The Nine Gems

Oottukkāḍu Vēṇkaṭa Kavi  was an illustrious composer, with many novel ideas and creativity to his credit. One such outstanding piece of work is the lesser known ‘Kāmākṣhi Navāvaraṇams’. Akin to the Kamalāmbā Navāraṇa krtis by Muttuswāmy Dikshitar, these nine gems are each a piece of art to be awed at.  A short study on each of these:

The first composition on Vināyaka:

Shree Gaṇēshwara

He hails Lord Vināyaka as the Upāsaka of the Shreevidya upāsana.

The Panchāyatana pooja is mentioned in the composition, which is the type of Pooja where one Iṣhṭha daivata is surrounded by 4 other Gods. In this case the Iṣhṭha daivata is Vināyaka.

Adorning the Vakuḷa mālikā.

Vēda pārāvāra vihāra- One who resides in the ocean of the Vēdās

Dhyāna Krti

Vānchasi yadi kushalam

Bindu Chakra nilaya- One who resides in the Bindu chakra

nija mōda sadā ramaneeya shivāmrta nāma japa – one who is constantly in the meditation of the sweet name of Shiva, with utter fervor

Māṇikya manōhara veeṇā dharaṇām- holding the gem studded Veeṇā

1^st Avaraṇa Krti

Santatam aham sēvē

Trailōkya Mōhana chakra

Bindu chakra nilayē- One who resides in the Bindu chakra

Brāhmi, Mahēshwari, Sankṣhōbhini, Vidrāviṇi, etc. mentioned in the composition, are the Dēvis surrounding the first Chakra.

2^nd Avaraṇa Krti

Bhajasva shree

Sarva Āsha Paripooraka chakra

Specifically mentions Ṣhoḍasha daḷa sarvāsha paripooraka chakrēshwari – the goddess of the 16 petalled sarvāsha paripooraka chakra

shashadhara vadani – different way of expressing ‘moon- faced’, one whose face is like the wearer of the rabbit.

shishirita bhuvani – one who cools the earth

3^rd Avaraṇa Krti

Sarva jeeva

sarva samkṣhōbhaṇa chakra

sadānanda shiva beeja mantrēshvari – One who is constantly in the mantra of the ever blissful Shiva Bheeja.

The yōginee is Guptatara yogini

Anaṇga kusuma is one of the Shaktis

bhaṇḍāsura chhēdini – One who destroyed bhaṇḍāsura

veeṇā dhāriṇi – One who holds the veeṇā

4^th Āvaraṇa Krti

Yōga yōgēshwari

Sarva Sowbhāgya Dāyaka chakra

Chaturdasha Koṇēshwari – The goddess of Chaturdasha kona

nāgaratna tālapatra kanakābhē - palm leaf, kind of ear ornament, similar to Gold

hamsa toolikā talpa sārē – on a seat made of goose-cotton", the soft feathers or down of a goose. 

Ēkāmra taru moolē - One who is under the tree that bears a single mango.

5^th Avaraṇa Krti

Neela lōhita ramaṇi

Sarvārtha sādhaka chakra

neela lōhita ramaṇi – A woman of the color, Blue and Red.

the one among the Kulōtterṇa yoginis.

vashitva siddhi varadē - the Giver of the unusual skill of mastery over one’s self, self - command.

the one residing in the Bahirdasha chakra

Awakener of haim kḷeem sowm bheeja

6^th Avaraṇa Krti

Sadānanda mayi

sarva rakṣhākarāntardashāra chakra

In the midst of Nigarbha Yōgini

Prākāmya varadē - Giver of freedom of will

Worshipped by the suras, vāsava, pāvaka, shamana, nairta, yādasāmpati, pavana, dhanada, eeshāna, dishāmpati, nārada muni, etc.

Chintāmaṇi grha vāsini - Who resides in Chintāmaṇi (touchstone)

7^th Avaraṇa Krti

Sakala lōka nāyikē

sarva rōga hara chakra

a ka cha ṭa ta pa ya ra la va kṣhādi shānta akṣhara mayi – One who is the ḍorm oḍ the aksṣaras, a ka cha ṭa ta pa ya ra la va, from kṣha to sha

Gōvinda sōdari – the sister of Gōvinda

The Goddess of the chakra – Tripura Siddhā

One belonging to the family of rahasya yogini

shata dinakara sama dyuti mukha jālē – one whose face radiates the splendour of a hundred suns

8^th Avaraṇa Krti

Shankari

sarva siddhi pradāyaka chakra

mangaḷakara kunkuma dhara mandasmita mukha vilāsini – One, whose smiling face is adorned by the auspicious vermillion.

venkaṭa kavi hrdi sarasija vivaraṇā paṭutara bhāsini – One who has a detailed and keen understanding of Venkata Kavi’s lotus like heart (his own name is mentioned as mudra)

ati rahasya yōginee parivārē – One who belongs to the family of  ati rahasya yōginee

girirāja vara tanayē – The daughter of the King of Mountains

Nididhyāsana is the mental state of the Chakra

sadā chidambara nartana padayuga samakara naṭanādhipatē -  the queen of dance that always equals the two dancing feet of the Chidambara dance.

9^th Avaraṇa Krti

Natajana kalpavalli

sarvānandamaya chakra

shreepura bindu madhyē – One who resides in the Bindu in Shripura

sharadindu mukhē – One whose face resembles that of the autumn moon

navāvaraṇa gāna dhyāna yōga japa tapa rasikē – One who relishes the singing, meditating and the penance of the Navāvaraṇam-s

Phala Sthuthi

Haladharānujam

o Akhilāṇḍeshwari! Please grant us the boon of attaining Haladharānuja, the younger brother of Balarama who is the wielder of the plough.

poorvam rāmāvtāram – The one who took the Rāmāvatāram earlier.

kāḷeeya phaṇa pada nyāsam – Who dances on the hood of Kāḷeeya (is considered his mudra)