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16 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“CHUTAMU RARE”
(Arabhi)
..
Oh Ladies! Come along, let us see Rangapati They
say he was worshipped by Sri Rama; he is the repository of
allcharms; he wears a costly shawl and beautiful ear-
ornaments; he is of prime age; and above all he is
Paramátma
His face defies the moon in beauty; He speaks very
sweetly. He gives people happiness and protects them:
He is of loveable personality; he permeates all agamas and
Vedas; he rules the whole Universe.
)
“RAJU VEDALE" (Désya Todi)
Come, let us enjoy the sight. Sri Ranga Rája, bedecked
with shining and precious ornaments and attended by prin ces on horseback, has come out in procession in Chitravithi
of Rangapuri, made holy by the Kaveri and made fit as the
abode of Lakshmi Devas enjoy the seva and worship with
devotion and Tyagaraja sings in the procession,
?8. TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
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"KARUNA JÜDUMAYYA" (Saranga)
Oh Paramapurusha ! Our great treasure! Kaveri Ranga!
Look at me with compassion and listen (to me); hold me
by the hand, bless me with boons and your grace, when you
are in glory in company with the two consorts, the twin
Náàchiyàrs of broad eyes, with devotees and Alwars and
partaking of offerings made to you!
“ISA PAHI MAM" (Kalyani)
Oh Jagadisa! Saptarishisa! Protect me! Can ordinary
people aspire to have this rare Darsana of yours? Ido not
know as the result of what Tapas I made in the past that I
have had your holy name. This is really Bhüloka Kailása as
people say. I have seen it for myself several times. Who
is your equal ? By your divine presence, all my worries and
troubles have disappeared and my life has become blessed
today. Who is there, but you for me?
80 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
"DÉVA SRITAPASTIRTHA™ (Madhyamavati)
Oh Mahadeva! Pray, grant me devotion to you and
protect me soon.
“LALITE SRI PRAVRIDDHE” (Bhairavi)
Oh Lalite! Pravriddha-Srimati of Sritapastirtha! Oh
Mother of beauty and ever-growing wisdom! Am I not an
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82 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
ignorant boy? Are you not the custodian of wisdom? Is it
proper that you should be indifferent towards me? Won't
you say afew words of comfort to me?
I have no one else in the world to protect me. Unable
to bring myselí to beg of people of this world, I have
approached you as your devotee.
I have become a befitting recipient of your brothers'
grace. I have straight sought refuge under you.
“MAHITA PRAVRIDDHA” (Kambhdji)
Oh Mother Pravriddha-Srimati! Pray, protect me and
grant me devotion to your blessed feet !
84
Re
TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
"GATI NIVANI” (Todi)
Oh Mother! why this forgetfulness? After prolonged
search and being convinced that you are the sole refuge of
true devotees, I have come to you and fixed my faith in your
holy feet. Protect me now.
Is it possible even for Brahma to praise you adequately ?
O Goddess of the form of supreme bliss, residing at Sri-
tapastirtha! There is no equal to you on earth.
Am I not
Kanohtpura—Varadarija 85
yours? You have afforded protection to the kings of the
earth, who, seeing that they are not fully free from their
troubles, have joined together and approached you with
firm faith that you are the only saviour that fulfills desires.
It is not known what great merit people would have
acquired to live in this placee O Goddess, residing in Sri-
pura! I have sought your support. I cannot beg of others.
Pray, do not treat me with indifference. You and 77076 else
are my sole refuge. Do not put me off. Your glories are
infinite.
Oh Queen of the Universe! Goddess Maya, Mother of
the Gods! Listen. I have become single:minded in my
devotion through your grace. Why this compassionlessness
towards me? When I have you as my prop, it is undignified
for me to beg of people of this world for food and money.
Further, it is not in keeping with your glory.
86 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
"VARADARAJA" (Swarabhüshani)
Oh Varadaràja! Worshipped by Devas, Munis and
Brahmans! I have come here seeking you, having had dar-
sana of your Garuda Seva; 1 prostrate before you. Your
place (Hastigiri) is considered to be Vaikuntham itself and
is beyond all description. You shine among the Devas
like the moon among the stars.
Tirupati— Venkatésa 87
"VINAYAKUNI VALENU" (Madhyamavati)
Oh Sri Kamakshi! Protector of the forlorn! Pray, bless
me as you would do Vináyaka, your own son! Which other
God can do this except you ? When you are there to grant
boons even to the worst of human beings, Brahmans and
devatas should not find themselves in distress. Should you
notshow mercy? In response to Brahma's pleading for the
sake of humanity, you have incarnated in the world in a
benign and sátvic form. If you delay still, I connot bear.
Let your kind words go to me and bless me.
88 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAB
“VENKATESA NINU” (Madhyamavati)
Oh Venkatesa who has taken abode on Seshichala and
in the hearts of yogis! One should have myriad eyes to see
you in glory with such a beautiful rüpam. You are prai-
sed on all sides that you are the highest of the deities ; your
mere darsana will surely secure salvation for those who pine
with devotion for you. As probably the result of some
meritorious deed of mine, [have tasted the nectar of thy
sweet name and have thus secured astepping stone to
reach you, whose feet shine with incomparable brilliance.
“TERA TIYAGA RADA" (Gowlipantu)
Oh Tirupati Venkataramana! Supreme Being! Could
you not remove the screen of anger, arrogance and jealousy,
which, taking a firm stand within me, keeps me out of the
reach of Dharma and other purushárthas including móksha?
As the effect of this screen I am in the position of a hungry
fish that gets ruined by grasping the bait in the angle. H
effectively hides from vision the immaculate light of the
90 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
lamp (10879) lam in the plight of one who, while happily
taking his dinner, gets a fly (ajnána) stuck in his throat.
This screen creates confusion in me, as in the case of aman,
who, while engaged in worship, allows his mind to wander
over the chandalas’ quarters. By the existence of this
screen, my mind gets caught by evil, just as ignorant beasts
are got in the hunter's net.
I have been following you faithfully. (Pray promptly
remove the screen).
"SAMBHO MAHADEVA" (Pantuvarali)
Pray, vouchsafe to me devotion to your holy feet — Oh
Mahadeva |
“ STINDARESWARUNI” (Sankarábharanam)
Will one have the mind to see any other God after
having had darsanam of our beautiful Sundareswara? He
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has his abode in Kovür, equal in grandeur to Kasi; his legs
have golden anklets, his hands have tinkling bracelets; on
his forehead shines Tilaka of Kastüri; on one side are mar-
shalled Brahma and other gods, on another the heavenly
damsels. In one place Tumburu, Narada and in another,
all devotees sing his glories.
pma,
"I VASUDHA” (Sahána)
I have not seen in this world another God like you, Oh!
Kóvuri Sundaresa, shining with ever-increasing glory! Even
Kovir ~ Sundarésa 93
if one resides in your holy place only for half a minute, with
devotion, you generously remove all worries from his mind,
vouchsafe to him wealth and longevity, devotion to Brah-
mans, tejas and undying fame in the world.
" KÕRI SEVIMPARARE” (Kharaharapriya)
Come and worship the beautiful Sundaramirti of
Kóvür and have your desires fulfilled. Devas are worship-
ping with high class golden flowers; Brahmans and sages
like Sanaka are praising him. He is promising the grant of
prosperity to devotees.
94 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“NAMMI VACHCHINA" (Kaly&ni)
Oh Sundaréswara! Treat me who have come to you
with true faith; fairly and justly, you who beckon people
and grant boons. You have been graciously pleased to
incarnate on the earth as the Lord of Soundseryandyaki at
the imploring request of the Vedas, Agamas and Sastras,
which had not been able to have darsanam of your holy
feet.
Tiruvotrigür — Tripurasundari
95
“KANNA TALLI” (Saveri)
Oh my mother! When you are by my side to prop me,
why should I worry myself? When one has butter in his
hand, why should he cry for ghee?
I have realised that wealth, horses, huge buildings, etc
owned by people are all unreal and that no protection can
be given to one by others. Iam not at all fond of the vain
talk of the rich, Knowing that all these are maya, why
should one mistake a rope for a snake ?
Sweet-tongued relations, brothers-in-law, sisters and
brothers, are with us when we are in plenty; they desert
us when we are in poverty. Realising this, I connot allow
myself to fall a victim to their tricks. Will any one mistake
a mirage for real water ?
This body adorned with golden ornaments and nouri-
shed with milk is not permanent. Seeing that there is not
even an iota of purity, Tyagaraja has dedicated all good work
done by him every day to you and has regarded everything
including devatas as yourself,
Tiruvotriytr — Tripurasundari
98 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
“SUNDARI NI DIVYA” (Kalyani)
Oh Tripurasundari! Is it the effect of’ your grace or the
fruit of my past worship that I have been privileged to have
darsanam of your divine form, while the wise Gods, having
heard of the beauty of you who are at the sacred Adipuri,
feel worried and excited whether it would be possible. for
them to have the grand Sukravirardarsana of yours?
Having heard it proclaimed in congregations that in
this yuga you are the protector of the distressed, 1 have
rushed to you with great trouble in expectation of enjoying
peace of mind.
Oh my mother! I have to-day achieved the purpose of
life in that I have feasted my eyes with your darsan and
stand in the position of a poverty-stricken man coming by
wealth, and of withering crops suddenly getting water.
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100 TYAGARAJA KIRTANAS
"SUNDARI NINU VARNIMPA" (Arabhi)
Oh Tripurasundari! When it is not possible even for
Brahma and other Devas to describe you, how can 1? See-
ing the radiance of your graceful face, the moon dare not
come to the earth Seeing your exquisite beauty, Manmatha
disappeared long ago; seeing the majesty of your pose,
the ocean became stupefied and motionless; seeing your
firmness, mount Meru became a rock; seeing your eyes,
fishes became ashamed and betook themselves to the
ocean; seeing the charm of your lovely smile, Lord Siva
became peerlessly white (pale); seeing the brilliance of
your jewels and garments, lightning became unsteady,
unable to stand even for a minute; hearing your sweet
voice, Saraswati had to take her abode in her husband's
longue; seeing your glory which purifies every thing, the
sins of devotees had to flee away.
By your unceasing grace, poets have been able to pro-
duce lasting literary works; the wise and the holy have
spoken of you as the sister of Sri Mahávishnu!
Tiruvotriyür—T'ripurasundari 101
Meditating on your blesssd feet, Ty&garája cherishes
them as his treasure.
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TYAGARAJA KIBTANAB
“SUNDARI NANNINDARILO" (Bégada)
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