Studies on Ramayana an Excerpt

An excerpt from the book, Studies on Ramayana which has a chapter Thyagaraja's Portrayal. In this book Studies on Ramayana, the author tried to explain the splendor of Lord Sriram. And to explain Lord Sriram, no one can do it better than Saint Thyagaraja or Bhakta Ramadasu. Anyone who makes an attempt to explain Lord Sriram have to take the words of Saint Thyagaraja or Bhakta Ramadasu. Else, it will be inadequate, because it requires a vision to see Lord Sriram with the Mind's Eye!

Title: Studies on Ramayana
Chapter: Thyagaraja's Portrayal of Lord Sriram
Author: C. Sitaramamurti
Publisher: Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam.

One of the Saint Thyagaraja's stirring hymns begins with the words

"కరుణాజలధే! దాశరధే! కమనీయనన! సుగుణనిధే!"
"Karuna Jaladhe! One who rides Garuda! Kamaneeyanana! Sugunanidhe!" as addressed to Lord Sriram.
Which means "Ocean of Mercy! Son of Dhasaradha! Beautiful face! Treasure of Virtues!"

Word to word:
Karuna = Mercy
Jaladhe = Ocean of
Daasa = Servent (Refers to Garuda or Hanumaan as Lord Vishnu rides on Garuda or Sriram rides on Hanumaan)
Radhe = rides on
Kamaneeya = Sweet or Beautiful
Anana = Voice or Face (Can be refered as beautiful face or sweet voice)
Suguna = Virtues
Nidhe = treasure

Note: Dasaradhi means son of Dasaradha. Daasaradhe mean one who rides on Garuda, Hanuman and the like.

The main constituents of his personality attractive physical features, admirable virtues and intellectual attainments, and enduring spiritual accomplishments find an eloquent exposition in this inspired address.

When two persons meet, it is normal for each to look at the face of the other. If their looks attract each other, they proceed further and exchange greetings and converse for a time. లార్డ్ Sriram's countenance has a soft, delicate and endearing glow about it (Kamaniyaanana). His looks have a mysterious magnetic breathe and charm all their own and cast a spell on all onlookers alike: Even men feel enamored of his radiant beauty:

"Purushaam Mohanaroopaya" (Form attractive even to men!)

Word to word:
Purushaam = Even to men
Mohana = Attractive
Roopaya = form

None can escape His enduring fascination; and people who have set their eyes on Him for a moment enshrine His figure in their hearts and memories. Every recollection of his presence elates them with inexpressible exultation. Thus does Thyagaraja present in this succinct phrase, "Kamanaiyanana", one outstanding aspect of Incarnation, Beauty which makes an indelible impression on people on their initial impact with Him.

Among people, in general, physical beauty cannot have a perpetual attraction as it wears out with passage of time. It needs support of mental faculties to remain fresh in impressiveness. Maybe, in Sriram's case, physical charm alone is an abiding influence. Thyagaraja characterizes Sriam as "Suguna Nidhe" a treasure of scintillating virtues. Intellectual eminence, sturdy fortitude, outstanding administrative expertise, martial prowess, liberal catholic outlook, magnanimous munificence, are the main ingredients in the constitution of a luminary of the kingly class. And Sriram is the proud possessor of all this precious equipment. Easy accessibility on the part of the possessor, opens the gates for these virtues to find expression in action and prove beneficial to the world.Sriram is readily available to all who seek his help; without any distinction whatsoever. Subjects and citizens, anchorites and aspirants, Sugriva the Vanara Chieftain, Vibhisana of Raksasa Royalty, alike find haven at his feet. The virtues he holds are innumerable and their worth inestimable; and he draws upon them liberally to promote universal good. Sriram thus reveals the wholesome phase of "Sivam" (Virility of virtue).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Thyagaraja Kriti would bring completeness to this page.

కృతి: రారా సీతారమణి మనోహరా
రాగం: హిందోళ ది
తాళం: రూపకం
వాగేయకారుడు: త్యాగరాజ
ప:
రారా సీతారమణి మనోహరా
అ:
నీరజనయనా! ఒక ముద్దిర దిర! ముంగళ ||రారా ||

బంగారు వల్వలు నే బాగుగాగట్టేద మరి
శ్రింగారించ్ సేవ జేసి కుగిట జేర్చెద ||రారా ||

సారెకు నుదుటను కస్తూరి తిలకము బెట్టెద
సారమైన ముక్త హరములనేక దిద్దెద ||రారా||

యోగము నీపై అనురాగముగాని వేరే గతి ఎవరు?
శ్రీ త్యాగరాజ వినుత ముందర ||రారా||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Title: Rara Sitaramani Manohara
Raagam: Hindola vasantham
taaLam: Roopakam
Composer: Thyagaraja

Rara! Sita ramani Manohara!
Niraja Nayana! Oka muddira Dhira! Mungala ||Rara||

Bangaru Valvalu ne baaguga gatteda mari
Sringarinch seva jesi kaugita jercheda ||Rara||

Saarekku nudutanu Kasturi tilakamu betteda
Saaramaina mukta haramulanika diddeda ||Rara||

Yogamu nipai anuraagamu gain vere gati yevaru?
Sri Thyagaraja vinuta mundara ||Rara||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meaning:
Come! Lover of Sita!
Lotus eyed! Give a kiss! Courageous one!

I shall adorn a golden shawl on you
and serve you and embrace you to my hearts content.

I shall impress a dot of Kasturi musk on your forehead
And deck you with attractive pearl necklaces.

My good fortune lies in my fondness towards you.
Who else is my destiny?
One worshipped by Thyagaraja! First Come!

Come! Lover of Sita!
Lotus eyed! Give a kiss! Courageous one!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anyone who obtained Darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy must have had such an experience of the Lord. It is no exaggeration and cannot be explained or convinced of this fact that everyone must have ones own experience of the Lord. Like how it is ones own birth and ones own death, it is ones own experience of Lord Sriram or Lord Sri Venkateswara in Tirumala.