With the Rama sethu controversy raging, India is literally burning. Two unlucky lives were burnt in a bus that was torched by some hooligans near Bengalooru. I think this is time for Lord Rama, wherever he is, to enlighten such people the futility of such deeds. I can only say “ದಯ ತೋರಲಿದುವೆ ವೇಳೆಯೊ, ದಾಶರಥಿ!”

Tyagaraja

Not very surprisingly, I am reminded of composer Tyagaraja at this time, because the line “ದಯ ತೋರಲಿದುವೆ ವೇಳೆಯೊ, ದಾಶರಥಿ” – meaning “It is time that you showed mercy, Oh Rama” is the pallavi (refrain) of one of Tyagaraja’s songs. Tyagaraja was a great devotee of Rama. A large number of his compositions are about Lord Rama.

It is said that Rama appeared in Tyagaraja’s dream when Tyagaraja was about 80 years of age, and told him that he will attain mukti in ten days time. Now, many of such incidences have been interpretations from the compositions we have. Four of Tyagaraja’s about eight-hundred kritis have been attributed to the last 10 days of his life. In giripainelakonna (ಗಿರಿಪೈನೆಲಕೊನ್ನ) in rAga sahAna, he describes his dream. One of the other three kritis he composed during the last 10 days is dayajUchuTakidi vELarA (ದಯ ಜೂಚುಟಕಿದಿ ವೇಳರಾ).

It is really surprising to see his creative genius at this ripe age.  He chooses a brand new rAga, (his own innovation), unknown till then  called gAnavAridhi (ಗಾನವಾರಿಧಿ) for this composition. In fact, 3 of the 4 krithis composed during the last fortnight of his life, are new melodies ( ವಾಗಧೀಶ್ವರಿ, ಗಾನವಾರಿಧಿ and ಮನೋಹರಿ).

Here is the kriti dayajUchuTakidi vELara.

daya jUchuTakidi vELarA dAsharathE!  ||pallavi||

bhava vAraNa mRgEndra jalajOd-
bhavArti haraNa manjulAkAra nanu ||anupallavi||

munu nIvAnaticcina
panulAsagoni nE
manasAraga nidAnamuga sali-
pi nAnu vara tyAgarAjApta nanu ||charaNa||

This song is more like a monologue between the saint-composer addressed to Rama. Here is my attempt to translate the composition to kannaDa. If there is something good in it, it belongs to Tyagaraja; All shortcomings, obviously, belong to my 45 nm deep skills ;-) .

ದಯ ತೋರಲಿದುವೆ ವೇಳೆಯು, ದಾಶರಥೀ ||

ಜಗದ ಬವಣೆಯೆಂಬಾನೆಯನು,
ಸಿಂಗದೊಲು ನೀನಳಿಸುವೆ
ಜಗದಯ್ಯ ಆ ಬೊಮ್ಮನಿಗು
ಸೊಗಸುಗಾರ ನೀ ತೊಡಕಿಳಿಸಿದೆ || ದಯ ತೋರಲಿದುವೆ ವೇಳೆಯು! ||

ಮುನ್ನ ನೀ ಕೊಟ್ಟಾಣತಿಯನು
ಮನಸಾರೆ ನಿದಾನದಲಿ ನಾ
ಸನ್ನಡತೆಯಲಿ ಪಾಲಿಸಿಹೆ! ಈ
ಗೆನ್ನ ಬಳಿಬಂದೀ ತ್ಯಾಗರಾಜನಲಿ || ದಯ ತೋರಲಿದುವೆ ವೇಳೆಯು! ||

Tyagaraja attained samadhi on Pusha bahuLa panchami in the year 1747,  ten days after his dream. A brindavana stands at Tiruvaiyyaru on the left bank of Kaveri, to mark this spot.  

Let Dasharathi save everyone in distress, and offer peace to the grieving families.

Sarve janAh sukhinO bhavantu!

-neelAnjana