Valmiki poses the question to sage Narada to profile the impeccable man of perfection. He says:
Yethat Aham Srothum
Param Kowthoohalam Hi Mey
Maharshe Thvam Samarthosi
Gnaatum Evam Vidam Naram
(I am anxious to hear from you of such a man because you are the most knowledgeable).
In this sloka, Sri Tyagaraja takes the vital word ‘Thvam Samarthosi’ and expands the significance in the kirtana ‘Narada Guruswami' (Darbar). The line reads:
Dyuti Jita Saradabra Ninu Vina
Muni Yatulaku Evaru Saligey
(Who else has the capacity to guide and give advice and protection to yatis and rishis?)
Viswamitra enters Dasaratha’s palace to seek the assistance of Sri Rama to protect his yagna. Here are the words of Valmiki:
Ramam Satya Paraakramam
Kaakapaksha Daram Veeram
Jyeshtam Mey Daatum Arhasi
(Please send Rama, your first son, with lilting locks and matchless valour) to kill Maricha. After much hesitation Dasaratha accedes.
Sri Tyagaraja takes up the word ‘Kaakapaksha Daram’ to build the Madyamavati kirtana and reveal the valour of Sri Rama.
‘Cheluvu Meeraganu Maareechuni
Mada Manache Vela
Alakalella Laataga Gani’
(With a heart swelling with pride, Viswamitra watched the play of Rama’s forelocks as He threw Mareecha to a distant ocean with Manavastra?)
The next stage in Rama avatara moves to Janaka’s palace. Here are the words of Valimiki. Introducing Rama and Lakshmana to Janaka he says:
Drashtu Kaamow Dhanu Shreshtam
Yat Thvayi Thishtathi
(The sons of Dasaratha have come to see the bow lying in your palace) and on being brought to the assembly hall Viswamitra signals Rama calling him ‘Child Rama’: Vatsa Rama Dhanu Pasya. And what follows is ‘Thath Bhanja Dhanur Madhye,’ (See the bow and Rama breaks it at the middle). Tyagaraja is so overjoyed on visualising this scene that in the same Madhyamavati kirtana he recalls the incident:
‘Muni Kanu Saika Telisi
Siva Dhanuvunu Viriche Samayamuna’
Viswamitra’s ecstasy is described by Tyagaraja — Aaranmuni Etu Pongeno.
But here one inference is vital. Sage Narada inspired Valmiki to compose Ramayana in the form of slokas as well as songs through handing over to him Swaranubhava, a treatise on music.
The saint acknowledges this with gratitude in the Sankarabharanam song: ‘Swara Raga Sudha Rasa’
This is for our enlightenment, but to sage Narada he bows in the Darbar kirtana again: ‘Saregu Sangeetha Yoga... Parama Pavana’ (Narada Guruswami)
The scene shifts to Dandakaranyam. Here the group of rishis seeks Rama’s help to protect them from the disturbances created by the rakshasas. From Balakandam he moves to the Aranyakandam.
The sages make this appeal:
Nyasta Dandaaha
Vayam Rajan
Jitakroda Jitendriyaha
Rakshitavya Tvaya
(You must protect us, who have conquered anger and have controlled our minds.) Rama promises them and later Sita objects to Rama harbouring hostility to the rakshasas who have done him no harm.
Valmiki’s account of the conversation between rishis and Sita led Sri Tyagaraja to compose one significant line in the Subhapantuvarali song, ‘Ennaalu Urake Korika Munulaku’ (Haven't you fulfilled the promise you gave to the sages?)
The final stage of the epic is the contribution of the sage Agastya who on the visit of Rama to his hermitage hands over to him Vaishnava dhanus and other invincible weaponry.
This is reflected when Ravana faces Rama before his destruction. Ravana looks at Sri Rama with the Kodanda almost brushing the sky.
This was the intention of Agasthya when he gave the Kodandam and arrows to Rama.
To a Ramabhakta like Sri Tyagaraja, it is not strange that he visualised the welfare of the world brought about by the sages of the forest in bringing Rama to earth and thereby facilitating Valmiki and Sri Tyagaraja himself to compose the Ramayana in slokas and songs.
Having said much about his total surrender to Rama, Tyagaraja cherishes in his heart of hearts, Valmiki and Valmiki alone as his Ishta Acharya. In the great Pancharatna ‘Jagadaananda Karaka’ he makes this explicit.
Kaveena Bilaja Mouni
Krita Charitra Sannuta
Sri Tyagarajanuta (Jagadaananda Karaka)
(The great charitra of Rama, composed by Valmiki, before which Sri Tyagaraja prostrates.)
(Published on February 03, 2012)
