55 Melakarta Ragam Shyamalangi

SrI:
Dear BhakthAs of Sri Oppiliappan:
The Likhita Kaimkaryam for Sow Padma Veeraraghavans 72 MeLa Raga Kriti continues. Today,
we will focus on the ShyamaLAngi Raaga Kriti on BhUmi DEvi SamEta SrI Oppiliappan.
ShyAmaLAngi is the 55th MeLa Raagam ; it is the first raagam in the 10th Chakram of DiSi. It is a
Prati madhyama MeLam. In Dikshitars school, this MeLa Raagam is known as SaamaLam.
The ArOhaNa AvarOhaNa Kramam for ShyamaLAngi MeLa Raagam is:
S R2 G2 M2 P D1 N1 S
S N1 D1 P M2 G2 R2 S
adiyEn refers you further to ArOhaNa avarOhaNa scheme in http://www.thiruppavai.org and
the extensive discussions on the 72 MeLa Raagams there.
ShyAmaLAngi Raaga Svaroopam is well delineated in the Koteswara Iyers Kriti, KandhA
KaRpaka TaruvE rendered by SangeethAchArya S.Rajam. The kriti by Sow. Padma
Veeraraghavan in this raagam has the Raaga Mudhrai. The Janya Raagams of ShyAmAngi are:
DeSAvaLi and Vijaya MaaLavi.
There are only two kritis in ShyamaLAngi Raagam besides the one created by Srimathy Padma
Veeraraghavan:
1. ShyamaLAngi ShyAmaLAngi Chathusra JhampE: Dr. BalamuraLi composition
2. Kandhaa ! KaRpaka taruvE KoteeSwara Iyer composition
AdiyEn will now take up the 55th MeLakarta Raaga Kriti set in ShyamaLAngi and complete the
write ups on the remaining 2 MeLams forming the first of the Six set of CD-s on Sow. Padma
VeerarAghavans 72 MeLa Raga Kritis on Sri Oppiliappan: ChitrAmBhari (66) and KOsalam (71).
The overall meaning for this ShyAmaLAngi Kriti by Srimathy Padma VeerarAghavan is: SrI BhUmi
DEvi revered with the name of VasundharA is One who confers every kind of MangaLam on Her
devotees. She has a ShyaamaLa (dark green) hue and protects the Saatvika Janams seeking the
rakshaNam of Her sacred feet. She is the embodiment of the 64 precious Kalais. Oh BhUmi
PirAtti ! You enjoy the KalyANa utsavams performed daily for You and exchange garlands with
Your Lord and also enjoy swinging on the Unjal during those occasions with Your Lord. Your
bhakta Janams are blessed to have Your sevai during these Kolaahala Utsavams.
ShyAmaLAngi Raaga Kriti:
Pallavi:
SarvamangaLE ShyAmaLAngi
SaadhujanapriyE VasundharE
Oh BhUmi DEvi, the Embodiment of all auspiciousness ! Oh Akinchana KaamadhEnu ! Oh Lady
with the dark green hue (ShyAmaLAngi) in contrast to the HiraNya VarNam (golden hue) of Sri
Devi ! Oh Devi who supports every thing (akhila dhAriNi) ! Oh DEvi worshipped as Vasundharaa
(the One with the highest of riches/ Iswaryams) ! Your sarva MangaLatvam is praised through
the recitation of Your many names such as Sarvam sahaa (one who overlooks the apachArams
of Your devotees), avani (lOka rakshaki), achalaa (one of firm resolve in protecting the saadhu

janams), ViSwambharaa (the foundation for all charAcharam), Vipulaa (immeasurable in glories)
and so many more. The BhU sooktam attached here eulogizes Her beautifully.
Anupallavi:
AayakalaihaL aRupatthu naankumAy AanavaLE
AnnayE arum nidhiyE BhUmi DeviyE (Sarva MangaLE)
Oh BhUmi Devi, who is the abode of all the 64 arts such as Singing, Playing Musical instruments,
dancing, being the mistress of prosody, conversation, constructing poems and so many more !
Oh Mother ! You are our rare treasure ! Through association with You, Your Lord is enriched
(Maadhavi ! Tvath sangamAth Tava Naatha: laBdhapOsha: bhavati). You are the ladder for
svargam and Moksham (Svarga apavarga saraNi).
CharaNam:
nittam unn kOyili yettanayO utsavangaL
bhaktar manam mahizha ParamdhAmanudan Nee
MattaLam mElam kotti muzhangiDa
Maalai MaaRRi Unjal AaDi mahizhntAyE (Sarva MangaLE)
There are so many festivals at Your temples every day. During the celebration of KalyANa
Utsavam for You at Oppilaa Appan Koil, the devotees enjoy the various steps of Your marriage
with the Lord such as the exchange of garlands, sporting in the swing (Unjal) against the
background of MangaLa Vadhyams such as mattaLam and Periya MeLam. The Phalans of
worshipping BhUmi DEvi is revealed to us by Swamy Desikan in His BhU stuthi:
Sraddhaa bhakti prachaya guruNA chEtasA samstuvAna:
Yadhyat kaamyam sapadhi tatra tatra PratishtAm
Swamy Desikan says that anyone praising Bhumi devi with mind drenched with Sraddhaa and
Bhakti for Her is blessed with enduring wealth of the kind that he desires.
Sri BhUmi Devi Sameta Sri Oppiliappan ThiruvadigaLE SaraNam,
Daasan, Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan
Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka
Srivan Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:
Srimate Srivan Satakopa Sri Ranganatha Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama: