||    Reference to KasthUri Rangan by Thyagaraja in his Keertanam    ||

Lord SrI RanganAtha - KasthUri Rangan

Kasthuri is musk deer. It has glands that produce a scent, which is strong and fragrant. That is blended with the potions that produce Tilakam material, which is reserved for the forehead of kings.

The Tilakam means shining object on the forehead or the shining descendant of a Vamsam. Tilakam brings out the beauty of the face. Saint ThyagarAja addresses therefore Lord RanganAthan as "KasthUri Rangan" in one of his SrI Ranga pancha rathnam. In another krithi the Saint addrresses Lord Raamachandran (Uthsavar of SrIrangam) as "DhinamaNi Vamsa TILAKA LaavaNya" (HarikhAmbhOji Krithi made famous by SangItha Kalanidhuis, D.K. PattammAL and maharAjapuram santhAnam). Swamy Desikan composed a SrI Sookthi named "NyAsa Tilakam", where he indicated that this SrI Sookthi is like the Tilakam (beautifier) for the upAyam of Prapatthi. This NyAsa Tilakam has Thirty two slOkams and elaborates on the Mahimai of Prapatthi. It stands as a Tilakam ofr the Prapatthi Vidhyai.

The greatest of the great of these Kings is Lord RangarAjan. Hence, He has kasthUri in His Tilakam , which has the Vedic fragrance. hence He is affectionately called KasthUri Rangan on the bank of Cauveri (Cauveri Rangan , a nAmam chosen by Saint ThyagarAja SwamigaL) to contrast the other Rangan (Hema Rangan of Thirukkudanthai resting under Vaidhika VimAnam ), who is also resting on the bank of Cauveri few kilometers South of srIrangam.

PraNatha Jana ChinthAmaNi Giri: , PhaNi Paryank rasika:
yEsha: , iha amudhra sva paryankE sEvAm disathi
--SrI NyAsa Tilakam: 32 nd Phala Sruthi SlOkam

(meaning): This Kasthuri Rangan is the wish fulfilling mountain (ChinthAmaNi Giri:) enjoying His rest on AadhisEshan at SrIrangam . He blesses one , who performs SarANAgathi at His Thiruvadi through the sampradhAyic manner , with immense wealth in this world (darsana soubhAgyam in His resting state at BhUlOka Vaikuntam) and nithya sEvA kaimakaryam at SrI Vaikuntam , where He is seated on AadhisEshan as Parama Padha NaaTan.

SrI KasthUri RanganATa ParabrahmaNE Nama:

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