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.

avatāram ānān rāghavan
dāsharathē dayānidhē
gamana sundara
kalyāṇa rāma
Karuṇai kaḍal**
mithilādhipa sutā
naḍaiyai pāraḍi
raghukulōttama
Raghupungava jaya*
rāma raghunātha*
rāman perumai
Rāmāyaṇamē dhanam
sharaṇam yāmi

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