Ratha Bandha

Ratha Bandha is a type of poem known as chitra kavi. The poem written in the squares comes out in the form of a chariot. The words which are filled in each square has got a relationship with the number indicated in the square. There are only four such Ratha bandha poems. Two are in Saivite literature and two in Vaishnavite literature. The Vaishnavite Ratha Bandha poems are authored by Thirumangai alwar and Thirukurukai Perumal Kavirayar. The later has written about Nammalvar and thirumangai alwar has written about God at Thirukkudanthai. The Saivite Ratha Bandhas are written by Gnana Sambandar and Nakkirar.

The Ratha Bandha poem is in the form of a chariot. Parallel lines are drawn with the squares formed. In the squares, the words in the poem are fitted in following the number method using the numbers 1 to 7 only. Hence this type of poetry is also known as Elukurrikkai. It contains seven graded parts. In this structure the ratha is divided into two halves upper and lower. In each half there are seven rectangles cut into squares. When cutting the squares, the first part, the top has one square only. the second three squares and the third five, the fourth seven, the fifth nine, the sixth eleven and the seventh thirteen. In the upper half of the chariot each row therefore has two chambers of squares more than the preceding part as we go down from the top. The same is repeated in the lower half of the ratha the difference that the top starts with thirteen chambers and ends with a baso of only one chamber. thus the top and the bottom of the rathas have the squares in the ascending and descending orders respectively.
If you fill in the numbers in the upper half we get the following picture

1

1 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 

1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

The numbers are written in such a manner that when read horizontally the ascending order and the descending order is maintained in the pattern. As for example in the fourth row the numbers that are written are 1 2 3 4. In the ascending order and the second half of that row is the descending order viz 4 3 2 1. similar is the position with reference to each row. thus the last row has numbers in the ascending order upto 7 and then descending from 7 to 1. It will be seen that the outer wings of this triangle has consistently no 1. similarly each row read downwards also has the numbers arranged in the ascending order. a closer look will make it evident that the topmost step is 1 to the power of 2, second step is 11 to the power of 2, the third is 111 to the power of 2 , fourth step is 1111 to the power of 2 and the fifth step is 11111 to the power of 2, sixth is 111111 to the power of 2 and the seventh is 1111111 to the power of 2. both in the arohana and avarohana gradations. also when the number in the steps are added they present the following pattern: 1 (1 to the power of2), 4 (2 to the power of 2), 9 ( 3 to the power of 2), 16 (4 to the power of 2), 25 ( 5 to the power of 2), 36 (6 to the power of 2) and 49 ( 7 to the power of2). In addition when we read the numbers in the outer fringe and go inwards reading the subsequent numbers in each square, it is seen that the same number is arranged almost in the form of a garland. The outer fringe has no 1 all over, the immediate inner row has number 2 arranged in the form of a garland. subsequently 3 4 5 and 6 thus giving the impression of having arranged rows of garlands. thus we see the mathamatical beauty in the structure of the poem.

1

1 2 1

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 

1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 5 4 3 2 1 

1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1

1 2 3 4 3 2 1 

1 2 3 2 1

1 2 1

1

It cannot be dipicted here but squares drawn or vertical and horizontaal lines drawn will give an idea of the ratha. 

This is the Ratha bandha diagram filled with the pasuram. the arrows indicate the maner in which it is to be read.

The unique poem written extolling the perumal of Sarangapani koil is in brief.

O Perumal! It is you who created Lord Brahma who was seated on a lotus and emerged from your naval, It is you who destroyed Lanka even at the sight of which teritory the sun god and the moon god tembled with fear etc.

Olipadaitha Kanninaai va va va
Uruthi kond nenchinaai va va va
Kalipadaitha moliyeenaai va va va
Kadumai konda tholinaai va va va
Thelivu petra mathiyeenaai va va va
Sirumai kandu ponguvaai va va va
Elimai kandu ponguvaai va va va
Erupol nadayeenaai va va va
Elaiya bharathathinaai va va va
Ethirilava lathinaai va va va
Oliyilantha nattiley ninrerum
Uthaya Gnayeeru opavey va va va