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Sri Vidya
Bhavanopanishad
15SEP
Bhavanopanishad

1. Bhavanopanishad is one among the minor Upanishads; and is, comparatively   , a
recent one. It is listed under the category of Shaktha Upanishads viz. the Upanishads
that delineate the tantric outlook and attempt to reconcile that with the Vedic
approach. Bhavanopanishad is affiliated to Atharva Veda. It is a major text in the Sri
Vidya – Sri Chakra tradition; and, brings out, very crisply, the symbolism of Sri
Chakra and its upasana; its spiritual mode of worship of kadi (samaya) school, and
contemplation. Bhavanopanishad is an important text for the practice of antar-yaga,
the internal worship.
2. Before we proceed further, a brief explanation on the suffix (Upanishad) to the title
of the text appears necessary.
As per tradition, about thirteen Upanishads are considered major Upanishads; and
they represent the core of the Upanishad wisdom. They are of doubtless antiquity
and constitute the first tier of the prasthana-traya (the set of three principal texts), the
foundations of the Vedic heritage; the other two tiers being the Brahma Sutras and
the Bhagavad-Gita. Sri Shankara commented on ten of those major Upanishads
(Ishavasya, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Taittireeya, Aithreya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka,
Mundaka and Mandukya); and cited the other three (Kaushitaki, Svethavatara and
Jabaala) as being authoritative
2.1. During the later times, varieties of texts gave themselves (or were attached with)
the suffix-Upanishad –to their title. That was perhaps meant to provide those texts a
halo of authority and an elevated position in the hierarchy of traditional texts. The
thoughts in most of such texts were neither fresh nor universal. Many of those texts
were theistic and sectarian in their approach; and were, therefore, classified
according to their affiliations, such as Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shaktha etc. All such
Upanishads are enumerated in the Charana-vyuha section of Atharva Veda, to which
they are affiliated. That section itself has a supplementary character about it.
Mukthikopanishad (1.5), itself a  minor Upanishad affiliated to Atharva Veda, lists
about 95 minor (apart from the major 13) Upanishads.
2.2. Their claim to being Upanishads was, generally, based on their acceptance of the
authority of the Vedas; rejection of the gross ritualism of karma-kanda; and,
highlighting the esoteric or the mystical significance of the rituals.

3. Coming back to Bhavanopanishad; it is described as an Upanishad in the sense of

a secret doctrine or a liberating-wisdom.
3.1. Nothing much is known about its author or its period. It is surmised the text may
belong to about 12th century.
3.2. Bhavanopanishad is a short text; a collection of aphoristic statements (vakyas)
running into just about 36 lines. The statements are in Sutra style; exceedingly
cryptic and with no suggestions. It is not easy to interpret the sutras and derive
meaning out of them.
3.3. The Bhavanopanishad is closely related to the Tantra-raja-tantra, another major
tantric text of the Kadi School of the Sri Vidya tradition. The Kadi_ matha is regarded
the most orthodox among all the schools of Sri Vidya tradition. It insists on virtue,
discipline and purity of rituals. Its attitude is Sattvic; and its form of worship is
internal. Hence Kadi School (also known as Samaya) is regarded as Para Vidya
(transcendental knowledge) where the worship (archana) is conducted in the space
of one’s heart (hrudayakasha madhye).
4. 1.The main purport of Bhavanopanishad is to establish a relation between
structures of the human body and Sri chakra. The Sri Chakra, in turn, is regarded as
a projection of the essential characters of the universe. There is an attempt to
harmonize (samarasya) the micro (pindanda) and the macro (brahmanda), with Sri
Chakra being the median imbibing in itself the characteristics of the both.
Bhavanopanishad lays greater emphasis on symbolic representations and
contemplation, than on rituals.
[Please check here for a detailed discussion concerning the relation between the Sri Chakra
and human body, as per the Bhavanopanishad ]
4.2. The text begins with salutations and surrender to the Guru, hailing him as the
fountainhead of the liberating wisdom. Then it goes on to relate the human
constitution in its physical, mental and vital levels to the nine-fold energy
represented by the nine enclosures of the Sri Chakra. A significant portion of the text
is devoted to the enumeration of the nine enclosures (avaranas) that compose the Sri
Chakra yantra; and to their geometric, cultic and psycho-physical representations.
The method of enumeration adopted is the samhara-krama (absorption or dissolution
method), which commences from the outermost avarana and proceeds inwards,
systematically, till the central point of the Sri Chakra, the bindu,  is reached.
In short, the text attempts to construct a harmonious relation between the micro and
the macro; between the Tantric and the Vedic; and between worship and
contemplation. It also renders the Tantric worship sattvic and sublime.
5.1. In the Sri Vidya tradition, the concept of Bhavana (after which the text is named)
has a very special significance.
In the tantra tradition, the worship is classified as external (bahir-yaga) and internal
(antar-yaga).In the former the worship is offered to a concrete representation of a
divinity which inspires devotion and reverence. Here, the object of adoration and
worship is gross (sthula). The devotee looks upon the mother-goddess as having a
human form which he can see and touch. The services (upacharas) are offered to that
form as if it were the most adorable and highly revered human being. The worship
also includes praising the divinity (stuti), repeating the mantra handed down by the
Guru (japa), which the tongue can utter and the ears can hear. There is also the
contemplation on the glory of the God (dhyana). This form of worship is termed as
gross (sthula).
The text says that external worship is only a stepping stone, a preliminary procedure;
and, one must go beyond that in due course. The external worship is a means and
not an end.
5.2. The other form of worship viz. antar-yaga, the internal worship, is in two stages –
with external props (sa-adhara) and without such props (nira_dhara).The props
referred to here are the physical accessories, such as image, gestures (mudra) or
sounds. The devotee understands and appreciates the symbolism involved in those
objects of adoration and in the ritual sequences. He knows that the props are there to
help him and guide him along the path; and yet he submits to them, entirely, with
devotion and reverence until the wisdom dawns. His dependence on the props tapers
gradually. The worship here tends to be subtle (sukshma).
5.3. The second stage of antar-yaga is transcendental (para), leading to gradual
dissolution of mind in intense contemplation and visualization of identity with the
mother-goddess. His entire psyche is immersed in the mother principle. Now, the
external rites, worships or conducts, no longer carry any meaning, for him.
5.4. The devotee’s consciousness undergoes a transformation with the realization
that he and the Mother are one. Such transformation is termed Bhavana.
Etymologically, the term is derived from the root bhu (to be) to suggest bringing
something into being. It also suggests a mental process that transforms an idea into
reality. In an extended sense, the term means contemplation or meditation,
comprehending the abstract as real and tangible.
5.5 The expression Bhavana here is taken to mean, internal worship (antar –yaga) of
the Devi, visualizing Sri Chakra as identical with one’s own being (sva-atma shakthi)
and offering worship through mental constructs , projections and visualizations. The
method of Bhavana is regarded as the sublime form of worship for attaining
liberation, even while one is alive (jeevan mukthi).
6. Bhavana emerged as a very significant concept in the development of the tantric
tradition; and, to an extent, it rescued the tantra from totally degenerating into
grotesque and abominable cult practices. It came as a breath of fresh air cleansing
the polluted atmosphere of the tantra. It helped sublimating the coarse tantric beliefs
into universal principles. The advocacy of meditation (bhavana) rendered the tantra
acceptable to householders too. It also helped to reconcile the tantra outlook with the
Vedic ethos.
7.1. As I mentioned earlier, the Bhavanopanishad is in the form of terse Sutras and it
is not easy to understand its import without the aid of a commentary. The most well
known of  all the commentaries on Bhavanopanishad is The Bashya by Bhaskararaya
Makhin, who called himself Saubhagya-bhaskara.
7.2. Bhaskararaya was a celebrated authority on the philosophy and practice of
Tantra; and, especially on the Sri Vidya upasana. Though his exact dates are
uncertain, it is accepted he lived (between 1690 and 1795) ; mostly  during the
18th century. His father Ghambhira Raya was a scholar and served as a minister in the
court of the sultan of Bijapur (North Karnataka).His mother’s name is given as
Konnamamba; and his place of birth is mentioned as Bhaga-nagar (the present-day
Hyderabad in AP).
7.3. He was initiated into tantric worship by his father; and he had the formal
initiation and final consecration from the tantric master Shivadatta Shukla of Surat
(Guj). He later married Anandi Bai from Maharashtra and initiated her in Sri Vidya.
After studying for many years in Varanasi, he returned to the south; and finally
settled down in Tiruvalangadu on the banks of the Cauvery in Chola mandala. He was
a versatile scholar and a prolific writer with more than forty books in Sanskrit on
several branches of learning.
7.4. His commentary on the Bhavanopanishad is brief but well constructed. His
explanations are precise and pre supposes familiarity of the reader with the
ideologies and concepts of Sri Vidya.
His works are of particular interest to Sri Vidya upasakas, as they furnish practical
instructions and information concerning its upasana and sadhana. The more
important among such texts are his companion volume to his commentary on
Bhavanopanishad; it is called, for short, prayoga-vidhi, a practical manual for
worship of Sri Chakra.
His other well-known works concerning Sri Vidya are his commentaries on: Lalitha
sahasranama, Tripuropanishad, Kaulopanishad and Lalitha –tripura-sundari
Upanishad.
He lived to be a very old man and spent his last days at his house on
Mahadanapuram Street of Madhyarjuna-kshetra (Tiruvidaimarudur). He passed away
at the age of 95.
8. The best known rendering (in English) of Bhaskararaya’s commentary
on Bhavanopanishad is by Prof. S K Ramachandra Rao, published by Kalpatharu
Research Academy, Bangalore.

Sources and References:

The tantra of Sri Chakra by Prof. S K Ramachandra Rao
Bhavana Upanishad- text in English http://www.hinduwiki.com/index.php?
title=Bhavana_Upanishad
Nitya Kala Devis http://www.srividya.org/Srividya/Svtsweb/apps/?
act=viewPhoto&photo_id=8
The Fifteen Nityas http://www.religiousworlds.com/mandalam/nitya.htm
Life sketch of Bhaskararaya Makhin http://kamakshi16.tripod.com/bhaskara.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaskararaya
 (Please click here for a fairly detailed account of Sri Bhaskararaya Makhin’s life)
 

13 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 15, 2012 in Books, Sri Vidya, Tantra
 

Tags: Bhaskara Raya, Bhavanopanishad, Makhin, Sri Vidya, Tantra

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (8 of 8)

14SEP
Kamalamba Navavarana kritis-Part two
 

Continued from page one.

While discussing the Navavarana kritis, I propose to restrict myself to those portions
of the kritis that have reference to Sri Vidya and Sri Chakra. Most of such references
occur in the Charanam segment of the kritis.
[ Note : The worship of Sri Yantra involves use of ten types of Mudras (Dasa-
mudrani) – the gestures through the fingers – from Sarva-Samkshobhini to Sarva-
Trikhanda . For a discussion on ; and, for the illustration of these Mudras, please
click here.]
1.      First Avarana – Bhupura
Kamalaambaa Samrakshatu Maam– Ananda Bhairavi – Misra Chapu (Triputa)
[The avarana is Bhupura and the Chakra is Trailokyamohana chakra ‘enchants the three
worlds’. The yogini is Prakata; Mudra is Sarva Somkshibhni; Siddhi is Anima; and the
mental state of the aspirant is Jagrata. The presiding deity is Tripura. Her Vidya is Am Am
Sauh.The gem is topaz. The time is 24 minutes and the Shaktis are 28 that include the ten
starting with Anima, the eight Matruka Devis starting with Brahmya and Maheshwari;  and
the ten Mudra Shaktis. 28 is the dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the feet of
the mother goddess.]
Tripuraadi Chakreshvari Animaadi Siddhishvari Nitya Kaameshvari
Kshitipura Trailokyamohana Chakra Vartini Prakata Yogini
Suraripu Mahishaasuraadi Marddini Nigama Puraanaadi Samvedini
Tripureshi Guruguha Janani Tripura Bhanjana Ranjani
Madhuripu Sahodari Talodari Tripura Sundari Maheshvari
The Bhupura Chakra, the earth stretch, includes within its spacial scope the entire
design even as the earth supports the entire existence . As he enters the first
Avarana, Dikshitar submits his salutations to the Mother Goddess Kamalamba and
prays for protection and guidance. He address her as the magnificent transcendental
beauty without a parallel in three worlds (Tripura Sundari); the conqueror of three
levels of existence; the presiding deity of Tripura and other chakras (Tripuraadi
Chakreshvari); Kameshwari; the empress of Trailokyamohana
Chakra (Trailokyamohana Chakravartini) of Bhupura (Kshithipura). She is the
presiding deity of the chakra (Tripureshi); mother of Guruguha; and the enchanting
beauty of all the tree worlds (tripura Sundari).
He also submits his salutations to Anima and other Siddhi deities of the
Avarana (Animaadi-Siddhishvari); the Nitya Devis; the Yogini of the
Avarana (PrakataYogini); and Maheshwari and other Matruka Devis.
[The Eight Siddhis (Asta-siddhi) are: 1.Aṇimā: reducing one’s body to the size of an atom;
2.Mahimā: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size; 3.Laghimā: becoming almost
weightless; 4. Garima – power to become inordinately heavy; 5. Prāpti: ability to be
anywhere at will; 6. Prākāmya: realizing whatever one desires; 7.Īśiṭva: supremacy over
nature; and,8. Vaśiṭva: control of natural forces
The Nityas are the primary Devatas of the first Chakra. The Nitya Kameshwari is at the
center. They are sixteen in number, 1. Kameshwari; 2.Bhagamalini; 3.Nityaklinna;
4.Bherunda; 5.Vanhivasini; 6. Maha-vajreswari; 7.Shivadooti (Roudri); 8.Twarita;
9.Kulasundari; 10. Nitya;  11. Neelapataka; 12.Vijaya; 13 .Sarvamangala; 14.Jwalamalini;
15.Chidroopa (Chitra); and 16.Maha-nitya.]
Thus, along with the prayers, he brings out the salient features of the Bhupura
Chakra, the Earth principle. The name of Raga Anandabhiravi is suggested by the
phrase Kamalaja-ananda Bodhasukhi. His signature also appears in Guruguha
janani.
2, Second Avarana – Shodasha dala padma
Kamalambaam Bhajare Re Maanasa –Kalyani- Adi.
[The avarana is Shodasa Dala, and the Chakra is Sarva asha paripuraka chakra ‘fulfiller all
desires and expectations’; the yogini is Gupta Yogini; Mudra is Sarva Vidravini; the Siddhi is
Laghima; and the mental state is Swapna, The presiding deity is Tripureshi. Her vidya is
Aim Klim Sauh. The gem is sapphire. The time is three hours. The Shaktis are the sixteen
starting with Kamakarshini.16 is the dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the
Savdhistana chakra of the mother goddess.]
Sarvaashaa Paripuraka Chakra Svaamineem Parama Shiva Kaamineem
Durvaasaarcchita Gupta Yogineem Dukha Dhvamsineem Hamsineem
Nirvaana Nija Sukha Pradaayineem Nityakalyaaneem Kaatyaayaneem
Sharvaaneem Madhupa Vijaya Venim Sad Guruguha Jananeem Niranjaneem
Garvita Bhandaasura Bhanjaneem Kaamaa Karshanyaadi Ranjaneem
Nirvishesha Chaitanya Roopineem Urvee Tatvaadi Svaroopineem
The sixteen petaled lotus(shodasha dala padma) called sarva asha paripuraka
chakra , the fulfiller of all desires , is the second enclosure. In the sixteen   petals ,
the sixteen vowels of Sanskrit alphabet is inscribed.These symbolize sixteen kalas or
aspects or phases.This Avarana is about the self protection of the devotee (atma
raksha); and liberation from discontent by seeking identity with Shiva the ever
complete and content.
He calls upon his mind to meditate on Kamalamba and cast aside attachments to
illusory existence (kalpita maaya) .The craving Asha springs from discontent; and is
quenched when discontent is eliminated. That is possible when devotee identifies
himself with Shiva, ever complete and ever content.
He worships the presiding deity of Sarvasaparipuraka chakra, the fulfiller of all
desires and expectations (Dukha Dhvamsineem); the beloved of Parama Shiva; the
bestower of true and everlasting bliss (Nirvaana Nija Sukha Pradaayineem). She is
the manifestation of attribute_ less supreme spirit (Nirvishesha Chaitanya
Roopineem). She is also the representation of the world and its principles (Urvee
Tatvaadi Svaroopineem).
When he calls her “she who is worshipped by Durvasa (Durvaasaarcchita)”, he is
referring to the Kaadi matha tradition to which he belonged. The sage Durvasa is one
of the gurus of the Kaadi matha.
Dikshitar also refers to the Gupta Yogini, the yogini of this avarana; the sixteen,
Shakthis starting with Kama-akarshini (Kaamaa Karshanyaadi Ranjaneem). They are
also called Nithyas and named Kamakarshini (fascinating the desires),
Budhyakarshini (fascinating the intellect) etc. They relate to powers in the Five
Elements, the ten senses of perception or Indriyas (being further divided into five
organs of action and five sense organs) and the Mind.   
The phrase Nija Sukha Pradaayineem Nityakalyaaneem refers to the sixteen Devis of
this avarana, called Nitya Kala or Nitya Devis.
[The sixteen presiding deities (Nityas) in the second Avarana, all ending in the
phrase Akarshini  (the one who attracts or draws forth) are – Kama-akarshini; Buddhi-
akarshini, Ahamkara-akarshini; Chitta-akarshini, Dhairya-akarshini; Smrti-akarshini;
Sharira-akarshini;  Shabda-akarshini, Sparsha-akarshini; Rupa-akarshini, Rasa-akarshini;,
Gandha-akarshini; Nama-akarshin; Bija-akarshini, Atma -akarshini; and, Amrtita-akarshini .]
The Goddess Kamalamba, in this Kriti, is served by Lakshmi and Sarasvathi. This is
said to have been inspired by the phrase “sacamara Rama Vani savya-dakshina
sevita”, which appears in the Lalita-sahasranama. Sri Dikshitar, in his
another Kriti in Nasamani Raga, commences  with the words “Shri Rama Sarasvati
sevitam shri Lalitambam bhavaye”
*

The Raga mudra is in the phrase Nityakalyaneem; and , his signature is in Guruguha

-jananeem.
3. Third Avarana –Ashta dala padma
Shree Kamalaambikayaa Kataakshitoham -: Shankarabharanam-Rupaka
 [The avarana is ashta dala; The Chakra is Sarvasamkshobana chakra ‘agitates all’. The
Yogini is Guptatara; Mudra is Sarvakarshini; the Siddhi is Mahima; and the mental state is
Shushupti. The Presiding deity is Tripura Sundari. Her vidya is Hrim Klim Sauh. The gem is
cat’s eye. The time is day and night. The Shaktis are the eight starting with Ananga
Kusuma. 8 is the dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the navel region of mother
goddess.]
Ananga Kusumaadyashta Shaktyaakaarayaa
Arunavarna Samkshobhana Chakraakaarayaa
Anantakotyandanaayaka Shankara Naayikayaa
Ashta Vargaatmaka Gupta Tarayaa Varayaa
Anangaa Dyupaasitayaa Astadalaabjasthitayaa
Dhanur Baanadhara Karayaa Dayaa Sudhaa Saagarayaa
Eight petalled lotus (astha dala padma) called Sarva-samkhobhana-Chakra
the agitator of all, is the third Avarana. Each petal has a consonant inscribed within it
that begins with ‘Ka’  The petals represent eight divinities associated with erotic
urges , independent of physical body (ananga).
The Avarana is about overcoming agitations (Samshkoba) and the formless erotic
urges (ananga)that arise in mind .These refer to mental pleasures and agitations
related to the modalities of mind such as  rejection (repulsion or withdrawal),
acceptance (attention or attachment) and indifference (detachment).
The eight petals of the Avarana Asta dala represent eight divinities associated with
such erotic principles. Sri Dikshitar refers to them as Ananga Kusumaadyashta
Shaktyaakaarayaa.
The eight Shakthis referred to as Ananga-kusuma are: Ananga-kusuma; Ananga-
mekhala; Ananga-madana; Ananga madanatura; Ananga-rekha; Ananga-vegini;
Ananga-amshuka; and Ananga-malini. These Shakthis are described as Guptatara
yogini-s.
Dikshitar obviously succeeded in gaining freedom from mental agitations and urges
caused by these erotic principles.
Dikshitar is thrilled with divine ecstasy; I am blessed by the grace of mother
Kamalamba (Shree Kamalaambikayaa Kataakshitoham); and I have realized that
Absolute Brahman (Sacchidaananda Paripurna Brahmaasmi). 
He describes the Devi as the one seated on the red colored (Aruna Varna)
Samkshobhana Chakra, amidst its eight petals (Anangaa Dyupaasitayaa
Astadalaabjasthitayaa) having names starting with Ananga (Ananga
Kusumaadyashta). In the eight petals of the lotus, eight consonants such as ka, cha,
ta and so on are inscribed (Ashta Vargaatmaka). She holds in her hands the bow and
arrows (Dhanur Baanadhara Karayaa). She is the ocean of mercy (Dayaa Sudhaa
Saagarayaa).
Ananga has also a reference also to the cult of Cupid or Eros (Manmatha or
Kamaraja) and its deities that have merged into the tradition of Sri Vidya. Dikshitar is
referring to the school propagated by Kamaraja, the Kamaraja vidya or Kadi matha;
and continued by the sage Agasthaya. Dikshitar belonged to this school.
He mentions the yogini of the Avarana, Gupta Tarayaa (Gupta Tarayaa Varayaa).
Raga mudra is hinted in Shankara Naayikayaa, the beloved of Shankara. His
signature appears in the phrase Guruguha-tatrai-padayaa.
4. Fourth Avarana –chaturdasha trikona
 Kamalaambikaayai Kanakamshukaayai-Kambhoji -Khanda Ata
[The Avarana is chaturdasha trikona, a figure made of 14 triangles; the Chakra is
Sarvasoubhagya dayaka chakra, ‘grants excellence’. The Yogini is Sampradaya Yogini; the
Mudra is Sarva Shankari; the Siddhi is Ishitva. The mental state is Iswara Vichara. The
presiding deity is Tripura Vasini. Her vidya is is Haim Hklim Hsauh. The gem is coral. The
time is day and night . The Shaktis are the fourteen starting withSamkshobhini.14 is the
dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the heart of mother goddess.]
Sakala Saubhaagya Daayakaambhoja Charanaayai
Samkshobhinyaadi Shaktiyuta Chaturthyaavaranaayai
Prakata Chaturddasha Bhuvana Bharanaayai
Prabala Guruguha Sampradaayaantah Karanaayai
Akalanka Rupa Varnaayai Aparnaayai Suparnaayai
Sukara Dhruta Chaapa Baanaayai Shobhanakara Manukonaayai
Sakunkumaadi Lepanaayai Charaacharaadi Kalpanaayai
Chikura Vijita Neelaghanaayai Chidaananda Purna Ghanaayai
Dikshitar worships the presiding deity of the fourth Avarana, playing on the words
occurring in the title of the Chakra: sarva sowbhagya dayaka, the bestower of all
prosperity and addresses the Mother as Sakala Saubhaagya Daayakaambhoja
Charanaayai, the goddess with lotus like feet and benefactor of all good things in life.
He inserted the Raga mudra, in the phrase kaambhoja Charanaayai, worshiping her
lotus feet.
This Chakra referred to as Sarva-saubhagyadayaka – that which grants all
auspicious things in life – is also called Manukona, named after the fourteen Manus;
and, it consists of fourteen triangles. The fourteen Shakthis (called as Sampradaya-
Yoginis)  that are involved here are:  Sarva-samkshobini; Sarva-vidravini; Sarva-
akarshini, Sarva-stambhini; Sarva-jhrambhini; Sarva-vashamkari; Sarva-ahladini;
Sarva-sammohini; Sarva-ranjani;, Sarva-anmodinI, sarva-arthasadhaka;  Sarva-
sampattipurani; Sarva-mantramayi; and Sarva-dvandvakshyamkari.
The fourteen triangles are inscribed with fourteen consonants beginning with ka and
ending with dha.The fourteen corners represent fourteen powers of mother
goddess. The fourteen triangles (chaturdasha trikona) of the chakra represent
fourteen channels  of the vital forces in the body(naadis), corresponding with the
fourteen divinities Sarva Samkshobhini and thirteen others. Dikshitar refers to these
fourteen forces of the fourth avarana as Samkshobhinyaadi Shaktiyuta Chaturthya-
avaranaayai.
He adulates the Devi as manifest ruler (prakata bharanayai) of the fourteen
worlds (chaturdasha buvana). The fourteen worlds also represent the faculties : the
Mind (Manas), the Intellect (Buddhi), Being (Chitta), the Conscious
Ego (Ahamkara) and the ten Indriyas.
This avarana corresponds to the heart of the mother goddess. Dikshitar addresses
Kamalamba as the heart (antah karanaayai) of the great tradition (prabala
sampradaya) to which Dikshitar (Guruguha) belongs. He is referring to the tradition
of the Kaadi matha of the Dakshinamurthy School of Sri Vidya.
He describes the mother as seated in fourteen triangle (manu konayai), smeared with
vermilion (sa-kunkumayai), holding in her beautiful hands (su_kara) arrows (baana
chaapa). She is the creator of movable and immovable existence (Charaacharaadi
Kalpanaayai). She is the embodiment of consciousness (chit) and bliss (ananda).
The symbolism of this avarana is the one cherished by all, sarva sowbhagya dayaka;
for it suggests the identity of Shiva with his Shakthis (Chidananda purna ghanaayai).
*

The Raga-mudra Kambhoji appears slightly altered as “Kambhoja” in the

line Dayakambhojacaranayai .
5. Fifth Avarana –Bahir dasara
Shree Kamalaambikaayaah Param Nahire- Bhairavi -Misra Jhampa
[The Avarana is Bahirdasara; the Chakra is Sarvarthasadhakachakra, the ‘accomplisher of
all’. The Yogini is Kulotteerna yogini; the Mudra is Sarvonmadini; and the Siddhi is Vashitva.
The mental state is Guroopa Sadanam. The presiding deity is Tripura Shri. Her vidya is is
Haim Hklim Hsauh. The gem is pearl. The time is lunar day. The Shaktis are the ten starting
with Sarva Siddhi Prada.10 is the dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the neck
of mother goddess.]
Shreekantha Vishnu Virinchaadi Janayitrayaah
Shivaatmaka Vishvakartryaah Kaarayitryaah
Shreekara Bahirdashaara Chakra Sthityaah
Sevita Bhairavi Bhaargavee Bhaaratyaah
Charanam:
Naadamaya Sukshmarupa Sarva Siddhipradaadi Dasha Shaktyaaraadhita Moorthe
Shrotraadi Dasha Karana-aatmaka Kula Kauli Kaadi Bahuvidhopaasita Keertthe
Abheda Nitya Shuddha Buddha Mukta Saccida Anandamaya Paramaadvaita
Sphurtthe
Aadi Madhyaanta Rahitaaprameya Guruguha Modita Sarva Arttha Saadhaka Sphurtte
Mulaadi Navaadhaara Vyaavrtta Dashadhvani Bhedajhna Yogibrunda Samraksanyaa
Anaadi Maayaa Avidyaakaarya Kaarana Vinoda Karana Patutarakataaksa Viksanyaah.
This avarana which is in the form of a figure with ten corners is called Bahir dasara ,
the outer ten triangles; and represents ten vital currents  (pranas)  responsible for the
various functions of body and mind. They are also the representations of ten
incarnations of Vishnu meant to accomplish welfare of mankind. Hence the chakra is
called Sarvartha Sadhaka, the accomplisher of all objects.
Dikshitar addresses the Devi as the auspicious one (Shreekara) seated on
the Bahirdasara Chakra, served by Bhairavi (Kaali), Bhargavee (Lakshmi) and
Bharathi (Saraswathi). The term Bhairavi is also the Raga-mudra, here. (Shreekara
Bahirdashaara Chakra Sthityaah Sevita Bhairavi Bhaargavee Bhaaratyaah)
The shakthis of the avarana are ten in number; and are named Sarva Siddhiprada,
Sarva Sampathprada, and Sarva Priyankari and so on. Dikshitar worships the ten
manifestations of these shakthis (Sarva Siddhipradaadi Dasha Shaktyaaraadhita
Moorthe); and describes them as the subtle forms of sounds in the body (Naadamaya
Sukshmarupa).
The yoginis of the chakra are Kulotteerna yoginis and are also called Kuala
yoginis. Dikshitar worships the mother as being present in various
forms (Bahuvidhopasthitha) such as the ten yoginis kula, Kaula and others (Dasha
Karana-aatmaka Kula Kauli Kaadi).
The term Dasha-karana stands for the ten organs, consisting of the five sense organs
(Jnanendriya-s) and the five organs of action (Karmendriya-s).
The ten Shakthis (Dasha Shakthi) referred to here as Kulotteerna Yoginis  (those who
enhance the prosperity of the generations) are: Sarva–siddhiprada; Sarva-
sampatprada; Sarva-priyamkari; Sarva-mangalakarini; Sarva-kamaprada; Sarva-
duhkhavimocani; Mrtyu-prashamani; Sarva-vighnanivarini;  Sarva-sundari; and,
Sarva-saubhagyadayini.
He describes the fifth avarana Sarvartha Sadhaka, the accomplisher of all objects, in
highly lyrical terms. He hails her as the ultimate good (Shiva) and the objective of the
Tantra and Vedic rituals alike; and as the supreme non-dual non-differentiated ever
pure enlightened free self, consciousness and bliss. She is the incomparable, non-
dual being, without an end or beginning. She is loved in devotion by Guruguha; and
is manifested in Sarvartha Sadhaka Chakra. She is the sublime inspiration. (Abheda
Nitya Shuddha Buddha Mukta Saccida Anandamaya Paramaadvaita Sphurtthe, Aadi
Madhyaanta Rahitaaprameya Guruguha Modita Sarva Arttha Saadhaka Sphurtte).
She is also present as Naada, sound, in the nine vital centers such as Muladhara and
other chakras. She protects yogis; dispels delusion and ignorance. The nine chakras
referred to are Muladhara, Svadhistana, Manipura, anahata, Vishuddha and ajna;
together with manasa chakra (mind centre) situated above ajna, soma chakra (lunar-
centre) situated above manasa chakra; and Sahasra padma, symbolically, located
above the head. The Sahasra is the seat of consciousness (Shiva).
 6. Sixth Avarana –Antar dasara
Kamalaambikaayaastava Bhaktoham- Punnaagavaraali -Thrisra Eka
[The Avarana is Antardasara; the Chakra is Sarvaraksakara chakra The gem is emerald.
The time is Lunar Fortnight. The Shaktis are the ten starting with Sarvagnya.10 is the
dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the middle of the eyebrows (bhrukuti) of the
mother goddess.] ‘Protects all’. The Yogini is Nigarbha Yogini; the Mudra is Sarva
mahankusha; and the Siddhi is Prakamya. The mental state is Upadesa. The presiding
deity is Tripura Malini. Her vidya is is Hrim Klim Blem.
Dasha-kala-atmaka Vahni Svaroopa Prakaasha-antar-dashaara
Sarva Rakshaakara Chakreshvaryaah
Tridasha-adi-nuta
Kachavarga Dvaya Maya Sarvajhnaadi
Dasha-shakti-sameta Malini Chakra-eshvaryaah
Tri-dashavim-shad-varna Garbhini Kundalinyaah
Dasha-mudraa Sama-araadhita Kaulinyaah
Dasharathaadinuta Guruguha Janaka Shiva Bodhinyaah
Dashakarana Vrutti Mareechi Nigarbha Yoginyaah Shree
The ten- sided figure (antar dasara) called Sarva raksha karaka (one that protects all)
consisting ten triangles is the sixth avarana. The ten triangles represent the powers
of the mother goddess who presides over ten vital fires (vanyaha). These represent
the ten specific fires within the body; they  being the fire of :
purgation (Rechak); digestion (Pachak);absorption (Shoshak); burning (Dahak);the
secretion of enzymes (Plavak); acidification (Ksharak); to take out or
excrete (Uddharak); the fires of pessimism and frustration (Kshobhak);the fire of
assimilation (Jrambhak); and, fire of creating luster (Mohak).
The significance of this avarana is explained as protection from all obstacles. The
devotee distances himself from all that hinders his spiritual progress; and he begins
to develop the awareness he is Shiva (the consciousness).
Dikshitar describes the Antar dasara chakra , consisting the inner set of ten
triangles , as endowed with ten aspects; and, glowing like fire (Dasha-kala-atmaka
Vahni SvaroopaPrakaasha-antar-dashaara) . 
These ten vital fires correspond to the ten divinities , also referred to as the Nigarbha
yogini-s, are:  Sarvajna; Sarva-shaktiprada; Sarva-aishvaryapradayini; Sarvajna-
namayi, Sarva-vyadhivinashini; Sarva-dharasvarupa; Sarva-papahara; Sarva-
anandamayi;, Sarva-rakshasvarupini;, and, Sarve-psitaphalaprada 
These ten along with the presiding deity Tripura Malini, reside in the ten-cornered-
figure Antar dasara (Sarvajhnaadi Dasha-shakti-sameta Malini Chakra-eshvaryaah).
Tripura Malini is the goddess of the Chakra Sarvarakshakara (Sarva Rakshaakara
Chakreshvaryaah).
The ten triangles are inscribed with ten consonants beginning with letters of
the Ka and Ca groups (Tridasha-adi-nuta Kachavarga Dvaya Maya). They, again,
represent the powers of the mother goddess who presides over ten vital
fires (vanyaha).
She is the goddess Kaulini, propitiated by ten Mudras . The ten Mudra-s are: Sarva-
samkshobhini; Sarva-vidravini; Sarva-akarshini, Sarva-veshakari; Sarva-anmodini;
Mahankusha; Khecari; Bija, Yoni and Tr-ikhanda
The mudras of the avarana are Mahakusha Mudra (Dasha-mudraa
SamaaraadhitaKaulinyaah). Dikshitar also mentions the yogini of the chakra:
Nigarbha yogini (Nigarbha Yoginyaah). 
Dikshitar describes the Sri Chakra as containing in itself the fifty six alphabets and
also being the very representation of Kundalini (Tri-dashavim-shad-varna Garbhini
Kundalinyaah).
Sri Chakra  has several symbolisms. As per the Tantric idealogy , the Sanskrit
alphabet is regarded the vocal epitome of the universe; and each letter is
transformed into energy when introduced into the chakra. It acquires the character of
a “seed_syllable” , Bijakshara, representing a divine aspect or a retinue divinity. Here
, the Tantra texts explain that the consonants are basically inert and depend on
vowels (just as Shiva depends on Shakthi) to manifest in a meaningful form. It is only
when the germinating power (bija) of the vowels is infused with consonants, the
latter gain meaning. That is the reasons the vowels are Bija aksharas. They transform
ordinary letters into mother like condition (matrika); that is, they impregnate ordinary
letters with meaning and power. The consonants inscribed into Sri Chakra derive
power since they are now in union with Shakthi.
Further, in Tantra, the articulate sound is the basic structure overwhich all our
thoughts, emotions, aspirations and pleasures are woven as fabrics.
As regards Kundalini, it is basically a terminology of the Yoga school. In Tantra the
term has an extended meaning. Tantra regards the creation as an expression of the
universal energy (maha-kundalini); Its representation in the individual is the
kundalini. That Kundalini is the basis for all his intentions, cognitions and actions.
The awakening of Kundalini signals the spiritual progress. It is by means of its
mediating power (mantra-shakthi) , the individual realizes the oneness of
consciousness-energy.
Dikshitar therefore says that the vowels and consonants inscribed into the Sri
Chakra as representations of energy and consciousness.
Dikshitar hides the Raga mudra (Punnagavarali)  in a delightful flight of phrases (Ati-
madhuratara-vaanyaah-Sharvaanyaah-Kalyaanyah-Ramaniya-punnaaga varaali  Vijita
Venyaah Shree)  She whose braided hair excels the beauty of  lovely black bees
swarming around the Punnaga tree.
The Charanam concludes with salutations to the Yogini of the chakra, the ten aspects
of  Nigarbha Yogini, shining brightly like the rays of light (Dashakarana Vrutti
Mareechi Nigarbha Yoginyaah Shree)
7. Seventh Avarana-Ashtara
Shree Kamalaambikaayaam Bhaktim Karomi- Sahana-Thrisra Triputa
[The avarana is asthakona; the Chakra is Sarvarogahara chakra ‘cures all ills’. the Yogini is
Rahasya Yogini; The Mudra is sarva khechari; and the Siddhi is Bhukthi. The mental state
is Manana. The presiding deity is Tripura Siddha. Her vidya is is Hrim Shrim Sauh. The gem
is diamond (Vajra). The time is Lunar month. The Shaktis are the eight, starting with
Vashini. 8 is the dominant number. This avarana corresponds to the forehead (lalata) of the
mother goddess.]
Raakaachandra Vadanaayaam Raajiva-nayanaayaam
Paakaarinuta Charanaayaam Aakaashaadi Kiranaayaam Hrimkaara
Vipina-harinyaam Hrimkaara-Susharirinyaam
Hrimkaara Taru Manjaryaam Hrimkaareshvaryaam Gauryaam
Sharira-traya Vilakshana Sukhatara Svaatmaanu Bhoginyaam
Virinci Harishaana Harihaya Vedita Rahasyayoginyaam
Paraadi Vaagdevataa-rupa-vashinyaadi Vibhaaginyaam
Charaatmaka Sarva-roga-hara Niraamaya Raaja-yoginyaam
Karadhruta Vinaa Vaadinyaam Kamalaanagara Vinodinyaam
Sura-nara-munijana-modinyaam
Guruguha-vara-prasaadinyaam
Eight-cornered figure(ashtara) called Sarva roga hara (the remover of all deceases) is
the seventh avarana. In the eight triangles formed by this figure, eight divinities
presiding over speech reside.They are known as deities of self expression (Vak
Devatha). These include four forms of speech : Para; Pashyanthi;
Madhyama and Vaikhari.
These eight shaktis also rule over basic urges and contradictions in life (dwandwa)
such as  cold (water) and heat (fire); happiness (air) and sorrow( earth); as also the
Desire(akasha-space) and the three Gunas  of  Sattva  (consciousness) , Rajas  (ego)
and Tamas (mind).
The eight Shakthis that are involved here are collectively known as Rahasya
Yoginis are:  Vashini; Kameshi; Medini; Vimala; Aruna; Jayini; Sarveshi; and Kaulini
The significance of this enclosure is its power to eradicate the most basic of
diseases viz. involvement with impure, fleeting existence laden with stress. The
blessed state is attained when the distinctions between the subject, the object and
transactions between them are dissolved.
Hrim is the Bija-mantra (seed-syllable) of this chakra. In the context of Sri
Vidya, hrim is a particularly sacred syllable; it represents the mother goddess
herself. Dikshitar worships the mother as the very embodiment of hrim (Hrimkaara-
Susharirinyaam Hrimkaara Taru Manjaryaam). She is Gauri; she is the presiding deity
of hrim (Hrimkaareshvaryaam Gauryaam).
Dikshitar refers to his tradition (Kadi matha) by invoking the name of one of its gurus
Hayagreeva (Harihaya Vedita). He also refers to the Yogini of the chakra Rahasya
Yogini (Rahasyayoginyaam); and to the letters of the Pa group inscribed in the eight
triangles, representing eight Shakthis (Vasini and others) presiding over the aspect
of speech (Paraadi Vaagdevataa-rupa-vashinyaadi Vibhaaginyaam).
Dikshitar refers to the basic nature of the chakra Sarvarogahara chakra ‘cures all ills’
and calls the mother the Raja Yogini, who cures all kinds of illness ( Charaatmaka
Sarva-roga-hara Niraamaya Raaja-yoginyaam).
The Raga mudra (Sahana) is in the phrase Harishaana; while the composer’s
signature is in  Guruguha-vara-prasaadinyaam.
 8. Eight Avarana –Trikona
Kamalaambike Avaava-Ghanta-Adi
[The Avarana is Trikona; the Chakra is Sarvasiddhiprada chakra, ‘grants all attainments’.
the Yogini is Athi Rahasya Yogini; the Mudra is Sarva Beeja; and the Siddhi is Iccha. The
mental state is Nitidhyasana. The presiding deity is Tripuraamba. Her vidya is is Hsraim
Hsrklim Hsrsauh.. The gem is Gomaya .The time is a ritu- two months. The Shaktis are the
three: Kameshwari, Vajreshwari and Bhagamalini. (4+3=7) is the dominant number. This
avarana corresponds to the top of the head (masthka) of the mother goddess]
Lokapaalini Kapaalini Shoolini Lokajanani Bhagamaalini Shakrudaa
Aalokaya Maam Sarva Siddhipradaayike Tripuraambike Baalaambike
Charanam
Santapta Hema Sannibha Dehe Sadaa-akhandaika-rasa-pravaahe
Santa-apahara Trikona-gehe Sa-kaameshvari Shakti-samuhe
Santatam Mukti Ghantaamani Ghosaayamaana Kavaata-dvaare
Ananta Guruguha Vidite – Karaahnguli Nakhodaya Vishnu Dashaavataare –
Antahkaraneksu Kaarmuka – Shabdaadi Pancha Tanmaatra Vishikhaatyanta
Raagapaasha Dvesa-ankusha Dharakare Atirahasya Yoginipare
The primary triangle with its apex downward (East) and colored white
(Sattva) surrounding immediately around the central point , Bindu , is the eighth
avarana. It is called Sarva Siddhi prada chakra, the one that bestows all
accomplishment. This triangle does not intersect with other triangles; and stands
independent. It is Kama Kala. It is feminine in its aspect; and represents three
fundamental manifestations of the mother goddess: Kameshwari (symbolizing moon
– creation); Vajreshwari (symbolizing sun- preservation); and Bhagamalini
(symbolizing fire -dissolution).
The three angles of the triangle also represent three forms of speech : Pashyanthi,
Madhyama and Vaikhari. The triangle is therefore the speech aspect Vak Bhava.
It also represents the three powers of iccha (will) , jnana (knowledge)
and kriya (activity). The three corners of the triangle stand for three peaks(kuta) of
the fifteen_lettered mantra; or as three dimensions of all existence. The triangle itself
is regarded the abode of the mother goddess (kama-kala).
Dikshitar in divine ecstasy sings the glory of the Mother, the protector of worlds
adorned with garland of skulls and holding a trident. She is Bhagamalini, symbolizing
fire representing Rudra’s power of dissolution. She is also Tripurambika; the
presiding deity of the avarana. She is Balamba. She is the ruler of the
Sarvasiddhiprada chakra :
Lokapaalini Kapaalini Shoolini Lokajanani Bhagamaalini Shakrudaa Aalokaya Maam
Sarva Siddhipradaayike Tripuraambike Baalaambike 
She whose body is glowing like molten gold(Santapta Hema Sannibha Dehe); She
who is the eternal undifferentiated unique bliss(Sadaa-akhandaika-rasa-pravaahe );
She who resides in the enchanting  Trikona chakra (Santa-apahara Trikona-gehe );
and delighting in the company of Kameshwari (symbolizing moon – creation) and
host of  other friends (Sa-kaameshvari Shakti-samuhe).
The eight cornered figure that surrounds the Trikona, suggests five basic elements
of phenomenal existence (tanmatras: earth, water, fire, air and space), symbolized by
five arrows of flowers (pancha bana) which is also the symbol of Kama; passion
(raga) symbolized by the noose (pasha); aversion (dwesha) symbolized by the goad
(ankusha); and mind (manas) symbolized by sugarcane stalk (ikshu danda); all of
which are held by the deity, in the company of the yogini of the avarana , Athi
Rahasya Yogini.
Dikshitar puts the entire thing, beautifully, in just two compact lines:
Antahkaraneksu Kaarmuka – Shabdaadi Pancha Tanmaatra Vishikhaatyanta
Raagapaasha Dvesa-ankusha Dharakare Atirahasya Yoginipare.
The Raga mudra is in Mukti Ghantaamani Ghosaayamaana; while the composer’s
mudra is in Ananta Guruguha Vidite.
9. Ninth Avarana-Bindu
Kamalaambaa Jayati-Ahiri-Rupaka
[The avarana is the Bindu and the Chakra is Sarvanandamaya chakra, ‘ replete with bliss’.
The yogini is parathi para Rahasya; the Mudra is sarva yoni; and the Siddhi is Prapthi. The
mental state is Savikalpa Samadhi. The presiding deity is her Transcendent Majesty Lalita
Maheshwari Mahatripurasundari. Her vidya is Kamaraja vidya : ka e i la hrim ha sa ka ha la
hrim sa ka la hrim, plus a secret 16th syllable. The gem is ruby. The time is year. The Shakti
is Maha Tripura Sundari the personification of Brahman. This avarana corresponds to
Brahma_randra on the top of the head of the mother goddess.]
Pallavi
Shri Kamalaambaa Jayati Ambaa Shri Kamalaambaa Jayati Jagadaambaa
Shri Kamalaambaa Jayati Shringaara Rasa Kadambaa Madambaa
Shri Kamalaambaa Jayati Chidbimbaa Pratibimbendu Bimbaa
Shri Kamalaambaa Jayati Shreepura Bindu Madhyastha
Chintaamani Mandirastha Shivaakaara Manchasthita Shivakaameshaankasthaa
Anupallavi
Sukara-ananaadya-arccita Mahaa-tripura
Sundarim Raajaraajeshvareem
Shreekara Sarva-ananda-maya Chakra-vaasinim Suvaasinim Chintayeham
Divaakara Sheetakirana Paavakaadi Vikaasakarayaa
Bheekara Taapa-traya-adi Bhedana Dhurinatarayaa
Paakaripu Pramukhaadi Praarthita-Sukalebarayaa
Praakatya Paraaparayaa Paalitodayaakarayaa
Charanam
Shrimaatre Namaste Chinmaatre Sevita Ramaa Harisha Vidhaatre
Vaamaadi Shaktipujita Paradevataayaah Sakalam Jaatam
Kaamaadi Dvaadashabhir-upaasita Kaadi Haadi Saadi Mantra-rupinyaah
Premaaspada Shiva Guruguha Jananyaam Pritiyukta Macchittam Vilayatu
Brahmamaya Prakaashini Naamaroopa Vimarshini Kaamakalaa Pradarshini
Saamarasya Nidarshini
This Kriti employs all eight Vibhaktis. The Pallavi is in the nominative case; the first
three lines of the Anu-pallavi are in the accusative case; and, the rest of the Anu-
pallavi is in the instrumental case.
The first line of the Charanam is in the dative case, and, it also incorporates the
vocative (in the word Cinmatre). The consecutive lines are in ablative, genitive and
locative cases.  The last two lines, meant to be sung in the Madhyama-kala, are again
in the nominative case, in order to return to the main Pallavi line.
The Raga Mudra (Ahiri) is slightly altered as “Ahari”; and, it occurs in the
phrase Ramahari.
**

The ninth enclosure is the Bindu. It is called Sarvananda-maya chakra , the

supremely blissful one.  It is independent of the intersecting triangles. This, in a
temple, would be the sanctum sanctorum, with all the other circles or enclosures
representing various parts of the temple as you move inwards.
It is this Bindu that is in reality the Sri Chakra; it represents the mother goddess
Maha Tripura Sundari, Lalitha or Rajarajeshwari herself; and everything else is a
manifestation of her aspects.
The goddess is nothing other than the devotees own self. The self here refers to
individual consciousness (buddhi) which is beyond the body-mind complex. It is
filled with all bliss (sarvananda maya). This constant, abundant bliss is the
expression of the union of Shiva (consciousness) and Shakthi (power of deliberation
Vimarsha). It is the very basis of existence.
The significance of this avarana is the complete harmony (samarasya) of principles
of pure consciousness (Shiva) and the principle of energy as deliberation (vimarsha
shakthi). It signifies a state of non-duality, where all tendencies of approach and
withdrawal become nonexistent, dissolve in a state in which the devotee ultimately
rests. Bliss, in Tantra, is explained as resting in oneself (Svarupa pratishta).
Dikshitar bursts forth into a fountain of divine ecstasy and sings the glory and the
celebration of the Supreme Mother Goddess in highly lyrical and sublime poetry. The
krithi is also rich in Sri Vidya lore.
He describes the Mother as the very personification of the Bindu, the pure
consciousness at the centre of Sri Chakra (Chidbimbaa Pratibimbendu Bimbaa); and
as one who resides as the Bindu, in a mansion of ruby (Chintaamani Mandirastha), at
the heart of the Sri Chakra (Shreepura Bindu Madhyastha).Here the
expression bimbendu, refers to the moon and the point. As per the Tantric ideology
the mother goddess is the moon; and the fifteen phases of the moon are her
individualized aspects, kalas. She resides in the lunar orb.
The phrase Chintamani mandira-sthitha carries with it an elaborate background. The
Devi’s mansion is visualized as situated in a great garden (mahodyana) rich with
many species of trees such as Santana, Kalpaka, Hari-chandana, Parijatha, Bilva etc.
The garden is enclosed by four ramparts made of nine gems. The central hall of her
mansion (prasada) is made of coral (manikya mantapa). Inside this vast enclosure are
three tanks (vapika) of immortality (amrita), of biiss (ananda) and of deliberation
(vimarsha). There is also a grove of lotus flowers (padmatavi). Amidst all these is the
magnificent mansion of the “wish granting jewel” (Chintamani mandira). The mother
goddess resides (sthitha) in this enchanting mansion.
At the entrance of this mansion (Kavaata-dvaare), the bejeweled bells (Ghantaamani)
constantly (Santatam) ring and announce loudly the message of salvation
(Mukti Ghantaamani Ghosaayamaana).
The line “Shivaakaara Manchasthita Shiva-kaamesha-ankasthaa” ordinarily means
that the goddess is sitting on the cot in embrace of Shiva. But, in Sri Vidya, the
imagery of the cot on which the mother goddess rests has a symbolic significance.
The Mother Goddess is imagined to be seated at the Bindu (in her mansion) on a
cot (mancha). The four corners of the Bhupura represent the four legs of the cot. The
four legs are the four principles of the phenomenal world: emanation (shristi-
Brahma); preservation (sthithi-Vishnu); dissolution (upasamhara Rudra);  and 
withdrawal of the entire creation into a very subtle form (Ishvara).The plank
(phalakha), which rests on the four legs of the cot is Shiva; he represents the
principle of reception, retention of the withdrawn phenomena. Such dichotomy of
existence is preserved (anugraha) until the time for re-emanation arrives. This
principle is Sadashiva tattva (the ever auspicious but inert principle of pure
consciousness) ; corpse-like , hence also called Sadashiva-preta .  The Mother
Goddess rests on this plank, the principle, of Shiva. The Mother Lalitha is
surrounded by nine guardian spirits (nava-
shakthi) : vibhuthi (splendor), unnathi (upliftment) , Kaanthi (lustre) , hrsti (satisfacti
on), kirti (celebrity) , shanthi (courtesy ) , vyushti (prosperity ) , utkrshta (excellence) 
and  riddhi  (supremacy or accomplishment).
*

In Tantra, the female is the predominant aspect and the male is subordinate to her.
The plank of the cot is male; and the female rests on that. The cot is inert, and the
Devi is dynamic. Yet, the male provides the female a field to function; and the two
cannot be separated. Sri Chakra demonstrates this principle.
It is explained further, Shiva and Shakthi should not be viewed as mere male or
female principles. They are indeed neither male nor female; nor even neuter. They
represent the unity of consciousness and energy the very basis and the essence of
all Universe.
[The seat of Lalitha or Maha Tripurasundari is Yoga pitha, in the form of red lotus,
impressed with the Sri Chakra design, symbolizing the very heart of the devotee. The
symbolism of this appears to be that Mother goddess worshipped in Sri Chakra is
indeed the universe in all its aspects; and the devotee has to identify this principle in
his body; and again his body too is Sri Chakra and the universe in miniature.]
The presiding deity of the avarana is Maha Tripura Sundari and her chakra is
Sarvanandamaya chakra. Dikshitar meditates on the chakra and the presiding deity
worshipped by Varahi and other attendant deties, the Yoginis (Sukara-ananaadya-
arccita –Mahaatripura –Sundarim Rajaraajeshvareem).
Sri Dikshitar mentions the Sun (Divaakara), the moon (Sheetakirana) and the fire
(Paavaka) as the expansion (Vikaasa) and manifestation of the presiding deity. Here,
he is referring to the view that the central point, the Bindu, is actually composed of
three dots or drops (Bindu traya) representing three fires (vanhi): Moon (soma); Sun
(surya); and Fire (Agni). The Bindu expanding into three three is an act of swelling
(ucchuna); and is the immediate unfolding of the Sri Chakra.
Sri Dikshitar then sings the glory and the powers of the mother worshipped by
Lakshmi, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma and other divinities.
In the line “Kaamaadi – Dvaadashabhir-upaasita Kaadi – Haadi- Saadi – Mantra-
rupinyaah”, Dikshitar is recalling the twelve gurus and the traditions of the Sri Vidya.
The Sri Vidya tradition which centres on the worship of Sri Chakra considers the
following twelve gods and sages as its gurus: Manu, Chandra, Kubera, Lopamudra,
Kama (Manmatha), Agasthya, Nandisha, Surya, Vishnu, Skanda, Shiva and Durvasa.
It is said; each of the twelve gurus propagated a school with regard to the worship
and significance of Sri Chakra. Of these, only two schools have survived to this day;
one is the school started by Manmatha (also called Kamaraja) known as Kadi-matha.
The Kadi tradition was continued by sage Agasthya. The other school is Hadi-matha
started by Lopamudra wife of the Sage Agastya. There is also an obscure third
school called Sadi-matha. Dikshitar belonged to the Kadi Matha School, started by
Kamaraja.
Let my loving mind (chittam) be dissolved (vilayatu) in her, whose beloved (prema) is
Shiva, and who is the mother (jananyaam) of Guruguha.
In the line “Brahmamaya Prakaashini Naamaroopa Vimarshini” Dikshtar touches
upon the core concepts of Sri Vidya. Shiva as consciousness is illumination
(prakasha); and the Kameshwari as the energy to unfold the creation, to evolve, is the
deliberation (vimarsha).The two principles are undistinguished, united and in perfect
harmony at the time of dissolution (pralaya).They however appear distinct at the time
of creation (shristi) and preservation (sthithi).The twin aspects of illumination
(prakasha) and evolution (vimarsha) are the basis of the expanding universe. The
relation between the two is analogues to that of lamp and its light. The rays of lamp
spread in all directions and is responsible for life and its evolution. Shiva is absolute
consciousness (Brahmamaya Prakaashini) and vimarsha the energy flows into the
world of names and forms (Naamaroopa Vimarshini). These two principles come
together again at the time of withdrawal or dissolution.
The phrase “Kaamakalaa Pradarshini “ is again a reference to the concepts of Sri
Vidya. The triangular formation of three dots or drops (Bindu traya) at the centre of
Sri Chakra is rich in symbolism. The triangle is named Kama Kala. One of the
interpretations is that the top dot is shiva and the bottom dots are Shakthi (energy)
and nada (sound).Here, Kama is the union of Shiva (kameshvara) and Shakthi
(Kameshvari): and the concrete manifestation of the two is Kala. This is also referred
to as Nada-bindu-kala.
The other interpretation is that the top dot stands for Kama (primordial desire to
evolve) and the bottom two dots represent the manifestation and eventual
withdrawal.
The concluding phrase “Saamarasya Nidarshini” suggests the complete harmony
(samarasya) of the principle of pure consciousness (Prakasha, Shiva) and the
principle of energy, as evolution or expansion (Vimarsha, Shakthi). It signifies
(nidarshini) a state of non-duality, a state in which the devotee ultimately rests
(Svarupa pratishta).
*

Sri Dikshitar concludes in his auspicious Mangala kriti (Sri Kamalambike-Sri Raga) in

deep devotion, fulfillment and celebration of the Mother’s transcendent powers and
glory- Shri Kamalambike Shive Lalite mam pahi – Oh Kamalambika, gracious and
auspicious one, protect me.
[ Note : The worship of Sri Yantra involves use of ten types of Mudras (Dasa-
mudrani) – the gestures through the fingers – from Sarva-Samkshobhini to Sarva-
Trikhanda . For a discussion on ; and, for the illustration of these Mudras, please
click here.]
Reference:
http://www.ecse.rpi.edu/Homepages/shivkuma/personal/music/kamalambasamrakshatu.pdf
Painting of Sri Rajarajeshwrai by Shilpi Siddanthi Shri Siddalainga Swamy of Mysore

http://carnatica.net/special/features.htm
Other pictures are from Internet
 

14 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 14, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sanskrit, Sri Vidya, Tantra
 

Tags: Kamalamba Navavarana, music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (7 of 8)

14SEP
Kamalamba Navavarana Kritis – Part One
 Sri Kamalamba at Sri Tyagaraja temple, Tiruvarur.
The years he spent at Tiruvavur were richly creative and highly productive for Sri
Muthuswami Dikshitar, the composer. Dikshitar’s creations at Tiruvavur included a
set of sixteen kritis on the various attributes of Ganesha; a set of kritis on Thygaraja
and Nilothpalambika the presiding deities of Tiruvarur shrine; a set of Tiruvarur
Panchalinga kritis; and eleven kritis of Kamalamba Navavarana group.
Dikshitar had developed a fascination for composing a series of kritis on a composite
theme, perhaps in an attempt to explore the various dimensions of the subject. In
some of these, he employed all the eight Vibhaktis, the various cases that delineate a
noun.He also composed a series of kritis in a set of ragas, all ending with the same
suffix (e.g.Gaula). No other composer has attempted so many group kritis in such a
planned, orderly, meticulous fashion.
The most outstanding of such series of compositions is of course the magnificent
Kamalamba Navavarana kritis. They are incomparable compositions and are the
jewels of Carnatic music.These compositions, intellectually sublime steeped in deep
devotion, are a testimony to Dikshtar’s musical genius, his mastery over the Sanskrit
language; and his thorough knowledge of and intense dedication to Sri Vidya, Sri
Chakra and the worship of its avaranas.
Through its graceful lyrics , majestic sweep of ragas and descriptive details rich in
mystical symbolism of Tantra, Mantra, Yoga, Sri Vidya and Advaita ; Dikshitar
virtually threw open the doors to the secret world of Sri Vidya,to all those eager to
approach the Divine Mother through devotion and music.
It is amazing how Dikshitar builds into each of his crisp and well-knit structure of
lyrics, the references to the name of the chakra; the names of its presiding deity,
yoginis, mudras, Siddhis and the gurus of the Kadi tradition of Sri Vidya ;and to the
seed(Beeja) mantras. In addition he manages to insert, as ever, cogently, the name of
the raga and his signature. The Kamalamba Navavarana is a treasure house not
merely to the classical musicians but also to the Sri Vidya upasakas.
Kamala is one of the ten maha_Vidyas, the principle deities of the Shaktha tradition
of Tantra. But, the Sri Kamalamba referred to by Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar in this set
of kritis, is the Supreme Divine Mother herself. The immediate inspiration to Dikshitar
was, of course, Sri Kamalamba (regarded one of the sixty-four Shakthi centers), the
celebrated deity at the famous temple of Sri Tyagaraja and Sri Nilothpalambika in
Tiruvavur.

Interestingly, the temple complex also accommodates the shrines of

Maha_Ganapathi, Subrahmanya, Dakshinamurty and Balamba; all Shakthi deities.
The temple complex has a Pushkarini, a lake, named kamalalaya, the abode of
Kamala.This tank is reffered to by Dikshitar , in his kritis ,  as Kamalalaya thirtha and
the Devi is Kamalalaya thirtha vaibhave. The town of Tiruvarur  is mentioned as
Kamala nagara (e.g. Kamalanagara viharinai) and as Kamala pura(e.g.Kamalapura
sadanam) ; referring to Devi as one who resides in and walks about the town of
Kamalapura/Kamalanagara.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar follows the Smahara krama, the absorption path, of Sri
Chakra puja and proceeds from the outer avarana towards the Bindu in the ninth
avarana at the center of the Sri Chakra. At each avarana, he submits his salutation
and worships the presiding deity, the yogini (secondary deity) and the attendant
siddhis of that avarana; and describes the salient features of the avarana according
to the Kadi School of the Dakshinamurthy tradition of Sri Vidya. It is in effect both
worship and elucidation.
Dikshitar devoted one composition to each of the nine avaranas. In addition, there is
a Dhyana Kriti, a verse in meditation, preceding the set of nine; and a Mangala kriti,
the verse celebrating the auspicious conclusion, at the end. Thus, the Navavarana
composition of Dikshitar, per se, is a set of eleven kritis.
The Dhyana kriti Kamalambike_ashrita_kalpa_lathike is composed in Raga Todi
(Rupaka). The Vaggeyakara Mudra is in  – Guruguhakarane Sadashiva antahkarane
[The Dhyana-kriti in Todi does not bear the customary Raga_mudra, the name of its
Raga.]
The concluding Mangala Kriti – Sri Kamalambike  Shive pahimam, Lalite , Sripathi
Vinute  – is in the auspicious Sri Raga , set to Khanda Eka Taala. The Raga Mudra is
in the opening line as Sri; and, the Vaggeyakara Mudra is the phrase Shankara-
Guruguha-bhaktha vasankari.

Apart from these eleven Kritis; It is customary, as a prelude to Kamalamba

Navavarana group of kritis, to invoke Maha_Ganapathi and Lord Subrahmanya by
singing Shri Mahaganapathivaratu mam (Gaula) followed byBalasubrahmanyam
Bhaje (Surati).
**

Thus , the vocal tradition of the Kamalamba Navavarana has , in all, a set of thirteen
kritis. The core kritis are however the nine relating to nine avaranas of Sri Chakra.
For the core nine kritis sang in worship of the Navavaranas of Sri Chakra, Dikshitar
employed nine different Ragas and eight different Vibhakthis (case endings denoting
the noun) of Sanskrit grammar; and, in addition,  for the ninth avarana kriti he
employs a garland of all the eight Vibhakthis.
As regards the Raga-mudra, a distinctive feature of Dikshitar’s compositions, the
kritis in Anandabhairavi (first avarana), and shankarabharaaam (third avarana)
indicate their Ragas   only partially (the word “Ananda” for the former, and shankara
for the latter). The kambhoji, Sahana, and Ahiri compositions have their Raga mudras
hidden within complex phrases.  In all the other kritis, the Raga mudra is explicit.
The following briefly is representation of the kriti, the Raga, the taala and the
Vibhakthi of the nine kritis:

For the complete text of the Kamalamba Navavarana :

kritis in English Click here ;and for the Sanskrit text please

click here.
There are several theories explaining Dikshitar’s selection of Ragas for these kritis.
Dikshitar was a meticulous person and had a methodical approach to life and to his
works. Dr. R K Srikantan, the celebrated Carnatic musician and scholar, feels that the
Ragas selected for these kritis are stringed together by an underlying scheme that is
at once simple and logical. He observes that the Raga of each kriti flows into the
next, seamlessly with minimum alteration in the structure of its swaras. Here is an
extract from his article:
Sri Dikshitar followed the Venkatamakhin sampradaya – the scheme of classifying
the Ragas – where Bhairavi and Ananda- bhairavi were treated as Upanga – Ragas.
The Ragas adopted by Sri Dikshitar for the nine (Navavarana) Kritis, could broadly be
classified under three main categories: two Mela-karta Ragas (Kalyani and
Shankarabharnam); three Upanga Ragas (Shahana, Bhairavi, Aanda-bhairavi); and
four Bhashanga Ragas (khambhoji, Punagavarali, Ghanta and Ahiri)
The Swara-structure, the sequential change of Ragas was methodical:
Sri Dikshitar has used only four Chakras * – Veda, Netra, Bana and Rudra. This
corresponds to the four types of structures in the Sri-Chakra, viz.:  square
(chaturanga), circle (vyuha), triangle (tri kona) and point (bindu).
The Swara-structure, the sequential change of Ragas was methodical:
1. From Ananda-bhairavi to Kalyani meant a change of Gandhara.
2. From Kalyani to Shankarabharanam meant a only a change of madhyama.
3. From Shankarabharanam to Khamboji meant an addition of a nishada.
4. From khamboji to Bhairavi meant removal of the additional nishada, addition of a
dhaivata and change of gandhara.
5. From Bhairavi to Punnagavarali meant removal of the additional dhavata and
introduction of a rishabha.
6. The next song shows changes in gandhara and dhaivata after the removal of the
additional rishabha.
7. Ghanta indicates addition of Rishabha and dhaivatha with change in gandhara.
8. The last change is extremely complex. It basically indicates addition of gandhara
and nishadha.
[For more on that theme, please check here ]
[* Sri Srikantan is referring to 12 series or Chakras in which the 72 Melakartas are arranged:
The 72 Mēḷakarta ragas are split into 12 groups called Chakrās, with each Chakra
containing 6 ragas. The ragas within the chakra differ only in the dhaivatam and nishadam
notes (D and N). The name of each of the 12 chakras suggests their ordinal number as well.
The twelve Chakras are:
1. Indu (moon, one);
2. Netra (eyes, two);
3. Agni (sacrificial fires, three types: garha-patya, Ahavaniya and Daksina; and Agni has
two other names : Vaishvanara and Jatavedasa);
4. Veda (four Vedas- Rig, Sama, Yajur & Atharvana );
5.Bana (arrows of Manmatha the cupid-five: Aravinda/Asoka/Chuta/Nava-mallika/Nilotpala);
6. Ritu (seasons – six seasons of the year-Vasanta, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharad,
Sisira and Hemanta );
7. Rishi (sages – saptharishi – seven –Gowtama, Viswamitra, Kashyapa, Jamadagni,
Bharadwaja, Atri and Vasishta);
8. Vasu (a group of celestial beings –  asta-vasu. eight – Aapa, Dhruva, Soma, Dava,
Pratyusha, Anila, Anala and Prabhasa));
9. Brahma (reference to the nine cycles of the universe, each presided over by a Brahma
– Nava Brahma- Atri, Angirasa, Brighu, Daksha, Kashyapa, Pulaha, Marichi,
Vasishta and Pulastya);
10. Dishi (ten directions – eight plus above and below – their guardians being : Indra, Agni,
Yama, Niruddhi, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera and Isana ; plus , Akasha and Patala);
11. Rudra (Ekadasha Rudra – eleven forms of Rudra – Aja, Dwasha, Ekapada, Triambake,
Aparajita, Isana, Tribhuvana, Sambhu, Hara, Rudra and Ahirputniya); and
12. Aditya ( a group of twelve celestial beings – Dwadasha Aditya – Poosha, Bhaskara,
Marichi, Arka, Khaga, Surya, Mitra, Aditya, Ravi, Bhanu, Savita and Hiranyagarbha)
**

The Svaras (notes) involved with the four Chakras  referred  to by Sri Srikantan are:
Veda: Sa, Chatusruthi Rishaba, Sadharana Gandhara, Suddha Ma
Netra: Sa, Suddha Rishaba, Sadharana Gandhara, Suddha Ma
Bana: Sa, Chatusruthi Rishaba, Anthara Gandhara, Suddha Ma
Rudra: Sa, Chatusruthi Rishaba, Anthara Gandhara, Prati Ma
For more , please do read Sri S Rajam’s most wonderful illustrations of the 12 Chakras and
their 72 Melakarta-s.
http://www.indian-heritage.org/music/Melakartha%20Raga%20Booklet%20-%20new.pdf ]
As regards the Ahiri, the Raga of the kriti associated with the ninth avarana, there is a
view, the raga has all the twenty-two notes in the octave; and such a fusion of all
melodic and temporal elements in the same kriti is rather unusual especially when
the pallavi has distinctive prose sections put together, seamlessly.
Before we enter a discussion on the Navavarana kritis, let us take a broad look at
their association with the Chakras, the deities, the Yoginis, and Siddhis etc. of the Sri
Chakra.

*
The Kamalamba Navavarana kritis are works of musical and poetic excellence. They
are adorned with sublime music, intellectual sophistication, soulful devotional lyrics
and richly imaginative poetic imagery. Listening to the kritis is a truly rewarding
experience, even if one is not aware of or ignores the underlying connotations of Sri
Chakra and Sri Vidya tradition.
[Please click here for an article covering an overview of the Sri Kamalamba Navavarana
kritis.]
*

The scholarship of Sri Dikshitar as a Vainika has reflected in these compositions

through the Gamakas, Viḷaṃba-kala and Madhyama-kala -Sahitya. His treatment of
the Ragas and use of rare phrases at times bring in an unusual melody and
effulgence to these compositions.
The Kamalamba Kritis ranges from Maṇdra to Tara-Sthayi; and , in the other way too,
presenting a complete picture of the range and scope of the Raga,  bringing out
the Lakshaṇa and grandeur of the Raga, in full measure.
*
As regards the Taala, Sri Dikshitar in this series has employed the Suladi-Sapta-
Taalas, with the exception of Dhruva and Mathya Taalas.
The Taalas used include Rupaka (3 beats); Tisra-Tripuṭa (7 beats); Ata-Taala (14
beats) ; and,  Misra-Jhaṃpa (10 beats).
There appears to be a method or a progression in accordance with the sequential
order of the Avaranas of the Sri Chakra.
The Kalyani Avaraṇa is an enclosure of 16 lotus petals (2 times of Adi Taala).
The third Avaraṇa in Shankarabharaṇa is in Rupaka Taala, consisting of 6 Kriyas (2
times of Rupaka).
The fourth Avaraṇa in Kambhoji is in Aṭa-Taala,  having 14 Kriyas,  representing  the
nature of 14 angles of Chakra.
The fifth Avaraṇa in Bhairavi is set to Jhaṃpa Taala, having 10 Kriyas denoting the
ten angled Chakra.
The sixth Avaraṇa in Puṇnagavarāli set in Rupaka Taala,  has 6 Kriyas according to
its order of Avarana .
The seventh Avaraṇa in Raga Sahana is set in Tisra-Jati-Tripuṭa-Taala; it  being the
seventh one in order.
The eighth Avaraṇa is in Adi Taala referring to 8 Kriyas.
The ninth Avaraṇa in Ahiri is in Tisra-Jati-Eka-Taala,  has 3 Kriyas , although it is 
now being sung in Rupaka with 6 Kriyas highlighting the three elements residing in
the Bindu Chakra.
The choice of the Taalas follows a definite scheme. The Avarana in Anandabhairavi is
also sung with Misra Chapu Taala; because it has the same number of Taala units,
although they differ in the Kriyas. Sri Subbarama Dikshitar, in his Sangita-
Sampradaya-Pradarshini, has remarked that this Avarana could be sung with Misra-
Jati-Eka-Taala , which again has the same  measure of 7 Matras. That is to say; this
Avarana could be sung in three different ways, having either the Triputa, Misra-Eka,
or Misra Chapu ( 3 ½ *2=7 Aksharas) , effecting slight change in Kala-pramana.
*
The Kamalamba-Navavarana-Kṛitis are enriched with rhetorical beauties or the
decorative Angas.
The other aspects observed in the Navavaraṇa-Kritis  are summarised as follows.
Todi is a Raga which generally reflects compassion; and, Sri Dikshitar in the
invocatory composition begins the song with Madhya-Sthayi-Nishada in accordance
with the invocative nature of the song. Another significant description in the
composition is Her sitting posture as ’Vinoda Carane’, which means enchanting feet.
Sri Dikshitar addresses Her as one who enjoys music and one who bestows best
poetic qualities on those who sing in praise of her ‘Sangita-rasike sukavitva
-pradayike’,  suggesting both his music and poetry are due to Her blessings . Sri
Dikshitar addresses the Devi by varied   epithets, such as: ’Tripuradi-chakreshvarī’,
‘Animadi-siddishvarī’, ‘Kshitipura-Trailokya-Mohana-Chakravartinī; and ‘Prakata-
Yoginī’.
The Kalyani Avarana has the word ‘Kamala’ in the Anupallavi has different meanings
with reference to the subsequent word. Kamala in “Kamala-Vani” refers to Lakshmi
and Vani is Sarasvathi; Kamala in “Kamala-pura-sadanā” refers to Tiruvaruru; and ,
the Kamala  in “Kamala- vadanam” refers to lotus-like face.
The ninth Avaraṇa is represented by a Bindu. This is here the Mother Goddess
resides. She being the empress of the entire empire of Sri Chakra, named as Sarva-
anandamaya Chakra, wherein the Maha–Tripura-Sundarī lives with Kameshvari. It has
all Vibhaktis and the lengths of Pallavi, Anupallavi and Caraṇa represent the three
natural equal parts of the Bindu- Moon, Sun and Fire.
The Mangalam Kṛiti is befittingly composed in the Raga Sri set to Khanda-Eka-Taala.
This composition has exquisite descriptions and reflects the immense devotion of Sri
Dikshitar; and, his adherence to Sri Vidya.
[ Source : Melodic Aspects of Kamalāmbā Navāvaraṇa Kṛti-s of Śrī Muttusvāmi Dīkṣita by
Ms. Niranjana Srinivasan]
**

The discussion on each of the Navavarana kritis, with reference to and in the light of
traditions, concepts and lore of Sri Chakra and Sri Vidya, follows in the next page.
 Continued in the Next Part
Kamalamba Navavarana Kritis – Part Two
 

4 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 14, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya, Tantra
 

Tags: Kamalamba Navavarana, music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (6 0f 8)

14SEP
The structure of Sri Chakra 

The basis of Sri Chakra is its mantra; the fifteen lettered mantra in three groups: a e i
la hrim; ha sa ka ha la hrim; sa ka la hrim. The sixteenth letter “srim” is present in a
subtle form. Sri Chakra is basically a triad; and, is also related to number nine (tridha
chaiva navadha chaiva chakra-samketakam punah) . The triangle which is primary to
the chakra has three angles and the deity residing in it is Tripura. The mantra of each
of the nine enclosures of Sri Chakra is three lettered; the Mother Goddess is
worshiped in her three forms; the Kundalini energy in the individual is threefold, and
the phenomenal processes arising out of the union of Shiva and Shakthi are also
three. The Chakra design represents Tripura or Tripura Sundari; while her manifest
powers (yogini) are nine. There are also three dimensions of the Sri-chakra
corresponding to the three sections (kuta) of the mantra; and, each of these
dimensions has a further division into three units. Each of these nine units are called
as chakras that are encased in Sri Chakra.
All its other interpretations are also in terms of three and nine. The three groups that
constitute the mantra are called Kuta (peaks) or Khanda (segments). They are
interpreted variously in sets of three as:
 Agni (fire), Surya (sun) and  Chandra  (moon);
 srishti (creation), Shtithi (preservation) and laya (dissolution) ; 
 Iccha ( will), jnana (knowledge) and kriya (action); 
 Sattva, Rajas and Tamas; Jagrat (wakefulness) ;
  swapna (dream state)  and sushupthi (deep sleep);
 Jnatra (the knower), jnana (the knowledge) and  jneya ( the known) ;
 as Atma (individual self), Antaratma (inner being) and Paramatma (supreme
self); and  also as
 past , present and future.
In general, the Sri Yantra is a ‘cosmogram’ – a graphic representation of the universal
processes of emanation and re-absorption reduced to their essential outline.
The diagram of the Sri Chakra is primarily a Matrix (i.e. womb) of nine interlocking
triangles. Five of these triangles have their apex facing downward. They are

Shakthi trikonas, the triangles representing five forms of feminine energy, Shakthi.
The other four triangles with their apex facing upward are Shiva trikonas
representing the male aspect, Shiva, Consciousness. In Tantra, the feminine is the
active principle; and the male is passive. The Tantra texts mention that Sri Chakra is
produced when five forms of Shakthi and four forms of Shiva unite. The intersection
of these nine triangles creates forty-three triangles. It is customary to regard the
point at the centre also as a triangle. Thus, in effect there are forty-four triangles in
Sri Chakra; and these are arranged in nine enclosures (navavaranas), in groups of
three. 
The intersection of two lines is called Sandhi; and there are 24 such Sandhis. These
intersections have certain significance. The meeting of two lines represents union of
Shiva and Shakthi. 

And, the points where three lines meet are called marma sthanas. There are 18
such marma sthanas.
The meeting of three lines represents explicit harmony between Shiva and Shakthi;
and they are vital spots in the body where the life-energy resides as well as
accumulates. The marma has thus been called the Seat of Life or Jiva-sthana.
   
A total of 43 triangles are created from the overlapping of the nine original triangles.

As regards the Bindu , the dimensionless point at the core of the Sri Chakra Yantra,
the Tantra texts explain  that Bindu is Kameshwara , the ground of the universe; and
the immediate triangle is Kameshwari the mother of universe; the union of purusha
and prakriti. The union of these two is the Sri Chakra, which represents the
entire phenomenal pattern. This is denoted by the secret syllable shrim. In fact, it is
this point, coloured red, which really is the Sri Chakra. Every other detail is an
expansion or a manifestation of its aspects. The mother goddess worshipped in Sri
Chakra is the universe. The devotee has to identify that principle in his body, for his
body is the Sri Chakra or the universe in epitome. He is guided in this endeavour by
the guru who is the representative of Shiva.
The Bindu also represents, at various times, the principles or activities known as
the Pancha Kriya of: Emanation of the cosmos from its primal source; Projection of
creation into the primal void; Preservation of the created universe; Withdrawal of the
creative and preservative energies in cosmic dissolutions; and lastly, Retention of
the withdrawn energy-universe for the next cycle of re-creation. These five activities
are regarded as the five modes of expression of the Universal Mother.
There are several other explanations.
Bindu is regarded a sphere in its own right. The expanded form of the Bindu is the
triangle formed by three points and is called Sarva siddhi prada (the sphere of
fulfilment of all aspirations). It is described as Prakriti (Mother Nature) composed of
three gunas (fundamental fabric of all existence) sattva, rajas and tamas. The Kadi
School explains sattva as that which covers and conceals (aavarana); while the other
two gunas as that which project the world of duality or multiplicity (vikshepa). The
three gods Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver) and Rudra (destroyer) are actually
the representations of these three gunas. They are in turn the three aspects of the
Devi represented as trikona chakra.
It also explained that from Shakthi flashes forth the creative impulse known as nada
(sound), which manifests as Kundalini or the creative urge, in all living beings. Here,
Bindu is Shiva; Bija is Shakthi; and nada is their union. These give rise to the power
of will (icchha shakthi); the power of knowledge (jnana shakthi); and power of action
(kriya shakthi).These in turn give rise to Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma.
Another explanation is, Bindu, also called Sarvanandamaya (all blissful), and
represents the transcendental power (Para Shakthi) and absolute harmony
(saamarasya) between Shiva and Shakthi. This is equivalent to what the Vedanta
calls the Brahman. Owing to the power of the will (icchha shakthi) there comes about
an apparent differentiation of Shakthi from Shiva, expressed in the form of triangle.
Here again, the triangle is the expansion of the Bindu (bindu vikasana).
If the Bindu represents the Para-nada, the triangle represents the Pashyanti, the
second stage of the sound, nada. The enclosure next to this, the eight sided figure
(ashta kona chakra) is the Madhyama or the third stage in the development of sound.
The rest of the Chakra represents the physical or the phenomenal stage, the Vaikhari,
which is the manifest and articulate form of sound. The Vaikhari form is represented
by the fifty letters of the alphabet, called matrikas or the source of all transactions
and existence.
The sixteen vowels (from aa) constitute the lunar sphere (Chandra mandala), the
twenty-four consonants (from ka to tha) the solar sphere (Surya mandala); and the
remaining ten consonants (from ma to ksha) the sphere of fire (Agni mandala). Thus,
the triangle is also known as tri kuta, tri khanda and tri mandala.
Bindu is identified with Shiva and trikona with Shakthi. The process of evolution
(shristi) or the apparent separation of Shiva and Shakthi is referred to as adi-
dwandwa. The evolution from the primary state into the mundane level is regarded as
a descent, avarohana krama; whereas the withdrawal from the gross to the very
subtle state is termed Samhara krama.  Here the devotee moves into higher spiritual
levels; and therefore it is termed arohana krama. It is a gradual process.
The significance of the triangle is explained thus:
The name of the goddess is Tripura; and number three is important in approaching
her. She is of the nature of the sun, the moon and the fire. She is masculine, feminine
and neuter. Her form is red, white and the mixture of the two. Her mantra has three
letters (hrim, klim, sauh); and from this mantra three segments of time – past, present
and future – emerge. From this mantra too emerge the realms, three Vedas, three
states of existence ( waking, dreaming and sleeping) and three gods Brahma, Vishnu
and Shiva.

All these geometric designs are contained within Sri Chakra, arranged in nine
enclosures or nava-avaranas.They are also termed as nine chakras. Each of this has
its name, a characteristic physical form and a spiritual significance. Each has its
colour suggesting its tendencies. Each Chakra has its presiding deity (chakreshwari
or Chakra nayika); and she is a variant form of the mother goddess abiding at the
Bindu. The Chareshwari rules over her set of attendant divinities; such as Yoginis
who aid the devotee on in his spiritual progress, and the Mudra Devatas, seal-
divinities, who welcome, purify and delight the devotee.
The yoginis have a special role in Sri Chakra worship. They make explicit the union
of the male and female aspects of the Sri Chakra in each of its enclosures. They are
in fact, the symbols of urges, aspirations, inhibitions, limitations, obstructions and
powers active in each individual. The yoginis aid the devotees, but derive their power
from the mother goddess.
Sri Chakra is verily the body of the mother goddess, who resides as energy in the
universe and as pure consciousness in the individual. The nine enclosures
symbolize in a graded series the significance of the universal and individual; the
ideological and ritual; expressive and contemplative; and the in inner and outer
aspects of Sri Chakra.
The outer group of chakras (1, 2 and 3) symbolizes extension or shristi. They
represent Shiva aspect of the chakra. The middle group (4, 5 and 6) symbolizes the
preservation or sthithi. They represent Shakthi aspect of the chakra. The inner group
(7, 8 and the Bindu) symbolize absorption or samhara. The Bindu represents the
transcendental aspect of mother goddess. The other two avaranas (7and 8) are also
Shakthi aspects.
The nine chakras are interpreted in terms of Time (kaala), the five elements that
compose all things (Pancha-Bhuthas); and three states of awareness-wakefulness,
dream and deep sleep.
The nine chakras are also interpreted as corresponding to parts in human body.

No
. Chakra Corresponding to part of human body
First line: feet; Second line: knees; and third line :
01 Bhupura thighs
Triple girdle Mid portion of the body
Shoidasha-dala
02 padma Region below navel and  up to penis region ; kati
03 Ashta-dala padma Navel region – nabhi
04 Chaturdasha Abdominal region-kukshi
05 Bahir -dasha Neck-kantha
06 Antar-dasha Region between eye brows- bhru-madhya
07 Ashtara Forehead-lalata
08 Trikona Top of the head- masthaka
 Opening on the crown of the head leading to Sahasra
09 Bindu Dala padma (Brahma randra)
The nine avaranas are again recognized as chakras said to be situated along the
central channel or the Shushumna nadi.

No. Avarana in Sri Chakra Nadi-chakra

01 Bhupura Muladhara
02 Shoidasha dala padma Svadhistana
03 Ashta-dala padma Manipura
04 Chaturdasha Anahatha
05 Bahir _dasha Vishuddha
06 Antar-dasha Ajna
07 Ashtara Manasa-chakra
08 Trikona Soma-chakra
09 Bindu Sahasra Padma

The nine avaranas, enclosures that compose Sri Chakra are briefly as under. These
are described in the order of absorption (Samhara-krama) according to
Dakshinamurthy tradition. It starts with the outermost enclosure-Bhupura- and leads
to Bindu, the central point.
1. Bhupura also called Trilokya –mohana-chakra (Deluder of the Realms) , is the four-
sided enclosing wall. The three lokas being three levels of experience:  attainments,
obstructions and powers. They are also related to the body- mind complex of the
devotee.
A tantra design is always enclosed within an outer wall serving as a protective cover.
As the devotee enters into the Mandala he leaves behind the normal worldly
distractions and conflicts; and emigrates into a world of symbols and visualizations.
A Mandala is thus a mansion of gods and goddesses, a symbol of a higher form of
existence.

   

There are actually six gateways to the fort Sri Yantra, if we take a three-dimensional
view of it; the four obvious dwaras and those ‘above’ and ‘below’. The Eastern gate is
the way of the mantras. The Southern gate is the way of devotion or bhakti. The
Western gate is for the performance of rites and rituals, or karma-kanda. The
Northern gate is the way of wisdom, or Jnana. The gate ‘below’ is the ‘path of words’
while the gate ‘above’ is the way or ‘road of liberation’. These are located at the
Southern and Northern gate, respectively, i.e. ‘above’ is north, ‘below’ is south. Each
of these gates also stands for one of the six primary chakras in the body.

The Bhupura Chakra, the earth stretch, includes within its spatial
scope the entire design even as the earth supports the entire existence. Bhupura is a
Shiva aspect and is made up of three lines or ramparts. The first (outermost) line is
identified with the attainments of yoga powers called Siddhis. They are needed for
self-protection along the inward journey. Such Siddhis are eight in number; and are
attained consequent on gaining control over the elements and the mind.
The second or the middle line represents the powers of eight mother-like
divinities Mathrika who rule over emotions such as passionate longing (Brahmi),
violent anger (Maheshwari), avarice (kaumari) obstinacy (Varahi) etc
The third (inner) line of the square is identified with ten feminine deties, Mudra
devathas, carrying seals of authority. The mudras are an approach to the divinities.
These could be gross (sthula) being body postures and gestures by hand; subtle
(sukshma) by way of seed-mantras; and para transcendental that is mental or
intuitional approach.
These three lines are also taken to represent the Mother goddess; the outermost line
corresponds to her feet; the middle line to her thighs; and the inner line to her knees.
There are also three concentric circles (trivritta) representing three objectives of life:
Dharma, Artha and Kama.
The avarana is Bhoopura and the Chakra is Trailokyamohana chakra ‘enchants the
three worlds’. The yogini is Prakata; Mudra is Sarva Somkshibhni; Siddhi is Anima;
and the mental state of the aspirant is Jagrata. The presiding deity is Tripura. Her
Vidya is Am Am Sauh.The gem is topaz. The time is 24 minutes and the Shaktis are
28 that include the ten starting with Anima, the eight starting with Brahmya and the
ten Mudra Saktis. 28 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the feet of the mother goddess.
2. The sixteen petalled lotus (shodasha dala padma) called sarva asha paripuraka
chakra, the fulfiller of all desires, is the second enclosure. In the sixteen   petals, the
sixteen vowels of Sanskrit alphabet is inscribed. These symbolize sixteen kalas or
aspects or phases. They are also called nithyas and
named Kamakarshini (fascinating the desires), Budhyakarshini (fascinating the
intellect) etc. These relate to powers in the Five Elements, the ten senses of
perception or Indriyas (being further divided into five organs of action and five sense
organs) and the Mind.

The significance of this enclosure is explained as self-protection

(atma raksha) of the devotee. Since frustrated desire is the strongest obstacle to
spiritual progress, the next stage is wisely concerned with satisfying them. Only he
who has experienced can renounce. The values of virtue, wealth and pleasure are
granted at this stage.
The craving Asha springs from discontent; and is quenched when discontent is
eliminated. That is possible when devotee identifies himself with Shiva, ever
complete and ever content.
This is achieved by the cultivation or strengthening of power over mind, ego, sound,
touch, sight, taste, smell, intellect, steadiness, memory, name, growth, ethereal body,
revivification, and physical body.
The avarana is Shodasa Dala, and the Chakra is Sarvasaparipuraka chakra ‘fulfils all
expectations’; the yogini is Gupta Yogini; Mudra is Sarva Vidravini; the Siddhi is
Laghima; and the mental state is Swapna, The presiding deity is Tripureshi. Her
vidya is Aim Klim Sauh.The gem is sapphire. The time is three hours.  The Shaktis
are the sixteen starting with Kamakarshini. 16 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the Savdhistana chakra of the mother goddess.
3. Eight petalled lotus (astha dala padma) called Sarva-samkhobhana –Chakra the
agitator of all, is the third avarana. Each petal has a consonant inscribed within it that
begins with ‘Ka‘  The petals represent eight divinities associated with erotic urges ,
independent of  physical body(ananga).These relate to mental
pleasures derived through five organs and through the modalities of mind:
rejection(repulsion or withdrawal), acceptance (attention or attachment) and
indifference(detachment).
This enclosure represents the last of the first group of the chakras that
symbolizes Shrusti or emanation.
The avarana is ashta dala; The Chakra is Sarva-samkshobana chakra ‘agitates all’.
The Yogini is Gupta- Tara; Mudra is Sarvakarshini; the Siddhi is Mahima; and the
mental state is Shushupti. The Presiding deity is Tripura Sundari. Her vidya is Hrim
Klim Sauh. The gem is cat’s eye. The time is day and night. The Shaktis are the eight
starting with Ananga Kusuma. 8 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the navel region of mother goddess.
4. Fourteen triangles (chaturdasha trikona) called sarva sowbhagya dayaka; the
bestower of all prosperity is the fourth enclosure. This is in the form of a complex
figure made up of fourteen triangles. The fourteen triangles are inscribed with
fourteen consonants beginning with ka and ending with dha. The fourteen corners
represent fourteen powers of mother goddess. These are said to preside over
fourteen principle channels of vital forces in human body (naadis) corresponding
with fourteen powers Sarva -Samkshobhini and others.
They are also related to the seat of Shaktis who represent: the Mind (Manas), the
Intellect (Buddhi), Being (Chitta), the Conscious Ego (Ahamkara) and the ten Indriyas.

This enclosure refers to the channels of life currents in the human

body (prana) and their identity with the aspects of Sri Chakra. The explanation given
in Tantra texts is that the breathing in human body is influenced by five elements
present in the body; and in turn those five elements are influenced by the manner we
breathe. Normally, we breathe 360 times in a unit of time called nadika (equivalent to
24 minutes). A day (dina) consists 60 such nadikas. Therefore, in a day (24 hours) we
breathe 21,600 times. The collection of all breathes is mother goddess herself. This is
called nadi-chakra, the organization of winds within the body. The distribution of
breathes among the body centres are as follows:
 Chakra Number of Breathes Time taken Hrs-mins-sec
Muladhara 0,600 00-40-00
Svadhistana 6,000 06-40-00
Manipura 6,000 06-40-00
Anahata 6,000 06-40-00
Vishuddha 1,000 01-06-40
Ajna 1,000 01-06-40
Sahasra 1,000 01-06-40
Total 21,600 24-00-00
The navel is the central point for distribution of all breathes and life forces moving
along the channels. Normally breath alternates between the ida channel reaching the
left nostril and pingala the channel reaching the right nostril. The former is moon
principle and cools the body; and the latter is sun principle warms the body. The two
meet at muladhara, close to kundalini. Around this central channel is a network of
72,000 channels of which the more important are the 14 mentioned earlier in this
paragraph. These are referred also as 14 divinities. In this avarana the number 14 is
dominant.
Sri Chakra is also described as the diagrammatic representation of the cycle of time
(kaala chakra) and of the chakras in human system.
The Avarana is Chaturdasara; the Chakra is Sarva soubhagya dayaka chakra, ‘grants
excellence’. The Yogini is Sampradaya Yogini; the Mudra is Sarva Shankari; the
Siddhi is Ishitva. The mental state is Iswara Vichara. The presiding deity is Tripura
Vasini. Her vidya is Haim Hklim Hsauh.The gem is coral. The time is day and night.
The Shaktis are the fourteen starting with Samkshobhini.14 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the heart of mother goddess.
5. Ten-sided figure (bahir-dasara) called Sarvartha Sadhaka chakra (accomplisher of
all objects) consisting ten triangles, is the fifth avarana. It is named “the outer ten
cornered figure” (bahir dasara) in order to distinguish it from a similar figure
enclosed within it.

The ten triangles in this avarana house ten auspicious deties ,

such as Sarva siddhi prada, Sarva sampath prada, Sarva priyamkari, Sarva mangala
karini and so on. The five of the triangles are inscribed with consonants beginning
with Ka; and the other five triangles are inscribed with consonants beginning with
Cha..These represent ten powers of mother goddess who presides over ten vital
forces pranas active in the body. The idea of vayu the winds or vital currents is
fundamental to the concept of channels.
The vital currents are divided into two groups: prana- panchaka andnaga-panchaka.
The first group consist:  prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana vayus. These are
responsible for body functions such as respiration, blood circulation, digestion,
voice and separation of nutrients from food etc.
The second group consists vital currents such as naga, kurma, krkara,
devadatta and dhananjaya. These are involved in body movement like belching,
yawning movement of eyelids, causing various sounds in the body. The Dhanajaya
vayu, it is said, is the last to leave the body at its death. In this avarana the number
ten is dominant.
The Avarana is Bahirdasara; the Chakra is Sarvarthasadhakachakra, the
‘accomplisher of all’. The Yogini is Kulotteerna yogini;; the Mudra is Sarvonmadini;
and the Siddhi is Vashitva. The mental state is Guroopa Sadanam. The presiding
deity is Tripura Shri. Her vidya is is Haim Hklim Hsauh.The gem is pearl. The time is
lunar day. The Shaktis are the ten starting with Sarva Siddhi Prada.10 is the
dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the neck of mother goddess.
6. Ten sided figure (antar dasara) called Sarva raksha karaka (one that protects all)
consisting ten triangles is the sixth avarana. It is named antar dasara, the inner ten
cornered figure, since it is placed within a similar ten cornered figure, mentioned
earlier.

The ten triangles are inscribed with ten consonants beginning

with the five of Tha and the five of Tta group. They represent the powers of the
mother goddess who presides over ten vital fires (vanyaha).These represent the ten
specific fires within the body; being the fire of purgation (Rechak), digestion
(Pachak), absorption (Shoshak), burning (Dahak), the secretion of enzymes (Plavak),
acidification (Ksharak), to take out or excrete (Uddharak), the fires of pessimism and
frustration (Kshobhak), the fire of assimilation (Jrambhak) and creating lustre
(Mohak).
This enclosure is the third of the second group of chakras representing Preservation.
The advent of inner realization begins here. The significance of this avarana is
explained as protection from all obstacles. The devotee distances himself from all
that hinders his spiritual progress; and he begins to develop an awareness he is
Shiva ( the consciousness).
The Avarana is Antardasara; the Chakra is Sarvaraksakara chakra ‘protects all’. The
Yogini is Nigarbha Yogini; the Mudra is Sarva mahankusha; and the Siddhi is
Prakamya. The mental state is Upadesa. The presiding deity is Tripura Malini. Her
vidya is is Hrim Klim Blem.The gem is emerald. The time is Lunar Fortnight. The
Shaktis are the ten starting with Sarvagnya.10 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the middle of the eyebrows (bhrukuti) of the mother
goddess.
7. Eight-cornered figure (ashtara) called Sarva roga hara (the remover of all
deceases) is the seventh avarana. In the eight triangles formed by this figure, eight
divinities presiding over speech reside. Between them they cover all the alphabets in
Sanskrit grammar. These shakthis also rule over contradictions in life (dwandwa)
such as  cold(water) and heat(fire); happiness(air) and sorrow( earth);  as also the
Desire(akasha-space) and the three gunas  of Sattvas (consciousness), Rajas(ego)
and Tamas(mind).

The significance of this enclosure is its power to eradicate the

most basic disease viz. involvement with impure, fleeting existence that is laden with
stress. The blessed state is attained when the distinctions between the subject, the
object and transactions between them are dissolved.
The avarana is asthakona; the Chakra is Sarvarogahara chakra ‘cures all ills’. The
Yogini is Rahasya Yogini; the Mudra is sarva khechari; and the Siddhi is Bhukthi.
The mental state is Manana. The presiding deity is Tripura Siddha. Her vidya is is
Hrim Shrim Sauh.The gem is diamond (Vajra).The time is Lunar month. The Shaktis
are the eight, starting with Vashini. 8 is the dominant number.
This avarana corresponds to the forehead (lalata) of the mother goddess.
The Four Weapons
In between the mandalas of eight triangles and the central triangles are the four
weapons — flowery bow, flowery arrows, noose (pasha) and goad (ankusha). They
are red in colour. They are the weapons of both the mother goddess as Kameshwari
and also of Shiva as Kameshwara.
8. The primary triangle with its apex downward (East) and coloured white (Sattva)
surrounding immediately around the central point, Bindu, is the eighth avarana. It is
called Sarva Siddhi prada chakra, the one that bestows all accomplishment. This
triangle does not intersect with other triangles; and stands independent. It is Kama
Kala. It is feminine in its aspect; and represents three fundamental manifestations of
the mother goddess: Kameshwari (symbolizing moon – creation); Vajreshwari
(symbolizing sun- preservation); and Bhagamalini (symbolizing fire -dissolution).

The three angles of the triangle also represent three forms of

speech: Pashyanthi, Madhyama and Vaikhari. The triangle is therefore the speech
aspect Vak Bhava.
It also represents the three powers of iccha (will) , jnana (knowledge) and
kriya(activity).The three corners of the triangle stand for three peaks(kuta) of the
fifteen-lettered mantra; or as three dimensions of all existence. The triangle itself is
regarded the abode of the mother goddess (kama-kala).
The Avarana is Trikona; the Chakra is Sarva-siddhi-prada chakra, ‘grants all
attainments’. The Yogini is Athi Rahasya Yogini; the Mudra is Sarva Beeja; and the
Siddhi is Iccha. The mental state is Nitidhyasana. The presiding deity is Tripuraamba.
Her vidya is is Hsraim Hsrklim Hsrsauh..The gem is Gomaya .The time is a ritu- two
months. The Shaktis are the three starting with Kameshwari. (4+3=7) is the dominant
number.
This avarana corresponds to the top of the head (masthka) of the mother goddess.
9. The ninth enclosure is strictly not an enclosure. It is the central dimensionless
point, the Bindu. It is called Sarvananda-maya chakra, the supremely blissful one.  It
is independent of the intersecting triangles. It is coloured red. This, in a temple,
would be the sanctum sanctorum, with all the other circles or enclosures
representing various parts of the temple as you move inwards.

It is this Bindu that is in reality the Sri Chakra; it represents the

mother goddess Maha Tripura Sundari, Lalitha or Rajarajeshwari herself; and
everything else is a manifestation of her aspects.
The goddess is nothing other than the devotees own self. The self here does not
refer to jiva, engaged in organizing the body, mind and senses. The self here refers to
individual consciousness (buddhi) which is beyond the body-mind complex. It is
filled with all bliss (sarvananda maya). This constant, abundant bliss is the
expression of the union of Shiva (consciousness) and Shakthi (power of
deliberation Vimarsha). It is the very basis of existence. It is called
beautiful, sundara, in this sense. It is in this sense the supreme mother goddess is
called Maha Tripurasundari.
The significance of this avarana is the complete harmony (samarasya) of principles
of pure consciousness (Shiva) and the principle of energy as deliberation (vimarsha
shakthi).It signifies a state of non-duality, where all tendencies of approach and
withdrawal become nonexistent, dissolve in a state in which the devotee ultimately
rests. Bliss, in Tantra, is explained as resting in oneself (Svarupa pratishta).
There is also a school which propounds that the central point is composed of three
dots or drops(Bindu traya) representing three fires(vanhi): Moon(soma);Sun(surya);
and Fire(Agni).The top dot symbolizes the head of the deity; and the pair of dots at
the bottom symbolize the breasts of the Mother. It is explained that the central point
expanding into the three is an act of swelling (ucchuna); and that is how the central
point becomes the primary triangle in Sri Chakra.
The avarana is the Bindu and the Chakra is Sarvanandamaya chakra, ‘replete with
bliss’. The yogini is parathi para Rahasya; the Mudra is sarva yoni; and the Siddhi is
Prapthi. The mental state is Savikalpa Samadhi. The presiding deity is her
Transcendent Majesty Lalita Maheshvari Mahatripurasundari. Her vidya is Kamaraja
vidya: ka e i la hrim ha sa ka ha la hrim sa ka la hrim, plus a secret 16th syllable. The
gem is ruby. The time is year. The Shakti is Maha Tripura Sundari the personification
of Brahman.
This avarana corresponds to Brahma-randra on the top of the head of the mother
goddess.

Travelling from the outer periphery wall to the inner bindu is an ascent through
various levels of consciousness and mystical significance, overcoming myriad
obstacles of conditioning and fears along the way. As he proceeds inward from the
outermost enclosure the devotee’s thoughts are gradually refined; and the
association of ideas is gradually freed from the constraints of conventional reality.
The Devi is felt or visualized in his heart and then drawn out through the breath and
installed in the yantra. She is then worshipped as actually residing there. The true
home of Devi is however in his heart .The devotee identifies himself with the Devi and
goes through the worship guided by the symbolism. Whatever be the details, the
symbolism involved is important in the external worship  (baahya pooja); and more
so in internal worship ( Antahpooja- contemplation on the import of the
chakra).In baahya pooja, the sadhaka or the practitioner worships the deity with a
feeling that he and the Goddess are two different entities ; and , for fulfilling a desire
or kaamyasaadhana . The Antahpooja is sublime seeking identity with the Goddess. 
For more on this , please click here 
Sri Chakra is also a construct of space and time, just as the universe is a space time
continuum. The way of the universe is continuous and constant change. That
change, in a relative existence, is measured by the phases of moon. Mother goddess
is the principle of time; she is kala or nitya. The Sri Chakra also puts forth the
interdependence of time and space. The devotee views the evolution of the universe
as the unfolding of a changeless reality of Mother Goddess.

The Sri Chakra represents the interplay of the purusha and prakriti; the universe and
its energy. The union of the Devi (energy) and Shiva (consciousness) worshipped in
Sri Chakra is the universe and its evolution. The universe is thus stylized into a
pattern of energies, symbolized by the patterns and layout of Sri Chakra. It provides a
model to the individual for transformation. The consciousness of the individual finds
in it an articulation; and the model helps in breaking the barriers of subjective
feelings and limitations of the objective world. The devotee identifies that his body is
the Sri Chakra or the universe in epitome; and that The Yantra too is the Devi. The
aim is to realize that oneness, the bliss of pure consciousness.
 Continued in the Next Part
Kamalamba Navavara kritis –Part One
Reference;
The Tantra of Sri Chakra by Prof.SK Ramachandra Rao(1953)
Lalita Tripurasundari, the Red Goddess
http://www.shivashakti.com/tripura.htm
Sri Yantra – the Significance and Symbolism of its design
http://www.sriyantraresearch.com/
http://www.sriyantraresearch.com/Optimal/optimal_sri_yantra.htm
Sri Yantra Definition
http://www.sriyantraresearch.com/Definition/sri_yantra_definition.htm
Hymns of Sri Chakra
http://www.bhagavadgitausa.com.cnchost.com/HYMNS%20OF%20SANKARA.htm
 

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Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 14, 2012 in Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sanskrit, Sri Vidya, Tantra
 

Tags: Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya, Sri Yantra, Tantra

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (5 0f 8)

14SEP
Sri Chakra and Sri Vidya
According to Tantric texts, the Chakra, Mandala or Yantra is a sphere of influence
and a consecrated environment. It is an instrument to harmonize feelings; and also to
coordinate inner and outer forces.
The term Yantra is derived from the root yam suggesting a sense of control (say, as
in niyantra to control), giving raise to the meaning of an instrument that can control
or be controlled. In that sense, the body is a yantra. The other term tra is from the
root word trayati, that which liberates. Yantra is that which controls and liberates. It
draws towards the centre as also takes away from the centre of all reality.
The basic energies of the universe, which are idealized as the deities, can be
approached through a mental creative process, that is, through words or through
created forms. The Deities are therefore represented both in words and forms.
There are different degrees of abstraction. We can represent a deity through the
description of its characteristics in words, or sounds, that is, mantras. Similarly, we
can represent a deity through diagrams, geometrical abstractions   or patterns, the
yantra. The representation of a deity through mantra or yantra is considered more
subtle than through an image.
Yantras are the visual equivalents of the mantras. The yantra has the mantra as its
soul; and the deity is the soul of the mantra. The difference between the mantra and
the deity is the difference between the body and the soul. The deity is invoked by
drawing its yantra and calling its subtle name (bija akshara).
All the elementary geometric figures –lines, triangles, crosses, and point (bindu) –
have a symbolic value corresponding to their basic notions. They can be combined
to form complex figures to give expression to forces, the inner aspects and qualities
embodied in a given form of creation. It is said, there no shape, no form which may
not be reduced to yantra patterns. Every shape, every leaf, every flower is a yantra,
which through its shape, colour, formation, perfume can tell the story of its creation.

Yantras which are drawn on flat surfaces are basically conceived as solid forms. The
drawing is a mere suggestion of its three dimensional aspects of the yantra. And, the
yantra is itself a static image of the moving, living combination of forces represented
in a divinity.
  

A Yantra is structured in three levels, of spaces(i) the level of physical world of

beings and things (mahakasha); (ii) the level of thoughts and feelings (Chittakasha);
and (iii) the level of pure, undifferentiated consciousness (Chidakasha).
The first level is predominantly inert , Tamas; while the second level is active and
emotional, Rajas. The third level is of light and pure awareness Sattva.
A Yantra is a means to progress from the gross to the subtle, sukshma.
To put it in another way, Yantra is an instrument to transform matter into energy ;
and, the energy into consciousness. In the final analysis, the walls separating the
objective world, the subjective person and the Universal consciousness break down;
and, it is all One at the end. This complete harmony of existence is symbolized
by Bindu; a dimensionless point at the center of the Yantra or Chakra.
In fact, chakra is regarded the expansion or the evolution of that Bindu. The Bindu ,
in turn, is epitome or the microcosm of the Chakra. The Yantra facilitates the
movement of consciousness from the concrete form of Chakra to the abstract Bindu.
It also enables movement from the abstract Bindu to the form of Chakra. A Yantra , in
essence,  is a map of the universe in its emanation and absorption.
Sri Chakra Yantra is regarded the supreme Yantra; the Yantra Raja, the king of
Yantras. It is the Yantra of the Shaktha school of Tantra. It is also variously regarded
as the visual representation of the city, mansion, island or the body of the Mother
Goddess Devi, Tripurasundari, Lalitha, Rajarajeshwari and Parabhattarika, the
supreme controller. The design also stands for this divinity’s court with all her
attendant aids, guards, pavilions, enclosures and entrances. The principal divinity is
regarded as being at the center, the Bindu at the heart of the Chakra.

The prefix Sri denotes that the Yantra is auspicious, beneficent, salutary, benign and
conducive to prosperity. Sri is Lakshmi, the goddess of beauty and prosperity. Sri is
also the Mother Goddess who rules the universe (tvam sris tvam ishvari).She is
called Mother, because all living beings depend upon her for being, for happiness for
fulfillment of their destiny (sriyete sarvair iti sriah). Sri Chakra is a representation of
the interplay of the principles of pure consciousness (Shiva) and primordial power
(Shakthi). Sri Chakra represents the essential aspects of the universe ;and also of the
constitution of the devotee’s body-mind complex.
The concept and worship of Sri Chakra is relevant in the context of an esoteric
discipline known as Sri Vidya.
Sri Vidya is hailed as the Vidya of Sri (the knowledge that leads to the ultimate
benefit mukthi – liberation), she therefore is the highest divinity. Sri Vidya is also the
Vidya that yields Sri (prosperity). Sri Vidya is thus Bhukthi Mukthi prada the
bestower of well-being, prosperity and liberation. Sri Vidya is the path and also the
goal.
The term Vidya usually stands for knowledge, learning, discipline and a system of
thought. But, in the context of Tantra, it has an extended meaning. Here, it variously
refers to a female deity, to the personification of her consciousness; or to the
manifestation of her power.Each of these vidyas has a characteristic form and
particular dhyana, mantra, kavacha and other  worship details .
Devi Durga is described as the Vidya in all beings (Ya Devi sarvabhutheshu, Vidya
rupena samsthita); and , the form of her Vidya is the primordial energy Adi prakrithi.
The Tantra texts classify ten divinities into three levels of Vidyas:
(1) Maha_vidya, the extraordinary Vidyas, consisting Kali and Tara. The worship of
these divinities requires great rigor, austerity, devotion, persistence and a sort of
detachment. The practice of Maha_vidya is very difficult and filled with risks and
dangers ;
(2) Vidya, the normal Vidyas consist deities Shodashi (or Tripura), Bhuvaneshwari,
Bhiravi, Chinmastha and Dhumavathi. The practice of this class of Vidya is
considered safe and suitable for householders;
and
(3) Siddha Vidya, the Vidya for adepts involves deities Kamalaa, Matangi and
Bhagalamukhi. This class is not for normal persons as it involves rituals that cannot
be practiced normally.
Shodashi is the first among the Vidyas in the middle group; she is otherwise known
as Sri Vidya. Shodashi literally meaning “a girl of sixteen” , is identified with deities
Lalitha, Raja_rajeshwari, Sundari, Kameshwari and Bala. Lalitha is the playful one; all
creation, manifestation and dissolution is her play. She is Mahatripura Sundari the
most magnificent transcendental beauty without a parallel in all the three worlds. She
is the conqueror of three levels of existence.
The Tantra texts however explain that the Vidya is called Shodashi because the
mantra of the Vidya is made up of sixteen seed-syllables (bija akshara). There is
another school (Kadi Vidya) which says the mantra consists fifteen visible syllables
(ka e i la hrim; ha sa ka ha la hrim; sa ka la hrim). It is explained that ka represents
the air; ha the fire; sa the water; la the earth; and, e the space. The fifteen syllables
are: one of space, two of air; three of fire; four of water; and five of earth. The
sixteenth letter is “srim” in subtle form. The mantra then becomes Shodashi, the
sixteen lettered.
The fifteen lettered (panch-dasha-akshari) mantra  is  considered the verbal form of
the Devi. But, it is implicit or hidden. It is only when the sixteenth syllable ‘Srim’ is
included; the mantra becomes explicit or becomes visible. Srim is regarded the
original or the own form of the Mother Goddess. And, with the sixteenth syllable
(Srim) the She comes to be celebrated as Sri-vidya.  And, the mantra itself becomes
the body of the Mother Goddess. She manifests the un-manifest. She is Prakrti. The
auspicious Sri (Srim) is thus revered as Saguna Brahman,  the sa-kara approach to
the absolute principle of the Devi. 
The mantra (fifteen or sixteen letters) is , thus, an expression of Sri Vidya. The verbal
expression (nada or sound) of the Vidya is mantra ; and, its visual expression is the
Sri Chakra Yantra. The two are essentially the same. Both seek identity of
consciousness with Maha Tripura Sundari.
Ka is the first letter in the fifteen-lettered (pancha-dashi) mantra of the Devi in the Sri
Vidya tradition. Ka is an important syllable in the fifteen-lettered mantra, for it
appears three times. Here, Ka variously stands the principle from which everything
arises; for illumination (Kan dipatu); or for the principle of consciousness (buddhi) in
beings; and, also for the symbol of Self.  And,  Ka also stands for  the form-less
Brahman (ka iti Brahmano naamah). 
The fifteen lettered mantra is divided into three groups: ka e i la hrim; ha sa ka ha la
hrim; and; sa ka la hrim. The three groups that constitute the mantra are
called Kuta (peaks) or Khanda (segments). They are interpreted variously in sets of
three as: 
 Agni(fire) , Surya(sun) and Chandra(moon); 
 Srishti (creation), Shtithi (preservation) and laya (dissolution);
  Iccha ( will), jnana(knowledge)and kriya (action);
 Sattva, Rajas and Tamas;
 Jagrat (wakefulness); swapna (dream state) and sushupthi (deep sleep);
 jnatra (the knower), jnana (the knowledge) and jneya ( the known) ;
 Atma (individual self) , Antaratma (inner being) and Paramatma (supreme
self); and as ,
 Past , present and future ( the three assumed layers of Time).
There is also a view that the first group starting with ka is kadi_matha (ka e i la hrim);
the second group starting with ha is Hadi_matha ( ha sa ka ha la hrim ); and the third
group starting with sa is Sadi_matha (sa ka la hrim ).
Another interesting aspect is that the vowels (aa, e, i etc.,) are regarded as
representations of Shakthi; while the 35 consonants are basically inert and depend
on vowels (just as Shiva depends on Shakthi) to manifest in a meaningful form. It is
only when the germinating power (bija) of the vowels is infused with consonants, the
latter gain meaning. That is the reasons the vowels are Bija-aksharas. They transform
ordinary letters into mother like condition (matrika); that is, they impregnate ordinary
letters with meaning and power.
Sri Vidya is also described as Chandra_kala_vidya, the lore of the lunar digits. This
school of Sri Vidya explains that the fifteen letters of the mantra correspond to fifteen
digits of the moon in each fortnight, commencing from prathipada, the first day of the
brighter half, when the moon “comes out of the sun”; and, ending with the full moon
on the fifteenth day. Similarly, in the dark half of the moon cycles, all digits “return to
the sun”. The emanation of the fifteen digits of the moon from the Sun culminates in
the full moon (purnima); while the absorption of the digits into the Sun results in new
moon (Amavasya).The sixteenth letter (Shodasha kala or Srim) is said to be present
in each of the digits which are called Kalas or nityas. The digits are invoked as forms
of the Mother goddess.
The first digit is Maha Tripura Sundari; the second is Kameshwari; and, the third is
Bhagamalini. These three together form the primary triangle which is the immediate
unfolding of the central Bindu representing Mother Goddess.
The Sri Vidya tradition which centers on the worship of Sri Chakra, considers the
following twelve gods and sages as its Gurus: Manu, Chandra, Kubera, Lopamudra,
Manmatha, Agasthya, Nandisha, Surya, Vishnu, Skanda, Shiva and Durvasa.
It is said each of the twelve gurus propagated a school with regard to the worship
and significance of Sri Chakra.  Of these, only two schools have survived to this day;
one is the school started by Manmatha (also called Kamaraja) – known as
Kadi_matha. The Kadi tradition was continued by Sage Agastya. The other school is
Hadi_matha , started by Lopamudra , wife of the Sage Agastya. There is also a
mention of an obscure third school called Sadi_matha.
Of the three, the Kadi_ matha (with its mantra starting with letter Ka) is regarded the
oldest ; and , its attitude and worship is Sattvic. It insists on virtue, discipline and
purity of rituals. The prominent Gurus of this School are Paramashiva, Durvasa,
Hayagreeva and Agasthya. Of the other two schools, Hadi_matha is Rajasik ; and, the
Sadi _matha is Tamasik.
Kadi matha accepts Vedic authority ; and, formulates its position in accordance with
the Vedic tradition. The other School is considered different (iyam anya cha
vidya).The term Samaya also means Vedic convention; as orthodox and valid. Hence
Kadi School came to be known as Samaya.
Samaya believes in sameness of Shiva and Shakthi; and, the form of worship is
purely internal. Hence , Kadi School is also known as Para Vidya , where the worship
(archana) is conducted in the space of one’s heart (hrudayakasha madhye).
The external worship conducted, say by Kaulas, lays greater importance on the
Muladhara and Swadhistana Chakras, which are said to be situated at the base of the
spinal column; and, which relate essentially to physiological needs and
psychological urges.
The Samaya School , on the other hand, prescribes that the internal  worship (antar
aradhana) be conducted  at higher levels, viz., from Manipura to Sahasra. The seat of
Tripura is at Sahasra, beyond the six Chakras. It is also the seat of supreme
consciousness, Shiva from which Shakthi springs forth.
Shakthi is of the same nature as Brahma (Brahma rupini) that divides itself five-fold.
It is a spontaneous un-foldment. In Samaya system, Brahman is called Sadashiva; it
is the Bindu, from which emerges Nada which is Para_shakthi. It is at the Sahasra,
the Bindu Sthana that Shiva and Shakthi reside. They are the same; one cannot be
without the other.
Samaya is centered on knowledge (jnana), which is the realization of the identity of
Shiva and Shakthi: Shiva becomes Kameshwara and Kameshwari becomes Shiva.
Their names too get intertwined; for instance: Shiva and Shivaa; Tripura and
Tripuraa; Bhava and Bhavani; Shambu and Shambhavi; Rudra and Rudrani; and ,
Sundara and Sundari etc.
Dakshinamurthi is a revered seer of the Kadi (Samaya) School. The term Dakshina
literally means a woman and refers to the feminine principle, which can create, unfold
and manifest. When Dakshina assumes a form, it results in Dakshinamurthi a variety
of Shiva’s forms. Dakshinamurthi, as Ardha_nari; Kameshwara and Kameshwari, are
together regarded the principle deities of Kadi School.
Sri Chakra is the main device employed by Kadi (Samaya) school; and the worship is
mainly through symbolism ; and, successive identifications. The symbolism involves
identification (saamaya) of the arrangements and the lines of the diagram with the
structure of the Universe; the psycho-physical aspects of the devotee with the
spatial arrangement of the diagram representing the goddess; and identifying the
Mantra with the Yantra.
As regards the worship of Sri Chakra, there are three recognized procedures :
:- Hayagreeva tradition regarded as Dakshina_chara, the right handed method,
reciting Lalitha_sahasra Nama and Lalitha_tristathi offering kunkumam.
:- Anandabhirava tradition , a Vama_chara,a left handed method; and
:-  Dakshinamurthy tradition , a doctrinal school.
Of the three, the last one is considered the best.
*

Sri Vidya  traditions speak of two forms of Sri Chakra. One is its physical
representation of lines and forms. This form entails external worship (puja) according
to prescriptions of kalpa sutra, spread over 26 steps. Here, Kameshwara and
Kameshwari are the deities that receive worship.
There are, again, three methods of worship of Sri Chakra.
The shrishti_krama the expansion mode of worship, carried out in morning,
comprehends the chakra from the central point the Bindu to the outer square.
The Sthithi_krama the preservation mode of worship, carried out in the afternoon,
comprehends the Chakra from the outer square to the eight-fold lotus ; and, from the
Bindu to the fourteen cornered figure.
The third, Samhara_krama the absorption mode of worship, carried out in the night,
comprehends the chakra from the outer square to the central point.
 [Even in this method the visualizations and contemplations are not entirely
dispensed with.]
The other form of worship is Viyacchakra, the chakra emerging within ones heart.
This entails visualization of Bindu, which is in the center of the Sahasra, within ones
heart. The ability to visualize Viyacchakra is known Assamaya. The worship
(maanasa puja) is offered internally and consists wholly of visualizations
and contemplation; and , is carried out in seclusion by one who is in control of his
senses.
The process here involves a four-fold conceptualization of identity (aikya chintana).
They are , briefly :
:- Identity of the Supreme goddess who is un_manifest with Sri Chakra which is
manifest;
:- Identity of the design of Sri Chakra with the Universe. It is viewed as a
cosmogram ;
:- Identity of the individual with the Universe . This is done primarily on the basis of
the Shat chakra ideology (six chakras- muladhara, svadhistana, manipura, anahata,
visuddha and ajna) and the tattvas , the principles , of Shaivagama;  and ,
:-  Identity of the letters of the alphabets (matrikas) with the deities located in various
segments of the Sri Chakra.
As can be seen from the above the six factors involved are :
1. the Universe (Brahmanda);
2. the individual (pindanda);
3. the structure of Sri Chakra;
4. the letters of the alphabets(matrikas);
5. the goddess (Devi); and
6. the mantra specific to her.
[It is explained ; Matrka-cakra, is the articulate sound over which all our thoughts, emotions,
aspirations fears and pleasures are woven, as nothing can go beyond the articulate sound,
which evolves into an extremely complex universe of sentence to meanings, meanings to
mental images and mental images to pleasures and pain. This is called as matrka-sakti that
can spread out externally by way of object-denotations, cognition, intentions (raja),
emotions like sorrow, pleasure, envy, memory traces etc.(vikalpa), and the world of endless
differentiation. This is the outward emanation (vikasa), standing for creation (srishti-krama);
and, it can also contract (sankocha) by withdrawing the world of differentiation into pure
awareness (samhara)]

The Tantra texts emphasize the merit of inner worship (antar_yaga), once a fair
degree of understanding has been gained. They said “Best of all forms of worship is
inner worship. External worship (ritualistic) is to be resorted until the dawn of
understanding.”
In any case, Sri Vidya is the worship of Mother Goddess incarnated in the Sri Chakra.
Her worship includes the worship of her consorts (Devata) and aids (yogini); all of
whom are female. The ritualistic details are characteristically feminine.
The Upaasana of Srividya is explained in Upanishads
like Kenopanishad and Bhavanopanishad ; and , in various Tantra texts, extensively.
For more on the worship practices, please click here.
A Sri Vidya Upasaka worships beauty and grace; rejecting ugliness in thought, word
and deed.  Sri Vidya is the path of devotion and wisdom. The wisdom consists in
realizing ones identity (sva svarupa prapti) with the Mother Goddess. It is this
wisdom that liberates the devotee (jivan Mukthi). This liberating wisdom is granted to
him by the Mother out of pure love, when the devotee surrenders to her completely in
full faith and devotion. The Mother is the path and the goal. Sri Vidya is the
culmination of all paths, the consummation of all transformations.

[ Śri-Vidyā as a living Tantra has always countenanced change as part of the dynamic

of a universe construed to be power itself. ..Śri-Vidyā embodies her contrast
as saubhāgya-sampradāya, the tradition that entreats to prosperity by invoking
divine self-identification with grace, beauty, and good fortune…
The Goddess is transcendence and immanence, outside and in, macrocosm and
microcosm and she is more: She is whatever she needs to become to be anything
that is possible and all that precludes possible or impossible. Whatever
transcendence is, she manifests as, for there is at once the narrowest sense of her
fullness recovered through specific ritual arts of identification and the broadest
sense of her inclusion in every kind of experience, in every aspect of reality. Unlike
those who would prefer the perfection of final liberation to make for simple
extrication from a world of opposites, Śri-Vidyā asserts that transcendence
possesses no otherness and demands immanence without exception must be none
other than she, the goddess herself in some manifestly karmic or playful form. Such
a universe is not inscrutable nor can it be reduced to comprehension; illusions must
be real in so far as they refuse any sensibility of falsity; options trump exiguity
without the slightest diminishment of integrity.
What makes Śri  “the auspicious” is that there can be no scarcity, no summation, no
ultimacy  that finalizes  less than another possibility; and all of this Śri reveals herself
as Vidyā , a science, a process of veracity, an impeccable wisdom, a mantra
feminine-encoded as reality true to itself but beholden to none. Śri-Vidyā conceals
itself in contradictions that pose no threat to those who embrace paradox as the
solution to a world that is itself not a problem to be solved.. Śri-Vidyā flourishes,
never fails; it assimilates, takes on new characters  in varied forms.
Douglas R. Brooks in the Forward to an Article concerning Sri Vidya and
Tantra by – Jeffrey S Lidke  ]

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was initiated into Srividya Maha Shodasakshari Diksha. In

his first kriti , he referrers  to its Guru tradition, its twelve gurus and three schools of
worship, Kadi, Hadi and Sadi: Kamaadi dwadashabhirupa_sthitha kadi hadi sadi
mantra rupinya .
Sri Dikshitar also mentions that he followed the tradition of the Sages Durvasa ,
Agasthya and Hayagreeva ; and, declares he belonged to Kadi School: maatmaka
kadi mathanusthano.
Sri Dikshitar followed the Kadi practice of worship of Sri Chakra from Bhupura , the
outer square to the Bindu, the central point. He had a certain pride in his tradition; in
his kriti Kamalambikai, he states “prabala guruguha sampradaya anthah karayayai
– referring to his hallowed tradition
Sri Dikshitar composed about forty kritis,  spread over four sets of compositions on
the subjects related to Sri Vidya;  Kamalamba Navavarana (11+ 2
kritis); Nilothpalamba kritis (8 kritis); Abhayamba kritis (10 kritis); and, Guru Kritis (8
kritis). Of these the Kamalamba set of kritis, is highly well organized; and,  is truly
remarkable for its classic structure , majesty and erudite knowledge. More of that in
the succeeding sections.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, in his kritis, yearns for Videha Mukthi. He beseeches the
Divine Mother repeatedly and addresses her as one who grants Videha
mukthi (Mamaka videha mukthi sadanam– Ranganayakam-Nayaki); the bestower
of videha mukthi (vikalebara kaivalya danaya– Guruguhaya-Sama); and , at times , he
feels he is nearing videha mukthi(Videha kaivalyam yami-Tyagaraje-Saranga). Sri
Muthuswami Dikshitar was a jivan Muktha who attained his Videha Mukthi.
Videha mukthi is a concept of the later Advaita Schools. It believes, one can attain
liberation (moksha) from attachments while still encased in a body. Such an attained
one is Jivan Muktha. The body continues to function till its Prarabdha Karma is
exhausted; thereafter, the mortal coils fall away. Videha mukthi is shedding off the
body by a Jivan muktha, the one who has already attained liberation.
Jivanmukthi, emancipation while yet alive, is also a concept of the Tantra Siddantha ,
which believes that it is possible for a person to transact with the world without
getting involved in it. In other words, one lives on actively and cheerfully, amidst
distractions and confusions of the world without letting his self reflect them. His
moorings in the phenomenal world have withered away; his instinct of self-
preservation and insecurity has been minimized. He is alive only to essential thing in
life that is the source of life. The real world continues to exist for him. But he does
not rest in the world but rests in himself (Svarupa pratishta).
In the Sri Vidya  tradition, a jivan muktha is a devotee, a Bhaktha as well as
a Jnani the wise one. Here, the wisdom consists in realizing his identity (sva svarupa
prapti) with the Mother goddess. It is this wisdom that liberates him (jivan
Mukthi). This liberating wisdom is granted to him by the Mother , out of pure love,
when he completely surrenders to her in full faith and devotion.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, either way, was a jivan Muktha who attained Videha
Mukth with the grace of the Devi.

Continued in the Next Part

The structure of Sri Chakra
 
Reference;
The Tantra of Sri Chakra by Prof.SK Ramachandra Rao (1953)  

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Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 14, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya, Tantra
 

Tags: Mantra, music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya, Tanra, Yantra

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (4 of 8)

14SEP
The music of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a versatile intellect. He was open to  varieties of
influences. His works reflect some of those influences rather explicitly ; while some
others shine through in a subtle way. Before we get into a discussion about
Dikshitar’s creations, we need to recognize a few features that influenced him.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a vainika-gayaka, a musician who sang as he played
on the Veena. He was well trained both in vocal and instrumental music. Naturally,
the graces, the rich Gamaka prayogas of his compositions structured in slow tempo
shine in mellow glow when played on the Veena.
In his childhood, he received training in the Lakshya and Lakshana aspects of
Carnatic music. The Lakshana Gitams and Prabandhas of Venkatamakhi formed an
important input of his training. Later, as a composer, he chose to follow
Venkatamukhi’s system of Mela -classification of Ragas.
He spent seven years at Varanasi, in the prime of his youth. He was captivated by the
grandeur, the spaciousness and the purity of the ancient Druphad School. He learnt
Dhrupad diligently; and ,that left a lasting impression on his works.
Earlier in his teenage, he gained familiarity with Western music; and, the traces of its
influence can be noticed in the movement of his songs.
He had a good command over Sanskrit; and, learnt to use it to express his ideals and
aspirations in pristine poetry. He had a fascination for Sabdalankara, beautifully
turned phrases and wordplay . He had the composure of a yogi and the heart of a
poet. Dikshitar’s kritis are therefore adorned with poetic imagery, tranquil grace, a
certain majesty steeped in devotion.
Sri Dikshitar had acquired a fair knowledge of Jyothisa, Ayurveda, and iconography
and of temple architecture.
He was unattached to possessions or to a place . He was a virtual pilgrim (jangama)
all his life. He visited a large number of shrines ; and, sang about them and the
deities enshrined there.
He was intensely devotional ; yet, was not overly affiliated to a particular deity. He
composed soulful songs in praise of a number of gods and goddesses.
He had a fascination for composing a set of  kritis exploring the various aspects of  a
particular deity or the different dimensions  of a subject , as if he had undertaken a
project.
He was an Advaitin, well grounded in Vedanta.
And above all,
Sri Dikshitar was an ardent Sri Vidya Upasaka; a Sadhaka, an intense devotee of
Devi, the Divine Mother. He was a master of Tantra and of Yantra Puja. The Tantra
ideology permeates all through his compositions.
It is the harmonious confluence of these influences that one finds in Dikshitar’s
music.
***

Output:

Anandamruthavarshini  by Shri S Rajam

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was prolific; about 479 of his compositions have now been
identified, spread over 193 ragas. These include four Ragamalikas and about
forty Nottuswara sahithya verses.
[For a detailed statistical analysis of the compositions of Sri Dikshitar , as undertaken  by
Dr. P. P. Narayanaswami , please click here.
Please do refer to a very remarkable site created by  a group headed by its Chief Data
Analyst –  Smt. Meera Subramanian  , listing as many as 510  compositions of Sri
Muttuswamy Dikshitar,  along with its lyrics , audio and video files as also the deity-wise
classification of his Kritis.  ]
The great Venkatamakhi who formulated the 72 Mela-kartha ragas is reported to have
wondered ”of the 72 Melas only a few are known and found in practice… and will the
permutation be a waste.?‘(Dr. V Raghavan:  paper presented at All India Oriental
conference, at Hyderabad, 1941).
It was the genius of Muthuswami Dikshitar that gave form and substance to all the
72 Mela-kartha ragas, fulfilling the dream of Venkatamakhi. He gave expression to
nearly 200 ragas of that system.
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a pilgrim virtually all his life. He visited a large number
of shrines and sang about them and the deities enshrined there. He was intensely
devotional yet not overly affiliated to a particular deity. He composed soulful songs
in praise of a number of gods and goddesses. About 74 of such temples are featured
in his kritis; and there are references to about 150 gods and goddesses . The most
number of his kritis (176) were in praise of Devi the mother principle, followed by
(131) kritis on Shiva. Dikshitar was the only major composer who sang in praise of
Chaturmukha Brahma.
Sri Dikshitar has composed songs in honor of some other lesser-known
divinities : Saṇdhyā dēvīm Sāvitrīm-Rāga Dēvakriya, Ādi-Tāla; Bhūśāpatim – Rāga
Bhūṣāvati, Rūpaka Tāḷa; and, Renukādēvi Samrakśtōham – Rāga Kannada Bangāḷa,
Miśra Jhampe.
**

Some scholars have said that Dikshitar’s songs are summaries of Durga Suktam, Sri
Suktam and Purusha Suktam.   He built in the mantras in a few krithis like Sri Raaja
raajeshwari  (madyamavathi), pavanatmaja aagaccha (Naatta). For the benefit of
those who couldn’t practice rituals he composed vaara
krithis on navagrahas. Similarly, he opened the doors to the secret world of Sri
Vidya, for the benefit of all, through his Kamalamba navavarana kritis.
Krithi Groups
Dikshitar had a fascination for composing sets of kritis on a composite theme,
perhaps in an attempt to explore the various dimensions of the subject. In some of
these, he employed all the eight Vibhaktis, the various cases that delineate a noun.
No other composer has attempted so many group kritis in such a planned, orderly,
meticulous fashion. The following are some Important Krithi Groups. Please also
check here. 
 Ganesha Vibhakthi Krtis
 Guruguha Vibhakti krithis
 Kamalamba Nava Varnams
 Navagraha Krithis
 Nilotpalamba vibhakti Krithis;
  Panchalinga  Kshetra kritis;
 Panchabhuta Kriti
 Rama vibhakti Krithis;
 Tiruvarur Pancalinga kritis;
 Thyagaraja vibhakti Krithis;
 Abhayamba vibhakti Krithis
 Madhuramba vibhakti Krithis
 Vinayaka
The selection of Raga and Taala; and the diction of these kritis demonstrate his
musical skills and intellectual refinement.
For greater information on Group Kritis of Dikshitar, please check  here.
Ragamalika
Just as his father Sri Ramaswamy Dikshitar (who had composed the longest
ever Raga-malika in Karnataka Samgita- the Ashtotrasata ragatalamalika – set in 108
Ragas and various Taalas) ,   Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar  was also an adept in
the Raga-malika format. Though he did not attempt anything as lengthy or as grand
as his father did, the four delightful Raga-malikas that Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar
created are true gems of art. 
: – ‘Madhavo-mam-patu‘– is a Raga-malika on the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, with ten
passages set to ten Ragas (Nata, Gaula, Sri, Arabhi, Varali, Kedara, Vasanta, Surati,
Saurashtra and Madhyamavati).
 Of the ten Ragas employed in the Raga-malika, five are Ghana-ragas excellent for
rendering Taana on the Veena. The sixth Raga Kedara , is invigorating and the last
four Ragas are Mangala Ragas leading up to the final Mangalam in Madhyamavati.
The Raga of each passage blends admirably well its Sahitya. Here too, Sri Dikshitar
adopts his favorite Vibhakthi scheme of addressing the subject. The first eight
passages are in the eight Vibhakthi cases, in their order (krama) ; and , the rest two-
ninth and tenth are in the accusative case . 
While rendering the Raga-malika, the singers can progress from one passage to the
next without having to repeat the Pallavi of the just concluded passage. 
: – The Ragamalika ‘Purna-chandra-bimba-vadane‘ in celebration of Goddess
Kamalambika at Tiruvarur is composed of six Charanas in six different Ragas: ‘Shad-
raga-malika‘.  The Ragas are: Poornachandrika, Saraswatimanohari, Narayani,
Suddhavasanta, Hamsadhwani and Nagadhwani; and, all the six belong to ‘Dheera
Sankarabharana’ (29th) Mela, Sri Dikshitar’s favorite. 
: – The third Raga-malika ‘Simhasana-sthite‘ in four passages is addressed to most
graceful Devi seated on her throne in a serene tranquil posture. The four
are Mangala-prada Ragas, auspicious, soothing and peaceful – Saurashtra, Vasanta,
Surati and Madhyamavati. This Raga-malika is therefore sung at the conclusion of Sri
Dikshitar’ annual celebration festivals. It is also a favorite of the Bharatanatyam
dancers. 
:- Perhaps , Sri Dikshitar’s most famous Raga-malika is his ‘ Chaturdasha Raga-
malika’ –  ‘Sri Vishwanatham bhajeham’ set in fourteen Ragas singing in ecstasy the
glory of the Lord of the universe Shiva. The fourteen Ragas are interwoven with the
passages in an intricate pattern.
 Chapter 12 of Shqdhganga describes this Ragamalika as
 “ The Pallavi has two Ragas, starting with Sri Raga; and, each Raga is encapsulated
in two lines of one Avarta; the second being in Madhyama kala. Similarly, the Anu-
pallavi is set to four Ragas  :  Gauri, Nata, Gaula and Mohanam. But, at the end,
after Mohanam, a Viloma passage takes us through the same four ragas of the Anu-
pallavi and the two of the Pallavi in reverse order, back to Sri.  
The same pattern is followed in the Charanam with eight Ragas : Sama, Lalita,
Bhairavam, Saranga, Sankarabharanam, Kambhoji, Devakriya and Bhupala. And,
these are again taken in reverse order in a Madhyama-kala sahitya, back to the
Pallavi in Sri.
Sri  Dikshitar has followed a pattern not only in the order of the occurrence of the
Ragas, but also in terms of the lengths of the Avartas for each Raga.
The fifth and sixth Ragas- Gaula and Mohanam – have been allotted 1 ½ Avartas, all
in Madhyama-kala; while the preceding Ragas have been given 2 full Avartas – one
each in Sama kala and Madhyama kala.
The same pattern has been followed in the first half and second half of
the Charanam of the Raga-malika.  Another striking feature of the Sahitya of
this Raga-malika of  Sri Dikshitar is that the last part of the Svara-sahitya set to each
Raga is composed of the same words as of the last part of the preceding line
of Sahitya.” 
Chronological order
It is rather difficult to arrange Sri Dikshitar’s compositions in a chronological order.
His Nottuswara-Shitya verses were, of course, composed in his early years while his
family lived at Manali a small town near Madras. His first composition as Vak-geya-
Kara was Srinathandi in Mayamalava-gaula, at the hill shrine of Tiruttani; and, his last
composition was  Ehi Annapurne in Punnagavarali while he was at Ettayapuram
during his last years. It is believed that the set of Vibhakti kritis followed his first
composition. Thereafter, he traveled to Kanchipuram, Mayuram, Chidambaram,
Vaidyanatha koil and Kumbhakonam. He often visited Tiruchirapalli (where it is said
his daughter lived).
He spent his productive years at Tiruvavur and his final years in Ettayapuram. In
between, he is believed to have visited about 70 temples; and, sung the glory of
those deities. It is however not possible to arrange those kritis in a sequence.
Please check here for a map of his probable travels in South India : 
Before going further, we need to talk a bit about Sri Muttuswami Dikshitar’s
first Kriti as a Vak-geya-Kara , Srinathandi-guruguho-jayati in the Raga Mayamalava-
gaula in the fifteenth Mela (the Mela in which Sri Dikshitar composed many Kritis) .
The mantra of Sri Vidya also has fifteen matras (syllables).
After submitting salutations to the past Gurus of the Kad-matha, the principal
tradition of the Sri Vidya lore (shri nathadi guruguho) , Sri Dikshitar bows down to
his Guru Yogi Chidambaranatha. Elsewhere, in another Kriti  composed in Raga
Purvi, a Bhashanga-janya-raga of Mayamalava-gaula, Sri Dikshitar  adores his Guru
and Master Chidambaranatha as none other than Guruguha;  and , says ‘I am the
humble servant of Guruguha, or I, myself, am of the form of Guruguha himself’  (shri
guruguhasya dasoham nocet cidguruguha evaham).
The opening line Srinathandi-guruguho-jayati-jayati, which bows to all the deities
and Gurus of the Sri Vidya traditions, has been much debated. This line is said to be
an almost a takeoff from the opening lines of the first shloka of the Sri Vidya
paddhathi:
Shri nathadi gurutrayam ganapatim  pithatrayam bhairavam / siddhaugam
vatukatrayam padayugam dutikramam mandalam/ viran dvyasta catushka shashti
navakam viravali pancakam/ srIman-malini-mantra-rajasahitam vandeguror
mandalam
This Shloka invokes the deities and the galaxy of Gurus (Guru-mandala) in the realm
of the Supreme sovereign Srividya Parabhattarika.  It begins with salutations to the
three generations of Gurus (Srinathadi gurutrayam – one’s own Guru; his Guru
– Parama Guru; and his Guru – Parameshthi Guru) ; and prayers to Ganapathi 
(Ganapatim).
It also recalls with reverence the three centres or seats of Shakthi (Piitha-trayam –
Jalandhara, Purnagiri and Kamarupa); the eight Bhairavas (Bhairavam); the Siddhas
(siddhaugam); the three celibates Brahmacharis (vatukatrayam – Skanda, Chitra and
Virinchi); and then, submits to the feet of the Mother Goddess (Padayugam).
Then salutations are submitted to the group of Duti goddesses (dutikramam
mandalam); to those who have attained Siddhi (Viran); to the sixty-four
Siddhas (dvyasta catushka shashti); nine Mudra goddesses (navakam); and to the
five supreme deities (viravali pancakam– Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishwara and
Sadashiva).
Then, at the end, the devotee submits to the Goddess of Malini-Chakra with Mantra-
raja; and, to all the Gurus of all the traditions of Sri Vidya (vande-guror mandalam).
Likewise, Sri Dikshitar, in his Kriti Srinathandi-guruguho-jayati –jayati , submits to
his Guru, the Lord of the Universe, and all the Gurus of the Kadi Matha of the Sri
Vidya tradition. And, to the Srividya Parabhattarika, the supreme Mother Goddess,
who is invoked by the mantra beginning with Ka and ending with Ma (The Kadi Vidya
of Sri Manmatha runs:  KA, E, I, LA , HRIM- vagbhavakuṭa), residing in the centre of
the Mani Chakra which resembles a thousand-petalled lotus.
And, to Maheshwara  the Lord  who obliterates  all types of illusions and delusions;
who is meditated upon constantly by  Hamsa mantra , the Ajapa-japa (you breath out
with a sound of ’Sa’; and you breath in  with a sound of ‘Ha’; and, throughout the day
and night you perform the Hamsa Japa.
 (The Hamsa Japa is :  I am He , Shivo Hum, I am Shiva ,  breathing in and out
continuously , instinctly and with ease ,  without being aware of your doing so. This
effortless and ceaseless Japa is called Ajapa-japa).
And, to the Guruguha, Skanda, who is worshiped by kings of Mayamalava Gaula
Desha and others; who is surrounded by Vishnu and other gods; and, who has
expounded the real truth of Pranava to His father Mahesha.
**

The composition, ‘Sri Nathadi guruguho jayati jayati’ in Mayamalava-gau!a is ideal for

the music students to practice in graded speeds, the ascent and descent of the Raga,
the janta svara prayogas, alankara patterns, mandra-sthayi phrases etc.
In terms of Music, the first line of the Pallavi (Srinathandi-guruguho-jayati
-jayati) summarizes all the ascending (Arohana) and descending (Avarohana) notes
of the Mayamalava gaula:   “SA RI Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni SA Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri”, in all the
three speeds (kaala).  
And , in regard to Sahitya , The prathama-akshara- prasa in the Charana  and in
the Madhyama-kaala–sahitya is very interesting , where each line commences with
ma or Ma.
Charanam:
  MAyamaya vishvadhishthano
 MAtmaka kadi matanushthano
 MAlini mandalanta vidhano
 MantrAdyajapa hamsa dhyAno
 MAyakarya kalana hIno
 mAmaka sahasra kamallsiIno
 mAdhurya ganamrita pano
 mAdhavadyabhayavarapradano
 mAyashabaLita brahma rupo
 mArakoti sundara svarupo
 matimatam hridayagopuradIpo
 mattashuradi jayapratapo
  mAyamalavagauLadidesha
 mahipati pujita pada pradesha
 mAdhavadyamara brinda prakasha
 maheshasya maharthopadesha
 Madhyama Kala Sahityam:
  MAyaamaalavagaulaadidesha
 Mahipati Pujitha Pada Pradesha
 MAdhavaadyamara Brunda Prakaasha
 Maheshasya Mahaarthopadesha

Ragas:
Dikshitar followed the Mela-paddhati (a system of classifying Ragas) devised by
Venkatamakhi, to whose school he belonged. In handling the Vivadi-melas, Dikshitar
followed Venkatamakhi; and, avoided inharmonious expressions, prayogas.
Further, since Kharaharapriya was not a part of Venkatamakhi’s scheme; there is no
known composition of Dikshitar in that Raga. The twenty-second Mela-karta was Sri
Raga; the Mangala kriti of the Navavarana series is composed in Sri Raga. Again, the
Venkatamakhi-tradition treated Bhairavi and Anandha Bhairavi as Upanga Ragas; so
did  Sri Dikshitar.
[Though Sri Dikshitar generally followed the Asampurna-Mela system of
Venkatamakhin, he was quite familiar with the other, Govindacharya’s Sampurna-
Mela system as well.
For instance; the Raga of his Kriti Shri-shulinim-shritapalinim according
to Asampurna-Mela is Shailadeshaksi. But, in the Kriti, he uses the Raga-
mudra as Shulinim , which is the Raga-name in the Sampurna-Mela system.
Similarly, the Raga of his Kriti Hariyuvatim-haimavatim is Deshi-
simharavam according to the older system; but, the Raga-mudra is Hemavathi which
is the corresponding Raga-name in the other system.
And, his Kriti Shri Nilotpala-nayike in Raga Nari Ritigaula contains the Raga-
mudra Natabhairavi in the Anupallavi as per the Sampurna-Mela system.]
Some scholars opine that Sri Dikshitar’s major service to Carnatic music is that he
gave expression to nearly 200 Ragas of Venkatamakhi’s system. He also breathed life
into a number of ancient Ragas that were fading away. Several ancient Ragas found a
new lease of life though Sri Dikshitar’s kritis.
To name a few of them: Mangalakaisiki, Ghanta, Gopikavasanta, Narayana
Gaula,Sulini, Samantha, maargadhesi and mohana naatta. Even today,
their  Lakshanas are illustrated mainly through Sri Dikshitar’s creations.
There are many Ragas which are employed only by Dikshitar. Take for
instance: Saranganata, Chhaya Goula,  Poorvi , Padi ,  Mahuri ,  Suddhavasanta
,Kumudakriya, and Amritavarshini. In the
Raga Dwijavanti, his Kritis Chetasri and Akhilandeshwari  stand out in
solitary splendor.
He transformed many Outhareya, the Hindustani Ragas into Karnataka form through
his creative genius. His interpretation and rendering of Ragas like Dwijavathi,
Ramkali, and Yamakalyan, Hamirkalyani, and Brindavan sarang are highly original
and creative. He made them into his own. His Cheta-sri is so wonderfully well
adapted to Carnatic Raga-bhava that one scarcely notices the Outhareya traces in its
character. He took in the best aspects of the other system;  transformed them ; and,
enriched both the systems.
Shankarabharanam scale appears to have been his forte.  There are as many as
96 kritis based on that scale. The kritis in Harikambhoji scale number about 63; while
57 kritis are in Kharaharapriya scale. He had a special affinity for Mayamalava-
gaula in which he composed about 51 songs. The derivatives of that scale such
as Saalanga Nata, Paadi and Mangala Kaishiki would have been lost but for Sri
Dikshitar.
**

About forty-four of his compositions are set in forty Vivadi Ragas. Since Sri Dikshitar
followed the A-sampurna-Mela-Paddathi of Venkatamakhin , even the Janaka-
Ragas might look like Janyas. But, in fact, all those Vivadi-Ragas
are Raganga or Melakartas. However, they do not have Vivadi-Svara-Sancharas. For
instance; Raga Shuddha-Saveri under Kanakambari;
and Manohari under Gangatarangini.
As many as forty of these Melas, are Vivadi-Ragas. Sri Dikshitar uses many
means (Upaya) to counteract the jarring-effects of Vivaditva. These  measures
include(i) Janti prayōga – using the Svara in pairs to  reduce the Vivadi- effect;  (ii)
Alpatva – minimum usage or skipping  of the Vivadi-Svaras; (iii) Dheergha-prayoga -
Elongating one of the Vivadi Svaras to smoothen its effect; and (iv) Langhana or
Dhatu-prayoga-using  crisscross Svara pattern to reduce the Vivadi effect.
Taala:
Sri Dikshitar was accomplished in the matter of Taalas, the rhythmic patterns. He is
the only composer to have set his music in all the seven basic Taalas. He employed
all the Saptha (Seven) Taalas in his Vara-Stutis i.e. a song for each day of the week.
He is said to have used ten improvised varieties of Taalas in his compositions. The
majority of his compositions are set in Adi (190) and Rupaka (139) Taalas.
 Sri Dikshitar, in his compositions, has employed only Suladi Taalas; to the exclusion
of Chapu and other Taalas. Each of his Nava-Graha Kritis is set in a different Suladi
Taala.  For instance: Suryamurthe in Chaturashra-Dhruva; Chandram-
bhajamanasa in Chaturashra-Matya, Angarakam-ashraya-myaham in
Rupaka; Budham-ashrayami in Misra-Jhampa;  Brihaspathe-Tarapathe in Tisra-
Triputa; Sri Shukra-Bhagavantam in Khanda-Atta; Smaramyaham-sada-
Rahum and Mahasuram-Ketum-aham in Rupaka.
Music:

The most fascinating aspect of Sri Dikshitar’s Kritis  is the grandeur and majesty of
his music, sublime lyrics, intellectual brilliance and the overall technical
sophistication. They exude a tranquil joy. His vision of the Ragas and their structure
is  truly inspiring.
Sri Dikshitar was blessed with the heart of a poet and the composure of a yogi. He
was an intense devotee; but, was undemonstrative. There is, therefore, a certain
composure, measured grace, dignity and a mellow joy glowing through his music,  as
in his life.
The Druphad way of elaboration captured his imagination. The tempo of his songs is
mostly the Vilamba-kala – slow, measured and majestic; rich in Gamaka just as
the meends on a Veena. Sri Dikshitar aptly called himself “Vainika-gayaka Guruguha-
nuta”.
[The musical structure of his Kritis display how well they are suited for playing on the
Veena. For instance; he has employed wide Jaarus extensively in the phrase Murari-
prabhruti occurring in his Kriti Sadashivam-Upasmahe (Raga Shankarabharanam;
and, there is a Jaru from lower Shadja to Tara-sthayi -Rishabham). And again, the
first line of the Charana of the Kriti Tyagaraja Maha-Dwajaroha (Raga Shri) has an
elaborate Jaru :
Srishti-svarupa-vasanta-vaibhavam-ashtadhvajendra-vimana-bhuta-samashti-gaja-
vrishabha-kailasa–vaham-ashlesha-mah-aratha -sthitam.]
Sri Dikshitar’s treatment of a Raga exemplifies the essence of the Raga bhaava; and,
brings out its delicate shades. It is as if the musician is immersed in contemplative
meditation. The graces, the rich Gamaka–prayogas of his compositions structured in
slow tempo shine in mellow glow when played on the Veena.
This is amply reflected in his works ; for instance in Cheta-
Sri (Dvijawanthi); Balagopala (Bhairavi); Sri-Rajagopala (Saveri); Meenakshi-Me-
Mudam (Poorvikalyani); and, in Sri Subramanyaya–Namasthe (Kambhoji).
The other compositions of this genre
are: Dakshinamuthe (Shankrabharanam); Manasa-guruguha (Anandabhiravi); Ehi-
Annapaurne (Punnagavarali); Amba Neelayatakshi (Nilambari), and ,each of
the Nava-avarana kritis.  These are indeed monumental works.
It is not that all aspects of his music are slow and spacious. He built into his
compositions exhilarating bursts of speed and sparkling delight as if in celebration
of the divine spirit, towards the end. Certain kritis are interlaced with Madhyamakala-
Sahitya, passages in tempo faster than the rest of the kriti (E.g. Mahaganapatim  in
Nata).
Although the Kritis of Sri Tyagaraja are known for their
elaborate Sangathi improvisations, there are some archaic Sangahtis in the Kritis of
Sri Dikshitar as well(e.g.  in  Arunacala-natham in Raga Saranga ; and,  Pahimam-
ratnachala –nayaka in  Raga Mukhari).
Sri Dikshitar redefined the treatment of even the traditional Karnataka Ragas by way
of elaborate beginning, rich in Gamakas resembling the sliding Meends as, for
instance, in the slow paced majesty of Akshya-linga-Vibho  (Shankarabharanam);  or
in Balagopala (Bhiravi), portraying the beauty of the divine child, Krishna.
His Nirajakshi-Kamakshi in Hindolam with Dha flat entirely changed the way
Hindolam came to be sung by his contemporaries, as also by the later Carnatic
musicians.
It is believed; before the time that Sri Dikshitar went to Varanasi, the Hindola Raga in
the Carnatic system was, generally, rendered with Chatusruti-Dhaivata (say, as in
the kriti, Manasuloni of Sri Thyagaraja). While Sri Dikshitar was in the North, he had
listened to Raga Malkauns (equivalent to Hindola of the South), sung with Shuddha
Dhaivata, expanding it freely in all the three octaves. Sri Dikshitar felt such charm
and appeal could be brought into the Hindola of the Karnataka-samgita. He
thereafter, composed his splendid Nirajakshi-Kamakshi in Hindola with Dha flat,
while retaining the purity of the Hindola Raga.
Some say; Sri Thyagaraja’s Kriti Samaja-vara-gamana in Hindola, shows the shades
of Sri Dikshitar’s influence. Thais is because, his treatment of Hindola in his earlier
Kriti – Manasuloni , was quite different.
*

Sri Dikshitar was well versed in the Alapana-paddhati; and, followed it in the

elaboration of a kriti. The musicologists have said “The most outstanding aspect of
the compositions of Sri Dikshitar is their richness in Raga-bhava”. His sense of
selection of the apt Sancharas of the Raga to bring out the true emotion is
remarkable. They range stretching from the Mandra to the Tara-sthayi ; and, give a
complete picture of the Raga.  It is said that if you sing his kriti in Akara, it can bring
out the character of its Raga. His kritis are virtually, Raga-alapana, chiseled to fit in
with Taala ; and ,dressed in Sahitya.
[ Please also read Smt.  Vidya S Jayaraman’s conversation with Dr.V.V.Srivatsa  ]

Structure of kritis
His kritis are well structured, close knit and written in graceful Sanskrit. Sri
Dikshitar’s kritis do not usually have more than one Charanam; and, as many as 157
of his creations are Samasti-charanams, carrying no Anupallavi or
the Anupallavi itself acting as Charanam. His rhythm is subtle ; and, the lyrics are
divine.
Sri Dikshitar’s kritis with Samashti-charanam have enriched the variety of musical
forms in Karnataka Samgita. These Kritis composed in Madhyama-kala are highly
popular ; e.g. Sri Saraswati (Arabhi); Parvati-patim (Hamsadhvani);Vallabha-
nayakasya (Begada); Saraswati-vidhi-yuvati (Hindolam); Sri-Ranganathaya (Dhanyas
i).
Since he did not compose multiple Charanas,  his single Charranas tended to be
quite lengthy ,as compared to the Kritis composed in Pallavi-Anupallavi-
Charanam format. Such fairly long Charanas, however, enabled Sri Dikshitar to
provide exhaustive information about various deities, shrines, concepts of the Sri
Vidya  tradition etc. The Madhyama-kala-sahitya that he employed for such Kritis,
also  helped in introducing some variation in such long Charanas.
 [Perhaps his only multiple-charana creations are his Kriti ‘Maye-tvam’ (Tarangini) ;
and , his  four  Ragamalikas]
Each of his compositions is unique, brilliantly crafted and well chiseled work of
intricate art. It is incredible how delicately he builds into his tight-knit kritis a wealth
of information about the temple, its deity, its architecture and its rituals; and
about jyothisha, tantra, mantra, Sri Vidya, Vedanta etc. He also skillfully builds into
the lyrics, the name of the Raga (Raga-mudra) and his Mudra, signature. 
Sri Dikshitar also built in phrases of Samgita-shastra in the body of  the few of
his kritis, sometimes giving technical details in precise ways. For instance; in his
Kriti ‘Meenakshi-me-mudam-dehi’ (Purvi-Kalyani), the phrase ‘Dasa-Gamaka-
Kriye’ refers to Dasavidha-Gamakas discussed in ancient music-texts. And, similarly,
the phrase ‘Dvisapatati-raganga-raga-modinim’ in the Kriti ‘Sringira-rasa-manjari’ in
Rasamanjari Raga (Rasikapriya) refers to the scheme of seventy two Melas. 
Language and wordplay 
Except for one kriti in Telugu and three Mani-pravala-
kritis (Sanskrit+Telugu+Tamil) , all his other compositions are in Sanskrit.
[ The term  is said to be made of mani + pravala,  meaning a mixture of gems and
coral]
Sri Dikshitar is credited with one Chauka-kala-pada-varnam – ‘Rupamu juchi’ (Todi,
Ata taala) and a Daru ‘Ni sati‘ (Sriranjani) also in Telugu.
Sri Dikshitar had a good command over Sanskrit; and, had learnt to express through
it his ideals and aspirations in pristine poetry. He had the composure of a yogi and
the heart of a poet. Sri Dikshitar’s  kritis are therefore adorned with poetic imagery,
tranquil grace, a certain majesty steeped in devotion.
He had a fascination for Sabda-alankaras, adorning his poetry with beautifully turned
phrases ringing sweetly like temple bells; captivating rhymes of Prasa and Anuprasa.
He loved the intricate play of words and to coin sweet sounding phrases. Look at
the pada lalithya, a grand procession of enchanting phrases :– 
 Akalanka darpana kapola vishesha
 Mana matrike maye marakata chaye
 Devi Shakthi beejodbhava matrikarna swaroopini
 And
 Komlakara pallava pada kodanda Rama.
 The rhyming and ringing phrases – Shyamalanga- vihanga- sadayapanga-
satsanga- are of unparallel beauty.
 ***

The structures in the compositions of poetry and of a Kriti, as also in the playing of
the Mrdanga are said to follow certain rhythmic patterns (Yati-s). 
There is, of course, the usual format which follows the uniform length of lines
(Sama).
In addition, there are certain varied and improvised patterns of composing and
structuring the lines in a Kriti; such as :  (1) broadening or increasing like the flow of
a river (Srotovaha); (2) tapering or decreasing like a cow s tail (Gopuccha); (3)
increasing, then decreasing;  broadening towards the middle like the contours of a
drum (Mrdanga); and,  (4) first decreasing and  then increasing; narrowing towards
the middle, as the contours of an hourglass-shaped drum (Damaru).

And, there is also an arrangement that is devoid of any obvious pattern; it could be
irregular or rugged (visama). It is rather difficult to define or illustrate such patterns.
Sri Dikshitar who was well versed in Kavya-prayoga, composing poetry, was,
obviously familiar with these geometric patterns that were  meant to  improvise the
structure of lines in a stanza.
*

Sri Dikshitar often structured his lyrics in geometric patterns. He enjoyed a childlike
delight in employing Yatis (geometric patterns) such as Gopuccha (tapering like the
tail of a cow) or it’s opposite, the Sorotovaha (broadening like the flow of a river) for
structuring his lyrics. For instance; in his Sri Varalakshmi (Sri) and Maye–Twam-
Yahi (Sudha Tarangini) he used the tapering pattern of Gopuccha.

Sarasa Pade,
Rasapade,
Sapade,
Pade.
de

Sarasa Kaye
Rasakaye
Sakaye
Aye
In his kriti Tyagarajayoga Vaibhavam (Anandabhairav) , Sri Dikshitar uses both
the Yatis : Gopuccha Yati and Srotovaha.
The phrases are:  Gopuccha Yati (like a cow’s tail):
Tyagaraja Yoga Vaibhavam
Agaraja Yoga Vaibhavam
Rajayoga Vaibhavam
Yoga Vaibhavam
Vaibhavam
Bhavam
Vam
 
 And Srotovaha Yeti (flowing or expanding like a river )
Sam
Prakasham
Svarupa Prakasham
Tatva svarupa Prakasham
Sakala Tatva svarupa Prakasham
Shivashaktyadi Sakala Tatva svarupa Prakasham

Alamkaras
Sri Dikshitar brings out the beauty of the Raga and the Sahitya, at many places,
through the Svarakshara. For instance:
In the Kriti ‘Pancamatanga-mukha-Ganapatina-paripalitoham-Sumukhena-
Sri ’Malahari, Rupaka), the Pallavi is set to the Svaras ‘Pa- dha-Ma- pa –dha- pa- ma-
ga- ri- sa- pa- dha- Sa’
In the Kriti ‘Sadacalesvaram-bhava-yamham’ (Bhupalam, Adi), the Pallavi has the
Svaras ‘sa- Dha- sa- Pa’
*
Sri Dikshitar , at times, used Swaraksharams i.e., the words matching with the
syllables of the notes. For instance; Sadasrita (in Akshayalinga Vibho) could be
tuned as Sa-Da-Pa-Ma; and, Pashankushsa-Dharam (in Siddhi Vinayakam) could be
tuned as Pa- SA- Ga- RI- Ni- SA.
Muhana Prasa
Rhyming in the first letter of line is called Muhana. One can observe it in the entire
Carana of the Kriti Tyagarajaya-namaste (Begada, Rupaka) as follows:
Mukundādi-pūjita-sōmaskanda-mūrtaye / Muchukundādi-bhakta-jana manōratha
pūrtaye/ Mukurabhmba pratibimbitha mukha-spurthaye / Munipakṣi mṛga kītādi
mukti-pradakīrtaye
Dvitiyakshara Prasa
Rhyming in the second letter of each line is called Dvitiyakshara Prasa. One can
observe it in the Carana of the Kriti Tyagarajam-bhajare (Yadukula-kambhoji,
Rupaka) as follows
paulōmīṣādi dikpālapūjita gātram / nīlōtpalāmbānukūla tara kalatram /  trilōkya guru
guha tātam trinetram / sailōkādi kaivalya prada caritram /
 Antya Prāsam
Rhyming words at the end of the lines is called as Antya Prasa. One can observe it in
the Anupallavi and in the entire part of Carana of the Kriti Ttyagarajo-virajate (Athaṇa,
Rupaka) as follows:
Vāgartha mayabhuvana rājo / Hari vānchitārtha prada rājo / Hara śri guru gua
ganeṣa rājo /Samsevita rājādi  rājo /
Gamakas
 A striking feature of his compositions is the Jaaru Gamakas; both the upward and
the downward slides: Digu-Jaarua and Ettaru-Jaaru. For instance; in
the Kritis  Hiranmayim Lakshmim (Lalita);  Arunachalanatham (Saranga);Ananda-
natana-prakasham (Kedara) and , “Kari-kalabha-mukham’ (Saveri), one can see
abundant use of Jaaru Gamakas.
He also uses many Chittasvara patterns like in the Kriti ‘Balambikē’ (Manoranjani),
which has Shuddha-Rshabha and Shuddha Gandhara, bringing in the Vakratva: Ri-
Ga- Sa-Ri-Ni-Sa-Dha-Sa,’; ‘Sa-Sa-Ri-Ri-Ga-Ri-Ga-Ga-Ri-Ri-Sa’.
Madhyama-Kala- Sahitya
The slow gait of his compositions is often balanced with an ornamentation of
Madhyama-kala-Sahitya or Chittasvaras (For instance: Anandeshwarena-
samrakṣhitoham– Anandabhairavi -Chapu Taala; and, Soundara-rajamashraye–
Brindavanasaranga- Rupaka Taala)
The Madhyama-Kala -Sahitya is one among the many interesting decorative features
(Anga) of the Kritis of Sri Dikshitar.  It is seen mostly after the Carana; but, in some
cases, the Madhyama-Kala section is also in the Anupallavi. It is also seen in both the
Anupallavi and in the Carana; but, it rarely is also seen in Pallavi or in all the
sections. The tempo of the Madhyama-kala, in all these cases, is double the tempo of
the actual Vilamba Kala. There are numerous instances in his Thyagaraja- Vibhakthi
–Kritis.
Apart from the Vibakthi group, the Kriti Tyāgarāja-mahādwajārōhanam in Sri Raga
has the Madhyama-Kala passages in all its sections – Pallavi, Anupallavi and Carana.
Raga Mudra
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar set the trend for embedding Raga-mudra, the name of the
Raga, in the lyrics. This served the purpose of establishing the Raga of the kriti; and,
it also added a novel lyrical beauty. Sometimes the Raga-mudra could be as simple
as Brindavana  Sarangendra;  or Satchidananda  Bhiravisham; or  Krithika  Suddha
Dhyanyena.  
In the Kriti ‘Panca-Matanga’ (Malahari),the Raga-mudra is woven in the phrase ‘Kali-
malaharaṇa-catureṇa’. And, in the Kriti ‘Sri Parvathi- Parameshvarau’ (Bhouli),
the Raga-mudra is embedded in the phrase ‘Chithbim –boulila- vigrahau’.
 In the Kriti Tygāgaraja-pālayāṣumām (Gauḷa) the Raga-mudra is in the phrase
‘suthārtānga gaulāṅga’. In the Kriti Tyāgarāja-yōgavaibhavam (Anandabhairavi) it is
depicted as ‘sacchit-ānanda-bhiravīṣam’. And, in Viravasanta-
Tyāgarāja (Vīravasanta) it is in the beginning as ‘Vīravasanta-Tyāgarājamām’.
*

But, at times, he would ingeniously suggest the Raga by hiding it in a complex word,
through shlesha, a skillful play on words. For instance, as in:
(Veena+Abheri) to suggest Abheri;
(Panchamukha+arishadvarga_rahita) to suggest Mukhari; and
(Chidbimbou+lilavigrahou) to suggest Bouli
Some of the Ragas have peculiar names and require great skill to blend them into the
composition. For example; the Raga names like Paraz, Mahuri and Arabhi are rather
unusual; and yet, he successfully binds them into the composition without marring
its  literary merit . For instance :
“Bhakthajananam athisamiparujumarga darsitam,
Tvamahurisadayo, Samsarabhithyapaham.”
Again there is a Raga with the name ‘Andhali’ which conveys no specific meaning.
But in ‘Brihan-nayaki-varadayaki’ through the phrase   ‘Andhaliharana-chana-
pratapini’ he develops a fine poetic expression out of it: “The fragrance of her
shining beauty attracts even blind bees.”
The name of the Raga ‘Varali’ enhances the artistic beauty of the song ‘Mamava-
Minakshi’ through the phrase ‘Madhuravani-Varali-veni.’ These are typical of Sri
Dikshitar’s poetic excellence and his ability to achieve natural flow of delightful
phrases set to sublime music.
Sri Dikshitar also specialized in the use of different Vibhakti (the various cases that
delineate a noun) running parallel. A striking example is the first batch of eight krtis
he composed in praise of Lord Subrahmanya of Tiruttani.
Sanskrit language employs eight cases (vibhaktis) for the declination of a noun,
namely nominative (prathama), accusative (dvitIya), instrumental (tritIya), dative
(chaturthi), ablative (panchami), genitive (Shasti), locative (saptami) and vocative
(sambhodhana). The eight cases for the noun Guruguha would
be: Guruguhah (Guruguho); Guruguham; Guruguhena; Guruguhaya; Guruguhat;
Guruguhasya; Guruguhe; and, (hey or Oh..!) Guruguha.
Dance
Many of the Kritis of Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar are eminently suited for depiction in
Dance form. Just to mention a few: Rupamu-juchi (Todi, Adi Taala); Meenakshime –
mudam (Gamaka-kriya, Adi); Chetah-Sri-Bala-Krishnam (Dvijavanthi,
Rupaka) Kadambari Priyayai (Mohana, Misra Chapu) and Arunacha-natham (Saranga,
Rupaka)
They also present a graphic picture of its principal characters.
Meenakshime-mudam-dehi-mechakangi-Raja Matangi (Gamaka-kriya, Adi-Taala) is
graphic picture of the Mother Goddess Meenakshi. The descriptive lyrics vividly
portray the beauty, the grace and the virtues of the Goddess. It offers abundant
scope for the Dancer to  to meaningfully express through her Abhinaya the various
facets of Her beauty , her power and her compassion. And, shades of Srngara are
also woven into it by employing the Rati as the Sthayi Bhava; and, Moha, Harsha,
Jadata, Mati and Vitarka as Sanchari Bhavas.
Sri Dikshitar weaves a picture of her beauty; with her eyes (Meenakshi, Meena-
lochani), her face (vadane-vidambana – vidhu); her arms (mani-valaye); her radiant
skin (marakata chaaye); and her waist (shaath-udari), which captivates all
(vashankari) ,
Describing virtues and the nobility of Meenakshi, he calls her as: the fountainhead,
the Mother of all knowledge (Maana-Matru; Meye); the means of achieving knowledge
(Maye); adept in the art of Music (Dasha-kriye); the most compassionate Mother
(Hrudaye) who rids one of all bondages (Pasha-mochani).
She verily is the loveliest one who resides in the Kadamba grove (Manini, Kadamba-
vana-vasini). She the beloved of Mahadeva-Sundaresha (Mahadeva-Sundaresha-
Priye) is the jubilant victorious one (Vijaye).
*
Chetah-Sri-Bala-Krishnam-bhajare (Dvijavanthi, Rupaka Taala) is a delightful word-
picture of the most adorable child Krishna.  It lovingly describes the beautiful
features of the boy Krishna. One might even say, it is a form of meditation.
O mind, worship the child Krishna, the one who grants liberation; and the worship of
whose lotus-feet assures fulfilment of all the desired objectives in life.
The child of Nandagopla is resplendent like the rain-bearing cloud; his neck is
shapely like a conch; and, he is adorned in yellow glowing robes. The upholder of the
Govardhana mountain, the spouse of Rukmini , the one who is the slayer of Putana
and other evil-doers, is indeed the incarnation of Purushottama (Vishnu), whose
arena of sport is the hearts of sages which are  free  from passions ,.
The mouth of the Bala Krishna is fragrant with the  smell of fresh butter; the soft-
spoken one; the one whose eyes are like lotus-petal; the one reclining on a Banyan
leaf; the one whose nose is shapely like a Champa flower; the one who is radiant like
the flax flower; the one bowed to by Indra and the other seven protectors of the eight
directions of the world; the one wearing a deer musk Tilaka on his forehead; the one
wearing fresh Tulasi and forest-flower Vanamala garlands; the one encircled by
Rishis like Narada; the guardian of the worlds; he indeed is  the cowherd extolled
by Guruguha.
*
The Kriti Ananda-natana-prakasham, in the Raga Kedara , dedicted to Lord Nataraja
of Chidambaram, is another Kriti that is eminently suited for Dance. The Kriti is
studded with ‘Sollukattu’ that or Bols , the  vocalized syllebles.
*

And, on the occasion of the Arangetram of  Kamalam , one of his disciples  and also
one of the Dasis attached to the temple of Sri Thyagarajaswami at Tiruvarur, Sri
Dikshitar composed a Padavarnam on Sri Thyagesha – Rupamu chuchi- in Raga
Todi; and, a Daruvarnam – Nin sati Daivamandu ledani– the Raga Sriranjani.
*

Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar’s  two Kritis – Kadambari Priyayai and Arunacha natham –

do definitely differ from his other well known compositions steeped
in Bhakthi and Vairagya Bhavas.
The Kriti Kadambari Priyayai-Kadamba Kananayayi –Namaste –Namaste   (Raga
Mohana, Misra Chapu Taala) is beautifully suited for an elaboration as a Padam in a
Bharatha-natya recital. It brings nature and Srngara Rasa together beautifully. 
Its Kala -pramana is eminently suited for Abhinaya.
In his other Kriti – Aruaachala-natham-smarami-anisam-apeeta kuchamba-
sametam–  (Saranga, Rupaka Taala) , which is based in Srngara Rasa, Sri Dikshitar
brings out the Nayaka-Nayika-bedha in its fullest expression.
The sheer beauty of this piece lies in the fact the Nayaka-Nayika-bedha is installed
within a larger Bhava of Madura-Bhakti, wherein the Jeevatma and Paramatma are in
union.
Here in these cases, Srngara should be viewed as an aspect of Madhura Bhakthi; and
, should not be taken as  something that is improper .
**

Guruguha:
The mudra, the signature for his kritis occurs as Guruguha not only in his classic
creations commencing with Srinathadi, but also in this earlier Sanskrit verses
grouped under Nottuswara-Sahitya. The term Guruguha means the Guru dwelling in
the cave of my heart; and it normally refers to Kartikeya. The term however acquires
shades of other meanings depending on the context.
Sri Dikshitar was an Advaitin; and, in that context, the term Guru refers to the
Supreme Principle Brahman. In his Sri Guruguha-dasoham he says” I am Guruguha”.
Sri Dakshinamurthy, the yogic incarnation of Shiva, is often referred to by Sri
Dikshitar as Guruguha. Again , in his Jambu-pathe (yaman-kalyan), he refers to Shiva
the Guru in  nirvikalpa-Samadhi as Guruguha,  the attribute-less (nir–
vishesha), blemish-less (niranja) supreme consciousness (chaitanya)- (nir-vishesha-
chaitanya- niranjana- Guruguha Guroo).
Sri Dikshitar was also a yogi. In his Shrinathadi-guruguho-Jayati, the Guruguha is
the Lord seated in his Sahasrara-Lotus; and, absorbing the nectar of his sweet
music. 
In the Shakta tradition, the universe is interplay of Shiva and Shakthi. The Guru is
Shiva the body, and Shakthi the energy as Guhya-shakthi, the intrinsic
power. Guruguha is at times a wordplay based on this dual principle.
Sri Dikshitar was also a Srividya-Upasaka ;and, as per its tradition ,he submitted his
salutations to that Guru-parampara (the linage of his Guru’s). Sri Vidya graduates the
evolution from the most subtle form (Shukshma) to the gross in 36 steps; the first
being Shiva-tatva , and the final one being Prithvi-tatva.
According to this School, Shiva is Adinatha the progenitor; Shiva is Adi-guru. The
Tantric texts identity the Guru and the Mantra with the deity; the three are one.
The Mantra represents Manas (mind), the Devata stands for the Prana (vital force);
and, the Guru represents the aspirants own self (Atman).  That is the reason Sri
Dikshitar in his Sri Guruguha-dasoham exclaims : “I am Guruguha”.
In the Sri Vidya tradition, the Guru is not an abstract concept. Guru is an individual.
He also symbolizes the hoary tradition Sampradaya in a succession of masters. The
human guru is the contemporary master; who has descended in an unbroken line of
gurus beginning from Adi Guru Shiva himself. He not only reveals the transcendental
reality to the disciple; but also helps him to realize his own essential reality (svartha–
parartha-prakatana-paro-guruh). Devotion to the human guru is to purify the mind
and fortify it with the spirituality of the Guru. In his Anandeshwara (Anandabhiravi),
Sri Dikshitar refers to his Guru , who initiated him, as the incarnation of Guruguha
(jnana-pradana- Guruguha-rupa).
Sri Dikshitar refers to the Guru-parampara as Adi- guruguha-varena. He mentions
Paramashiva, Durvasa, Agasthya, Hayagreeva and other Gurus of Sri Vidya tradition.
Elsewhere, he makes a mention of twelve Upasakas in three Schools of worship in
Sri Vidya – Kadi, Hadi and Sadi – in his line  Kamadi-dwadasha-bhi rupasthitha-kadi
-hadi -sadi-mantra- rupinya-iharena-navanathena-adyena. Shiva is Adi-guru,
the Guruguha  who resides in the cave of the heart.
Influence of Advaita
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was well grounded in Vedanta ; and ,he was
an Advaitin. The influence of that School of Vedanta is visible in several of his kritis.
For instance; in Girijayaa-ajayaa (Shankarabharanam) – saadhu-Jana (purna-
panchamam); in Sri-Guruguha-murthe (udhaya-ravichandrika), Guhad-
anyam (Balahamsa); in Ambhikaya-Abhayambikaya (Kedara); and, in Abhayamba 
Jagadamba  (Kalyani) etc.
In these compositions, he speaks about the identity of jiva and Brahman; the
superimposition, Aadhyasa; the seemingly real yet not- real (Maya); the errors in
perception, each atom being the microcosm of the universe (chidvilasa koti koti
cidabhasa) and other Advaita concepts. In his Kamalamba Navavarana kritis in
Shankarabharanam he declares “I am guruguha”.

Influence of Sri Vidya

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a Devi Upasaka; and, was well versed in all aspects
of Sri-Vidya-Upasana. His kritis, permeated with Sri Vidya concepts, are too many to
be listed here. The prominent among this genre is the Kamalamba-navavarana -kritis,
a series that is rich in celebration of the deities and traditions of Sri Chakra worship,
expounding in each of its  nine kritis, the details of the each Avarana of the Sri
Chakra.
According to Sri Dikshitar, Sri Vidya protects the devotee: Bhaktanam
Abhayapradam; leads his way to well being ; and, also to the way to liberation
(bhukti-mukti-prada-margam) .He sings in inspired devotion; and, beseeches the
Divine Mother to protect him ; and, to guide him along the right path.
There are references to Shaktha tradition in his Nilothpalamba-
Vibhakthi compositions, the Guruguha Vibhakthi and Abhayamba
Vibhakthi compositions, in addition to references in several individual compositions.
Dikshitar composed about 40 kritis spread over four sets of compositions on the
subjects related to Sri Vidya; Kamalamba Navavarana (11+2 kritis); Nilothpalamba
kritis (9 kritis); Abhayamba kritis (10 kritis) and Guru Kritis (8 kritis).
Of these the Kamalamba set of kritis, is highly well organized; and, is truly
remarkable for its classic structure , majesty and erudite knowledge.
Let us talk more about Sri Chakra, Sri Vidya and their influence on Sri Dikshitar, in
the next sections.

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a many splendored genius. He gave form and
substance to all the 72 Mela-kartha-ragas. Besides, he breathed life into several
ancient Ragas that were fading away from common memory. He redefined the
paradigm of Karnataka Samgita . Each of his compositions exemplifies the essence
of Raga-bhava; and captures the depth and soulfulness of the melody. His vision of
the Ragas and their structure is sublime.
His compositions are crisp, well chiseled and rich in knowledge.  His Sanskrit is
delightfully captivating. His synthesis of Karnataka and Hindustani Music systems is
creative and original. He took the best in the other systems and adorned the Carnatic
System; enriching both. Dikshitar revolutionized Karnataka classic ethos , while
being  firmly positioned within its orthodox framework.
He excelled in all the four aspects of the traditional music viz. Raga, Bhava,
Taala and Sahitya. The technical sophistication, intellectual brilliance and the
majesty of his music is unsurpassed.
Sri Dikshitar was a scholar well grounded in good tradition (sampradaya). To him,
music was more than an art; it was serene contemplation; a way of worship in
tranquility; and, it was also an outpouring of his soul in celebration of the divine. He
described the divine as embodiment of Raga, Bhava and Tala (Bhava-Raga-Taala –
swarupakam).He was a yogi, with the heart of a poet; there is therefore a certain
composure and majesty in his music along with sublime poetic imagery adorned by
grace and enchanting beauty. His Kritis exude with soulful repose, peace and
transcendental joy.
[ It is said; the compositions of Sri Thyagaraja reveal, as in a mirror, his personality;
his family circumstances; his problems in life; his varying moods; his pains and
pleasures; his spiritual yearning; and, his intimate mystic experiences. It seems
possible to reconstruct his life-events and personality by piecing together some of
his compositions. The same could be said, to a certain extent, in the case of few
other musicians, such as: Jayadeva kavi; Kshetrayya; Annamayya; Sri
Purandaradas; Sri Shyama Sastri; and others.
(For a comparative study of the compositions of Sri Dikshitar and Sri Thyagaraja , written by
the well-known musician-musicologist Prof. S R Janakiraman, please click here and also
here)
But, in the case of Sri Dikshitar; his compositions are remarkably free from personal
elements. We may admire his scholarship, his mastery over language and music; his
superb artistry enriching his creations with beauty and excellence; his dexterity in
weaving together and harmoniously synthesizing various strands of elements into
precise, compact, faultless Kritis; and, his greatness, in general.  But, we do not get
to peep into his family circumstances, his personal likes, dislikes, pains and
pleasures in his life. He hardly brings into his works, the personal issues or factors;
or, his reactions or views on the life around him. There is a sense of detachment;
and, Yogic poise that permeates his compositions.
That does not mean that Sri Dikshitar, as a person ceased to be human.  Sri Dikshitar
was a Jivanmukta, the one who is liberated even while encased in the body. He
existed in the real world; but, his moorings and attachments in the phenomenal world
had withered away. He rested in himself (Svarupa-pratishta). And, he regarded his
Music pursuit as a spiritual quest in search of the most sublime state of
consciousness, his identity (sva-svarupa-prapti) with the Mother goddess.]
 Continued in Part Five
Sri Chakra and Sri Vidya
Sources:
Compilation of Dishitar’s compositions  – Dr. P. P. Narayanswami’s page
Statistical Analysis of Dikshitar’s compositions  – Dr. P. P. Narayanaswami’s page
Group Kritis of Dikshitar
List of temples mentioned in his works
 Muthuswami Dikshitar – A Creative Genius by Chitravina N Ravikiran
Guru principle and Guruguha in Dikshitar
https://ramsabode.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/lec-dem-the-beauty-of-sangeetham-
sahityam-in-muthuswami-dikshitars-compositions/
I gratefully acknowledge the paintings by Sri S Rajam  

10 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 14, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sanskrit, Sri Vidya
 

Tags: Guruguha, music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (3 of 8)

13SEP
Dikshitar and Hindustani music

While you read the article….listen to

  Jambu pathe maam pahi  in Yaman Kalyani sung by Shri TM Krishna
 (Thanks to Sashidhar Vasisth)
[The majestic Jambu pathe (Yamuna Kalyani, Rupakam) a masterpiece by Sri
Dikshitar, is based in Hindustani raga Yaman Kalyan. The stately gait of the
composition is akin to the Dhrupad style of singing.  The kriti is one of his Pancha
linga group kritis extolling the manifestations of Shiva among the five elements of
nature (Panchabhuta); and, is in celebration of the water-element (Appu), singing in
praise the glory of Jambukeswara the deity in the temple at Tiruvanaikaval near
Trichy in Tamil Nadu.

The final passage – Madhyama-kala- sahitya – nirvikalpaka samAdi nishta Siva

kalpakataro ; nirvisesha caitanya niranjana guruguha guro – is a rare gem , a true
classic, where Sri Dikshitar calls out to Shiva , pure consciousness
(caitanya), devoid of attributes (nirvisesha); the Supeme Guru (Guro);  and the one
from whom originated the pristine purest (niranjana) Lord Guruguha.
 To  summarize Sri Ravi Rajagopalan in the series of articles  on : Yamuna Kalyani–A
Journey Back in Time-Part III :
Sri Dikshitar invokes the deeply meditative and contemplative structure of the
devotional Dhrupad in this composition. The Devotional Dhrupads are always
composed in cau tala and are sung in slow tempo. The rendition of the complete
composition is compulsory and no part of the devotional text is indispensable.
The Alapa is either omitted or reduced to a few characteristic phrases of the raga.
Rhythmic and melodic improvisation too is given little space and in some temples
and traditions, improvisation is avoided.
The similarities ‘Jambupate’ has with the devotional Dhrupad give us a clue as to
how the composition has to be rendered and there can be no doubt about it.
Sri Dikshitar’s Yamuna Kalyani as found in “Jambupate” has Sa, Ga and Pa as the
chief nyasa svaras, Ni and Ma figuring prominently with M1 as an alpa
prayoga figuring in avarohana passages through the murccana GM1R & Ni
is  vakra in aroha passages. Ga and Pa seem to be the amsa svaras with Ri being
very weak. The sancaras range from mandhara Pa/Dha to tara sthayi Ga. In fact there
is no tradition of singing Dikshitar’s Jambupate in Madhyama sruti, while all others
including the modern tuned up compositions such as  “Krishna nee begane” and
“Bhavayami Gopalabalam” are all sung in Madhyama sruti.

Please check the link for the text and brief explanation  http://guru-

guha.blogspot.in/2007/11/dikshitar-kriti-jamboo-pathae-raga.html ]

During his stay at Varanasi, Muthuswamy Dikshitar enjoyed splendid opportunities of

listening to Hindustani music in its pristine forms. He seemed to be impressed
greatly by the ancient Drupad form of singing and of playing the string instruments;
particularly by its elaboration of raga (alap), the tempo and the structure of the
lyrics . He diligently studied and learnt the Druphad. This had a profound influence
on his creative genius, and apparently modeled his portrayal of ragas in general and
in transforming the Hindustani ragas into Carnatic form, in particular. His synthesis
of Carnatic and Hindustani Music systems is creative and original.

The influence of Hindustani music on Dikshitar and his works are manifold. It is not
confined to composing some kritis based on Outhareya that is Hindustani ragas. The
influence is evident in the structure of his kritis, the tempo of his music, in the
selection of the Talas and in elaboration of the raga too.
His kritis are well structured, close knit and written in graceful Sanskrit akin to
Druphad compositions. Dikshitar’s kritis do not have more than one Charanam; and
many of his creations are Samasti-charanams carrying no Anupallavi or
the Anupallavi acting as Charanam. His rhythm is subtle and lyrics are divine.
The Druphad way of elaboration appears to have captured his imagination. The
tempo of his songs is mostly the Vilambakala– slow, measured and majestic; rich
in gamaka just as the meends on a Been. Dikshitar’s treatment of the raga
exemplifies the essence of raga bhaava and brings out its delicate shades. It is as if
the musician is immersed in contemplative meditation. A scholar aptly remarked “….
Dikshitar’s kritis are epitome of the spiritual record of India”.
This is amply reflected in his works: for instance
in Chetasri (Dvijawanthi);, Balagopala (Bhairavi); Sri Rajagopala, Meenkshi-Me-
Mudam (Poorvikalyani); Jambu pathe maam pahi (yaman-kalyani); and, in  Sri
Subramanyaya Namasthe (Kambhoji).
It was not all slow and spacious. He built into his compositions exhilarating bursts
of Madhyamakala gathi, of speed and sparkling delight as if in celebration of the
divine, towards the end.
He did not merely import the Hindustani ragas but transformed them and gave them
an entire new form and luster. That was the creative genius of Dikshitar. For instance,
his interpretation and rendering of ragas like Dwijavathi, Ramkali, Yamakalyani,
Hamirkalyani, and Brindavan sarang are highly original and creative. He made them
into his own. His Cheta sri is so wonderfully well adapted to Carnatic raga_bhava that
one scarcely notices the Outhereya traces in its character. 
Similar is the case with his Kriti in Raga Bhairavam (Kaala Bhairavam bhajeham) ,
which has the shades of Ahir Bhairav. And, his Kriti in Raga Kashi – Ramakriya
(Soma-skanda vimanastam) has the flavour of Raga Pooriya.
He took in the best aspects of the other system, transformed them and enriched both
the systems.
His Jambupathe (Yamankalyani), Parimalaranganatham (HamirKalyani),  Rangapuravi
hara  (Brindavana Saranga) and Mamava pattabhrama (manirangu) bear testimony to
his virtuosity. They are the bench-mark kritis in those ragas; and, are splendid
examples of aesthetic excellence of the ragasancharas.
The Hindustani influence spilled over to some of his compositions in Carnatic ragas
too, by way of elaborate beginning and by gamakas resembling sliding meends;  as ,
for instance in :
the grandeur and slow paced majesty of Akshyalinga Vibho (Shankarabharanam) in
contemplation of the Shiva the Yogi;
 the Balagopala (Bhiravi), portraying the delight and  beauty of the divine child
Krishna.
his Nirajakshi Kamakshi in Hindolam with dha flat re-defined the way Hindolam was
sung by his contemporaries and by the later Carnatic musicians.
Justice Sri T L Venkatarama Aiyar , in his biography of Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar
(National Biography Series, National Book Trust, 1968) , observes that during the
days of Venkatamakhin , the differences between the Karnataka and
Hindustani systems were not much pronounced. And, Venkatamakhin was well
versed in both the systems of Music; and, he composed Lakshana-Gitas on Ragas
that  were known to have been derived from the Outhareya -Ragas.
For instance; Venkatamakhin composed a Lakshna Gita  , commencing with the
words ‘ Ambarakesha Shambu Re’–  for the Raga Brindavani (based in the
Hindusthani Raga Sarang). The Raga-sanchara, the Aroha  (Sa Ri Ma Pa Ni)
and Avaroha  (Sa Ni Pa Ma Ri Sa) of the Raga handled by him is the same as that of
the Karnataka Raga Madhyamavathi – except that it takes also Kakili (Tivra)
Nishadha and has certain other characteristic Sancharas. The Lakshana of
Brindavani in this Gita , conforms fully with that of Raga Sarang of Hindustani
system.
After the days of Venkatamakhin, the Raga Brindavani came to be known as
Brindavana Saranga, combining in itself  the names of both the systems. Under the
new Raga, there was an occasional use of Sadharana (Komal) Gandhara. And,
the Kakili-Nishada-Prayoga was dropped; and, this completely changed the
complexion of the Raga.
*
Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar, who followed Venkatamakhin’s system, was also well
versed in the Dhrupad of the Hindustani system; and, he adopted a similar approach.
He created numerous other musical gems, assimilating the the beauties of the either
melodic systems.  Of these , a special mention needs to be made of the Kriti in the
Raga Yaman Kalyani (based in the Raga Yaman) – Jambu -pathe mam pahi – which,
for its richness of Raga-bhava and and grandeur, stands unrivalled.
The two other Kritis composed Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar dedicated to  Lord
Pashupathishvara and Sri Sathyanarayana  are  in Shiva-Panthuvarali (now called
Shubha-Panturarali). This Raga corresponds to Mikya-ki-Todi of Hindustani system .
These Kritis gained great popularity; and, until then Shiva-Panthuvarli was a rather
an obscure Raga in the Karnataka samgita. Though the Shiva-Panthuvarali was
primarily based in an Outhareya Raga, it had its own originality , and was pure. That
was the creative genius of Sri Dikshitar.
Similar was the case with Raga Sarang (Brindavani ), Malkhauns (Hindolam).
And, his Kriti in Hamir Kalyani – Parimala Ranganatham- is again a brilliant
composition, bringing out the characteristic features of the Raga in its Hindustani
mode, occasionally touching upon Raga Kedar.
Raga Jaya-Jaya-Vanthi is another Hindustani Raga which has been adopted into
Karnataka Samgita , as Dwijavanthi.  The Kriti – Chetas-Sri-Balakrishnam– composed
by Sri Dikshitar in the Raga Dwijavanthi is a magnificent structure featuring a full
view of the Raga in all its  aspects. And, therefore, this Kriti is rightly regarded as the
epitome of the Raga Dwijavanthi.
There is another Raga called Malava-Panchama, in which Sri Dikshitar composed a
Kriti – Vasudevam-upasmahe. This Raga resembles Raga Basant of the Hindusthani
system; but, with a few modifications.
*
The Vilamba kaala rendering of Sri Dikshitar’s  Kritis, to the accompaniment of
Veena, was ideally suited for gracefully executing the Jaru (sliding) Gamakas , which
is also a characteristic of Drupad Samgita.  These Gamaka-graces impart beauty  and
eloquence to the Raga-bhava  of the songs. The Kritis of Sri Dikshitar are unrivalled ,
in any system  of Music, for the richness of their  Gamakas.
With these creative compositions, Sri Mutthuswami Dikshitar enriched both the
systems of the Music of India.

 
Dikshitar was a scholar well grounded in good tradition (sampradaya) . To him, music
was more than an art; it was serene contemplation, a way of worship in tranquility
and it was also an outpouring of his soul in celebration of the divine. He took his
music seriously. His involvement in Western or Hindustani music was not flippant
.The influences of those other systems on the traditional Carnatic music, which he
practiced with great devotion and diligence, was purposeful and did not in any
manner diminish the pristine tradition of Carnatic music, his forte . He took the best
in the other systems and adorned the Carnatic System; enriching both the donor and
the recipient systems. Dikshitar revolutionized Carnatic classic ethos while firmly
positioned within its orthodox framework.
The efforts of Sri Dikshitar to forge a meaningful link between the two Music
traditions soon bore fruit. Hardly about seventy years after his departure , the
monumental  Sangeeta Sampradaya Pradarshini  published by his Grandson Sri
Subbarama Dikshitar in the year 1903 records all those Ragas adopted from
Hindustani system as having been well integrated into Karnataka Music and
classified as derivatives of the Melakarta Ragas.
Such integration was brought into effect even in practice of Music. For instance;
initially , the Musicians of the Mysore Durbar such as the Vainikas – Veena Seshanna,
Veena Subbanna and Vekatagiriyappa – introduced new compositional format  called
‘Nagmas’ , inspired by the Music of North India. Later, Mysore Dr. V Doraiswamy
Iyyangar carried on the innovative tradition by playing regularly, in the concerts, the
Tillanas in Ragas, Durbari Kanada, Jhenjuti, Kapi, Behag etc.
Now, of course, most of the vocal and instrument artist do sing the adopted Ragas,
regularly , without distinction.
[ Now , listen to another  delightful version of Jambu pathe  beautifully  rendered by a group
of youngsters]

I cannot resist posting here some excerpts (in a summarized form) from a

wonderfully well researched paper ‘North Indian Ragas in the compositions of
Muttuswami Dikshitar’ written by the Musicologist, Composer and
Scholar Dr.V.V.Srivatsa, an authority on the compositions of Sri Dikshitar.

While discussing the relations between the Ragas adopted from the Hindustani
Music into the Karnataka Music tradition, Dr.Srivatsa treats them under four broad
heads:
(i) Ragas adopted from the Hindustan Music, maintained with the same nomenclature
(e.g. Ramkali)
(ii) Ragas adopted from Hindustani Music, and retained with Northern music content ,
but with different names (e.g. Hamveer Kalyani which is Raga Kedar in Hindustani
Music)
(iii) Ragas of Hindustani Music which have been integrated into Karnataka Music (e.g.
Jhenjuti)
And
(iv) Ragas of Hindustani Music which have musical equivalent in Karnataka system
(e.g. Karnataka Devagandhari – Bhimpalas)
[The Ragas carrying similar names but with different musical content are ignored]
***
According to Dr. Srivatsa, though Sri Dikshitar did introduce some Ragas into
Karnatik Music; several were in vogue even before his time. For instance, he
mentions, Lalitha, a Raga of North Indian origin, was used by all members of the
Musical Trinity. And, the Ragas like Gurjari, Hamveer, Kalyani and Ramkali were in
use at the Trinity’s time. Ragas like Bhairavi (Sindhu Bhairavi), Behag and Bageshri
came in shortly thereafter. Recent infusions include Ragas like Shivaranjani, Bairagi-
Bhairav (Revati), Basant-Bahar and so on.
Raga Lalita was in vogue in the Karnataka Music even prior to the era of the Trinity.
Then, Sri Shyama Sastri’s ‘Nannu brova Lalita’; Sri Tyagaraja’s ‘Seethamma
maayamma’; and, Sri Dikshitar’s two compositions ‘Agasteeshwaran Bhajeham’ and
‘Hiranmayeem Lakshmim’ immortalized Raga Lalita in Karnataka Music.
The Raga Lalita closely resembles Raga Vasanta (which sometimes is
called Dakshinatya Vasanta to differentiate it from Basant of Hindustani Music).It is
surmised that Raga Vasanta was from the North; and, integrated into Karnataka
Music.
Raga Hamveer Kalyani was in use in the Karnataka Music from even before the times
of the Trinity. The sixteenth century text ‘Rasa-kaumudi’ ( ascribed to Śrikanṭha,
dealing with music, dance, and related general topics from the Nava Rasas to the
ornamentation of women) mentions this Raga. Further; Sri Paidala Gurumuthy Sastri*
had included Raga Hamveer Kalyani in the list of 22 Bhashanga Ragas that were in
vogue during his time. He had clearly mentioned that the Raga was adopted from
Northern system.
However, the Hamveer kalyani of the present-day Karnataka Music corresponds to
Raga Kedar of Hindustani Music; but, not to Hamveer Kalyan also of Hindustani
system.
There are compositions of Sri Dikshitar (Pashupatheeswaram) in Shiva Pantuvarali
which corresponds to Hindustani Todi. It is believed; Shiva Pantuvarali was in use in
Karnataka Music even in the days prior to Sri Dikshitar.  There is a Kriti of Sri
Tyagaraja – Ennallu Oorage’– in this Raga.
(*Paidala Gurumurthi Sastri was a disciple of Sonti Venkatasubbayya and a contemporary
of Sri Ramaswamy Dikshitar. He was a Telugu Brahmin belonging to the Murikinati sect;
and , lived during the 17th century in the village of Kayatar in Tirunelveli district of Tamil
Nadu. He was famous as great composer of one thousand geetams (Veyigita Paidala
Gurumurti) illustrating the Janaka and the JanyaRagas; and also lakshana geetams that
illustrate the characteristic features of the Ragas . He was a composer of kritis in Rakti
ragas, and had a vast knowledge of sastras and Vedas. It is said that Paidala Gurumurthi
was the first to mention that Raga Sahana as a derivative of raga Kambhoji. He was highly
regarded for his technical knowledge of the Ragas – Sastrajna and Raga bheda dureena .)
*
There are some Ragas that have come from folk tradition, And, Jhenjuti is one such.
Sri Dikshitar has used the Raga-mudra (in his kriti Gajanba Nayako) as Jhenjuti and
its South Indian name ‘Chenjurti’ or ‘Chenchurutti’.
Similar is the case with Raga Piloo, which is proximate to Hindustani Raga Kafi. The
Karnataka Kapi  has three versions : Maharaja Swathi Tirunal ‘s version being close
to Kharaharapriya; Sri Dikshitar’s being similar to Kaanada; and, Sri Shyama Sastri’s
version being midway between Durbar and Kharaharapriya.
**
As regards Karnataka Shuddha Saveri; it is an Audava Raga with Shuddha Svaras
(Rishabha, Madhyama, and Dhaivata), and does not have the Gandhara or Nishada
Svaras. The Karnataka Shuddha Saveri is equivalent to Hindustani Raga Komkali. Sri
Dikshitar while introducing this Raga into Karnataka Music named it as ‘maana-
danda’ or the standard format. His Grandson Sri Subbarama Dikshitar later classified
Karnataka Shuddha Saveri as an Upanga of the First Melakarta Raga.
Similar was the case with Kamala-manohari, a non-Vivadi Raga which is Janya of a
Vivadi Melakarta.
**
The characteristic of Karnataka Shuddha Saveri is elaborate and
elongated prayoga of Rishabha-Svara. It has a strong resemblance to Komkali,
a Prabhat Kaala (morning) Raga of the Hindustani Music. And, Karnataka Shuddha
Saveri was one among the favourites of Sri Dikshitar. His Ekamresha Nayike in
Shuddha Saveri is a true classic.
The Karnataka Raga Shuddha Saveri approximates to Raga Malahari and to Kannada
Bangala, which has a limited use of Nishada Svara. The Raga Malahari, which has no
Nishada (Nishada-varjya) and which has Gandhara only in the Avaroha, is an old
Raga of the Karnataka system in which Sri Pauradaradasa composed Pillari-geetas
for the benefit of the beginners. Of the Trinity, only Sri Dikshitar has composed in
these three Ragas- Shuddha Saveri, Malahari and Kannada Bangala. And, Sri
Dikshitar alone has composed Kritis both in Kannada Gowla and Karnataka
Devagandhari. 
The Karnataka Devagandhari which approximates to Raga Abheri has only Shuddha
Daivata. Sri Subbarama Dikshitar in his ‘ Sangeeta Sampradaya Pradarshini’
mentions of a Suladi composed by Sri Purandaradasa in the Raga Karnataka
Devagandhari ( Hasugala kareva dhvani) set to Rangana Jati Mattya Tala.
[Dr.Srivatsa opines that the current popular version of the Abheri of ‘Nagumomu
ganaleni’ is rather corrupted; and, it is not the same as Raga Abheri of Sri Dikshitar’s
‘Panchashat peetha rupini’.]
Sri Dikshitar’s Kriti in Raga Karnataka Devagandhari (Kaayaaarohanesham) has the
shades of the Hindustani Bhimpalas (as in Sri Bhimsen Joshi’s rendering
of Haribhajane mado nirantara).
The examples of Hindola and Malkauns can also be considered. However, the
Hindustani influence is not significant in Sri Dikshitar’s Kritis – ‘Nirajakshi
Kamakshi’; ‘Sarasvathi Vidyuvathi’; and, ‘ Govardhana Girisham’.
**
There is a special group of Ragas that use both Shuddha Madhyama and Prati
Madhyama Svaras. The instances of Such Ragas are: Yamuna Kalyani, Hamveer
Kalyani and Saranga. Of these, Hamveer Kalyani and Yamuna Kalyani (Yaman
Kalyan) are of Northern origin.
The Ragas Yaman and Yamuna Kalyani differ in that the latter has the Shuddha
Madhyama in the passage ‘Ma-Ga-Ma-Ri-Sa’ .  The Astapadi ‘Saa virahe tava  deena’
and the Devaranama ‘Hari smarane mado niratara’ are good examples of Yamuna
kalyani.
In Raga Yaman, though the Shuddha Madhyama Svara is used in passages like ‘ Ma-
Ga-Sa-Ni-Ri-Sa’ you will not find ‘Ma-Ga-Ma-Ri-Sa’.
The two compositions by Sri Dikshitar in Raga Yaman is an adaptation of the
Northern Raga Yaman. And, Jambu Pathe is one such
*
There are some Ragas which are Dwi-Madhyama in structure; but, with Shuddha
Madhyama as the dominant Svara; and, Prati Madhyama as the subordinate Svara.
The instances of such Ragas are: Ramkali, Arda-deshi, Ahir-Marwa etc. It is only Sri
Muttuswami Dikshitar that has used such Ragas.
Sri Dikshitar’s Kriti in Ramkali resembles, in structure, a Dhrupad composition.
Further, the Pallavi – ‘Rama Rama kali kalusha virama’ (meaning Rama mitigates the
evils of the Kali era) hides the Raga-mudra.
*
We go back to the case of Dwi-Madhyama Ragas . The Raga Marwa is of folk origin;
and, is a Janya-Raga of Maya-malava-cowla . The Raga Marwa omits Rishabha Svara
in ascendent scale, Arohana; and , has a Sampurna Arohana. The raga-scale makes it
a distant cousin of Ragas Lalita and Vasanta – the difference being the presence of
Rishabha Svara (Ri) in the raga Lalita and the use of Panchama Svara (Pa) in the
descendent scle Avarohana of Raga Marwa.
However, the use of Prati-Madhyama Svara in prayogas like ‘Ni-Dha-Ma-Pa’ or ‘ Dha-
Ma-Pa-Ni’ makes it a Bhashanga Raga and Dwi- Madhyama Raga.
We have Sri Dikshitar’s  Kriti in Raga Marwa  (Maruvaakadi Maalini).  This is similar to
Raga Ramkali where the Shuddha Madhyama dominates.
Raga Poorvi, a Bhashanga Raga, which has its origin in the Northern tradition, has
also Dwi-Madhyama. The only Kriti in that Raga (Ekaika Raga) – ‘Shri Guruguhasya
daasoham nochet Guruguha eva hum’- is a part of the Guruguha Vibhakti Series.
**
Raga Brindavana Saranga is quite different from Raga Brindavani. In the tradition
followed by Sri Tyagaraja, the rendering of Brindavana Saranga involves emphasis
on Gandhara Svara, bringing it very close to Sri Raga (as in his Kriti Kalamalpta
kula).
But, in Sri Dikshitar’s kritis – Rangapura Vihara and Soundara rajam – the Gandhara
is rather weak. His Brindavana Saranga is closer to Madhyamavati.
The Raga Brindavani of northern origin; and is equivalent to Raga Shuddha Sarang
of Hindustani system. The dominant Svara of the Brindavani is Kakili Nishada, which
is alien to the 22nd Melakarta Raga; and, is classified as a Bhashanga Raga of the
22nd Melakarta system. Sri Dikshitar’s kriti in this Raga is ‘Swaminathena
Samrakshitoham’.
***
The Ragas in Karnataka system are categorized and classified in as many as twenty
ways. One among such methods is to group the Ragas under the broad heads of
Shuddha (Pure); Sankeerna (Unclassified); and Chaayalaga (having the shadow or
flavour of other ragas) – Shuddha, Chaayalakah prokto Sankeernaani thataivach.
The Shuddha Ragas are those which possess the intrinsic character (Lakshana) of
the Raga; and, provide ample scope for its exposition in all the facets of its
elaboration- Alapana, Sangathi, Neraval and Svara-prastara.  Further, even a flash or
a single movement (Sanchara) is adequate to identify it. The celebrated examples of
the Shuddha Ragas are: Kalyani; Kambhoji; Saveri; Shankarabharana, Todi; Bhairavi;
Dhanyasi and so on.
Sankeerna Jati Ragas are those which are not facile enough to full exploration of
Alapana; but, are usually identified by the Kritis in that Raga. The instances of such
Sankeerna Ragas are : Devamrutavarshini; Mandari; and Manji etc.
A Chaayalaka Raga is one which carries the flavour of nuances of other Ragas. Lets
say when one sings Raga Natakapriya, the shades of Ragas Chakravaka,
Kharaharapriya and Todi pass through. And, while rendering Raga Ghanta the
passages of Punnagavarali and Dhanashri with a pronounced play of Shuddha
Nishada appear. Similarly, Raga Dwijavanti (Cheta Shri balakridhnam) could be said
to be a Chaayalaka having the shades of Sahana, Dhanyasi and Yadukula Kambhoji.

Continued in Part Four

The music of Sri Dikshitar
Resource:
Muthuswami Dikshitar – A Creative Genius by Chitravina N Ravikiran
I gratefully acknowledge Shri S Rajam’s  painting of Jambu-linga
 

2 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 13, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya
 

Tags: Dikshitar and Hindustani music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya

Sri Mutuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (2 of 8)
13SEP
Sri Dikshitar  and the Western Music

While the Dikshitar family lived in Manali, a Zamindari near Madras, the family
enjoyed the patronage of the Zamindar Muddukrishna Mudaliyar and his son
Venkatakrishna Mudaliar (sometimes referred to as Chinnaswami). The Zamindars
were closely connected with the East India Company as its Dubash (interpreters);
and in that capacity they often called on Fort St. George the seat of the Company in
South India. Since the Zamindars were reputed art connoisseurs, they were regularly
invited to Fort St. George to listen to the European Airs played by the Irish
bands. The bands played simple Celtic marching tunes, lilting melodies, easy on the
drums and bagpipes and flutes.
The zamindars would sometimes take along with them the Dikshitar brothers, who
were in their teens, to listen to the “English” bands. That was how Muthuswami
Dikshitar and his younger brother Baluswami came to gain familiarity with the
Western music.
During this association, it is said, that   at the suggestion of Col. Browne who was in
the service of the East India Company, Muthuswami Dikshitar composed the text in
Sanskrit and Telugu for well known Western tunes. He also composed other songs in
Sanskrit and Telugu based on Western notes. The collection of these compositions
numbering about forty later came to be known as “Nottuswara Sahithya“. Nottu is
Telugu/Tamil transformation of the word Note. It is a unique genre of music.
A list of about forty of the Nottuswara works of Dikshitar is given in the website KarnATik
The noted scholar musician Shri M.R.Shankara Murthy has  , however, in his book ,
listed 30 nottu songs, in addition to eight other songs. Please also check 
http://maddy06.blogspot.in/2010/09/nottuswara-muthuswamy-dikshitars.html
Of these about forty compositions of “Nottuswara sahithya“, the notation is available
for only thirty-six compositions. The text or sahithya for these compositions are in
Sanskrit and Telugu and they are in the form of verses or songs. They do not have
segments of Pallavi, Anupallavai and Charanam, as one would find in the classic kriti
format of Carnatic music. The compositions are not in Shankarabharanam per se ;
but are  based on simple melodies and devoid of the ornamentation (gamaka) that is
characteristic of Carnatic music.
These songs or verses are in praise of the different Gods and Goddesses of different
holy places, such as Srirangam, Tirupathi, Kanchi, Madurai, etc.
[The songs are praise of Ganesha (1),Saraswathi (2), Shiva (11), Vishnu/Krishna (5),
Devi (10), Skanda (4), Anjaneya (1), Rama (6)]
Curiously, those songs composed during the end years of the 18 th century bear the
“Mudra” or the composer’s signature as “Guruguha”. That was several years before
Dikshitar composed his first kriti, as Vak_geya Kara, (Srinathadi guruguho jayath...)
on the hills of Tiruttani (around 1809). The “Nottuswara “songs were  thus the
forerunners of Dikshitar’s monumental classic compositions; and Dikshitar had
decided upon his signature, Mudra, quite early in his life, even before he left for
Varanasi.
Among these songs, about thirteen of them were replicas of well-known European
songs/tunes of those days. Dikshitar set Sanskrit words to the music of those songs.
These were the songs:

Sr.
No Song commencing
. with words Replica of the song or the tune
Shantatam_PahimamSangita British National Anthem “God save
01 Shyamale the King/queen “
02 Vande Meenakshi Irish melody “Limerick”
03 Vara shivabalam “Castilian Maid” by Thomas Moore
Persian verse “taza ba-taza nau ba-
nau” which B. H. Palmer and
Gertrude Bell made into pleasant
04 Peetavarnam Bhaje English jingle.
05 Jagadeesa guruguha “Lord MacDonald’s Reel”
the regimental march of the
Grenadiere guards, the senior foot
guards regiment of the British
06 Subramanyam Surasevyam Army-“British Grenadiere”
07 Kancheesam Ekambaram “country dance”
Ramachandram English song “Let us lead a life of
08 Rajeevaksham Pleasure”
09 Sakala suravinuha tune of “Quick March”
10 SakthiSahitha Ganapathim song “Voulez Vouz Dansers”
English song “oh Whistle and I will
11 Sowri Vidhinute come to you, my lad.”
Playful tune of ‘Galopede’ folk dance
where men and women in two lines
12 Kamala Vandita dance briskly
 Nursery rhyme ”Twinkle twinkle little
star” based on French tune Ah! Vous
13 Shyamale Meenakshi dirai-je

As regards the  rest of the songs composed by Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar, they were
all based on the Western scale of C Major, which corresponds to the scale of
Shankarabharanam of Carnatic music and Bhilaval that of Hindustani music. [The
songs were not, however, in Shankarabharanam or Bhilaval per se.] These were
independent works based on western notes; and were not replicas of European
tunes.
All the forty or more  songs were set to Tisra Eka Tala (three units) or Chaturasra
Eka Tala (four units) which corresponds to ¾ and 4/4 timings of the Western Music.
The range – Shruthi – of these songs is generally in middle octave.
[ Please click here for the texts of the Nottu-svara songs
https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_z_misc_major_works/nOTTUsvarasAhityam.html
Please click here for the Notu-svarams along with Notations for thirty three songs
composed by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar 
http://www.ibiblio.org/guruguha/md_nottu_notation.pdf ]
The songs were written in Telugu script. The preserved manuscripts  of the songs
were, years later (around 1832), presented by the well-known musicians of that
period Kuppaiah and Seshaiah to Charles Philip Brown (an officer of the East India
Company, who did remarkable work in classical Telugu literature) while he was at
Madras. They were called a collection of “Jathi_swaramulu”. It appears those songs
were, at the time, used as lessons for the beginners. One of them was the popular
Sanskrit song “Vara Veena Mrudu Pani” in Raga Mohanam which was converted into
a Gitam. The song is practiced as Gitam by all beginners, even today.
A manuscript preserved in the Government Oriental Manuscripts Library, Chennai,
labelled as Manuscript no. D. 2536  contains twenty of such songs of  Dikshitar,
written in Telugu script. Of these, twelve are composed in Sanskrit language and the
other eight are composed in Telugu language. The Sanskrit songs which were the
replicas of the European Airs carry English captions and bear the mudra as
“Guruguha”.
Smt. S A K Durga, Professor Emeritus at the University of Madras, writes in
the Journal of the Indian Musicological Society  (January 1, 2011):
A study of the melodic content of the European airs in those composition shows that
a few melodies are reels and jigs from Irish folk tunes, since in the Western band at
the Collector’s Office there were Irish musicians at that time… There are some
changes from the original European melodies and the melodies of Nottuswara
Sahithyam compositions in European airs, for example the one in Castilian mode, a
folk tune that was transcribed by Benjamin Carr (1768-1831). In his book, the
composition appears notated in 3/8 meter (Carr’s musical miscellany in occasional
numbers, 1812). The song in Lord McDonald’s reel, Jagadeesa Guruguha, has two
sections. The original A and B lines are switched with an additional word to pick up
to the first beat of the song. One finds that these compositions are not a
homogenous collection of British airs but there is diversity in their melodic content
from the original tunes.
These earlier compositions of Muthuswami Dikshitar also throw light on his mastery
in synthesizing two different music cultures. .. His compositional attitude
in worshiping the different deities at different shrines is also revealed in
his Nottuswara Sahithya-s. The choice of the Sanskrit language for these
compositions reveals his spirit of national integration.

Although written by Muthuswami Dikshitar in the late 18th century when he was in
his teens, before he started to compose   kriti-s, a few of these songs were first
published as Nottuswara Sahithya in Sri Manali A.M. Chinnaswami Mudaliar’s work
“Oriental Music in Staff Notation” (1893), that is  nearly   sixty years after
Dikshitar’s death (1836) .  In their first appearance in print , the songs were published
without any caption. The text was printed in English, Telugu and Tamil characters.
After this, Sri Subbarama Dikshitar, the grandson/ the adopted son of Baluswami
Diksihtar, published these in his Prathamabhyasa Pusthakamu in 1905. (Later, there
appeared  a few more publications with notation.)  The book contained both
theoretical and practical aspects of elementary teaching methods; and is relevant to
the music field even to this day.
In this book , Sri Subbarama Dikshitar included thirty-two compositions, under the
title “Nottaswara sahithyamu” with Swara-notation, as technical
compositions/lessons  for beginners (Abhyasagana). He did not however mention the
titles of the European Airs which served as the models for some of the songs. It is
likely that these songs were practiced, not as songs adopted from the Western style ,
but  as simple Karnatak melodies composed with the scale
of Sankarabharanam, without any microtonal ornamentation .  During the late 19th
and early 20th century, these songs meant  for the beginners were taught in place
of Gitam, to fameliarize  the young learners with melodic movements or phrases in
the scale.
Subbarama Dikshitar’s monumental compendium Sangeeta Sampradaya
Pradarshini, published in 1904, also contains references to the Nottuswara Sahithya.
Some scholarly articles have been published on the subject. For instance, Prof. P.
Sambamoorthy has published an article in the Journal of the Music Academy, 1951,
and Dr. V. Raghavan has contributed another article on “Nottuswara sahithyam” of
Muthuswami Dikshitar in 1977 in the Journal of the Music Academy . I  wish these
were put on the net for the benifit of a larger number of  music lovers and general
readers .
Chitraveena N Ravikiran remarks that while referring to the influence of Western
music many talk only of his “English note” compositions; but few realize that its
influence is more pervasive and is subtle. One can notice it in the way the
movements of the song proceed, he says.
Fort St George on the Coromandel Coast. Belonging to the East India Company of England

Continued in Part Three

Sri Dikshitar and Hindustani music
Resource:
Homage to the Great Composer – Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar by– Dr.S.A.K.Durga
http://www.readperiodicals.com/201101/2692214731.html
http://tributes.sangeethapriya.org/dikshithar/downloads/groupkrithis.html
All pictures are from internet
   

2 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 13, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya
 

Tags: Dikshitar and Western music, music, Mutuswami Dikshitar, Nottu swara

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar and Sri Vidya (1 of 8)

13SEP
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar- a life sketch
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar ( 1775 (?) – 1835), one of the trinity of Carnatic Music, was
a complete musician; a scholar and a Sadhaka, the one who attained his goal . The
genius of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was that he was a remarkable synthesis of a
versatile composer adept in several distinctive forms of music; of a towering scholar
in Sanskrit, which adorned his music with grace, dignity and tranquility; and , of
a Sadhaka steeped in devotion and good tradition (Sampradaya vit).
Each of his compositions is unique; brilliantly crafted and well chiseled work of
intricate art. The most fascinating aspect of Sri Dikshitar’s songs is the grandeur and
majesty of his music; the intellectually sublime lyrics;  and,  the overall tranquil joy.
There is hardly a composer comparable to Sri Dikshitar, in versatility, in enriching his
work with such poetic imagery, technical sophistication; and, above all in permeating
his compositions with soulful repose.
  
Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was the son of Sri Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735 – 1812), a
well-known scholar – composer- musician of his time.
Ramaswami Dikshitar is described as the son of Bhagirathyamma and Vekateshvara
Dikshita, a Dravida Brahmin belonging to Auttara Kashyapa Gotra, Apastamba Sutra.
Ramasvami Dikshita was born in the Saka-samvathsara 1657 (1735 AD) at
Kanchipuram. When he was of about seven years of age, his parents moved from 
Virachipuram (?) or Kanchipuram to Govindapuram, near Tanjavuru. In order to
pursue his interest in music, Ramaswami Dikshita is said to have stayed as an Ante-
vasin, a resident student, for a period of about two years,  with the famous
composer-musician of those times –  Meratturu Veerabhadrayya of Tanjavuru; and ,
learnt Kritis composed by  him in Rakthi and Desi Ragas. He also learnt to sing, with
ease and understanding, the Svaras, Alapana, Pallavi and the Svara-kalpana.
Thereafter, he studied further under Venkata-Vaidyanatha Dikshita of Madhyarjuna
(maternal-grandson of the Great Venkatamakhin). Here,  for one year he learnt Veena;
and, followed it up with the study of Venkatamakhin’s Chaturdandi Prakashika with
its Raga, Upanga, Bhashanga Ragas, Gitas and Tala-lakshanas. And, much later, at
the instruction of his guru Yogi Chidambaranatha, Ramasvami Dikshita shifted his
family from Govindapuram to Thiruvavur in the Tanjavuru district. He settled down in
Tiruvavuru having gained reputation as a much learned scholar, composer and
musician.

Ramaswami Dikshitar had to his credit a large number of Tana varnas, Pada varnas,
Darus, Ragamalikas and Kirtanas. His Mudra, signature, was ‘Venkatakrishna‘.
[For details of the compositions credited to Sri Ramaswami Dikshitar, please check page 11
of Chapter Two of Dr.  R K Dhanya ‘s research paper  ]
His Ragamalika composed in 108 Ragas and set to different Taalas (Ashtottara
Shatha Raga Taala Malika) was an outstanding composition, not merely for its sheer
size but also for its melodic charm and rhythmic patterns; and , for deployment  of
some uncommon Ragas and Taalas.
Please click here for the available text of the Ashtottara Shatha Raga Taala Malika
The Raga- Tala- Malika, composed in the Telugu language, employs all the Ghana
Ragas (Nata, Gaula, Varali, Shri and Arabhi), as also, many important Mela
Ragas (e.g. Todi, Mayamalavagaula, Shankarabharana, Kalyani, Pantuvarali,
and Gmakakriya). In addition, many   Upanga and Bhashanga Ragas are employed
(e.g. Sama, Mohana, Manirangu, Bilahari, Saveri, Punnagavarali, Kuranji, Surati,
Begada and Devagandhari). The Prati-madhyama Ragas used are Ramakriya,
Kalyani, Saranga, Yaman and Gamakakriya.  
 Dr. Dhanya writes : The first 7 sections of this composition are in the Suladi
sapta Taalas and the remaining in the I08 Taalas. Rare Taalas like Lali, Lakshana,
Srimatkirti, Simhavikrama, Rarigalila, Kavilokita,  Akshara, Kala and Sri are used in it.
This is a rare composition in Carnatic music of its style. But unfortunately its
complete text is not available and only 61 Ragas and Taalas now exist.
*

Two other remarkable creations of Sri Ramasvami Dikshitar are:  

:- the Anuloma - pratiloma- Daru composed in the rare Raga Ganga-tarangini, the
lyrics (sahitya), of which can be read in normal order (anulomam}, as also in the
reverse order (pratilomam); and, in either case it yields the same text.
:-  a Svara-sthana-pada-Varna  in Todi Raga, where its lyrics in  Telugu skilfully uses
only the seven of its letters:  Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma , Pa, Dha, and   Ni. The Telugu words in
the Sahitya of this Pada Varna are skilfully constructed using these seven letters. For
instance; its Charanam reads:
marimari ganisaga nipani dagadani  / maniganiga nimmanigada / mari ni pathama
manigA marIniga\\
(Source; Grateful thanks to the scholar Shri P P Narayanaswami)
**

Sri Ramaswami Dikshitar also gained fame through his improvisations of the popular
melody, the Raga Hamsadhvani. He is said to have composed a Lakshana
Prabandha, in this Raga, beginning with the words ‘Chandaseya aurunda
maladhara ‘ dedicated to Lord  Nataraja of Chidambaram. This is said to be the  very
first composition set in Hamsadhvani

Sri Ramaswami Dikshitar , for a major part of his life, lived during the reign of Tulaja
II , Amarasimha and the early Sarabhoji period. His other patrons were Manali
Venkatakrishna Mudaliar and his son Chinnayya Mudaliar.
It was at Thiruvavur that Ramaswami Dikshitar, just past forty years of age; was
blessed with a son ; who , it is generally beleived  was born on March 25th, 1775 in
the Manmatha year, Phalguna month , under the Krithika nakshatra , just as the
annual Vasantotsava was being celebrated in the temple of Sri Tyagaraja Swamy and
Sri Nilothpalambika.
[ There is an alternate version; according to which : Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar was born
on  Sunday, March 24, 1776 , Rohini Nakshatra, Vrshabha rasi
Another version mentions that Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar could have been born between 9
A.M on 23rd March 1776 to 8 A.M. 24th March, Phalguna Masa,  under  Krittika star )
He named the baby boy as Muthuswami  after his protecting deity Karthikeya.
Following Muthuswamy, two sons – Chinnaswamy (formally – Venkata-vaidyanatha
Sharma, named after his Guru) – (1778-1823) and Baluswamy (formally Balakrisna
Sarma) – (1786-1859) ; and , a daughter – Balambika or Balambal – were born to
Ramaswamy Dikshitar and Subbalakshmiammal . (According to some, Chinnaswamy
and Balambal were twins)
[ for more details on family history : please 
check : http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/168455/8/08_chapter%202.pdf  ]
[Unlike in the case of Sri Thyagaraja, the Shishya-paramapa (the line of disciples) of
Sri Dikshitar was, mainly, his descendants. According to Dr. V. Raghavan, in his book
entitled Muttuswami Dikshitar, published by the National Center for the Performing
Arts, 1975 :
“The main line of Dikshitar’s pupils is represented by his own family. After Baluswami
Dikshitar, there was the great Subbarama Dikshitar…. His son was Ambi Dikshitar
(full name: Muttuswami Dikshitar) who succeeded him as court musician at
Ettayapuram; and, stayed there for a long time. Late in life, he migrated to Madras
where he lived for the rest of his life. While in Madras he built  a school around
himself; and, it was the starting point of a strong and fruitful movement. The well-
known Vedanta Bhagavatar of Kallidaikurichi, who also happened to live in Madras at
that time, threw himself enthusiastically into this active propagation of Dikshitar
Kritis. There were two young Veena brothers of Tirunelveli, Anatakrishrna Iyer and
Sundaram Iyer, who made copies of Dikshitar kritis from the manuscripts of Sri Ambi
Dikshitar. These formed the basis on which they propagated Dikshitar kritis……
Of Dikshitar’s own direct line, Sri Ambi Dikshitar’s son Tiruvarur Baluswami Dikshitar
is the present living representative. (Note: this article was written earlier to 1975)
It was mainly due to the devotion, dedication and efforts of Sri Ambi Dikshitar, while
he was in Madras, the musical heritage of Sri Muttuswami Dikshitar came to be
extended outside of the family. In the early years, the disciples of Sri Ambi Dikshitar
such as Smt. D.K.Pattammal and Justice T.L.Venkatrama Iyer did loyal service, with
great enthusiasm, in popularizing the compositions of Sri Muttuswami Dikshitar.
Please also check this article.]

Apart from the traditional education in Veda and Vedangas, the boy Muthuswami
received training in the lakshana and lakshya (theory and practice) aspects of
Karnataka Samgita. The lakshana geethas and prabandhas of Venkatamakhin formed
an important input of his training . He gained proficiency, in Veena and in vocal
music as well. He also gained training in Vyakarana (through a text named Kaumudi
– it could be either Siddhānta-Kaumudī by Bhaṭṭoji Dīkṣita or its abridged
version Laghu-kaumudi by his student Varadarāja), Kavya, Nataka,
and Alamkara aspects of poetics. By about the age of sixteen, Muthuswamy had
gained familiarity with Jyothisha, Ayurveda and Tantra.
Muthuswami was a studious lad; rather absorbed in himself . Concerned with the
boy’s detached attitude; his parents got him married at an early age. That didn’t seem
to change the young man’s attitude; and, therefore he was married the second time.
At the invitation of Muddukrishna Mudaliyar, Zamindar and an art connoisseur,
Ramaswami Dikshitar moved his family to Manali, a Zamindari near Madras.
Muddukrishna Mudaliyar was a Dubash (interpreter) closely connected with the East
India Company. He was succeeded by his son Venkatakrishna Mudaliar, who
continued the patronage to the Dikshitar family. Venkatakrishna Mudaliar (sometimes
referred to as Chinnaswami) was also a Dubash of the East India Company; and , in
that capacity  he used to visit, quite often, Fort St George, the official seat of East
India Company in South India. He would often take Muthuswami and his brothers to
Fort St. George, to listen to ‘airs’- Western Music played by Irish men in the British
band. It was here that Muthuswami Dikshitar gained familiarity with Western music.

It is said ; at the suggestion of Col. Browne who was in the service of the East India
Company, Dikshitar composed the text in Sanskrit and Telugu for well known
Western tunes. He also composed songs in Sanskrit and Telugu based on Western
notes. The collection of these compositions , numbering about forty , later came to
be known as “Nottuswara Sahithya“.
Another significant fallout of the Dikshitar family association with the court at the
Fort St. George was that Baluswami, the younger brother of Muthuswami became
fascinated by an instrument called Fiddle whose well tuned sounds seemed to
approximate human voice. Baluswami learnt the Fiddle from an Irish musician; and,
soon became quite an adept in playing Carnatic music over fiddle. And , thereafter
the family wondered why it could not replace traditional Veena as the accompanying
instrument. They tried it out ; and, it worked very well. Since then Fiddle (Violin) has
become an indispensable accompaniment for a Carnatic music concert.
*

[ About his  uncle Cinnasvami Dıksita  and his  adopted father  Balasvami Dıksita, Sri
Subbarama Dikshitar writes in his Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini:
38. Cinnasvami Dıksita (Venkata-vaidyanatha Sharma)
He was Muddusvami Dıksita’s brother. He was well educated in Sanskrit and Telugu. He
was an expert in music. He was a great veena player. He was a great soul who possessed
expertise in vocal as well as in instrumental music. He was felicitated in the courts of Manali
Cinnaya Mudaliyar, and in the court of other kings.
He composed two krtis, on Narada. One was Ganalola karunalavala, in the Raga Todi; and,
the other was Narayanananta in the Raga Kalyani. He went to Madurai along with his
younger brother, and passed away in his forty-fifth year.
39. Balasvami Dıksita (Balakrsna Sarma)
He was born as the third son of Ramasvami Dıksita in the Saka year 1708 (1786 A.D) in the
year of Parabhava, in Mithuna rasi, Asvinı naksatram and in Kanya lagnam. He was the
younger brother of Muddusvami Dıksita. He was named Balakrsna Sarma. He was an
expert in Telugu and very well versed in music. He was an expert in playing the instruments
such as Veena, Svarabat, Fiddle, citar (sitar) and Mrdangam . He knew the intricacies of
musical laksya and laksana.
Even when he was very young, Cinnaya Mudaliyar at first arranged for him to learn violin
from an English man. He learnt western music as well as Hindu music for three years and
played very well in front of Manali Mudaliyar and other music-lovers. During his childhood,
one day in a gathering of Mudaliyar,  Sonti Venkatasubbayya played the Gıta, and Taana  in
the Raga Takka, looked at the Mudaliyar and told him that that Raga is known only in their
family. Immediately, the young Balasvami Dıksita looked at the Mudaliyar and told him that
he was going to sing that Takka Raga Gıta; and, to listen. As he sang it as, Aramajju
aparadha, he was felicitated with a pearl necklace and a pair of earrings.
Afterwards, he along with his intelligent brothers lived in Kanci and other holy places ; went
to Tiruvarur;  and lived there for some time. Then, with a disciple called Hari, who was with
him since his childhood, and with his second older brother he went to Madurai and lived
there for some time. When his brother passed away, he went to Setu with Hari and from
there reached Ettayapuram and visited the Maharaja.
There, when he played Fiddle, the instrument that was new for those times, the Maharaja
was very pleased and felicitated him greatly. He also recognized his talents
in laksya and laksana, and his delicate playing on the Veena. The Maharaja also built a
house for him, made him the court musician and got him married a second time.
The oldest son of the then Maharaja, Kumara Ettappa Maharaja (who was later coroneted) ,
learnt laksana and laksya of music from him. For the krtis he had composed in Sanskrit, in
many Ragas following the patterns of Varnas, he (Balasvami) composed Muktayı
svaras with intricate innovations, which pleased the Maharaja. Apart from that, he
composed Kırtanas in Telugu on Srı Grdhracala Kartikeya in the Ragas Saranga, Darbar,
Kannada and Rudrapriya.
With the permission of Kumara Ettappa Maharaja, who was well versed in astrology, he
took me under his wings as his grandson, and initiated me to Brahmopadesa, taught me
Veena and educated me in musical laksya and laksanas. He composed an Atta tala
Varna in the Raga Naata, and made every Svara in that Tana Varna shine magically and in
the last four Avarta Svaras he embedded the four Jatıs,  one in each of the Avarta. After
hearing this Tana Varna, the Maharaja felicitated him with a pair of todas (bangles), which
were valued at one thousand gold coins and which were adorned with rubies and the face
of lion. He also presented him with a pair of valuable (shawls) cloths. He also rewarded the
disciples who sang the Varna.
After that Maharaja, his brother was crowned; and, he too learnt music from him. He
composed Darus on Venkatesvara Ettappa Maharaja, who was the embodiment of music,
in the Ragas Rudrapriya, Darbar and Vasanta, with Muktayi svaras with paatava. After
listening to them, the Maharaja felicitated him by presenting him with two shawls and
thousand gold coins for each Daru. He used to sing Gıtagovinda (Astapadi) ; and chant the
name of God on every ekadasi day without fail. As the days passed thus, in the Saka ´ year
1931 (1859 A.D) in Pingala year and on Kumbha Rasi, Shukla trtıya day, he attained the
heavenly abode.
*

Balasvami Dıksita adopted his  youngest daughter’s son  –  Subbarama Dikshita , the
author of the monumental Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini.
[ please click here for more on Dishitar Parampara  ]
 Sri Subbarama Dikshita writes about himself:
72 . Subbarama Dıksita
With the name ‘Balasubrahmanya Sarma’, I am the adopted son of Balasvami Dıksiita, the
youngest brother of Muddusvami Dıksita. Balasvami Dıksita’s youngest daughter’s name
was Annapurniamma. Her husband was Sivaramayya who belonged to Bharadvaja Gotra,
and Drahyayana Sutra.  They had two sons. Ramaswami Ayya, who was their  first son,
was very talented in music and Veena was felicitated by kings and attained heavenly abode
at the age of 45. And, Ramasvami Ayya had two sons, Veena Cinnasvami; and, the other
was the third principal of the Maharaja’s High School and musical connoisseur,
Venkatarama.
I was born as the second son (of Sivaramayya and Annapurniamma) in Tiruvarur in the
Saka year 1761 (1839 A.D.) during the year of Vilambi, Tula Rasi, and Hasta Nakshatra.
When I was five years old, Balasvami Dıksita took me to Ettayapuram, and got me tutored
in Sanskrit, Telugu, and music. At that time, Jagadvıra Rama Kumara Ettappa Maharaja,
who was very well versed in astrology, summoned the great astrologers, and studied my
horoscope. He looked at Balasvami Dıksita, and told him, “The bearer of this horoscope is
the son to all the three of you. So, adopt him. He will be famous like Dıksita.” Just as his
command, my maternal grandfather, Balasvami Dıksita adopted me
during Plavanga year, Makara Rasi; and , initiated me into Brahmopadesa and Srı Vidya-
upadesa. I learnt the sciences of epics and drama, great epics like Manu Caritra and Vasu
Caritram, Grammar, and poetic meters from Vilattikolam Krsnayamatya, who was a great
Sanskrit and Telugu scholar. I not only learnt Veena from my father, but also learnt in detail
the secrets (intricacies) of laksya and laksana of music. ]
When Muthuswami was about 25 years of age, he accompanied his family guru Yogi
Chidambaranatha to Varanasi, in obedience of  the guru’s wish.  Muthuswami’s wives
too followed their husband. Muthuswami spent seven fruitful years in Kashi. Those
were his most wonderful and educative years ; and , left a lasting influence on his life
and works. A whole new world opened to Muthuswami at Kashi. During this period,
Dikshitar acquired a wealth of knowledge under yogi’s tutelage. The yogi taught him
Advaita Siddhantha, Tantra; and , also initiated him into Sri Vidya Upasana. During
these years, Dikshitar visited several holy places in the Himalayan region – such as ,
Badrinath, Kedarnath and Pashupathinath; and , worshiped the deities in those
shrines.

During his stay at Varanasi, Muthuswamy Dikshitar had splendid opportunities to

listen to Hindustani music in its pristine forms. He seemed to have been greatly
impressed by the ancient Drupad form of singing and of playing the string
instruments; particularly by its elaboration of Raga (Aalap), the measured tempo and
the structure of the lyrics. This had a profound influence on his creative genius; and,
apparently on his portrayal of Ragas in general ; and, in transforming the Hindustani
Ragas into their Carnatic form, in particular.
[ It is said that while in Varanasi , Sri Dikshitar stayed with his Guru Sri Chidambaranatha
yogi in a house situated in one of the lanes near Hanuman Ghat. Attached to the house is
the temple of Sri Chakra Lingeshwara worshiped by Sri Dikshitar and his Guru. The  temple
had fallen into ruins for many years. In the year 1936, when Kanchi Kamakoti Maha
Periyava Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamigal visited Varanasi , he identified
this temple and arranged for its restoration. Thereafter. Sri T M Arunachala Sastrigal of
Tanjore  and his descendants devoted themselves  for the worship and maintenance of the
temple.
The remarkable feature of the Sri Chakra Lingeshwara is that the Linga  is embedded with
Sri Yantra.

Next to the Linga is the image of Sri  Dakshinamuthi swaroopa Ardhanarishwara   

worshiped by Sri Dikshitar.

The  image panel on the temple wall includes a portrait of Sri Dikshitar.
[Source : I gratefully acknowledge the web-page of  Dr Meera Rajaram Pranesh  at
http://www.vanamalaarts.org/sri-mutthuswamy-dikshitar-and-varanasi-kashi/ ]
At the end of the seven years, Yogi Chidambaranatha advised Muthuswami to return
to South; and, to commence his music and spiritual career with the worship of
Karthikeya on the hills of Tiruthani. Soon after that, the Yogi attained his Samadhi.
Dikshitar performed the final rites of his departed guru and left Varanasi.

Yogi Sri Chidambaranatha’s Samadhi is located within the temple near Hanuman
Ghat on the banks of the Ganga.
  
The family at Manali, in the meanwhile, had fallen on bad days. The life there was
becoming increasingly difficult ; and, Ramaswami Dikshitar too was in poor health.
The family therefore, decided to return to Thiruvarur. After making arrangements for
the family’s return to Thiruvarur, Muthuswami headed straight to Tiruthani as
ordained by his Guru. It is said; immediately after being blessed by the Lord there ,
Dikshitar started composing kritis. The first kriti he composed was Srinathadi
Guruguho jayathi in Raga Mayamalava-gaula. His first group of kritis
called Guruguha vibhakti krithis were also composed in Tiruthani. It was here that
Dikshitar became a proper Vak-geya Kara, the composer who sets his lyrics to music.
The Mudra, his signature to his creations was Guruguha, which approximates to ” the
Guru dwelling in the cave of my heart”. Dikshitar was then around 33 years of age.
[ Manasollasa (also called Abhjilashitarta Chintamani) ascribed to the Kalyana
Chalukya King Someshwara III (1127-1139 AD) is an encyclopedic work, written in
Sanskrit, covering a wide range of subjects.  Its Chapter Three: Prakirnaka: deals
with topics such as: Guna–Dosha (merits and de-merits) of Vak-geya-
kara (composers who set  songs to music). The text grades the composers (Vak-
geya-kara) into three classes. According to its classification,  the lowest is the
lyricist; the second is one who sets to tune the songs written by  others; and, the
highest is one who is the  Dhatu Mathu Kriyakari – who writes the lyrics (Mathu), sets
them to music (Dhatu) and ably presents (Kriyakari)  his compositions.
Sri Dikshitar was indeed an Uttama-Vak-geya-kara of the highest order.]
On his way back home to Thiruvarur, Dikshitar stayed for sometime with a Yogi , Sri
Ramachandra Saraswathi, popularly known as Upanishad Brahmendra who lived and
taught in Kancipuram.
[Incidentally, Sri Upanishad Brahmendra  was also an early teacher of  Sri Tyagaraja ,
the great composer musician.]
During his stay in Kanchipuram, Dikshitar set to music “Rama Ashtapadhi” a
collection of stanzas composed by Sri Upanishad Brahmendra. Dikshitar returned to
Thiruvarur in the year 1809. The Ashtapadi , sadly , is no longer available.
The years at Thiruvarur were very productive. Here, Dikshitar composed
sixteen Kritis on the various attributes of Ganesha;
eleven Kritis of Navavarana group on Sri Kamalamba; and, a set of Kritis on
Thygaraja and Nilothpalambika the presiding deities of the town.
The Nilothpalambika set of krithis enlivened certain rare Ragas
like Narayanagowla that were almost fading away.
Three years after Muthuswami returned to Thiruvarur (1814), his father Ramaswami
Dikshitar, at the age of eighty-two, passed away in  Saka-Dhatu-Nama- samvathsara 
1739 (1817 AD) in Magha-masa on the auspicious Shiva-rathri night.
Further, it was becoming increasingly difficult to carry on life at Thiruvarur. The
Dikshitar brothers , therefore , decided to move to Tanjavur in search of a living.
Tanjavur, in those days, was relatively peaceful, secure ; and, was a center for
culture and learning, while most of the Southern regions was under the threat of the
Sultan.
[ It is said that at Thanjavur,  the Dikshitar-brothers met Sri Shyama Sastry, another
of the Trinity; and,  the four , together, composed/completed a Varnam. It is said ;
that the Chowka Varna, ‘Sami ninne kori‘, in Sriranjini Raga composed by Sri
Ramaswamy Dikshitar, had only one Svara passage. And, to that Sri Shyama
Sastry added by composing  the second chararna-svara; while Sri Chinnaswami
Dikshitar added the third charana-svara; and, Sri  Muthuswamy Dikshitar contributed
the fourth.  (please check page 47  of Justice venkatarama Aiyar’s biography of Sri
Dikshitar)
The association of Sri Shyama Sastri and Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar in Thanjavur is
indeed one of the most fascinating aspects in the history of South Indian Music. ]
*

At Thanjavur,  the Dikshitar-brothers , in order to earn a living, began to accept

students interested in learning music. They were then approached by one Mahadeva
Annavi (Subbarayan), a Veena player  and a dance-master (Nattuvanar) to teach his
sons. His four sons who became disciples of Sri Muthuswamy  Dikshitar and
propagated his musical compositions  –  Chinnaiah Pillai (1802-1856); Ponnayya
Pillai (1804-1864); Sivanandam Pillai(1808-1863) and the legendary Vadivelu Pillai
(1810-1845) – gained great fame as Thanjavur Quartet. Of these , Chinnaiah
and Sivanandam were Bharatha_natyam masters and composers of some popular
Tana Varnams, Pada Varnams, and Thillanas etc. 

They were the pioneers of  the Bharatanatyam Margam as we know it today. This
Margam includes Alarippu, Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam/Javali,
Tillana and Shloka. Many of these dance items were composed specially by Ponnaiya
Pillai, As he was a musician, the names for the dance items follow their musical
forms. 
Chinnaiah , the eldest of the four, was a great teacher of dance; and, he later moved
to the Mysore court of Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar III  (1794-1868) who was a great
patron of art and literature ; and , who was himself a poet and an author of many
works . Some of Chinnaiah’s compositions are dedicated to Wodeyar. He also wrote
a Telugu work  called Abhinaya Lakshanamu, a version of the reworked  Sanskrit text
Abhinayadarpana of Nandikeshvara .
Ponnaiah was a composer of great merit. Several of his kritis ,
including Ambaneelambari’  (Neelambari),  ‘Satileni’ (Poorvikalyani) and Tillanas as
also other Nrtta compositions (Jatisvarams and Thillanas),  are  popular among
musicians even to this day.
During their stay at King Serfoji’s Durbar in Tanjavur, they brought into  use western
musical instruments such as  violin and clarinet , as an accompaniments for Carnatic
music and performance of dance. Sivanandam , in particular, is credited with
introducing the clarinet to Carnatic music.
Vadivelu Pillai, the youngest, was a virtual genius , praised by Dikshitar as eka-
sandhi-grahi , one who grasps immediately after just one listening. Vadivelu
contributed significantly to Dance also. The great Tyagaraja too admired Vadivelu’s
musical skills. A Lutheran German protestant missionary Frederick Schwartz is said

to have taught violin  to Vedanayagam Shastriyar; and, he, in turn, taught the
instrument to Vadivelu. Thereafter, Vadivelu popularized violin among the Carnatic
musicians.  He soon became  a favorite of Swathi Thirunal Maharaja who appointed
him his Court Musician. It is said ; in 1834,  Swati Thirunal  Maharaja gifted him a rare
Violin made of ivory (which is now said to be placed in  the Quartet’s ancestral home
at 1818, West Main Street, Behind Brihadeswara Temple). Both these geniuses,
sadly , died at their young age – Swati Thirunal at 34; and, Vadivelu at 35.
The brothers propagated the famed Pandanallur style of Bharata Natyam.  The
renowned Nattuvanar Sri Meenakshisundaram Pillai descended from
the Thanjavur Quartet.
**

Smt.  Nandini Ramani writes :

They were the first to formalize the performance pattern of Bharatanatyam, and
codify lessons called Adavus (basic steps and the different categories of rhythm
patterns) required for the same. They were the ones to plan and set the order of the
different items of the repertoire in performance. The order they set is as follows. 
Melaprapti, alarippu, jatiswaram, sabdam, swarajati, chaukavarnam, ragamalika, pada
m, javali, and tillana.
They also composed several pieces for each category set to different ragas and talas
(rhythm structure). The compositions were in Telugu, their mother tongue, and they
addressed their family deities, Sri Brihadisvara and Brihannayaki, as well as the
kings and ministers who patronized them and also the different deities whom they
worshipped during their travels. All of these were presented by them in the
performing art tradition, earning wide fame and reputation. They were invited by the
royal patrons of Thiruvananthapuram and Mysore, as sitting doyens of art, to spread
the art in those regions, while the king also popularized it by arranging performances
in all the temples.
[Souurce : http://maddy06.blogspot.in/search/label/Music?updated-max=2014-11-
28T13:10:00-05:00&max-results=20&start=4&by-date=false]
***
Sri Dikshitar during his stay in  Thanjavur composed a number of Samasti Charana
Kirtanas.
[A kriti generally follows a certain structure: Pallavi the opening passage of two lines
is followed by Anupallavi. Raga is introduced with the cyclical rendition and
improvisation of Pallavi and Anupallavi. The body of the kriti is its Charanas. Each
Charana usually has four lines. The final Charana contains the Mudra or the
signature of the composer. However, certain kritis of Dikshitar have only two
segments Pallavi and Anupallavi, where the latter acts as the Charana. Such kritis are
called Samasti Charana Kritis. They perhaps represent a stage in the evolution of the
kriti format. E.g.Anandamritakarshini (Amritavarshini); Hari Yuavatheem
Haimavathim (Hemavathi) etc.]
Dikshitar brothers stayed in Thanjavur for about three years (about 1817 -1820).
Baluswamy who was proficient in Veena, Swarbat, Sitar and Mridangam, along with
his brother  Chinnaswami joined the court of Venkateshwara Eddappa I [1761 – 1839]
the Raja of Ettayapuram (Tirunelveli district) , as Asthana Vidwans of
Ettayapuram Samsthanam.
Soon after that, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar too left Tanjavur; and, he went on a virtual
pilgrimage visiting a number of temples; and composing kritis in honor of the deities
he visited. In a way of speaking, his life was a long pilgrimage.
Please click here for a map of his probable temple visits.
[Please click here for the lists of about 150 temples/deities featured to in Dikdhitar’s kritis]
Years later, Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar also settled down in Ettayapuram at the
request of the king. A few years later , Dikshitar’s both wives passed away. Some
sources mention that Dikshitar had a daughter and she lived in Tiruchirapalli; but,
not much is known about her.

Dikshitar comes through as a very astute scholar-devotee, a Sadhaka. He was

a viraktha, unattached to possessions, to places or to emotions. He was voluntarily
poor and accepted his poverty with equanimity. He did not seek favor or patronage
from anyone. He was an intense devotee ; but, was  undemonstrative. In his
compositions, you never find despondency, helplessness or begging for divine grace
or intervention. There is certain composure, measured grace, dignity and a mellow
joy in his works as in his life. He was solely devoted to Sri Vidya Upasana and to his
music which was his medium of self-expression. His works exude serene
contemplation and soulful joy.
It was on Naraka Chaturdasi ,the fourteenth day of the lunar calendar, in the month of
Ashwija, the day preceding Deepavali (October 18th, 1835), Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar
performed Parva Mandala puja to Devi and sang Ehi Annapurne (Punnagavarali). This
was Sri Dikshitar’s last composition. Thereafter, he asked his disciples to
sing Meenakshi mey mudam dehi (Purvi Kalyani) . When they sang the Anupallavi ,
he asked them to repeat the phrases Meena lochani pasha mochini. As they were
singing, Muthuswami Dikshitar uttered “Shive pahi, Shive pahi, Shive pahi” and
breathed his last , like a true yogi.

Muthuswami Dikshitar had been yearning for Videha Mukthi. He beseeches the Divine
Mother repeatedly and addresses her as the one who grants Videha mukthi (Mamaka
videha mukthi sadanam– Ranganayakam-Nayaki); the bestower of videha
mukthi (vikalebara kaivalya danaya-Guruguhaya-Sama); and , at times, he feels he is
nearing videha mukthi (Videha kaivalyam yami-Tyagaraje-Saranga).
Videha mukthi is a concept of the later Advaita schools. It believes, one can attain
liberation (moksha) from attachments even while still encased in a body. Such an
attained one is a Jivan Muktha. The body continues to function till its Prarabdha
Karma is exhausted; thereafter, the mortal coils fall away. Videha mukthi , that is to
say , is shedding off the body by a Jivan muktha, the one who has already attained
liberation.
In the Sri Vidya tradition, a jivan muktha is a devotee, a Bhaktha as well as
a Jnani the wise one. Here, the wisdom consists in realizing his identity (sva svarupa
prapti) with the Mother goddess. It is this wisdom that liberates him (jivan Mukthi).
This liberating wisdom is granted to him by the Mother out of pure love, when he
completely surrenders to Her in absolute faith and loving devotion.
Jivanmukthi, emancipation while yet alive, is also a concept of the Tantra
Siddantha which believes that it is possible for a person to transact with the world
without getting involved in it. In other words; one lives on actively and cheerfully,
amidst distractions and confusions of the world without letting his self reflect them.
His moorings in the phenomenal world have withered away; and,  his instinct of self-
preservation and insecurity has  minimized. He is alive only to essential thing , the
very source of life. The real world continues to exist for him; but, he does not rest in
the world; instead, he rests in himself (Svarupa pratishta). Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar,
either way, was a jivan Muktha.
The king and Baluswami Dikshitar performed the last rites of the departed genius.
The Samadhi of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar is at Ettayapuram;  but, it appears to be in
a rather poor condition. In a petition submitted to Shri. Abdul Kalam then president of
India, the petitioners submitted “It is the fervent desire of all music lovers as well as
all lovers of Indian culture across the world that this Samadhi be declared as a
heritage site and treated as a National Monument, ideally with a beautiful museum.
We are extremely concerned that there has been a move made to demolish this
important cultural and artistic memorial.”

Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar was a many splendored genius. He redefined the paradigm
of Carnatic music. Each of his compositions exemplifies the essence of Raga
Bhava and captures the depth and soulfulness of the melody. His vision of some of
the Ragas and their structure is sublime. He achieved what the revered
Venkatamakhi, at one time, thought was not possible; he gave form and substance to
all the 72 Melakarta-ragas. Besides, he breathed life into several ancient Ragas that
were fading away from memory. His compositions are crisp and well chiseled. His
Sanskrit is delightfully captivating. His synthesis of Carnatic and Hindustani Music
systems is creative and original. His kritis replete with soothing, graceful Sanskrit
lyrics, many with winsome Samashti Charanams, comparable to the Dhrupad
stanzas, occupy an exclusive niche in the world of Indian Music. The technical
sophistication, intellectual brilliance and the majesty of his music is unsurpassed. Sri
Muthuswami Dikshitar is a crest jewel of Indian music and spirituality.
 Continued in Part Two:
Sri Dikshitar and Western Music
Resources:
http://www.geocities.com/vc_sekaran/files/dikshitar_life.html
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Strasse/5926/dikshitarbio.htm
Map: courtesy of http://www.carnatica.net/special/md-kshetra-ii.htm
http://hamletram.blogspot.com/2014/02/violin-comes-to-chennai.html
Biography by Justice Sri T L  Venkataramayyar
I gratefully acknowledge Shri S Rajam’s paintings of Shri Dikshitar’s life-events
All other pictures are from Internet  

10 Comments
Posted by sreenivasaraos on September 13, 2012 in Music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri Vidya
 

Tags: music, Muthuswami Dikshitar, Sri, Sri Vidya

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