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Rama

Upon research, it has been discovered that Venkata Kavi has composed a series of songs as part of the Ramayanam opera although the entire set is yet to come to light. Apart from this, this ingenious poet has presented the entire Ramayana through one magnificent ragamalika piece – Shree raama jayame jayam.

 

This piece covers the entire epic through a pallavi and a set of 5 charanams in the ragams Nattai, Gowla, Arabhi, Varali and Manirangu. The whole piece is a fine display of Venkata Kavi's exemplary attitude towards these epics and life. Venkata Kavi rarely uses negative/strong expressions such as kill/destroy and showcases a very positive outlook. Instances such as Parashurama's challenge against Rama and boons claimed by Kaikeyi have been penned with subtle yet poignant expressions.  

 

parashuraaman tiru tavattinai vaangi

pattaabhishekamurum sheidiyaal engi

varam irandaal kaikeshi kai ongi

vaakku tanda padi pattanam neengi

 

As a rare instance, Venkata Kavi has also used his mudra in this song in the final madhyamakala section of this song.

 

kaariyam edilum tunaiyaaha ninradu

kaalanaiyum vazhakkaadiyum venradu

gati illaada kanam nidhiyena vandadu

kaviyilum Venkata Kaviyum unarndadu (shree raama jayame)

 

Other sparkling pieces on Lord Rama include Kalyaana raama (Hamsanadam), Raghukulottama (Nagasvaravali) and Raaman perumai sholla tahumo (Nattaikkuranji). Rama paadaadi keshaanta varnanam (verses describing Rama from toe to head) are free verses that bring out the poet's torrential imagination through a lovely set of verses. The compositions on Lord Rama are given below.

 

1
avatāram ānān rāghavan
Kēdāram Ādi
2
dāsharathē dayānidhē
Tōḍi Ādi
3
gamana sundara
Bhairavi Ādi
4
kalyāṇa rāma
Hamsanādam Ādi
5
Karuṇai kaḍal**
6
mithilādhipa sutā
Kāmbhōdhi Ādi
7
naḍaiyai pāraḍi
Jhunjhooṭi Ādi
8
raghukulōttama
Nāgaswarāvaḷi Chaturashra Jhampa
9
Raghupungava jaya*
Ārabhi Ādi
10
rāma raghunātha*
Māḷavam Ādi
11
rāman perumai
Nāṭṭaikuranji Ādi
12
Rāmāyaṇamē dhanam
Suraṭi Ādi
13
sharaṇam yāmi
Shahāna Ādi