"Amma Ra Vamma"- Song on Tulasi

Whenever I hear this kriti composed by Tyagaraja am moved by the rendition and also by the content. Thought of sharing the kriti with meaning so that you can appreciate the kriti better. Also the importance of Tulasi is given after the kriti so as have a better understanding of tulasi.

Pallavi

amma ra vamma thulasamma nanu palimpa
vamma sadadamu padamule nammi nanamma

Anupallavi

nemma dhini neevu iham parammu losa kudu vanusu
kammavil thuni thandri kalanaina paaya tada

Charanam

nee mridu danuvu gani nee parimalamunu gani
nee mahatvamunu gani neerajakshi
tamarasa dala nethru tyagararaajuni mithru
prematho chiramunanu pettu kon naatata

Meaning

Pallavi

O Mother Tulasi, am always depend on your lotus feet, please come and protect me

Annupallavi

Since you grant boon both while living in earth and after, Sri Maha Vishnu will not leave you even in his dreams.

Charanam

O lotus eyed, since you are very soft, sacred and your importance is known to tyagaraja’s friend, the lotus eyed mahavishnu, he adorns you in his head with love.

Importance of Tulasi

The 'tulsi' plant or Indian basil is an important symbol in the Hindu religious tradition. The name 'tulsi' connotes "the incomparable one". Tulsi is a venerated plant and Hindus worship it in the morning and evening. The presence of tulsi plant symbolizes the religious bent of a Hindu family. A Hindu household is considered incomplete if it doesn't have a tulsi plant in the courtyard.

Vaishnavites or believers of Lord Vishnu worship the tulsi leaf because it's the one that pleases Lord Vishnu the most. They also wear beaded necklaces made of tulsi stems. Apart from its religious significance it is of great medicinal significance, and is a prime herb in Ayurvedic treatment. Marked by its strong aroma and a stringent taste, tusli is a kind of "the elixir of life" as it promotes longevity. The plant's extracts can be used to prevent and cure many illnesses and common ailments like common cold, headaches, stomach disorders, inflammation, heart disease, various forms of poisoning and malaria. Essential oil extracted from karpoora tulsi is mostly used for medicinal purposes though of late it is used in the manufacture of herbal toiletry.

According to Jeevan Kulkarni, author of 'Historical Truths & Untruths Exposed,' when Hindu women worship tulsi, they in effect pray for "less and less carbonic acid and more and more oxygen - a perfect object lesson in sanitation, art and religion". The tulsi plant is even known to purify or de-pollute the atmosphere and also works as a repellent to mosquitoes, flies and other harmful insects. Tulsi used to be a universal remedy in cases of malarial fever. According to one legend, Tulsi was the incarnation of a princess who fell in love with Lord Krishna, and so had a curse laid on her by his consort Radha. Tulsi is also mentioned in the stories of Meera and of Radha immortalised in Jayadev's Gita Govinda.

The story of Lord Krishna has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not even all the ornaments of Satyabhama could outweigh him. But a single tulsi leaf placed by Rukmani on the pan tilted the scale. In the Hindu mythology, tulsi is very dear to Lord Vishnu. Tulsi is ceremonially married to Lord Vishnu annually on the 11th bright day of the month of Karttika in the lunar calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes on the full moon day, which falls in mid October. This ritual, called the 'Tulsi Vivaha' inaugurates the annual marriage season in India.