Comments on "Banturiti koluvu" Song

బంటు రీతి = like a servant, like a soldier, like a bhakta, like a loyal desciple; koluvu = patronage, a command, job, direction, a position in the (royal) court; eeyavayya = give me, sir. 

తుంటి వింటి వాని = Manmatha’s, the one with sugarcane bow, (god of sringara rasa); modalu = starting with; madadula baTTi = desire and the five other defects, pick them up; nEla jEya = throw them on to the ground, uproot them totally; nija = your, true;

rOmanchamu + anE = a state of thrill in which the whole body’s hair stand erect on the skin, an exalted state with goosebumps!; ghana = strong; kanchukamu = jacket, upper body garment, (bronze shield?), a metal protective body cover, armor; mudra biLLayu = (also) a badge or metal plate with a stamp or seal (similar to the medallions worn by Indian Railway coolies or military brass). Here in this context the metal plate is adorned with Sri Rama’s picture or letters. Vara khaDgamu = a sharp sword, an excellent sword; virajillu = shinging well;(n)ayya = sir, lord; 

This word to word translation should be sufficient to aid us in understanding the well-known devotional song. Our invisible enemies are the six strong emotional pulls: desire, anger, greed, infatuation, ego (pride), and jealousy (కామ, క్రోధ, లోభ, మోహ, మద, మాత్సర్య). Annamayya or Tyagaraja or any other devotee - they all repeatedly insisted that our real foes are the six defects of human character. Sure there are other major devastating conditions in life like sickness (Carona scare!!), misfortune, ignorance (even illiteracy), or poverty. We do not want to belittle hard times or life’s adversities. But over and above those “difficult circumstances” (sometimes we’ve no control over them, good or bad we’re just born into them. Call it luck or bad luck.) we have to contend with these hidden dangerous enemies ready to pounce on us at any moment. Now how to fight such a merciless army of invaders or highway bandits? Here, our compassionate saint Tyagayya comes to our rescue; he offers simple techniques.

Where else did I come across this word, “రోమాంచము” (pure ecstasy)? (See Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s and Sri Trilingaswamy’s works) This is a state where the hairs on our bodies stand erect. It happens in three situations: 1) We observe this phenomenon during the dry fall and winter months. It occurs due to static electricity. 2) It can happen during a sudden frightful situation. 3) For the saints and bhaktas, it happens spontaneously while singing “a kirtana” rapturously. Put on the shield of “Rama-bhakta”, then we can go for war with the six crooks. Just utter the name of Sri Rama with all your heart, mind, and body - that is enough to vanquish these pesty trouble makers. There may be more arduous paths like the ‘jnana yoga’, but they are not any easier either. And some paths may not suit the ordinary householder mired in the day-to-day mundane affairs.  Finally, who would not like to be in the court of Sri Rama, who is an embodiment of perfect human qualities? Rama - the sheer utterance of His holy name brings protection to all stuck in life’s predicament. Umpteen thanks to Ms. Mutya Syamasundari who painstakingly compiled the devotional songs for the benefit of Telugu community. And of course the publishers (Gollapudi of Rajahmundry) deserve much gratitude for bringing out the devotional (Carnatic music) song books at a nominal price accessible to many. What can you say? Once I noticed a Tyagaraja songs compilation book in Pittsburgh temple exhorbitantly priced at $ 100!