Marugelara ! O Raghava !! - Sree Ramanavami Uthsavam 2022 - 1

మరుగేలరా ఓ రాఘవా!

మరుగేల - చరా చర రూప !  పరాత్పర సూర్య సుధాకర లోచన 

நற்பண்புகள் அனைத்துக்கும் சிகரம் ஸ்ரீராமபிரான்.  அற்புதமான நகரம் திரு அயோத்தி.  தசரத சக்ரவர்த்திக்கு இக்ஷ்வாகு குலத்தனமாம் இராமனும் இலக்குவண பரத சத்ருக்கணனும் பிறந்த  செய்தியை அரசவை காவலர்கள்  யானை மீதேறி முரசறைந்து அறிவித்தனர்.  மக்கள் அளக்கமுடியாத இன்பம் கொண்டனர்.  

The Greatest of Ithihasa purana ‘Sri Ramayanam’  is the undiluted history of the Greatest Person who descended on this Universe, on the banks of river Sarayu, in a prosperous country called ‘Koshala’.  In the immortal Ramayana, there are learning of life ….. For the Universe, Sri Rama and Sita are the Ideal persons.  Sri Rama is all pervading principle of Truth, character, steadfastness, sincerity, valour, skill, correctness, just, compassionate, righteous and more.  

Sree Rama Navami – is  the day on which Lord Sri Ramachandramurthy,  the supreme avatar of Maryada Purush  was born in the blessed land of Ayodhya.  Lord Rama descended on earth for the purpose of upholding righteousness and rewarding virtue.  

The starting words are that of famous Thiyagaraja keerthana – marugelara !  

marug(E)larA O rAghava

marug(E)la car(A)cara rUpa parAt-para sUrya sudhA-kara lOcana (marugu)

In this keerthana, Tyagayaa continues his quest for Rama. Here, he searches hard within himself and finds a slightly different answer to the question, "Where is Rama?"  He queries – Oh, Son  of Raghu - Why (ElarA) this screen (marugu) between You and me ?  and pleads Lord Rama, O Lord of the form (rUpa) of both moving (cara) and non-moving (acara) (carAcara)! The Supreme who is beyond everything, one who provided nectar, remove the inner screen and take me.   Having searched all over my inner recess (antarangamuna), I have understood that  You alone is Supreme and everything.  I shall never think of anything else other than Ninnu (your esteemed self). The Universe itself is your form! The Sun and the moon are your eyes. By deep contemplation, inquiry, and search, I have directly perceived that you are everything, and everything is within you.  There is no place in my mind for any other God. Please protect me.  

In this  beautiful popular keerthana, Thiyagaiyar asks Rama to come before him. He says O Rama, why are you concealing yourself? Lord is concealed with a screen called maya. Only the lord can remove the screen. Thiyaggaiyar says that inspite of you having the screen, I have perceived you. Your trick of having the screen hence is useless. Why keep it any longer? Please remove it and come before me.  

Saptapadi (Seven steps)  was another beautiful film written and directed by K Vishwanath, released in 1981. The film garnered the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.  The film is not only about the seven steps that one takes to become a part of the institution of marriage and a ritualistic exercise that completes the act of shedding the bachelorhood and entering a more stable state but talks about an individual's journey breaking away from the shackles from the conservatism to finding a path of understanding, encompassing and enlightenment.  Here is the Thiyagara keerthana ‘Marugelara O Raghava’ sung by  S Janaki: 

 

Today 2.4.2022 started the nineday Thiruvavathara celebrations and 10.4.2022 will be Sree Rama Navami.  Here are some photos of Sree Ramar purappadu at thiruvallikkeni this evening 

adiyen Srinivasa dhasan
Mamandur Veeravalli Srinivasa dhasan
2.4.2022