The Deity Disappeared (Thyagaraja) Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

Jalpesan felt it very bad,
When the much needed gold
Was rejected by his brother,
Who made himself popular.

He was jealous of the Saint
And hatched a cruel plot.
He thought, “Our poverty
Is due to this Rama Deity.

“On this idol he’s mad.
This one, I should hide,
Or throw it in the river.
He’ll forget it later.”

He threw it in the river,
One night, when his brother
Was fast asleep in his bed
And back stealthily returned.

The Saint, next morning,
Saw the idol missing.
Everywhere he searched.
And cried like a child.

He didn’t take any food.
The whole day he starved.
Non-stop, they all searched,
But nowhere the Deity was found.

Several months had passed,
Still the Deity wasn’t traced.
One night, in his dream,
His Merciful Rama came.

He said, “Oh dear,
My idol in the river
Is buried in the sand
Near bathing-ghat-land.”

Next morning he found
The idol under the ground
Of the Cauvery River bed
On the same spot revealed.

His joy knew no bound
Over the idol he found.
He took the shining idol,
Back to his house, to install

(He sang in Raga Asaaveri -
Ra Ra Maayintidhaka Raghuveera)

“Oh Raghuveera! Please come!
To my house, you’re welcome!
Oh Dhasarada’s beautiful son!
Take me! My patience is gone!

“Oh Lotus eyed Kannan!
You know the wants of mine,
Before that, you go in your way?
To save us, you come this day.”

“Early morning, with your smiles,
You save me with your advices.
Let me daily in your presence
Worship your milky face.”

“Please come and save me
As you can only keep me free.
Close to you, Thyagaraja is,
Perhaps you’ve forgotten this.”