Hechcharikaga rara

Raga Yadukulakamboji, 28 Harikamboji janya
Aa: S R2 M1 P D2 S Av: S N2 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S
Taalam: Kandachappu

Lyrics: Pallavi: heccarikagā rārā hē rāmacandra heccarikagā rārā hē suguṇa sāndra Anupallavi: pacca viltunikanna pālita surēndra Charanam: kanaka mayamau makuṭa kānti merayaganu ghanamaina kuṇḍala yugambulu kadalaganu ghanamaina nūpura yugambu ghallananu sanakādulella kani santasillaganu āṇi mutyāla sarulallalāḍaganu vāṇi patīndruliru varusa pogaḍaganu māṇikya sōpānamandu mellaganu vīṇa palkula vinucu vēḍka cellaganu ninu jūḍa vaccu bhagini karambu ciluka manasu rañjilla nī mahimalanu paluka minu vāsulella virulanu cāla jiluka ghana tyāgarāju kanugona muddu guluka

English verse: Gingerly, gingerly, advance O Rama like the moon, full! Gingerly, gingerly, advance O Rama, of virtues full! O sire of the god of love, He that hath the green bow; O savior of the lord of the gods, From overpowering odds, As your azure crown shines forth, Sway, your pendent earrings both; As your fine anklets jingle, every great sage, With the Four, rejoices at your visage. As jewels of flawless pearls, quiver on your bosom, Lightly descend the gem studded steps fulsome. As the Creator and Indra exalt you on either side, So goes the sight; hark the veena notes tide. In her hand is a poll, That doth, you, extol, As your sister, to see you, draws near, Whose words, to the mind, bring cheer. All the celestials, from heaven, shower flowers profuse. This noble bard watches on, as all, your allures suffuse.

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Comments:
Kama, the god of love, is said to wield a green sugar cane bow and to be a son of Vishnu. The sister alluded to, is Parvati, probably, in her aspect as Meenakshi worshipped at Madurai, who has a parrot in her right hand. The italicized charanas are not usually sung. Poll is a domesticated parrot. "The Four"- Sanaka, Sana, Sanatkumara and Sanandana were four great sages and sons of Brahma who always appeared together.


This kriti is from the Utsava Sampradaya cycle of kritis. "Utsava Sampradaya" literally means (temple) festival tradition. These kritis constitute a complete set of songs describing all the celebrations and activities on a festive day in Rama's court, from his retinue waking the King from His sleep for a dip, to His marriage to Sita, to receiving worship and offerings, and to finally retiring for the day. Tyagaraja sees himself as one of the bards at court, witnessing these divine events. He addresses Rama and describes each event vividly. Generally simpler in melody and more direct in lyrics than his other cycles, the Utsava Sampradaya kritis correspond well to the nityaaradhana or daily services and festivities of Vishnu temples and are ideally suited for singing at those events, as well as on days of elaborate worship at one's home. In this kirti, Tyagaraja conducts Rama, from his palace, to his throne or presumably, his seat at court.

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Extra Comments:
Extol is pronounced like "toll" in some parts of the world, and with an o sound like that in "golly" in others. I have required the latter sound here to keep with the rhyme.

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