72 Melakartha Ragam Rasikapriya

Dear BhaktAs of ThiruviNNagar Dhivya dampatis:

Today, we will study Rasikapriya Raaga kriti of Sow.Padma Veeraraghavan.
This Raagam is the 72nd MeLam. It is the sixth raagam in the 12th (Aditya) chakram.It is the
equivalent of Suddha madhyama MeLam, Chala Natta (36th Melam). It is known as Rasa
Manjari in the Venkatamahi system of MeLa Raaga classification.
There is a Raamar Sannidhi at Oppiliappan Koil at the North East corner of the Temple. Every
year, there is a grand Sri Raama Navami Utsavam concluding with Sri Raama PattAbhishEkam. A
grand Music festival takes place during this Utsavam and includes the singing of Saint
ThyAgarajas Ghana Raaga Pancharatnams, a tradition started by SoubhAgyavati Padma
VeerarAghavan. This tradition continues today. This kriti set in the last MeLam among the 72
MeLa Raagams (Rasika Priyaa) is about the PattAbhishEkam of Lord Raamachandra and SitA
PirAtti.
The ArOhaNa-AvarOhaNams are:
S R3 G3 M2 P D3 N3 S
S N3 D3 P M2 G3 R3 S
Its swarams are shadsruti rishabham, antara ghaandharam, prati madhyamam, panchamam,
shat sruti dhaivatam and kaakali nishaadam.
Its Janya Raagams are: Hamsa Giri, Naaga Giri, IshtAngiNi
The Kritis in this Raagam are:
1) AruL seyya VeNum Sri Koteeswara Iyer
2) Dr. BalamuralikrishNa dhAtuvardhini (Vocal recital)
3) Sri Parthasarathy-Srimathy D.K.PattammaL
4) PattAbhishEkam KaaNa Srimathy Padma Veeraraghavan with Raaga Mudhrai.
5) Srungara Rasa Manjari Sri Mutthuswamy Dikshitar
6) Rajatha Sabhaa NaayakanE Sri Mutthayaa Bhagavathar
7) Rasikapriyaa VarNam
Pallavi:
PattAbhishEkam KaaNa PatinAyiram KaNN VeNDum
mattilA MahizhvadainthOm Mandhara Gridharanin
Oh Raamachandraa! One needs tens of thousands of eyes to see and enjoy Your Coronation at
AyOddhi. Oh Lord who supported on Your back the Mandara mountain as Mahaa Koormam
during the churning of the Milky ocean to bring out the nectar! We derive limitless bliss in
enjoying Your joyous PattAbhishEkam.
Anupallavi:
Mutthu pOl malarntha punnahai muhattazhagum
yettumO? aRivukku yennayum maRanthEn
adiyEn has lost my mind over the enjoyment of the beauty of Your Thirumuka MaNDalam and
Your gentle smile blossoming with the hue of the budding pearls.

One is reminded of Saint ThyAgaraja SwamigaLs kriti, Muddhu Momu yElaagu chElanganO?
set in raagam Suryakaantam, where he says How did SrI RaamAs face of captivating beauty
shine, when He blessed with His darsana the devotees (at His dharbhAr) who had been for long
looking forward eagerly with panting hearts for His advent, and how did even the sages get
enchanted with it?. In a Rudrapriya raaga Kriti (LaavaNya Raamaa), the Saint asks: Oh
Charming Raamaa ! Bless me with Your benign looks. Your mental disposition, Your charms and
Your Methods are unique (nee manasu nee sogasu nee dinusu vErE).
CharaNam:
kattiLam kaaLai iLayOnudan Anumanum
pattu peetAmBharam minna Bharata Chatrugnrum
kottu mELam muzhanga kOti Rasikapriyan
Sattiya Raaman annai SeetA Deviyudan
Oh PattAbhirAmaa! Around Your throne in Your darbhAr, the young and strong LakshmaNa
stood; HanumAn was at the foot of Your throne. With their silk PeetAmbharam shining,
Bharatan and ChatrugNan were holding the umbrella and waving the fan. Auspicious Ghetti
mElam was heard across the DharbhAr. Raama the embodiment of Satyam and dharmam sat
elegantly with His devi during the coronation utsavam and one needs tens of thousands of eyes
to absorb the beauty of the PattAbhishEka utsavam. The PattabhishEka sargam in Srimath
RaamAyaNam (121 slOakms) and the two dhyAna slOkams for Sundara KaaNDa PaarAyaNam
are to be studied in depth to understand the context of this kriti.
We will conclude the coverage of the 72 MeLa Raaga Kritis with the dhyAnam of the two
dhyAna slOkams recited at the beginning of the Sundara KaaNDa PaarAyaNam:
VaidEhi sahitam suradhrumatalE haimE MahaamaNDapE
madhyE pushpakamAsanE maNimayE VeerAsanE susthitam
agrE vaachayati prabhanjanasutE tattvam munibhya: param
vyAkhyAntam BharadhAdibhi: parivrutam Raamam bhajE SyAmaLam
VaamE bhUmisutA purasccha HanumAn PaschAth sumitrAsuta:
SatrugnO Bharatasccha paarSvadalayOr-VaayvAdhikONEshu cha
Sugreevsccha VibheeshaNsccha yuvarAD TaarAsutO JaambhavAn
madhyE Neela-sarOja-kOmaLaruchim Raamam bhajE SyAmaLam
Sri T.S. Balakrishna Saastrigals Raama PattabhishEka KaalakshEpam is a beautiful experience
to enjoy. Please google search for access.
Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka
Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
Srimate Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan