Pallavi: Rangapura Vihara Jaya Kodanda Raamaavataara Raghuvira Sri Anupallavi: Angaja Janaka Deva Brndavana Saarangendra Varada Ramanta Ranga Shyamalaanga Vihanga Turanga Sadayapanga satsanga Charanam: Pankajaptakula Jalanidhi Soma Vara Pankaja Mukha Pattabhirama Pankaja Jitakama Raghurama Vaamaanka Gata Sitavara Vesha Shaanka Shayana Bhakta Santhosha Enaankaravinayana Mrudutara bhaasha Aka Lanka Darpana Kapola Visesha MuniSankata Harana Govinda Venkata Ramana Mukunda Sankarshana Mula Kanda Sankara Guruguhananda MEANING: Oh RANGANATHA! Resident (“vihara”) of Rangapura ! May you be victorious (“jaya”). He incarnated as the warrior (“veera”) of the RAGHU dynasty. He took the form (“avataara”) of RAMA wielding the bow KODANDA. The progenator (“janaka”) of cupid (“angaja”). He protected the hosts of celestials (“deva”) and elephants (“saarangendra”), giver (“da”) of boons (“vara”), the beloved one (“antaranga”) of LAKSHMI (ramaa”). He possesses a bluish black (“shyamala”) form (“anga”). He has GARUDA (“vihanga”) as his vehicle (“turanga”) and whose glances are full (“sadaya”) of mercy (“paanga”). He is always associated with good things (“satsanga”). He is the moon (“soma”) to the ocean (“jalanidhi”) of Solar (“pankajapta”) Dynasty (“kula”). Having a very beautiful lotus (“pankaja”) like face (“mukha”), PATABHIRAMA. He has, conquered (“jita”) Cupid (“kaama”) by his Lotus like feet (“pankaja”). RAGHURAMA, who beautifully appears (“vesha”) with SITA, seated on his left lap (“vaamaanka gata”). He reclines on the bed (“shayana”) of ADISESHA, the serpent god (“shaanka”). He gives delight (“santosha”) to the devotees(“bhakta”) and has the sun and the moon (“enaankara”) for his eyes (“nayana”). He speaks (“bhaashana”) softly (“mrudutara”). His cheeks (“kapola”) are just like the mirror (“darpana”) without faults (“a-kalanka”). He is the obliterator (“harana”) of difficulties (“sankata”) of the sages (“muni”). Oh GOVINDA ! VENKATARAMANA! MUKUNDA! The primary one (“moola kanda”), who bestows auspiciousness (“sankaarshana”), the one who delights (“ananda”) the heart of GURUGUHA. The title of the song means one who roams (vihara) in the Srirangam (Rangapura), a temple town in Tamil Nadu, India. It details the exploits of the Lord Rama, whose family deity is Ranganatha of Srirangam. The most famous version of this song was rendered by M.S.Subbulakshmi, live at the United Nations. It has a pallavi, anupallavi and charanam.
