SrI: Dear Raama BhakthAs: Today , we will study the DheenAkranthana ( Cry from the heart in the mood of helplessness) krithi of Saint ThyagarAja made famous by Late SrI T.R.MahAlingam (Flutist) and his disciple , SrIman N.Ramani , SangItha Kalanidhis Ariyakkudi RaamAnuja Iyengar and SrI Balamurali Krishna . Pallavi: ******** EvarimAta vinnAvO, raavO Indhu lEvO! bhaLi! BhaLi! (Meaning): Oh Raamachandra! I wonder whose words have influenced You . Why are You turning away from me? Won't You come before me? Or are You here at all? well! Well ! Saint ThyAgarAja is in a dejected mood . He is beginning to wonder whether some one whispered some thing adverse about him in to Lord RaamachandrA's ears and the Lord became prejudiced to turn away from him. The devotee of the Lord is asking directly a question in anguish: What happened? Did some one say some thing that made You neglect/abandon me? Why are You staying away from me ? I am beginning to wonder whether my cry is outside Your ear's reach. Are You here at all ? Well! Well! It is not like You . Anupallavi: *********** avanilO nArshEya pourushEya mandhi chOdhya meruga lEnayya (Meaning): Although , I have abundant exposure to SaamAnya and VisEsha Saasthraic knowledge, I have not been able to unravel Your mysterious deed with their help. I am simply flabbergasted. I am bewildered to find the appropriate clues to your "inexplicable" attitude towards me. Through these powerful anupallavi vaakyams ," Carnatic music rises to pinnacles of melody and metaphysics". The blending of "RasAnubhAva and Saahithya Bhaava" is at its very best. Whole gamut of human knowledge is referred to with the choice of two words:" ArshEya and PourushEya " . ArshEya stands for the archival knowledge created for our benefit by ancient Rishis such as Manu (Dharma SaasthrAs) , ApAsthampa ( Gruhya SoothrAs), Yaagnavalkya ( Smrithi karthAs), VyAsa and VaalmIki (IthihAsa-PurANa karthAs),Vasishta , VaamadEva , Agasthya and others. PurushEya stands for those made by men of wisdom not necessarily in the category of Rishis. These are wise men and gifted poets of the calibre of KaaLidAsa, Barthruhari , authors of SubhAshithams ( Nal vAkyamkaL), dealing with codes of conduct for the righteous et al. ApourEshayam means not authored by humans (i-e)., VedAs. Saint ThyagarAja is confining himself to the range of knowledge created by "supernal seers/ArshEya and meritorious mortals/PourushEya". He is saying that he is unable to find anything in the entire gamut of these archival knowledge that explains the strange behavior of the Lord towards Him. The saint questions here the validity of the concept of Bhaktha ParAdhInathvam of the Lord (the subservience of the Lord to His devotees). CharaNam: ********* Bhaktha ParAdheenudanuchu Parama BhAgavathula vyaktha roopudai palikina mucchaDa yukthamanuchu yuNDi sakthigala MahAdEvudu nee vani santhOshamuna nunDi sattha chitthudagu ThyAgarAjanutha! Sathyasandhudanukonti nilalO (meaning): I have placed total faith (mahA visvAsam) in You based on Your declarations that you are in the service of Your bhakthAs (Bhaktha ParAdheenan /Sonna VaNnam seytha perumAl/YathOkthakAri).Great BhakthAs blessed to have the vision of You have attested to Your nature as that being under the contol of Your BhakthAs (Thirumazhisai AzhwAr, Bhaktha PrahlAdhan, Thirumangai ). Is that an empty promise? I have been delighted to know that You are the Omnipotent Lord , who will protect me and bless me with Your vision. In Your LeelA VibhUthi , I have been trusting You as independent minded and that You are of Satthvic frame of mind rooted in truth. What am I to believe now ? Who has carried tales about me to You so that You are indifferent . Whose words have influenced You against me? With the liberty that a true Bhakthan can take , Saint ThyagarAja questions the Lord tightly . He observes with a tinge of irony : " I have been feeling happy that You are the all powerful Supreme Lord ( sakthi gala MahAdEvuDu neevani santhOshamuna nunDi)". Oh Lord worshipped and eulogized by ThyagarAjA! I have been feeling happy and contented that You are of Satthvic frame of mind ( Sattha chitthuDagu) and committed to Truth( Sathyasandhan). What am to believe ? Are You here? Please remove my bewilderment.Thus laments Saint ThyagarAja in this moving Krithi out of deep anguish . V.Sadagopan
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