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Chera Ravademi - Tyagaraja Kritis (Eng)

Pallavi

1cēra rāvadēmirā rāmayya
O Lord Rama! Why is it that You wouldn’t come to be united with me?

Anupallavi

mēra kādurā ika mahā mēru dhīra śrī kara (cēra)
O Brave like the Great Meru mountain! O Lord who causes prosperity! It is not appropriate; O Lord Ramayya! Why is it that You wouldn’t come to be united with me even now?

Charanam

2talli taṇḍri lēni 3bāla tana 4nāthu kōru rīti
palumāru vēḍukoṇṭē pāliñca rādā
5valacucu nēnu nīdu vadanāravavindamunu
talaci karagaga jūci tyāgarāja sannuta (cēra)
In the same manner as a young (married) woman, having no parents, would seek her husband, even when I beseech You repeatedly, can’t You protect me? O Lord well praised by this Tyagaraja! Why is it that You wouldn’t come to be united with me, even after seeing me melting with love thinking of Your Lotus face?

Variations

  • 4nāthu – nādhu. According to telugu dictionary, both words mean same.

References

  • 3bāla – a young woman below the age of 16 years.

Commentary

  • 1cēra rāvu - This Kriti is in the Bhava of 'kāntāsakti' – love towards Lord as that of a wife to her husband. This is clear from the Charana wordings 'talli taṇḍri lēni bāla tana nāthu kōru rīti' – like a parentless maiden seeking her husband. 'cēru' could be loosely translated as 'saṃyōga' – fusion – as opposed to 'mixture' where individual substances retain their identity. The example given in the Dictionary is that of 'milk and water'. The Lord is like the proverbial swan which (Who) can separate the 'water' ('wateriness' of the devotee) and absorb him in Himself – in the milk ocean – vaikuṇṭha.
  • 2talli taṇḍri lēni – When there is some tiff between husband and wife, if the wife has parents, she would threaten to go to her parents'. However, if she has no parents, she puts up with the husband. Sri Tyagaraja brings out that, the attitude of a true devotee should be like that of a parentless woman so that she can ever seek her husband – the Lord - whole heartedly. Worldly attachments are like parents to a woman. Development of an attitude of 'destituteness' is what referred here. Sita's fire ordeal and her subsequent resentment-less attitude in joining Sri Rama is an example of such an attitude. This is true 'śaraṇāgati' – 'prapatti'. For more information, please visit – [prapatti]
  • 5 valacucu – lovingly - The 'anurāga' (supreme Love) as defined in Narada Bhakti Sutra is meant here. Please also refer to Kriti 'anurāgamu lēni' rāga sarasvati. For complete verses of Narada Bhakti Sutras, please visit – [Narada Bhakti Sutras]