of love : the cupid, called 'Manmadha'. Once, Lord Shiva was meditating. Devas were desparate for a child from the union of Lord Shiva and Devi because only such a child can kill the demons Tarakasura and Surapadma. But, since the lord was in meditation, they called in the lord of love, cupid to get Lord Shiva to fall in love. Cupid also fired his arrows of flowers. But, Lord Shiva got irritated and looked at Cupid with his third eye. Cupid was burnt instantly. But, because of Devi, Lord Shiva agreed to give the life back to Cupid with one condition : Cupid would not be visible to anyone but his wife, Rati. Since Devi was the one who was instrumental in giving the life back to him, Cupid does not disturb those who are devotees of Devi. That is what is being referred by Sastri here. he ways "You are the consort of Shiva - who burnt Cupid" meaning, since I am your devotee, I would also be saved from the mischiveious was of Cupid and would not fall prey to the desires of flesh.
A beautiful song, set in Ananda Bhairavi. The song invokes Devi. It brings to your mind's eye the pleadings of Shyma sastri. Another interesting thing about this song is the Raaga in which it is set. Ananda Bairavi is said to be the favorite of Shyama Sastri. He is the one who is supposed to have improvised the Raaga and set up the way it is being used these days.
The following are some of the renderings of the song:
M.Balamurali :
Semmangudi Sreenivasa Iyer
Some audio songs are given here : (Mainly from arvindsdad.blogpost.com):
