Navaratna Maala kritis...

I started searching on the net for an appreciation on an otherwise quite self-explanatory slokam- a very beautiful one at that by Sankarabhagavadpadal. The 8th slokam from the Minakshi stothram sticks to the mind, and maybe so to me because Aruna Sairam has rendered this as a virutham before singing 'Sadasaaranga nayane'. The slokam goes thus -

shabdabrahmamayI charAcharamayI jyotirmayI vAaNmayI
nityAnandamayI niranjanamayI tattvaMmayI chinmayI
tattvAtitamayI pAratparamayI mAyAmayI shrImayI
sarvaishvaryamayI sadAshivamayI mAM pAhi mInAmbike

But I was distracted in my search by another article that I found on Shyama Sasthri - a commentary on the composition "devii miinanetrii"; one of the navaratna maalaa kriiti-s (a garland of nine precious gems).
Shri Shyama Shastri was born in the chitrabhaanu year in vaisaakha maasa shukla paksham under the star krithikai and meSha raashi. This corresponds to the date April 26th 1762. He was named as Venkata Subrahmanya by his parents Shri.Vishvanatha Aiyar and Srimati.Vengalakshmi. During the time his parents were longing for child, they attended the Venkatachalapathy samaradhana in one of their friend's house. At that place, one of the elders,overcome with devotional fervour, prophesized that a child will be born to them and he will gladden the heart of devi bhakta-s, and for that purpose they should do samaradhana to Shri Venkateshvara for a year (once a month). Since the child was born on Krithikai nakshatram which is lord Subrahmanya's star and due to the blessing of the Lord of seven hills, his name was chosen as Venkata Subrahmanya. But later, he became well known by his pet name Shyama. Shyama Shastri did gladden the heart of Devi upasakas with his beautiful kriti-s on shri mata. Of all the kriti-s composed by him, only two were not on devi (one on Shri Muthu Kumarasvami of Vaidishvaran kOvil and other on Varadarajasvami of Kanchi)

Background:

Once Shyama Shastri went to Pudukkottai in TN to worship shrii Brihadadambaa. When he was singing in praise of the BRihanayaki, an old man in the temple went into a devotional rapture. He asked Shyama Shastri to go to Madurai and sing in praise of Shri Minakshi amman. After returning home, Shyama Shastri decided to compose nine kriti-s on ambal and dedicate it to her as a navaratnamala - "A garland made of nine precious gems"; then he composed the first seven kriti-s.

Immersed in the worship of Bangaru Kamakshi in their family temple, he forgot the endeavour he started. One night, the same old man appeared in his dream and urged Shyama Shastri to finish the remaining kriti-s and start immediately to Madurai. Shyama Shastri realized his lapse and started immediately to Madurai and composed the remaining two kriti-s on the way. The Devi Mina netri kriti is one of the nine gems set in the ragaM ShankaraabharaNam. These kriti-s not only brought joy to bhakta-s, but enormous fame to Shyama Shastri in the world of Karnataka Sangeetham. Some consider that the old man was none but Lord Sundareshvara who wanted to hear the glories of his wife. They call all his leelai-s as thiruvilaiyadal in thamizh, all his sports bring joy to the world of bhakta-s.

Shyama Shastri and Muthuswami Dikshitar are contemporaries. Shri Subbaraya Shastri, one of the sons of Shri Shyama Shastri indeed had an enviable position. He was taught formally by the great Thyagaraja, and his father also taught him. Constant interactions with Shri Dikshitar, also helped different aspects of Karnataka Sangeetham. To be taught and groomed by the three greatest composers of the Carnatic world must be a result of great poorva janma punyam indeed.

The composition "Devi Minanetri ..." is the first of the Navaratnamalika kriti-s by Shri Shyama Shastri. This composition is set in raagam ShankaraabharaNam and begins with the line "Devi Minanetri brova raave". The term navaratnamala means a garland made of nine precious gems. It is indeed a fitting tribute to Shri Minakshi Devi to offer the first gem in the raagam Shankarabharanam. The name Shankarabharanam means an ornament of Lord Shiva. Ambal, who is the power of Lord Shiva (refer to the verse shiva shaktyaa yuktau of saundarya laharii) adorns him splendidly and she is no comparison to the other inanimate ornaments. Hence, the tribute to ambal in the raagam shankarabharanam is very apt!

It gladdens the hearts of the countless devotees of the divine mother that Lord himself (in the form of a old man) inspired Shyama Shastri to offer this jewel to his beloved consort Uma. Hence, it is the Lord who presented this jewel through the medium of ShriShyama Shastri. And Ambal accepted this naada naivedyam (musical offering) and blessed Shri Shyama Shastri.

The Krithi:
The keerthanam "Devi Minanetri" is a long composition and has three charanam-s (stanza-s). This keerthanam celebrates Shri Minakshi devi as Bala Tripura Sundari!!

Pallavi

devii miinanetrii brova raave
daya cheyave brova raavamma

Anupallavi

sEvinchE vaarikellanu chintaamaNiyai unnaara

Charanam

baala niive gatiyani ninne chaalaa nammina naapai
paraakEla dayacheya niikidi mElaa divyaambaa
kaalaa divi raaNii sadguNa shiilaa kiiravaaNii devii
niila niirada veNii triloka jananii devii maheshvarii bhavanii || 1 ||

ambaa mukha nirjita shatadhara bimbaa rakShita devataambaa
nata nijasR^ita guha herambaambaa shyaamaLaamba bimbaadharii
gaurii kaadamba vihaarii ambaa kambukanThi
himashaila vR^ikSha paalikaa devii baalambikaa ambaa || 2 ||

vaaNii ramaa va.ndita rudraaNii nii saaTevaru kalyaaNii
shyaama kR^iShNa nuta kiiravaaNii sharvaaNii viiNaa
vinodinii shrii chakra koNa nivaasini giirvaaNa
vandita padaaravindaa shivaa devii kaatyaayanii ambaa || 3 ||