Navagraha Kritis
Encyclopedia
The Navagraha Kritis are a set of 9 songs composed by Muttuswāmi Dīkshitar
, a great composer of Carnātic Music
(Classical music of South India). Each song is a prayer to one of the nine Navagrahās
("planets" of Hindu mythology
). The songs titles, rāga
(musical scale) and tāḷa
(rhythmic pattern) are listed below:
It is interesting to note that the set comprises all seven soolādi tāḷas.
The last two (on Rāhu and Kētu) were most likely composed by followers of Dīkshitar, to complete the set of nine even though the signature used in the song is that of Dikshitar (guruguha).
Legend:
It is said that Tambiappan, a disciple of Muttuswāmi Dīkshitar
was suffering from a stomach ailment and for long no medicines were able to cure him. Dīkshitar
inspecting his horoscope inferred that the planet Jupiter was in an unfavorable position and his ailment could be cured only by propitiating the planet god Bṛhaspati
. As laymen would find these rituals complex he created the composition Bṛhaspatē in the Rāga Aṭhānā propitiating the planet, and asked his disciple to sing it for a week. As ordained, his ailment was cured. This incident provided the impetus for Dīkshitar
to compose kritis on all the Navagrahās
.
Muthuswami Dikshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar is a South Indian poet and composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music...
, a great composer of Carnātic Music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
(Classical music of South India). Each song is a prayer to one of the nine Navagrahās
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
("planets" of Hindu mythology
Hindu mythology
Hindu religious literature is the large body of traditional narratives related to Hinduism, notably as contained in Sanskrit literature, such as the Sanskrit epics and the Puranas. As such, it is a subset of Nepali and Indian culture...
). The songs titles, rāga
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
(musical scale) and tāḷa
Tala (music)
Tāla, Taal or Tal is the term used in Indian classical music for the rhythmic pattern of any composition and for the entire subject of rhythm, roughly corresponding to metre in Western music, though closer conceptual equivalents are to be found in other Asian classical systems such as the notion...
(rhythmic pattern) are listed below:
- Sūryamūrtē Namōstutē (on Sun or SuryaSuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
, in Rāga Saurāṣhṭram, Tāḷa Chatusra Dhrūva) - Chandram Bhaja Mānasa (on Moon or ChandraChandraIn Hinduism, Chandra is a lunar deity and a Graha. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma . The Soma name refers particularly to the juice of sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. He is described as young, beautiful, fair; two-armed and...
, in Rāga Asāvēri, Tāḷa Chatusra Maṭya) - Angārakam Āshrayāmyaham (on Mars or AngārakaMangalaIn Jyotish astrology, Mangala is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red planet. Mars is also called Angaraka In Jyotish astrology, Mangala (Devanagari: मंगल) is the name for Mars, the red...
, in Rāga Suraṭi, Tāḷa Rūpaka) - Budham Āshrayāmi (on Mercury or BudhaBudhaIn Hindu mythology, Budha is the name for the planet Mercury, a son of Chandra with Tara or Rohini. He is also the god of merchandise and protector of Merchants....
, in Raga Nāṭakuranji, Tāḷa Misra Jhampa) - Bṛhaspatē Tārāpatē (on Jupiter or BṛhaspatiBrihaspatiBṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
, in Rāga Aṭhānā, Tāḷa Tisra Tripuṭa) - Shrī Shukra Bhagavantam (on Venus or ShukraShukraShukra , the Sanskrit for "clear, pure" or "brightness, clearness", is the name of the son of Bhrigu, and preceptor of the Daityas, and the guru of the Asuras, identified with the planet Venus, one of the Navagrahas...
, in Rāga Paraju, Tāḷa Khanda Aṭa) - Divākaratanujam Shanaishcharam (on Saturn or ShaniShaniSanskrit Śhani शनि, Kannada Śhani ಶನಿ ದೇವರು,Shani/Sani , is one of the Navagraha or Jyotiṣa . Shani is embodied in the planet Saturn and is the Lord of Saturday....
, in Rāga Yadukulakāmbhōji, Tāḷa Chatusra Ēka) - Smarāmyaham Sadā Rāhum (on RāhuRahuIn Hindu mythology, Rahu is a cut-off head of an asura, that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. He is depicted in art as a serpent with no body riding a chariot drawn by eight black horses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas in Vedic astrology...
, in Rāga Rāmapriya (Rāmamanōhari)RamapriyaRamapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 52nd melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta scale system of Carnatic music. It is called Ramāmanōhari in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...
, Tāḷa Rūpaka) - Mahāsuram Kētumaham (on KētuKetu (mythology)Ketu is the descending lunar node. 'Ketu' is said to be the body of Rahu, after the head of the asura was cut off by God Vishnu. In Hindu mythology, Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It is believed to have a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation...
, in Rāga Shanmukhapriya (Chāmaram)ShanmukhapriyaShanmukhapriya is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is the 56th melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chāmaram in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub...
, Tāḷa Rūpaka)
It is interesting to note that the set comprises all seven soolādi tāḷas.
The last two (on Rāhu and Kētu) were most likely composed by followers of Dīkshitar, to complete the set of nine even though the signature used in the song is that of Dikshitar (guruguha).
Legend:
It is said that Tambiappan, a disciple of Muttuswāmi Dīkshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar is a South Indian poet and composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music...
was suffering from a stomach ailment and for long no medicines were able to cure him. Dīkshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar is a South Indian poet and composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music...
inspecting his horoscope inferred that the planet Jupiter was in an unfavorable position and his ailment could be cured only by propitiating the planet god Bṛhaspati
Brihaspati
Bṛhaspati also known as Brahmanaspati and Deva-guru , is the name of a Vedic deity...
. As laymen would find these rituals complex he created the composition Bṛhaspatē in the Rāga Aṭhānā propitiating the planet, and asked his disciple to sing it for a week. As ordained, his ailment was cured. This incident provided the impetus for Dīkshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar
Muthuswami Dikshitar is a South Indian poet and composer and is one of the Musical Trinity of Carnatic music...
to compose kritis on all the Navagrahās
Navagraha
Graha is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi . In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha are some of these major influencers.All the navagraha have relative movement with respect to the background of fixed stars in the zodiac...
.