Ikshvaku Kula Thilaka

I came across this song sing by Dr. Balamuralikrishna, for the first time (LInk below). This is a wonderful composition of Bhadrachalam Ramadas. 

I realized that this is what is called as "Ninda Sthuthi". It is a form of eulogising God by actually admonishing Him. In Tamil, this form of worship is called Asadhi Aadal ( அசதியாடல்) . Examples of this can be found in Silappadhikaaram , and also by Sundaramoorthi Swamigal, where the poet ridicules and admonishes God. St Thagaraja too has handled this. 

Bhadrachalam Ramadas lived at least 150 years before the Trinity. He is most famous for being put in jail by the Mughal Qutub Shahi, for constructing a Rama temple in Bhadrachalam, allegedly with taxpayer money. He was a Vaggeyakara - one who composes both the lyrics as well as sets it to music. In contrast to someone like Poet Bharati, who was a great poet, but not a Vaggesyakara. Ramdas has composed songs in Telugu, Sanskrit as well as the occasional Tamil. 

"Ikshvaku Kula Thilaka" was set to Yadhukula Kambodhi raagam. 

There are about 8 charanams for this song. But of interest is one of them, and I quote:

"Charanam 06:

Nee tandri dasaratha maharaju pettena ramachandra 
Leka mee mama A janaka maharaju pampena ramachandra "

Meaning: 

O Ramachandra! Did your father, King Dasaratha, gave them (the jewels that Ram adorns, in the temple) to you?
O Ramachandra! Or, did your father-in-law, King Janaka sent them to you?

In Hindi movies, that would literally translate to " tera baap kaa maal hai kya?"

If you listen through the full song, Ramadas lists down all the jewels and "goodies" that he has given, not only to Rama , but to Sita, Lakshmana etc and everyone else around him. And then goes on to extol :" I have provided you with all this, now, it becomes your bounden duty to protect me".

NINDA STUTHI can be found quite commonly across various creations across multiple languages in India. This is part of the culture of the land - a very democratic one, which encourages aethists, agnostics etc to thrive..  so much so, that even Buddha, who rejected the core tenets, is, today, accepted as an Avatar of the very Gods he sought to discard! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4fxMrH7-Zo&ab_channel=DrM.Balamuralikrishna-Topic