Bhagyada Lakshmi – 1

Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma is a beautiful and very popular kannada composition of Sri Purandaradasa, who is regarded as the Grandsire of Carnatic Music. It is an invocation to Goddess Lakshmi, the presiding deity of Shukra-vara (Friday), and it is usually sung in mangala ragas (tunes) like Sri or Madhyamavati. Purandaradasa was initially a very wealthy and miserly tradesman who would not even part with a coin in the name of charity. But having obtained the grace and blessings of Sri Hari, he was totally transformed and gave away his entire material wealth in charity. Years later the Saint composed this song, invoking the Goddess of Fortune and Prosperity!

The songs of Sri Purandaradasa, the greatest of Haridasas are known as “Purandara Upanishad”. The songs soaked in bhakti are in simple kannada language and can be easily tuned and sung. Apart from the simple word meaning, there is a very significant and deep inner meaning expressed in all the songs. They indicate the purpose of human life, the ultimate goal to be reached and the path to be taken to reach it.

Significance of Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma:

Pallavi : “bhAgyada lakShmi bArammA nammamma ni sau”

Chorus: “O Divine Mother of All, verily an Embodiment of Auspiciousness, Bhagyada Lakshmi, I invoke your gracious presence.” 

‘Bhagya’ comes from the word ‘bhaga’. ‘Bhaga’ represents the six divine glories: Lordliness, Strength, Knowledge, Fame, Prosperity and Dispassion. Whoever has these six glories in immeasurable quantities is known as Bhagavan or Bhagavati. The Goddess is one who possesses these qualities – Bhagyada Lakshmi. Lakshmi comes from the word ‘lakshya’. It means ‘One who leads and guides’. She also represents the ‘goal’ to be reached. Lakshmi Sampat (wealth) represents the ‘noble and divine values’. Hence the invocation here is not just for material wealth. It is an invocation, an ardent prayer to the Divine Mother of the Universe, who is the Bestower of all that is Good and Auspicious, both for our materialistic and spiritual life. She is not only Dhanalakshmi (wealth), but also Vidyalakshmi (knowledge), Dhairyalakshmi (courage), Veeralakshmi (strength), Dhaanyalakshmi (food & grains), Vijayalakshmi (victory), Bhaktilakshmi (devotion) and Mokshalakshmi (liberation). Any asset that comes to us, materialistic or spiritual, is nothing but ‘Lakshmi Herself in a different form!’

VERSE 1: “hejjaya mele hejjeyanikkuta gejje kAlgaLa dhvaniya tOruta
sajjana sAdhu pUjeya vELege majjigeyoLagina beNNeyante”

“Just as butter manifests out of the churning of buttermilk, similarly, during the auspicious time of worship and upasana undertaken by the virtuous and devoted seekers, O Mother, step by step, slowly but surely, accompanied by the tinkling sound of your beautiful anklets, enter our lives and hearts”
Goddess Lakshmi represents Knowledge and Values. Hence she is invoked by the noble and virtuous people. Knowledge does not easily come to the seeker. Values also do not come to a person overnight. They have to be ardently courted and a lot of effort has to be put forth. Only then they come into our life…slowly….very slowly, but surely, just like butter comes out of the efforts of the process of churning the buttermilk. And when the divine values come, they bring along with them a divine fragrance, a divine aura which can be felt vividly around the person. This is indicated by the tinkling sound of the anklets. The beautiful sound vibrations made by the silver anklets are very auspicious and beneficial in creating a positive atmosphere around and that is the reason why women are encouraged to wear anklets.

VERSE 2: “kanaka vrushtiya kareyuta bAre manakAa manaya siddhiya tOrE
dinakara kOTi tEjadi hoLeva janakarAyana kumAri bEga”

“O Daughter of King Janaka, whose aura surpasses the brilliance of countless suns, may the showers of your divine grace and blessings (kanaka vrishti), fulfill all our desires”. 
Goddess Lakshmi manifested as Seeta from the bosom of Mother Earth. She has all the innumerable and inexhaustible qualities of Bhudevi. She was brought up by King Janaka, who was a unique combination of Jnana and Karma. Seeta personifies all these characteristics, and represents a personality incomprehensible and incomparable. It is through her sheer grace and blessings that Hanuman bestows nava-nidhi (material wealth), ashta-siddhis (supernatural powers) or rama-nama (the antidote to the malady of samsara) to his devotees. She not only rains down material riches on her devotees but also bestows upon the seeker the brilliant ‘Light of Knowledge’ with which the seeker can achieve his goal of Self-realization.

[The 2nd part will be post on Friday – 14th Aug 2020]

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The Grandsire of Carnatic Music!

Srinivasa Nayaka (1484 – 1564) was a merchant dealing with gold and precious stones residing in Tirthahalli, Karnataka. Though wealthy, he was a miserly person. Charity was something unknown to him.

One day an old brahmana came to his shop asking for some monetary help. Nayaka sent him away asking him to come the next day. He came the next day, but again he was asked to “come tomorrow”. Nayaka thought that the old man will stop coming after a few days but he persisted — every day the old man was there in front of the shop! After months of postponement, one fine day Nayaka threw an old coin at the poor man and asked him to go away. The poor man refused the unusable coin and went away.

The brahmana went to Nayaka’s house and approached his wife, Saraswati Bai. He told her how he had every day sought help from her husband but in vain – an old coin was all that he got in response. He asked her for help, but she pleaded her helplessness, saying that she had nothing with her to give him. All money transactions and accounts were exclusively with Nayaka. The old man said that she could give to him the diamond nose-ring which she was wearing. After all that was a gift to her from her maternal house, and Nayaka had no claim or hold over it. She thought for a second, removed her nose-ring and gave it to the old man. He happily accepted it, blessed her and walked away.

With the nose-ring in his hand and a smile on his face, the brahmana returned back to Nayaka’s shop. He was furious to see him coming back again. The old man told him that he had not come to beg but had come to do business with him. He showed the merchant the nose-ring, asked him to fix up its value and give him the equivalent cash. A shocked and surprised Nayaka took the nose-ring in his hand and examined it in detail. He immediately knew that it was his wife’s nose-ring. He questioned the old man as to who gave it to him. He answered that a pious generous lady gave it to him. Nayaka told him to come the next day for money, sent him away, carefully put the nose-ring inside a trunk and locked it. He then closed his shop and hurried back home.

On reaching his house, he loudly called out to Saraswati. Seeing her in the courtyard he looked at her face. Sure enough the nose-ring was missing! He asked for it. The poor lady was trembling within and not knowing what to do, said that it was inside. He asked her to bring the nose-ring immediately. She went in, and knowing her husband’s anger, she decided to end her life. She picked up a cup of poison and was about to consume it, when she heard a metallic sound inside the cup. Inside the cup she saw her nose-ring which she had given away in charity! Overwhelmed at the Lord’s grace, she ran outside and handed it to her husband. Nayaka could not believe his eyes. The nose-ring he had locked up in his shop was here in his wife’s hand. Crazily, he ran back to the shop and opened his trunk. The nose-ring was not there! He ran back again home and asked his wife to tell him all that had happened. She told him everything.

Srinivasa Nayaka’s eyes opened! That was none other than Lord Sri Hari who had come to him disguised as an old brahmana to “wake” him up from the dream of materialism. Srinivasa Nayaka was a totally changed person now. He gave away everything in charity,  and went in search of a Guru. He came to Sri Vyasa Thirtha who accepted him as his disciple, gave him the name PURANDARADASA and introduced him to the Haridasa Sampradaya.

Sri Purandaradasa travelled extensively and composed songs on all the deities with the signature “Purandara Vittala”. The most difficult and profound philosophical truths were simplified and presented in the form of simple songs, and hence his compositions are known as “Purandara Upanishad”. He formulated basic lessons for teaching Carnatic music by structuring graded exercises. Even today the music lessons start with the simple “Gitas” he has composed. He is known as Karnataka Sangeeta Pitamaha — the Grandsire of Carnatic Music.

Purandaradasa was such a great personality that even his Guru, Sri Vyasa Thirtha glorified him in one of his compositions!!

Purandaradasa – The Grandsire of Carnatic Music!

Srinivasa Nayaka (1484 – 1564) was a merchant dealing with gold and precious stones residing in Tirthahalli, Karnataka. Though wealthy, he was a miserly person. Charity was something unknown to him.

 

 

One day an old brahmana came to his shop asking for some monetary help. Nayaka sent him away asking him to come the next day. He came the next day, but again he was asked to “come tomorrow”. Nayaka thought that the old man will stop coming after a few days but he persisted — every day the old man was there in front of the shop! After months of postponement, one fine day Nayaka threw an old coin at the poor man and asked him to go away. The poor man refused the unusable coin and went away.

 

 

The brahmana went to Nayaka’s house and approached his wife, Saraswati Bai. He told her how he had every day sought help from her husband but in vain – an old coin was all that he got in response. He asked her for help, but she pleaded her helplessness, saying that she had nothing with her to give him. All money transactions and accounts were exclusively with Nayaka. The old man said that she could give to him the diamond nose-ring which she was wearing. After all that was a gift to her from her maternal house, and Nayaka had no claim or hold over it. She thought for a second, removed her nose-ring and gave it to the old man. He happily accepted it, blessed her and walked away.

 

 

With the nose-ring in his hand and a smile on his face, the brahmana returned to Nayaka’s shop. Nayaka was furious to see him come back again. The old man said that he had not come to beg but had come to do business with him. He showed the the nose-ring and asked Nayaka to fix up its value and give him the equivalent money. A shocked and surprised Nayaka took the nose-ring in his hand and examined it in detail. He immediately knew that it was his wife’s nose-ring. He questioned the old man as to who gave it to him. He answered that a pious generous lady gave it to him. Nayaka told him to come the next day for money, sent him away, carefully put the nose-ring inside a trunk and locked it. He then closed his shop and hurried back home.

 

 

On reaching his house, he loudly called out to Saraswati. Seeing her in the courtyard he looked at her face. Sure enough the nose-ring was missing! He asked for it. The poor lady was trembling within and not knowing what to do, said that it was inside. He asked her to bring the nose-ring immediately. She went in, and knowing her husband’s anger, she decided to end her life. She picked up a cup of poison and was about to consume it, when she heard a metallic sound inside the cup. Inside the cup she saw her nose-ring which she had given away in charity! Overwhelmed at the Lord’s grace, she ran outside and handed it to her husband. Nayaka could not believe his eyes. The nose-ring he had locked up in his shop was here in his wife’s hand. Crazily, he ran back to the shop and opened his trunk. The nose-ring was not there! He ran back again home and asked his wife to tell him all that had happened. She told him everything.

 

 

Srinivasa Nayaka’s eyes opened! The old brahmana was none other than Lord Sri Hari who had come to “wake” him up from the dream of sheer materialism and put him on the spiritual path. Srinivasa Nayaka was a totally changed person now. He gave away everything in charity,  and went in search of a Guru. He came to Sri Vyasa Tirtha who accepted him as his disciple, gave him the name PURANDARADASA and introduced him to the Haridasa Sampradaya.

 

 

Sri Purandaradasa travelled extensively and composed songs on all the deities with the signature “Purandara Vittala”. The most difficult and profound philosophical truths were simplified and presented in the form of simple songs, and hence his compositions are known as “Purandara Upanishad”. His simple devaranama-s or kirtans make use of almost every simple day-to-day activity to convey a profound message at the individual as well as community level. Purandaradasa’s compositions are a beautiful blend of raga and laya, sahitya and bhava. The songs on Lord Krishna showcasing the Navarasa-s and the Nava-vidha bhakti are mesmerizing! Dasaru danced to Krishna’s divine music and Sri Krishna danced to Dasaru’s devotional outpourings!  Purandaradasa formulated basic lessons for teaching Carnatic music by structuring graded exercises (swaravalis, jantiswaras, alankaras, geetas etc) which are followed even today. He used the Mayamalavagowla Raga for this. Purandaradasa is known as KARNATAKA SANGEETA PITAMAHA — the Grandsire of Carnatic Music.

 

Purandaradasa is one of the rarest and unique disciples who was glorified by his own Guru, Sri Vyasa Tirtha in one of his compositions: “Dasarendare Purandara dasarayya ….”[He, Purandaradasa alone is the true DASA, the great devotee, who through his Geeta (naada) and Narthana (nritya) worships Sri Vasudeva Krishna]!

 

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Anuvige Anuvaagi – Purandaradasa – Ugabhoga

Anuvige Anuvaagi , Ghanakke Ghanavaagi | Gunatraya Tatvakke Meerida Doreyaagi|

Gunanidhi Purandaravithala, Ninna Mahime Yenikemaaduvaryaaro Ennapaane?

ಅಣುವಿಗೆ ಅಣುವಾಗಿ, ಘನಕ್ಕೆ ಘನವಾಗಿ , ಗುಣತ್ರಯ ತತ್ವಕ್ಕೆ ಮೀರಿದ ದೊರೆಯಾಗಿ   

ಗುಣನಿಧಿ ಪುರಂದರವಿತ್ಥಳ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮಹಿಮೆ  ಎಣಿಕೆ ಮಾದುವರ್ಯಾರೋ ಯೆನ್ನಪ್ಪನೆ?

This Ugabhoga reminds us of the popular and beautiful composition “Jagadhodharana” of Purandaradasa . The Puranas and the Vishnu Sahasranama mention the Lord as having opposite qualities. He is With and Without Form, He is smaller than the smallest and yet, Larger than the Largest, He is Nearer than the Nearest (in the very heart of the devotee), but is Farther than the Farthest (if we are immersed in Samsaara).

Here the Saint-composer mentions that the Lord is smaller than the smallest- [Anuvige Anuvaagi ], asserting His divine presence even in the smallest known substance to mankind. He is All-present and All-pervading. He is Mightier than the Mightiest . Ghana -indicates might, large, pervasive and also refers to a person of great character and discipline.

He in beyond the tri-gunas – Satva, Rajas and Tamas. It is from him the three gunas have emerged. He is the Lord of Maya – illusion representing this world as Jagat- the ever changing..

He is the treasure house of all Nidhi – Wealth (including wealth in the form of gold, land, character, talent, power, knowledge, etc].

“Oh Lord, is it possible for an ordinary human being to measure and count your innumerable glories?” echoes Purandaradasa.