SRI RAMAJAYAM A collection of paintings in SRI JHOLIRAM GOSWAMY MUTT, THANJAVUR, as illustrations to SRI BHAKTA VIJAYA OF MAHIPATI with brief introduction, and explanation By Shri Nagaraja Goswami Dedicated to his Guru, Shri Bhimaraja Goswami . INTRODUCTION Mahipati (1715 to 1790) was born in Taharabad in Ahmednagar district. He was a very saintly person, poet, artist, and highly respected. He didn’t receive formal education but was familiar with Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, Persian, and Canarese. His handwriting was very beautiful. He was strongly built and liked sports. He was married and had a family. He was in the service of the local Jagirdar, a Muslim, and would go for duty only after finishing pooja. Once he was summoned by the Jagirdar urgently, and was not allowed to complete his daily pooja. This shook him to the depths of his foundation, and he resigned his job. On coming home he laid his pen before the Deity, and resolved that henceforth the pen will be used only in the service of the Lord and His devotees. Sometime later, Tukaram appeared in his dream, conferred the gift of poetry on him and commanded him to write about the lives of saints. He accepted Tukaram as his guru, He studied the works of Nabhaji (Gujarat), Uddhava Chitghana, Daso Digamber, and others; met the descendants of Namdev, Tukaram, and such saints to gather details, and composed his magnum opus “Sri Bhakta Vijaya”., in which he has mentioned about fifty saints. He has also composed other works, Sri Kathasaramrita, Sri Santalilamrita, Sri Bhaktalilamrita, Sri Santavijaya, Sri Pandhari mahatmya, Sri Ananthakatha, Sri Dattatreyajanma, Sri Tulasi mahatmya, Sri Ganesa Purana, Sri Panduranga stotra, Sri Muktabharana vrata, Sri Rishipanchami vrata, Aparadhanivedana stotra,: apart from numerous songs, abhangas, and stotras. The numbers of verses in his major works total more than 40000. The number of verses in Sri Bhaktavijaya is 9916, in 57 chapters. He mentions Anandatanaya, Goswaminandan, Madhwamuniswar, Amritaraya, and others as forerunners. He does not claim any credit for himself, and says that it is all the lila of the Lord. It will be seen that he has given importance to his guru, Tukaram. At various places he introduces beautiful analogies, and ethical truths. The composition is popular in Maharashtra. It has been translated into English by Dr Justin E. Abbott, who considers it a masterpiece. It has been rendered into Tamil also. A full translation was available some sixty years back. Lifco has brought out a condensed translation in Tamil. The work was completed in his 47 th year, in 1762. It brings to mind the “Peria Puranam” of Sekkizhar, in Tamil. Years ago, Bhakta Vijaya used to be read and expounded. Now, with the rapid changes in the way of living, the practice of listening to religious expositions is getting defunct. Nirnayasagar press had brought out editions of the work. The one I have is of 1915, and very difficult to handle, on account of getting brittle. There must have been earlier, and later prints too. This edition has 57 illustrations, one for each of the 57 chapters. Colour paintings in this mutt are a replica (or almost) of those illustrations. Each is on a wooden panel. Each is 13.5 inches by 11 inches, and encased in a frame 16.5 inches by 14 inches. The identity of the important persons in the painting is indicated in Marathi, and Tamil. As is usual with such Indian paintings, the name of the artist is not given. All the paintings appear to have been done by one person only. Many chapters contain accounts of more than one bhakta, though the illustration to that chapte rmay depict only one bhakta These have been captured in a digital camera, edited, and are presented herewith, with brief details (very brief) of each chapter. Those who can read Marathi would do well to read and enjoy the original, not only for the subject, but also for the beauty of presentation, the utter humility of the author, and his deep devotion to his guru. **************************************************************************************** CHAPTER 1 The Supreme Lord Mahavishnu is on the serpent AdiSesha, with Brahma (Creator) coming out His navel on a lotus, and with celestials surrounding Him. He is also worshipped as Krishna or Vittal. To reform the persons deviating from the path of Dharma, The Lord from time to time sends His Messengers and when needed comes down Himself as an Avatar. Bhaktavijaya describes Gyandev as Vishnu, Nivritti as Siva, Brahma as Sopan, and Adi Shakti as MuktaBai. Uddhava, Suka, Valmiki, Vyasa, Akrura Daruka, are devotees of, and close to The Lord. They incarnate as bhaktas. Their lives and deeds are described in Bhaktavijaya. (An overall view and brief introduction have been given earlier.) ********************** CHAPTRER 2 This is about poet Jayadeva, who lived in Orissa, and was dedicated to Lord Jagannath of Puri. His lyrical composition “Gita Govindam” is one of the top jewels in Sanskrit literature, and has been translated into English by Edwin Arnold as “song of songs”. MeeraBai`s husband Rana Kumbha has written a Sanskrit commentary on the composition. The king of Orissa, a poet himself, is jealous of Jayadeva`s reputation., as the Lord Himself announced the superiority of the latter. The trials that overtook Jayadeva are reported in detail, as also how the Lord comes to his rescue. The intense devotion of Padmavati, to her husband Jayadeva is graphically brought out in the narrative. ********************** CHAPTER 3 (The picture for this is not available.) This chapter describes how Tulsidas was able to get darsan of Hanuman, and Sri Rama, and how Hanuman helps him when he is harassed. CHAPTER 4 The picture depicts the episode of Namdev being found in a shell by the tailor Damaji. In Marathi “simpi” denotes a shell as well as a tailor. The tailor was issueless and got Namdev as God’s gift. Janabai was already in that household as a servant. Namdev is said to be an incarnation of Uddhav, a great devotee and companion of Sri Krishna. By his intense bhakti, even as a very young child, Namdev could make Vittala actually take the offerings. His devotion is something unique, and the Lord Himself praises his devotion. CHAPTER 5 An incident in the life of Kabirdas, said to be incarnation of Suka. He was found newborn, by a muslim weaver and brought up in that family. He is always immersed in contemplation of the Lord. He has to support the family by weaving and selling the cloth. But he forgets to weave, as he is lost in contemplation. The Lord Himself weaves and helps. ***************************************************************************************** CHAPTER 6 Another incident in the life of Kabir. On one occasion when a number of hungry sadhus come to his house Kabir has absolutely nothing to feed them with, but will not say “no”. So he and his son Kamal go to the market but find all shops closed as it is the dead of night. They decide to break open a shop and take only as much as is reqired. Kabir gets out first, but before Kamal gets out, the owner, who got awake, catches hold of Kamal’s legs and wouldn’t let him go. So before the owner sees the face and identifies, Kabir cuts off the head of Kamal and takes it away. Not revealing what had happened, he feeds the sadhus, and sees them off. On the way they find that the headless body of Kamal has been impaled. Then the truth has to come out, and the sadhus pray fervently, as a result of which the head joins the body and Kamal is set free. CHAPTER 7 Kabir wants to get initiated into japa of RAMNAM from saint and scholar Ramananda, and goes to his house with his request, but it is turned down. So he decides to get upadesh by a trick. Ramananda used to go daily in the dark to the river for early bath. Kabir laid himself down in the path, and inadvertently, Ramanand stepped on him. Instinctively, he repeated “RAMA RAMA”. Kabir took that as updesh from guru`s lips, as contact had already been established by the guru stepping on him. Such was his attachment and devotion to RAMNAM. CHAPTER 8 Gyaneshwar, (Gyandev) stands out as a colossus among saints, and is considered an avatar of Vishnu. He had two brothers, Nivrittinath, Sopandev, and a sister MuktaBai. Their parents were VittalPanth and RukmaBai. The left half of the picture depicts Rukma`s father arranging for the marriage with Vittal’s parents. The right half shows Vittal and Rukma with the children. CHAPTER 9 Vittal (see Ch.8) developes intense vairagya and without telling his wife and relations goes to Varanasi and gets initiated into sanyasa, by giving false information that he has no wife. His wife and her parents go in search of him, and find him in Varanasi. On coming to know that Vittal has taken sanyas, suppressing facts, and doing severe injustice to his young wife, his guru commands him to make amends, enter into married life and live as householder. Vittal obeys his guru`s command. However as such a thing is totally unorthodox, his wife and he are excommunicated by society, but he is steadfast to the command of his guru, and the couple is deeply devoted to Vittala. In time three children are born to them three boys and a girl. They are Nivritti, Gyandev, Sopan, and Muktabai. The persecution of society gets even stronger with the birth of children, and wishing to ensure safety for the children, the couple begs the pandits to prescribe atonement for the lapse.