Sri RukmiNi KalyAnam article : Part I

[Guest guest]

Sri RukmiNi SamEtha Sri KrishNAya nama:

 

Dear BhakthAs :

 

As this year's GokulAshtami approaches,

adiyEn will write a special article about

the most joyous episode of the VivAham of

RukmiNi PirAtti of Vidharbha Desam with

Sri KrishNa Bhagavan of Dwarakai . AdiyEn

invites you all to join in this magnificient

and sacred celebration of this ThirukkalYANam

by Swamy Desikan in his MahA Kaavyamm,

Sri YaadhavAbhudhaya and Sukha Brahmam's

Srimath Bhaagavatham .

 

May the Dhivya Dampathis shower their blessings

on their bhakthAs all over the world !

 

Daasan, V.SatakOpan

 

Sri RukmiNi KalyANam

**********************

 

The great HarikathA Kaalkshepam experts of the past

and present like Sri EmpAr VijayarAghavAcchAr,

Sri HarikEsanallUr Mutthiah BhAgavathar ,

ThanjAvUr KrishNa BhAgavathar, Sri AnantharAma

BhAgavathar of Palghat , Kallidakkuriucchi

VedAntha Bhaagavathar , Sri T.S.Balakrishna Saasthrigal

made Hari KathA KaalkshEpam as one of the most

effective way to grow the Bhakthi of pandithAs

and PaamarAs.

 

Musical discourses on PurANic stories is

the heart of Hari KathA KaalskshEpam .

Eminent musicians and Scholars like

EmpAr SrirangAcchAr Swamy and his brilliant

kumArar, EmpAr VijayarAghavAcchAr Swamy

focused on HarikathAs from Srimath RaamAyaNam ,

BhAgavatham and Dhivya prabhandhams and with

their eminent powers of exposition held

the audience in their raptourous grip.

 

This art form came to Tamil Naadu during

the time of the MaharAshtrA rulers of ThanjAvUr

(post-Vijaya Nagaram period) and took root

as HarikathA kaalkshEpams and BhAgavatha

MeLams (PrahlAdha Charithram ) .

 

One of the most prominent HarikathA KaalkshEpam

nirUpaNams (expositions ) has always been

" Sri RukmiNi KalyANam . When the BhAgavathar

entered singing the famous Srimath BhAgavatham

verse associated with Sri RukmiNi kalyANam ,

the BhakthA's joy reached new heights in

anticipation of the rich experience awaiting

them for the evening :

 

" SruthvA GuNAn Bhuvana-Sundara sruNvathAm thE

nirvisya karNavivarair harathOangathApam I

Roopam dhrusAm dhrusimathAmakhilArtha laabham

thvyyachyuththAvisathi chitthapathrapam mE " II

-- Srimath BhAgavatham : Canto X.52.37

 

This slOkam deals with the beginning portion

of the message brought by a trusted Brahmin

selected by Sri RukmiNi PirAtti,who had incarnated

as the beautiful daughter of King BhIshmakA of

Vidharbha dEsam .She appeals to KrishNA here to

come to Her rescue in a time of impending crisis:

 

(meaning of the above SlOkam ): " Hearing about

Thy virtues , which entering into the hearer's

heart through the ear , generates bliss in

the person's whole being , and hearing also

about the beauty of Thy form , which fulfills

the highest expectations of one's sense of sight ,

My mind , Oh AchyuthA has entered into Thee ,

overcoming all feeling of bashfulness".

 

Sri RukmiNi PirAtti goes on to make a direct

appeal to KrishNa to come to Her rescue ,

choose Her as His bride , take Her away

and save Her from the impending calamity of

planned marriage to SisupAlan by Her brother,

Rukmi . This slOkam is as follows:

 

tanmE BhavAn khalu vrutha: pathiranga-

jAyAmAthmaArpithasccha bhavathoathra VibhO vidEhi I

maa veerabhAgamabhimarsathu chaithya aarAdh

gOmAyuvanmrughapatherbalimambhujAksha II

 

(meaning): " I (RukmiNi)have therefore chosen

Thee (KrishNA) as My husband and have offered Myself

to Thee , All-pervading One ! Design to accept Me

as as Thy wife. O Lotus-eyed One! Do not allow

the King of Chedi to take Me away , who is a property

of Thine . It would otherwise be like a jackal

attempting to carry away the fare of the lion ".

 

In the subsequent postings , we will cover

the Message of RukmiNi , the response of the Lord

as Her Rakshakan and Naayakan and their joyous

marriage at DwArakai.

 

Srimath Azhagiya Singar ThiruvadigaLE Saranam ,

Daasan, Oppilappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan