Thread by @jeysundhar_d

As it is Navaratri season, (and since December is coming), thought I'd talk about something from the world of Carnatic music. Dikshithar's Kamalamba Navavarnas.

Before we start with the Navavarnas, themselves, a bit of background on Kamalamba/Kamalambigai, the Goddess of the Thyagaraja Temple at Thiruvaroor. Interestingly, there is a separate shrine for the wife of Thyagesa, Nilotpalamba.

But it's to Kamalamba that Dikshithar dedicated his Navavarnas. Perhaps he was inspired by the unique seated portrayal of the idol, with her legs crossed, probably the only such portrayal anywhere in India

But then, there may have been another reason. Each of the Navavarnas is dedicated to one level of the Sri Chakra. Dikshithar, known for his Srividhya Upasana, may have seen the Goddess of the Lotus, akin to Sri Chakra.

This is not to say that Dikshithar ignored the Goddess of the Blue Lily. She had her own remarkably composed Neelotpala Nayike. Here it is by Dr. BMK. But we digress.

Navaratri, 9 levels of the Sri Yantra, 9 aspects of the Devi, and 9 avarnas by Dikshithar. The number 9 is magical indeed.

Perhaps the Navavarnas are to Dikshithar what the Pancharatna Kritis are to Thyagaraja. Dikshithar also composed several "groups" of Krithis around a central theme. But the Navavarnas are unparalleled in their elaboration and+

+ are perhaps unique in delving so deeply into the matter of Sri Yantra. While Dikshithar went for grand yet common Ragams, he chose the less common Talams to go with them.

Something of interest to Sanskrit enthusiasts @RohiniBakshi @Gopalee67 @suhasm , Dikshithar himself being a Sanskrit buff, had the noun Kamalamba in all 8 declensions in the Kritis.

With a day's delay, we'll look at 1Kriti/day.Today's kriti was what should have been yesterday's (Yes, yes. I'm lazy. What to do? Kamalamba only should protect me, no?) Kamalamba Samrakshathu!

For this, Dikshithar picked Anandabhairavi, a happy wave of a Ragam, that almost dances in a trance, slowly in joy. Perhaps, this is the joy of the first step, of fresh beginnings.

After invoking Kamalamba, and requesting that he be protected, Dikshithar praises her as the resident of the City of Lotuses, Kamalanagara.

But the more interesting part comes in the Charanam.

She is the Ishwari of the Chakra Cosmogram starting from the Tripura.

She is also the Ishwari of the Siddhis (the Ashtamasiddhis we encounter in Siddhar literature of Sivavakkiyar and others) like Anima.

Perhaps Dikshithar conveys that one way to master the Siddhis is through the worship of the Ishwari of the Siddhis, through the Navavarna.

And to that goal, the first step is through seeking the blessing of Kamalamba. She rules over the Trailokyamohana Chakra, that which entrances the 3 worlds. (Aside: How apt the choice of Anandabhairavi is, when you look at this!)

She's the Prakatayogini, the manifestation of Yoga, and the slayer of Mahishasuri and other enemies of the Devas. She is the mother of Guruguha (Kartikeya and Dikshithar himself, under the pen name Guruguha)

Dikshithar concludes the Kriti by praising the Goddess as Tripurasundari. Here's a rendering of the 1st Navavarna, Kamalamba Samrakshathu by my sister facebook.com/rasigadprasadh… #Plug @krtgrphr @nantalaks @tanjorean

We'll talk about the 2nd Navavarna tomorrow!

So, today we talk about the 2nd Navavarna! Kamalaambam Bhajare in Kalyani, one of the major (Gana) Ragams of Carnatic Music.

Remember the reference to the Trailokyamohana Chakra in the previous Navavarna? Here, there is a contrast. Dikshithar implores the devotee to cast aside all attachment to the world of Maya.

Kamalaamba, the resident of Kamalapura, is attended upon, not only by celestials, but also by Lakshmi and Saraswati. He describes the beauty of Kamalaamba.

Now come the Tantric elements, and the deeper philosophy. After asking you to discard all attachment to Maya, Dikshithar talks about the next level of the Sri Yantra, Shodasa Dalam.

The Chakra for this Avarana is Sarvaashaparipuraka, that which fulfills all expectations. After all, all desires are Maya. Once discarded, what expectations are left to be fulfilled, except to attain the feet of Kamalaamba?

Kamalaamba is the mystic Yogini, worshipped by Durvaasa, and annihilates all misery. She grants true bliss, "Nija Sukha", and is Nitya Kalyani (notice the name of the ragam making an appearance).

The name of the author makes an appearance as well, addressing Kamalaamba as "Guruguha Janani". After elaborating on her beauty and attributes, Dikshithar calls her "attributeless" "nirvishesa chaitanya rupini".

The Kriti concludes with Dikshithar calls her as the "Tatvadi Svarupini" re-emphasising the supremacy of the Goddess in his worship.

To choose the raga Kalyani, address Kamalaamba as Nithya Kalyani and refer to the Sarvashaparipuraka chakra... this kriti is an auspicious, wish-fulfilling gem! But remember, discard all Maya beforehand!

A rendition of Kamalaamba Bhajare by my sister, Rasiga Prasadh facebook.com/rasigadprasadh… #plug

We will look at the 3rd Navavarna tomorrow.

So, we continue with the Kamalaamba Navavarnas. Today, we look at the 3rd Navavarna -Shri Kamalaambikaya Katakshitoham.

After requesting her to protect him in Kamalaamba samrakshatu and asking us to worship her in Kamalaambam Bhajare, now Dikshithar is happy that Kamalaamba has glanced at him! He has received the Kataksha.

And the impact of the glance is such that Dikshithar has become the Brahman, Sachhidaananda Paripoorna Brahmasmi, he says.

Devi is worshiped by Brahma and others who perform the Panchakritya, the five acts -Srishti, Sthiti, Vilaya (illusion/concealment), Anugraha and Samhara. 5 plays an important role as we will see.

The ragam chosen by Dikshithar is another Sampoora ragam, Shankaraabharanam, which uses Chathusruthi Rishabham, Anthara Gandharam and Suddha Madhyamam.

Why is this important? This Swara structure places Sankaraabharanam in the 5th Chakra set of Ragams in the classification. This is the Bana Chakra. Not only that, even within that Chakra, it is the 5th Ragam.

Let me stretch that a bit and say that on Grahabedham, Shankaraabharanam gives you 5 other Melakarta ragams. So,now we have the mentioning of Panchakritya deities in context of the uniqueness of Shankaraabharanam.

Ok, since tomorrow's Sunday, we'll do the rest of this tomorrow and catch up with the 4th Navavarna as well (yes, I'm sleepy).

So, continuing with the 3rd Navavarna today, and then move on to the 4th.

As we saw yesterday, the choice of Shankaraabharanam is appropriate considering the mention of the Panchakritya in the 3rd Navavarna, Shri Kamalaambikaya Katakshitoham.

As it is the 3rd Navavarna, there is mention of the three-word Mahavaakya "Tat Tvam Asi" in association with the author's name "Guruguha".

Adding the 5 of the Panchakritya (and Shankaraabharana) and the 3 of the Tritya Vibhakti (3rd case in Sanskrit in which the word Kamalaamba changes in the opening line) and the 3 of Tatraipadayaa, we get.... yep, 8!

So, we're now at the 3rd level of the Sri Chakra, the Ashtadalam, the level of the 8 petalled lotus. Kamalaamba is embodied as the 8 shaktis, starting from Anangakusuma.

Devi is the colour of dawn and is in the Samkshobhana chakra. The theme of 8 continues, with Dikshithar saying that she is hidden in the form of Ashtavarga, the 8 groups of alphabets. 8 groups? Next tweet.

The Devanagari script had by Dikshithar's time become the main script for Sanskrit language. So, when the Kritis are in Sanskrit, Dikshithar refers to the 8 categories of letters in the script.

Kamalaamba is also seated in the eight-petalled Lotus, as we saw before.
And something that I forgot to mention before. Each kriti has the name of the Ragam embedded into the lyrics. Like the word Shankara in this.

A rendition of the 3rd Navavarna, Kamalaambikaaya Katakshitoham facebook.com/rasigadprasadh…

Now, to the 4th Navavarna. Kamalaambikaayai Kanakaamsukhayai, in majestic Kambhoji.

Dikshithar starts by saluting Kamaalmbika, who is dressed in golden clothes. She is both unborn and the daughter of Himagiri, the snow mountain. (remember that the Devi of the 1st Navaratri is Sailaputri)

He also says that she is worshipped by the Beeja Mantra "Hreem", underlying its importance in Shakti worship. She destroys the dishonest and the sins caused by the poison of Kali Yuga.

Now, going by the structure of the Sri Chakra, we need to understand that we have moved inwards from the Bhoopura level, through the 16-petalled lotus and the 8-petalled lotus.

We have now entered the Chaturdasaram, the 14-pointed star. Dikshithar mentions the chakra of this Avarana, Sarva Saubhagya Dayaka - that which grants all that is good and auspicious. And in Kambhoja charanayai, the name of the ragam.

And the reference to the Chaturdasaram, the 14-pointed star of this level, is made by calling Kamalaamba the ruler and sustainer of the 14 Prakata (manifest) worlds.

14 continues to rule. Dikshithar calls Kamaalamba as "Shobanakara Manukonaayai" the one residing in bright Manu triangles. Now, a little digression.

A day of Brahma is a Kalpa, a long, long, long period of time that contains a thousand Mahayugas (a cycle of the 4 yugas) in it. Each Kalpa is governed by 14 Manus, one after the other.

Acc to this, we are in the time of the 7th Manu, the Vaivasvata Manu. Dikshithar says that Kamalaamba resides in the 14 effulgent triangles of the Chaturdasara level of the Sri Chakra, thus ruling over the entire Kalpa.

We must also note that as we move inwards through the Sri Chakra, the mental state for each level is in a gradual progression. From Jagrata to Swapna to Sushupti (deep sleep), of the first 3 levels, now we are in Ishwara Vichaaram.

Appropriately, Dikshithar concludes the 4th Avarana by calling Kamalaamba as Chidaananda Poorna Ghanaayai - full of consciousness and bliss.

Here's a rendition of the 4th Navavarna - facebook.com/rasigadprasadh…

Today being Panchami, is the day of the 5th Navavarna. But since we started a day late, we'd be discussing it tomorrow.
Happy Panchami to you!
Thank you for following the thread so far!

Apologies for the unexpected delay! Got caught up. So, here we continue with the Kamalaamba Navavaranas. Today we'll start with the 5th Navavarana.

The 5th Navavarana is Sri Kamalaambaaya. The declension is in the 5th Vibhakti of Sanskrit. The ragam used is Bhairavi, one of the most popular Ragams on the Carnatic stage and one that lends itself to the Ragam Thanam Pallavi format.

But the choice of Bhairavi ragam is interesting for another reason as well. What is that? Among the 10 Mahavidhyas, the ten aspects of the Devi, only one shares Her name with the name of the Ragam.

Yes, it is Bhairavi, the 5th of the Dasa Mahavidhyas. And which Navavarana are we discussing today? The 5th Navavarana!

Dikshithar praises the Goddess as the Tatvasvarupini, the form of all principles, and also the Mother of the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

We are now in the 5th level of the Sri Chakra, the level of the 10 outer triangles.
As Tripurashri, Kamalaamba resides in the ten triangles of the Chakra and is served by the 10 Shaktis starting from Sarvasiddhiprada.

This is the level of 10, so Dikshithar brings in the 10 organs, 5 of sense (Jnanendriyas) and 5 of activity (Karmendriyas). Kamalaamba is the Shakti that lends power to the 10 organs.

This kriti also explicitly brings out the philosophical school of Vedanta that Dikshithar belongs to. He calls Kamalaamba as Sacchidaanandamaya Paramadvaita. Yes, this is the Advaita school of thought.

She is without beginning, without end, is unknowable and is manifest in the Sarvaarthasadhaka (achieving all purposes) chakra of this level of the Sri Chakra.

With a mere glance, she drives away the beginningless delusion and that illusion of cause and effect. Oh, and before we forget, the Raga Mudra Bhairavi finds expression in saying that Bhairavi, Bhargavi and Bharati serve Kamalaamba.

A rendition of the 5th Navavarana here. facebook.com/rasigadprasadh…

As it's Ashtami today, and because we have a lot of catching up to do, let's get to the 6th Navavarana. Kamalaambikayaastava Bhaktoham, Dikshithar qualifies himself as the Bhakta of Devi.

After embellishing her with lyrical and musical ornaments, he calls her
"Sangitarasikaayaa", the one who is fond of music. She is the Goddess Kaulini, the one of the Kaula path of worship.

This is the level of the 10 inner triangles. So, Dikshithar says Devi is worshipped by the 30 deities of the Malini chakra. Malini chakra has 10 Shaktis, who are represented by the letters of the Ka and Cha vargas of Devanagari.

The theme of 10 continues. Devi is worshipped also by Dasharatha (whose name comes from the ability of his chariot to move in 10 directions, including above and below), and by the ten Mudras.

The brilliance of her radiance powers the ten Indriyas (5 Jnanendriyas and 5 Karmendriyas). The Ragam is Punnagavarali, a Ragam that evokes Karunya, for an Avarana whose Chakra is Sarvarakshakara (Protects all).

A rendition of the 6th Navavarana facebook.com/rasigadprasadh…

Let's start Navami with the 7th Navavarana. Kamalaambikaayam bhaktim karomi. As you can see, it's in the 7th Vibhakti.

Kamalaamba resides in the Kalpavatika and is Chandi, the mother of the Universe, Jagadambika. All these attributes appears in the 7th vibhakti with declension "aayam"

The level is Ashtakona-eight triangles occupied by the eight Shaktis starting with Vashini. The chakra, after the Sarvarakshakara of the 6th, is Sarvarogahara, that which cures all ills.

Devi is the Rajayogini with the healing touch. Appropriately, the ragam is the soothing melody of Sahana, that She plays on the Veena she holds, charming the Gods, men and sages.

If you think Dikshithar has not found a representation for 7 in the kriti, then you don't know Dikshithar. The talam for the kriti is tisra triputa, which has 7 beats.

Thank you for following the thread on the Kamalaamba Navavaranas so far. I wrote in @IndianExpress on it indianexpress.com/article/opinio…
Please read, retweet and share your views. Happy Navami!