Kautthuvam

Kauthvam is an ancient piece of classical dance. It is a hymn, a song of devotion in praise of a deity. It was performed by the Dhevadhāsis as part of the daily rituals, on special occasions, or during the festivals. Kauthvams are usually composed in the name of a specific deity in a particular temple.There are many Kauthvams, written in praise of different deities – Naṭarājā, Viṣhṇu, Muruga, Vināyaka. In earlier times, the Naṭṭuvanārs used to start teaching compositions to the students with Vināyaka Kauthvam. Kauthvams have both rhythmic syllables as well as lyrics interspersed in between.

Rāga: Hamsadhwani 

Thāḷa: Chaturaśhra Eka
Composer: Tanjore Quartette
Language: Thamizh(Tamil)

Meaning – Word by word

Meaning-Overall: Team Ambalam

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

|| Dhīm Dhīm Thakadhimi Dhimitha Dhimitha Kiṭa ||

|| Dhariguḍu Dharigugu Dhariguḍu Dhariguḍu ||

|| Thaddhīmtha Nakathari Kiṭa thaka Thaddhīmtha Thaddhīmtha ||

|| Thaṭavana Muni Jana Sakala Surāsura ||
|| Sannutha Pādha Kinkiṇi Jham Jham ||

|| Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Nūpura Laya Gathi ||
|| Khaṇa Khaṇa Khaṇa Khaṇa Vidhi Hari Sevitha ||

|| Thakkuḍu dhikkuḍu Thakathari Kiṭa thaka Thām Thatha ||

||thām thathaThakkiḍakiḍathaki Dharikiḍa Kiḍathaki||

||Thāṇḍa Dhigambara Dhikkiḍakiḍathaki Dhirikiḍakiḍathaki ||

||Vyāghra Charma Dhhara  Thomkiḍa Kiḍathaka Thonakiḍakiḍathaka ||

||Thriśhuladhhara Namkiḍakiḍathaki Namkiḍakiḍathaki ||

||Nandhi Vāhana  Nādhayoga Priya ||

|| Jaganamkidathaki Jaganamkidathaki Dhirikiduthakka Thai ||

|| Jaga Jaga Jaya Jaya Śhaśhi Ravi Bhūṣhaṇa ||
|| Rūpa Bhayaṅkara Ḍamaruga Hastha ||
|| Thruthīya Sahasra Dhikṣhithanātha ||

||Nateśha Kauthvam – Repeat jaga jaga...upto kauthvam Twice ||

|| Thakathaka Thām Dhikidhiki Thai Thakku Dhikku Thakkiṭa Thām||

|| Than Dhan Dham Kiṭa thaka Dhiggitthām Thattha Thām ||

|| Tha Tha Thām.... Tha Tha Thām.. Tha Tha || Thām

Meanings:

Thaṭavana Muni Jana Sakala Surāsura
Thaṭavana - Dense Forest;

Muni Jana - The Ascetics

Sakala - Entire; Sura - Dhevas ; Asura – Asuras

Note: Vanam Means Forest. Thaṭavanam Refers To The Dhāruka Vanam ;

In the dense forest, the sages, the Gods and the demons,

Sannutha Pādha Kinkiṇi

Sannutha - Sung / Glorified / Praised
Pādha - Feet;

Kinkiṇi - The bells (here,of the anklet)

Praising the feet with bells of the anklets

Nūpura Laya Gathi
Nūpuram - Anklet

Laya Gathi - tempo & gait of the rhythm

Tempo & gait of the rhythm of the anklet.

 Vidhi Hari Sevitha
Vithi - Brahma; Hari - Viṣhṇu;

Sevitha – Worshipped

Worshipped by Brahma and Viṣhṇu

Thāṇḍa Dhigambara
Thāṇḍa - One who performs the thāṇḍavam
Digambara - The space clad one

The space clad one who performs the thāṇḍavam.

Vyāghra Charmadhhara
Vyāghra - Tiger / Leopard;

Charma - Skin;

Dhhara - One who wears;
Triśhūladhhara - One who bears the trident;

Nandhi - One who has the bull; Vāhana –Vehicle

One who wears the tiger skin, bears the trident and has the bull for his vehicle.

Nādha Yoga Priya

Nādha Yoga  - music; Priya – fond of;

One who is fond of nādha yoga

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Śhaśhi Ravi Bhūṣhaṇa
Jaya Jaya - Hail / Victory / Praise
Śhaśhi - Moon;

Ravi - The Sun;

Bhūṣhaṇa – Oranament

One who has the sun & moon as his ornaments.

Rūpa Bhayaṅkara Ḍamaruka Hastha
Rūpa - Form;

Bhayaṅkara - Awesome

Ḍamaruka - The Drum; Hastha – Hand

One who has an awesome form and holds the Ḍamaru in his hand.

Note: I would prefer to say awesome, though it might mean "fearsome", for can the divine create fear in you ever?? The Divine is perceived as the terrible by those who are not ready (their ego's are too small) or are not willing to accept (or take in) the overwhelming greatness of the divine.

Thruthīya Sahasra Dīkṣhitha Nātha Nateśha Kauthvam

Thruthīya Sahasra – Three thousand;

 Dhīkṣhitha – Ascetics; Nātha – Lord of

Nateśha - Naṭānām Iśha - The Lord Of Dancers. Can also be said as Naṭanam – Dance; Iśha – The Lord.

Naṭas - The practitioners of Nāṭya Vedha.

Kauthvam - prayer

This is the kautthuvam dedicated to the lord of the 3000 ascetics who is also the lord of dance and dancers.

Note:

●        There is an episode when the Dhīkṣhithas of Dhāruka vanam conjure up a tiger to attack Śhiva - he kills the tiger, skins it, and wears the skin as his lower garment - Just as the real tiger skin repels any insects, so does this light repels any possible intrusions of the animal instincts and impulses.