Muthuswami Dikshitar (March 24, 1775 – October 21, 1835) was a South Indian poet, composer, and a great Musician. He's well known as one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music. He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha which is also his "mudra", as he's an ardent devotee of the Subrahmanyeswara swami. He composed various kritis on all paramount kshetras. Among them are the five kshetras sanctified to lord shiva where the lord is esteemed as a manifestation of pancha bhutas (The 5 elements of Nature). He visited these places and shrines and dedicated songs to them.
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The glories of the Universe are revealed to the humanity through the Nature or Prakriti. The entire cosmic creation in the universe is trumped up of the pancha bhutas (the five elements)- space, air , fire, water and earth known in Sanskrit as Aakash, Vayu, Agni, Jalam and Prithivi respectively.
1. Akash or Ether is the first element and accounts for the emergence of the organ of hearing-the ear and is represented by sound. It represents the space in which everything takes place.
The kriti in praise of lord shiva, an embodiment of the Akaasha, the Aakaasha linga, is as follows.
Kriti: " anandha naTana prakaasham"
Kshetra: Chidambaram
Element: space
Raga: kEdAram
Talam: mishra caapu
| Nataraja temple |
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| Aakasha lingam |
Pallavi
Ananda Natana Prakasam ChitsabesamAshrayaami Shivakama valleesam
Anupallavi
|
I
seek refuge in Lord Nataraja, the Presiding Deity of Chit-Sabha , who
is famed for his "Ananda Tandava", and is the Lord of Goddess
"Sivakamavalli". The
one with the effulgence of crores and crores of Suns, the bestower of
Bliss and Liberation, the one in the form of Space (Akasa Linga), who is
renowned for protecting destitute devotees, who revealed to Patanjali
and Vyaghrapada his divine lotus feet poised in the Tandava posture!
The
one who bears the Moon - the one with cool rays - and Ganga, and
possesses a blue throat, the one who is the origin of sacred places like
Kedara, the Overlord of Bhutaganas, who is draped with the skin of a
tiger, the one pervading the cosmos, the Lord of Brahmanas, Devas and
Munis, the Supreme Lord of the Universe, the one with a heart soft as
butter, the father of the Merciful Guruguha, the Primeval One known to
the Vedas, the One devoid of Desire, the Unique One as propounded by
Advaita Vedanta, the one whose Music, Instruments, and wondrous Tandava
dance dispel many doubts about the subject of music!
The kriti is well written and composed with grandeur in the raaga Kedaaram to match the mood of the space.
Kedaram (pronounced kēdāram) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a derived scale from Shankarabharanam, the 29th Melakarta rāgam.
Kedaram is similar to Natbehag of Hindustani classical music.
Kedaram is an asymmetric scale that does not contain dhaivatam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava rāgam, in Carnatic music classification. This classification implies that it
has 5 notes in ascending scale with zig-zag notes and 6 notes in
descending scale. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows
This scale uses the notes shadjam, chatusruti rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam and kakali nishadam.
2.
The second element is Vayu or air, representing the skin, and the skin is the product of the principle represented by touch. It represents the gaseous state of matter and is responsible for the respiratory system.
The raaga Huseini is a Janya ragam from Karaharapriya. This raaga is from Hindusthaani origins, and holds lots of sringara rasa, and creates a mood for sweet evening breeze.
3.
The third element is Agni or fire and the eye is the organ representing sight. It represents form without substance and is responsible for digestion and perception.
Let's take a look at the manifestation of fire as the Aruchaachalaadhipati, the Lord Shiva resident in Tiruvannamalai , Tamil Nadu.
The kriti is well written and composed with grandeur in the raaga Kedaaram to match the mood of the space.
Kedaram (pronounced kēdāram) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a derived scale from Shankarabharanam, the 29th Melakarta rāgam.
Kedaram is similar to Natbehag of Hindustani classical music.
- S M1 G3 M1 P N3 S - S N3 P M1 G3 R2 S
2.
The second element is Vayu or air, representing the skin, and the skin is the product of the principle represented by touch. It represents the gaseous state of matter and is responsible for the respiratory system.
kriti: " shri kAlahastIsha"
Kshetra: Srikalahasti
Element: Air
Raga: Huseni
Talam: Jhampa
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| Vayu Linga |
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Pallavi
shrI kALahastIsha shritajanAvana samIrAkAra mAm pAhi rAjamauLE Ehi
Anupallavi
pAkAri vidhi hari prANamaya kOshAnilAkAsha bhUmi salilAgni prakAsha shiva
Charanam
jnAna prasUnAmbikApatE bhaktAbhimAna dakSiNa kailAsa vAsAbhISta dAna
caturakaAbja dIna karuNAnidhE sUnashara sUdanAjHnAna hara pashupatE
jnAna guruguha saccidAnandamaya mUrttE hInajAti kirAtakEna pUjita kIrttE
O
Lord of Kalahasti, You who protect those who take refuge in You, and
are the form of Samira (air) please protect me, oh Rajamauli. You are the vital force of Indra, Brahma and Vishnu. You are the god of wind, Anila. You
are the Lord of pancha bhutas and are enshrined in the Dakshina
kailasa Kshetra, to the pride of devotees. Your lotus-like hands shower
the desired boons on all those who pray to You. You are compassionate
toward the afflicted, and destroyed Cupid-Manmatha and the
Anjanan-ignorance. You are Pashupati, the Lord of all beings, and
received the Jnanopadesha from Guruguha. You are the embodiment of
Existence, Knowledge and Bliss. You have the fame of being worshiped by a
low-caste hunter.
The raaga Huseini is a Janya ragam from Karaharapriya. This raaga is from Hindusthaani origins, and holds lots of sringara rasa, and creates a mood for sweet evening breeze.
3.
The third element is Agni or fire and the eye is the organ representing sight. It represents form without substance and is responsible for digestion and perception.
Let's take a look at the manifestation of fire as the Aruchaachalaadhipati, the Lord Shiva resident in Tiruvannamalai , Tamil Nadu.
Kriti: " aruNAcalanAtham "
Kshetra: Tiruvannamalai
Element: Fire
Raga: SAranga
Raga: SAranga
Talam: -rUpakam
| Agni Lingam |
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| Arunachaleshvara Temple |
Pallavi
aruNAcalanAtham smarAmi anisham
apIta kucAmbA sametam
Anupallavi
smaraNAt kaivalya prada caraNAravindam
taruNAditya koTi sankAsha cidAnandam
karuNA rasAdi kandam sharaNAgata surabrndam
Charanam
aprAkrta tejomaya lingam
atyadbhuta kara dhrta sArangam
aprameyam aparNAbja bhrngam
ArUDhottunga vrSha turangam
viprottama vishEShAntarangam
vIra guruguha tAra prasangam
svapradIpa mauLi vidhrta gangam
svaprakAsha jita somAgni patangam
I meditate on the Lord of the Arunachala hill, who is eternal and in the company of Apitakuchamba
in
the company of the Goddess. The Arunachala Mahatmyam has it that after
the slaying of Mahishasura, Durga observed penance here and pleased with
her, the Lord appeared as a fiery linga and united with her. She is
apItakucAmba as she is newly married and has not yet had children. The
Lord here is said to be ardhanArIsvara, one whose half is feminine and
so he is ever in the company of the Goddess. Bhringi was a devotee of
Shiva who did not recognise Parvati and so ignored her while
circumambulating the Lord. Parvati came and stood very close to Shiva
whereupon Bhringi turned into an insect and circled Shiva alone. Finally
Shiva gave Parvati one half of his body and also granted salvation to
Bhringi. The special status given to Bhringi annoys Parvati who quarrels
with the Lord.
His lotus feet give salvation to those who just think of him Ever established in bliss and like ten million rising suns the
source of the essence of compassion and other attributes. The term rasa
also denotes liquid and as per the Upanishads, fire gave rise to water.hordes
of divine beings take refuge in his feet. The hill of Arunachala which
is said to be Shiva Himself, is surrounded by temples dedicated to eight
lingas, each worshiped by the divine being in charge of that direction.
He manifests as the extraordinary fiery linga. in
his wondrous hand he carries a deer. It is noteworthy that the
Arunachala temple has several utsava moorthies of Shiva, all of them
carrying deer. he
is inestimable or immeasurable. This is a reference to the appearance
of Shiva as an endless tower of fire the origin and end of which Vishnu
and Brahma search for in vain. This manifestation is celebrated during
Kartikai Deepam when a fire is lit on the hill, perhaps commemorating
the volcanic eruption that is said to have given rise to Arunachala.
He
is ever hovering like a bee around the lotus-like face of Aparna. The
goddess is said to have done penance here surrounded by five fires and
eschewing even leaves for sustenance. She is hence referred to as
aparNa. He
is on a tall bull, which he uses as his mount. Even now the silver
vrshabham used at this temple during the Kartikai festival is one of the
tallest. He
is an especially close confidante to the foremost among Brahmins. This
could be a reference to Sundaramurthy Nayanar for whom Shiva was a close
friend. It could also mean Tirugnanasambandar to whom Shiva appeared as
a pillar of light at Araiyaninallur and guided him from there to
Tiruvannamalai. Many centuries later, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi was
guided to Tiruvannamalai by a jyoti at the same place.
Ever
in the company of the brave guruguha (Skanda) and consort (Uma) –
depicting Shiva as somAskanda of which there are three icons in the
temple. wielding the Ganga on his effulgent locks. The effulgence is another reference to light. Defeating
in brilliance the moon, fire and the sun. We must turn again to Suri
Nagamma and Bhagavan for a probable explanation. In his discourse on
Uma, Bhagavan has it that Parvati once playfully shut Shiva’s two eyes
thereby cutting off all light to the earth, which at once fell into
turmoil. Shiva restored order by opening his third eye. A contrite
Parvati did penance and was reunited with Shiva at Arunachala and He
gave her half His form.
The rAga sAranga is a romantically beautiful blend of the masculine rAga: SankarAbharaNam and the feminine rAga: kaLyANi.
S P M2 P D2 N3 S - S N D2 P M2 R2 G3 M1 R2 S
So, the rAga feels like Fire with the Vakram or the twist in it.
The rAga sAranga is a romantically beautiful blend of the masculine rAga: SankarAbharaNam and the feminine rAga: kaLyANi.
S P M2 P D2 N3 S - S N D2 P M2 R2 G3 M1 R2 S
So, the rAga feels like Fire with the Vakram or the twist in it.
The fourth element is Jal or water and is represented by the organ tongue which is used for the dual function of taste and speech. It represents the liquid state of matter and is responsible for fluid metabolism in the body. Blood, lymph and other fluids are considered as water elements.
Let's look at the Water Element represented by the Jambupati, the Lord Shiva resident in Tiruvanaikkaval, Tamil Nadu. Water, being the Elixir of Life, is one the most important element of mother nature.
Kriti: " jambUpatE"
Kshetra: Tiruvanaikkaval
Element: Water
Raga: Yamuna kalyANi
Talam: tishra Ekam
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| Jambukeshvara Temple |
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| Jambhukeswar, Akhilandeswari Amman |
pallavi:
jambUpate mAm pAhi nijAnanda amrta bodham dEhi
Anupallavi:
ambujAsanAdi sakala dEva namana
tumburu nuta hRdaya tApopashamana
ambudhi gangA kAvErI yamunA
kambu kaNThyakhilANDEshvarI ramaNa
caraNam:
parvatajA prArthitAplinga vibho
panca bhUtamaya prapanca prabho
sarva jIva dayAkara shambho
sAmajATavI nilaya svayambho
sharva karuNAsudhA sindho
sharaNAgata vatsalArta bandho
anirvacanIya nAda bindo
nitya mauLi vidhrta gangEndo
nirvikalpaka samAdhi nishTha shiva kalpaka taro
nirvishESha caitanya niranjana guruguha guro
Shiva is esteemed at Tiruvanaikkaval near Tirchy. This is the place where shiva is worshiped in the form of water. It is also known as " Apah Lingam Or Jala Lingam". The presence of water can be seen in the temple. The sanctum of shiva lingam always has water seeping in from the river kaveri. The shrine is flooded in rainy season. This is a keertana stepped in fluid symbolism i.e water. It asks the lord Shiva to give the nectar of bliss. Brahma also worships Shiva who was born in water and sits on the lotus. Lord Shiva quenches the sorrows. Shiva is lord of the rivers sindhu, ganga, kaveri ,yamuna and akhilandeshwari whos has a throat like a conch. Lord in tirunaikka is the water linga worshiped by the daughter of mountains and residing at sAmajATavi( the forest of elephants).
The rAga Yaman Kalyani, an Endlesss Stream of Flowing Melody, is the janya of 65th Mela MechaKalyani. The rAga comprises of both the Suddha madhyama along with the notes of the the kalyani rAga. It is this note that gives the raga its distinctive quality of peace, and tranquility. The raga is popular for its melodic appeal and high emotional content and is very romantic in nature, and is mostly known as an evening rAga. It is a Sampoorna bhaashaanga raagamwith the scale :
s r g m p d n s – s n d p m g M r s
The rAga gives the sweetness of a flowing river, and one can visualize an alluring waterfall, swift and pleasant to the human senses.
The rAga Yaman Kalyani, an Endlesss Stream of Flowing Melody, is the janya of 65th Mela MechaKalyani. The rAga comprises of both the Suddha madhyama along with the notes of the the kalyani rAga. It is this note that gives the raga its distinctive quality of peace, and tranquility. The raga is popular for its melodic appeal and high emotional content and is very romantic in nature, and is mostly known as an evening rAga. It is a Sampoorna bhaashaanga raagamwith the scale :
s r g m p d n s – s n d p m g M r s
The rAga gives the sweetness of a flowing river, and one can visualize an alluring waterfall, swift and pleasant to the human senses.
5
The fifth element is Prithvi or earth and the nose is the organ representing smell. It represents the solid state of matter and is responsible for the physical constitution of the body. Bones, tissues and teeth are considered as earth elements.
The fifth element is Prithvi or earth and the nose is the organ representing smell. It represents the solid state of matter and is responsible for the physical constitution of the body. Bones, tissues and teeth are considered as earth elements.
kriti: " cintaya mAkanda mUla kandam "
Kshetra: Kanchipuram
Element: Earth
Raga: bhairavi
Talam: -- rUpakam
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| Prithvi Linga |
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| Ekamreshvara Temple |
Pallavi
cintaya mAkanda mUla kandam
cetasshrI sOmAskandam
Anupallavi
santatam akhaNDa saccidAnandam
sAmrAjyaprada caraNAravindam
Charanam
mangaLakara mandahAsa vadanam
mANikya maya kAncI sadanam
anga saundarya vijita madanam
antaka sUdanam kunda radanam
uttunga kamanIya vrSha turangam bhairavI prasangam
guruguhAntarangam prthvI lingam
O my mind, contemplate on Shiva, the one supporting root of Mango tree, who is accompanied by Uma and Skanda. Who is always indivisible eternal Bliss, whose lotus feet are capable of bestowing empires. Whose smiling face bestows welfare and prosperity (to the devotees). who is seated in the rich abode of Kanchi. who conquers the God of Love (Madana) with his beauty of body; who is the destroyer of the God of death (Anthaka), and always having white teeth. Who has the horse in the form of tall and beautiful bull, and enjoys the company of Goddess Bhairavi (a fierce form of Goddess Parvathi). And always residing in the heart and mind of Guru Guha. Who is in the form of Parthiva Linga.
The bewitching Bhairavi rAga is a manifestation and expression for patience exactly like the Bhoomi. Bhairavi is a janya rāgam of naTa bhairavi. Though it is a sampoorna rāgam it has two different dhaivathams in its scale making it a Bhashanga Ragam.
S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S - S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
The notes used are chathusruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham & shuddha dhaivatham and kaishika nishadham.
The bewitching Bhairavi rAga is a manifestation and expression for patience exactly like the Bhoomi. Bhairavi is a janya rāgam of naTa bhairavi. Though it is a sampoorna rāgam it has two different dhaivathams in its scale making it a Bhashanga Ragam.
S R2 G2 M1 P D2 N2 S - S N2 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S
The notes used are chathusruthi rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham & shuddha dhaivatham and kaishika nishadham.
