Navavarna Kritis

A simple article found on Navavarna Kritis reproduced below:

Nava Varna: Refers to a set of nine kritis in praise of Goddess Devi, to be
sung during the nine days of the Navaratri festival. There are two such sets,
one composed by Oottukadu Venkatasubbayyar and one by Muthuswami Dikshitar.


These are nine songs on Goddess Kamalamba the deity of Thiruvarur. The 9
songs are prefixed by an introductory song and suffixed by a song marking the
conclusion thus making a group of 11 songs.

Introductory song – Kamalambika – Todi – Roopakam
Kamalamba - Ananda Bhairavi– Triputtai
Kamalambam Bhajare – Kalyani – Adi
Sri Kamalambikaya – Shankarabharanam - Tisra Ekam
Kamalambikayai – Kamboji – Ata
Sri Kamalambaya – Bhairavi – Jhampai
Kamalambikaya – Punnagavarali - Tisra Ekam
Sri Kamalambikayam – Sahana – Triputai
Sri Kamalambike – Ghanta – Adi
Sri Kamalamba Jayati – Ahiri - Tisra Ekam
Concluding song - Sri Kamalambike – Sri - Khanda Ekam

The group songs of Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar such as the Navagraha,
Kamalamba Navavarna, Abhayamba Navavarna, Vibhakti, are most distinguished in the repertoire of Carnatic music. In his matchless Kamalamba Navavarna
compositions, the poet pays his obeisance to Devi Kamalamba of Tiruvarur. He
describes her in glowing terms as Sarvarakshaakaara, Yogini worshipped by
Durvasa, celestial spouse of Lord Siva, personification of flawless beauty,
Kalyani and so on.