sree raamam ravi kulaapthi
raagam: naaraayaNa gowLa

28 harikaambhOji janya
Aa: S R2 M1 P N2 D2 N2 S
Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 G3 S

taaLam: aadi
Composer: Muttuswaami Dikshitar
Language: Sanskrit

pallavi

shrI rAmam ravikulAbdhi sOmam shrta kalpa bhUruham bhajEham

anupallavi

dhIrA gragaNyam varENyam dIna janAdhAram raghuvIram nAradAdi sannuta rAmAyana pArAyaNa mudita nArAyaNam

caraNam

dasharathAtmajam lakSmaNA grajam dAnava kula bhIkaram
shrIkaram kushalava tAtam sItOpEtam kuvalaya nayanam sudarbha
shayanam su-sharacApa pANim sudhImaNim su-nrta bhASam guruguha
tOSam dashavadana bhanjanam niranjanam dAnanidhim dayArasa jalanidhim

Meaning:

By Aparna from Neccheli (original article here, reproduced with permission)

Carnatic Compositions - The Essence and Embodiment
-Aparna Munukutla Gunupudi

Among the thousands of songs in praise of RAma, this krithi takes a special stage because it narrates the entire story of Rama including his children Kusa & Lava. Deekshitar sings the praises of RAma who shines like the moon in the solar dynasty (Surya vamsam), he provides solace to people like a banyan tree that provides shade and cool breeze. In anupallavi, he describes him as a top seeded warrior, a kind person and none other than Narayana who enjoys listening to the RAmayana chanting by NArada and other sages. He elaborates more in charaNam as the son of Dasaratha, elder brother of LakshmaNa, terror to the demons, the one who held the hand of Lakshmi (SIta), father of the twins Kusa and Lava, lotus petal eyed, who sleeps only on the mat made from reeds, who holds a strong bow (kOdandam), who is engaged in good talk, makes guruguha happy, slayer of ten faced RAvaNa, who shines bright like a gem, very generous and who is ocean of kindness.

It is said that Deekshitar composed this krithi when he visited “darbha sayana RAma” in RAmeswaram. The story behind this is that RAma during the search for his abducted wife SIta comes to know that she was a captive in RAvana’s island – Lanka. He makes his way to Lanka along with his ape friends Sugreeva, Anjaneya and others and reaches the ocean (near RAmeswaram). Unable to find a solution to cross the ocean, he adheres to strict penance for three days and sleeps only on a mat made with the reeds, hoping to find a path. End of the third day, he still has no option. RAma who is normally very calm, becomes angry and starts shooting arrows at the ocean to dry it up. It causes chaos to the marine animals. The lord of the ocean who is normally very deep and steady but he comes out of his slumber, greets RAma and says “that the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) need to be in perfect balance. Otherwise, it will cause calamities. It will not be appropriate to drain the water because the marine world will be destroyed” and stop him from further shooting. Then RAma asks what he should do with the already targeted arrow. Lord of the ocean asks RAma to shoot the nearby barren land called Drumakulya teertham where all the demons are roaming around. SrI RAma shoots the arrow towards that which destroys the demons and creates a well that springs out water and the area becomes lush again. Later lord of the ocean tells RAma that Nala in Sugreeva’s army is the son of Viswakarma, the architect and he is the only one who is capable of building the bridge to cross the ocean. Upon orders from RAma, Nala along with his assistants built a bridge in five days and RAma, LakshmaNa, Anjaneya, Sugreeva and the entire army successfully crossed the bridge and entered into the island Lanka. Deekshitar handed this beautiful krithi that narrates the entire story of RAma set to a very melodious tune, for all of us to enjoy.

Other information:
This is one of the Raama Navaavarnam (9 songs on Raama) group.

Lyrics contributed by Lakshman Ragde. Meaning contributed by Aparna Gunupudi via Neccheli.