Deekshithar

As a part of Navaratri festival i would like to do a writeup roaming round Muthuswamy deekshitar...Listening to a kriti of Deekshitar (well rendered of course) is a great experience - even without raga alapana or Sangatis. A musical analysis of the kritis would greatly extend the scope of this article and hence I am restricting this feature to the relevance of Deekshitar's Navavarna kritis.The analysis of nine avaranas are done beautifully through these keertanas.The musician should have digested core vedantic concepts inorder to get complete understanding and Bhava of the lyrics.. These songs are set in praise of the Goddess Kamalamba who is enshrined in Tiruvarur in the Tanjore district of Tamil Nadu in South India.The lyrics and the descriptive details are loaded with the mystical symbolism of the Vedantic (advaita) tradition and the chakras of the human system are closely linked to the evolutionary aspects described in the compsitions that reflect the scholarly reach, musical depth and mystical significance of the composer.Its worth mentioning that Deekshitar lived in the latter part of the 18th century and in early 19th century (1775 - 1835 CE), when India was being ruled by the British. The details of Chakras covered are as follows: (1) The first Avaranam is Bhoopuram and the Chakram is Trailokyamohana chakra ‘enchants the three worlds’;The yogini is Prakata, the mental state of the aspirant is Jagrata, Chakra Iswari is Tripura and the Saktis are 28 that include the ten starting with Anima, the eight starting with Brahmya and the ten Mudra Saktis. [ANANDABHAIRAVI: Kamalamba Samrakshatu] (2) The second Avaranam is Shodasa Dalam, and the Chakram is Sarvasaparipuraka chakra, ‘fulfills all expectations’; The yogini is Gupta Yogini. The mental state is Swapna, the Chakra Iswari is Tripurasi and the Saktis are the sixteen starting with Kamakarshini. [KALYANI: Kamalambam Bhajare] (3) The third Avaranam is Ashtha Dalam; The Chakram is Sarvasamkshobana chakra, ‘agitates all’; the Yogini is Gupta Tara Yogini. The mental state is Sushupti, the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Sundari and the Saktis are the eight starting with Ananga Kusuma. [SHANKARABHARANAM: Sri Kamalambikayaa Katakshitoham] (4) The fourth Avaranam is Chaturdasaram; the Chakram is Sarvasaubhagyadayaka chakra, ‘grants excellence’; the Yogini is Sampradaya Yogini. The mental state is Iswara Vicharam, Chakra Iswari is Tripura Vasini and the Saktis are the fourteen starting with Samkshobhini. [KAMBHOJI: Kamalambikaayai Kanakamshukayai] (5) The fifth Avaranam is Bahirdasaram; the Chakram is Sarvarthasadhakachakra, is the ‘accomplisher of all’; the Yogini is Kulotteerna yogini. The mental state is Guroopa Sadanam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Sri and the Saktis are the ten starting with Sarva Siddhi Prada. [BHAIRAVI: Sri Kamalambikayaha Param Nahi re re chitta] (6) The sixth Avaranam is Antardasaram; the Chakram is Sarvaraksakara chakra, ‘protects all’; the Yogini is Nigarbha Yogini. The mental state is Upadesam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Malini and the Saktis are the ten starting with Sarvagnya. [PUNNAGAVARALI: Kamalambikayastava Bhaktoham] (7) The Seventh Avaranam is Asthakonam; the Chakram is Sarvarogahara chakra, ‘cures all ills’; the Yogini is Rahasya Yogini. The mental state is Mananam; the chakra Iswari is Tripura Siddhaa and the Saktis are the eight, starting with Vashini. [SAHANA: Sri Kamalambikayam Bhaktim Karomi] (8) The eighth Avaranam is Trikonam; the Chakram is Sarvasiddhiprada chakra, ‘grants all perfection’; the Yogini is Ati Rahasya Yogini. The mental state is Nitidhyasanam; the Chakra Iswari is Tripuramba and the Saktis are the three starting with Kameshwari. [GHANTA: Sri Kamalambike Avaava] (9) The ninth Avaranam is the Bindu and the highest Chakram is Sarvanandamaya chakra , ‘replete with bliss’. The mental state is Savikalpa Samadhi; the Chakra Iswari is Maha Tripura Sundari and the Shakti is Maha Tripura Sundai, the very personification of Para Brahman. [AHIRI: Sri Kamalamba Jayati]

• ikE caNDikE - tODi/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
• 1: kamalAmbA saMrakSatu mAM hRt - *Anandabhairavi/mishra cApu
• 2: kamalAmbAM bhajarE rE mAnasa - kalyANi/Adi (2 kaLai)
• 3: shrI kamalAmbikayA kaTAkSitOhaM - shaHNkarAbharaNaM/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
• 4: kamalAmbikAyai kanakAMshukAyai - *kAmbhOji/khaNDa aTa
• 5: shrI kamalAmbikAyAh paraM nahirE rE citta - *bhairavi/mishra jhaMpa (2 kaLai)
• 6: kamalAmbikAyAstava bhaktOhaM - *punnAgavarALi/tishra EkaM
• 7: shrI kamalAmbikAyAM bhaktiM karOmi - sahAna/tishra tripuTa
• 8: shrI kamalAmbikE avAva - *ghaNTa/Adi (2 kaLai)
• 9: shrI kamalAmbA jayati ambA - Ahiri/rUpakaM (2 kaLai)
• maHNgaLa: shrI kamalAmbikE shivE pAhimAM lalitE - shrI/khaNDa EkaM (2 kaLai)

Now listen to one of Deekshitar's Navagraha kriti in surati raga