Primary Country (Mandatory)

United States

Other Country (Optional)

Set News Language for United States

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language[s] (Optional)
No other language available

Set News Language for World

Primary Language (Mandatory)
English
Other Language(s) (Optional)

Set News Source for United States

Primary Source (Mandatory)
CNN
Other Source[s] (Optional)

Set News Source for World

Primary Source (Mandatory)
AajTak
Other Source(s) (Optional)
  • Countries
    • India
    • United States
    • Qatar
    • Germany
    • China
    • Canada
    • World
  • Categories
    • National
    • International
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
    • Special
    • All Categories
  • Available Languages for United States
    • English
  • All Languages
    • English
    • Hindi
    • Arabic
    • German
    • Chinese
    • French
  • Sources
    • India
      • AajTak
      • NDTV India
      • The Hindu
      • India Today
      • Zee News
      • NDTV
      • BBC
      • The Wire
      • News18
      • News 24
      • The Quint
      • ABP News
      • Zee News
      • News 24
    • United States
      • CNN
      • Fox News
      • Al Jazeera
      • CBSN
      • NY Post
      • Voice of America
      • The New York Times
      • HuffPost
      • ABC News
      • Newsy
    • Qatar
      • Al Jazeera
      • Al Arab
      • The Peninsula
      • Gulf Times
      • Al Sharq
      • Qatar Tribune
      • Al Raya
      • Lusail
    • Germany
      • DW
      • ZDF
      • ProSieben
      • RTL
      • n-tv
      • Die Welt
      • Süddeutsche Zeitung
      • Frankfurter Rundschau
    • China
      • China Daily
      • BBC
      • The New York Times
      • Voice of America
      • Beijing Daily
      • The Epoch Times
      • Ta Kung Pao
      • Xinmin Evening News
    • Canada
      • CBC
      • Radio-Canada
      • CTV
      • TVA Nouvelles
      • Le Journal de Montréal
      • Global News
      • BNN Bloomberg
      • Métro
One Shoulder Ruched Bodycon Dress Buy Now
J.VER Men's Dress Shirts Buy Now
Regular Fit Straight Leg Jean Buy Now
Medicube Age-R Pro Glass Skin Massager Buy Now
Vintage Printed Linen Shirt Buy Now
OLOV Electric Body Hair Trimmer Buy Now
Floral Net Saree Buy Now
Plus Size Colorblock Tank Top Buy Now
ALDO Gloadithh Tote Buy Now
Ascender Softshell Front-zip Jacket Buy Now
Calvin Klein Hadley Crossbody Buy Now
Classic Quartz Resin Casual Watch Buy Now
Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet, 8” HD Display Buy Now
Skechers Gowalk Arch Fit Idyllic Buy Now
Womens Baggy Boyfriend Jeans Buy Now
Spray Screen Cleaner Kit with Microfiber Cloth Buy Now
Rectangular Polarized Sports Sunglasses Buy Now
Ninja BL770 Mega Kitchen System Buy Now
Google Pixel 6a Android Phone Buy Now
Polarized Sports Sunglasses 3-Pack Buy Now
MoreBack to News Headlines
Kamalamba Navavaranam: Muthuswami Dikshitar’s timeless creation

Kamalamba Navavaranam: Muthuswami Dikshitar’s timeless creation

The Hindu
Thursday, September 29, 2022 3:29 PM GMT

The composer’s Kamalamba Navavaranams are a series of incredible kritis sung specially during Navarathri 

Yet another article on Muthuswami Dikshitar’s Kamalamba Navavaranam? Different aspects of the Navavarana Vibhakti series have already been written in great detail! “What am I going to write?” was my initial reaction. That was when I remembered Sri Tyagaraja’s Asaveri Kriti, E paniko janminchitini. Tyagaraja ponders about being one more person to write and sing about Sri Rama. However, he then says, “ let me sing/write for my happiness”. So here I go, in the same vein!

Indic culture offers a variety of spiritual traditions, each one celebrating the Parabrahman as a means to attain salvation. Saktam is one tradition that honours the Parabrahman in the form of Mother. This tradition is said to be very profound, esoteric, deep, secretive and powerful.

The Navavaranams (Nava Avaranams) are the nine enclosures from the outer periphery to the centre, consisting of triangles or petals, each one subtler than the previous. These are represented in a yantra (two dimensional) or in the form of a Meru (three dimensional). Through proper Sadhaka and Upasana, a devotee is said to move across each of these levels to reach the ninth level, the seat of the Mother where one becomes one with the sat-cit-ananda parabrahman.

Muthuswamy Dikshitar, being a Srividya Upasaka himself, gives us the Kamalamba Navavarana Kritis, each one extolling the respective avaranas in rich Samskrtam with philosophical depth and sheathed in beautiful ragas. In short, Dikshitar has given to the world the esoteric practice of SriVidya on a silver platter.

The Navavaranam set begins with a dhyanam and ends with a mangalam. Each of the kritis incorporates the yoginis of the respective avarana in relation to the Mother, various aspects of the avaranas in the universe, the list of presiding deities, different philosophical systems (darshanas), the nine forms of Goddess corresponding to each of the avarana. In a previous article I had mentioned the Todi dhyana kriti and the highlights.

The first kriti in the order of the vibhakti is set in the beautiful Anandabhairavi raga. This corresponds to the trailokya mohana chakra. The kriti begins with the archaic suddha dhaivata prayoga. In this kriti, Muthuswami Dikshitar has made emphatic Anandabhairavi statements at every point. The word ‘ananda’ is symbolic of the raga

mudra. The prakata yoginis comprising of the 8 siddhis (corresponding to the various emotions and activities), 8 matrukas (8 afflictions such as kama, krodha, lobha, etc) and the mudras (representing the chakras) are highlighted in the sahitya. The prakata yogini represents the visible form of emotions and afflictions.

Read full story on The Hindu
Share this story on:-
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running GamePlay Run 3, the ultimate space tunnel running game with 300+ challenging levels!Adv.
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing GameTraffic Jam 3D is a game where you’ll be driving through heavy traffic.Adv.
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic GamePlay the classic 1984 light gun shooter game Duck Hunt on your browser.Adv.
More Related News
The group show, Waiting Room, held at Gallery 21 in Kochi was an exploration of identity as a construct

The complexities of identity were explored through contemporary art at Gallery 21, Fort Kochi, in the Waiting Room exhibition.

Sai Abhyankkar opens up on landing six big projects before his composer debut

Popular indie singer-composer Sai Abhyankkar, whose debut film as a composer is yet to release, credits networking and positive buzz for landing six big-star films — an unusual feat that’s become a talking point on social media

Actor Vishal seeks ban on filming public reviews at theatres during first three days of release

Vishal, actor and General Secretary of Nadigar Sangam, on Wednesday (July 16), requested media, theatre owners and exhibitors to prohibit filming of public reviews on theatre premises during the first three days of release

Emmys nominations 2025: ‘The Studio’ breaks records, ‘Andor’ shut out in shocker — full list of nominations

2025 Primetime Emmy nominees announced, with The Studio leading and Andor surprisingly absent in major categories.

B. Saroja Devi laid to rest with full state honours

Legendary actor B Saroja Devi, who passed away at the age of 87, was laid to rest with state honours

Jiiva reunites with ‘Black’ director for his next; film goes on floors

Tamil actor Jiiva has reunited with director KG Balasubramani, with whom he collaborated on the 2024 sci-fi thriller Black, for an upcoming film

Rajinikanth compared ‘Coolie’ with Mani Ratnam’s ‘Thalapathi’, reveals Lokesh Kanagaraj

Acclaimed Tamil filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj, who is awaiting the release of Coolie, his much-awaited action film with Rajinikanth, revealed on Monday (July 14) that the superstar compared Coolie with his iconic 1991 Mani Ratnam-directed film Thalapathi

Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’ is India’s most expensive film ever, budget crosses Rs 4,000 crore

Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, India's most expensive film, features cutting-edge VFX and AI dubbing, set for grand IMAX release.

Saroja Devi passes away: 10 iconic Tamil songs to remember the late legendary actor

From ‘Chittu Kuruvi’ and ‘Unnai Ondru Ketpen’ to ‘Love Birds’ and ‘Kodi Asaindhathum,’ here are 10 iconic Tamil songs to remember veteran actor Saroja Devi, who passed away today at the age of 87

Actor Vishal, stunt choreographer Silva condole ‘Vettuvam’ stunt artist Mohanraj’s death

Tamil actor Vishal on Sunday extended his condolences to the family of stuntman Mohanraj, who tragically passed away while performing a stunt sequence during the shooting of director Pa Ranjith’s upcoming film Vettuvam

SS Rajamouli confronts fan during funeral of veteran actor Kota Srinivasa Rao, Tollywood pays final respects

Director SS Rajamouli pushes away fan seeking selfie at Kota Srinivasa Rao's funeral, sparking online debate on privacy.

Artist-filmmaker Vimal Chandran talks about ‘Ray’, Sushin Shyam’s debut indie track

Multidisciplinary artist Vimal Chandran explores alienation and displacement by juxtaposing an alien being in a rural setting for Sushin Shyam’s new single, Ray’s music video.

‘666 Operation Dream Theatre’: Shivarajkumar embraces the retro style in Hemanth M Rao’s film

Second-look poster of Shivarajkumar from ‘666 Operation Dream Theatre’, directed by Hemanth M Rao, was released on his birthday

Parking Slot | Free Parking GamePlay Parking Slot, the best online 3D car driving and parking game.Adv.
Slope Ball Run - Play OnlineSlope Game takes you on an exciting journey of a ball on special paths.Adv.
‘Saiyaara’: Mahesh Babu, Alia Bhatt, Arjun Kapoor and others shower praises on Mohit Suri’s romance drama

Saiyaara receives high praise from Mahesh Babu, Alia Bhatt and Arjun Kapoor for its heartfelt storytelling and exceptional performances by debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda

‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ movie review: Return to Southport fails to reel you in

This story of five friends haunted by a secret and a vengeful killer offers little by way of plot or character development

Electronic duo Tech Panda x Kenzani collaborates with Hindustani classical musicians and kathak dancers for Ibtida’s experimental baithak in Mumbai

Ibtita, a revivalist platform for mehfils and baithaks, brings its first experimental gig, Surrender/Atmasamarpan, where electronic duo Tech Panda x Kenzani will perform with Hindustani classical musicians and Kathak dancers 

Malayalam actor Shafeeq Mustafa on becoming Sivarasan in ‘The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case’

Actor Shafeeq Mustafa shines in Nagesh Kukunoor's web series ‘The Hunt - The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case’, impressing with his breakout role as Sivarasan.

‘Murderbot’ series review: Alexander Skarsgård shines in science fiction comedy

Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz’s adaptation of Martha Wells’ ‘The Murderbot Diaries’ is funny and thought provoking and features some cool creepy crawlies

Netflix says it used Generative AI in Argentine TV series

Netflix said on Thursday that it used generative artificial intelligence to produce visual effects.

Netflix delivers another strong performance in second quarter while following a familiar script

Netflix announced another quarter of steady growth as the video streaming service’s more than 300 million subscribers have become attractive to advertisers.

Ryan Gosling to star in action-comedy titled ‘Tough Guys’

Ryan Gosling and Will Ferrell team up for action-comedy film Tough Guys, developed by Amazon MGM Studios.

‘Odum Kuthira Chaadum Kuthira’: Fahadh Faasil-Kalyani Priyadarshan film gets a new release date

Odum Kuthira Chadum Kuthira, starring Fahadh Faasil and Kalyani Priyadarshan, gets new release date in August 2025.

The Hindu Sunday Crossword #13

The Hindu Sunday crossword No. 13

Salman Khan says production on ‘Battle of Galwan’ is “physically demanding”

Salman Khan's physically demanding war drama Battle of Galwan based on 2020 conflict between India and China.

‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 teaser trailer: Hawkins’ favourite heroes gear up for a final showdown against Vecna

Streaming giant Netflix today thrilled fans of its hit sci-fi horror series Stranger Things by unveiling the teaser trailer of the most anticipated fifth and final season

© 2008 - 2025 Webjosh  |  News Archive  |  Privacy Policy  |  Contact Us