Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār - Periya Tirumoḻi (Second Decade)
1048 * vānavar taṅgaḷ sindai pōla * en neñjamē! inidu vandu * mādhava
mānavar taṅgaḷ sindai * amarnduṛaihinṛa endai **
kānavariḍu kārahil puhai * ōṅgu veṅkaṭam mēvi * māṇ kuṛaḷ
āna andaṇaṛku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! Now, You have attained Kṛṣṇa consciousness, like the eternally liberated devotees, and have become the servant of the Lord - who eternally resides in the hearts of His pure devotees; who resides in Tirumala where the fragrant smoke of the agarwood, burnt by the hunters, wafts all around, and the Lord who took the form of Vāmana.”
1049 uṛavu suṭṛam enṛu onṛilā * oruvan uhandavar tammai * maṇmisaip
piṛaviyē keḍuppān * adu kaṇḍu en neñjam enbāy! **
kuṛavar mādharhaḷōḍu * vaṇḍu kuṛiñji maruḷ isai pāḍum * veṅkaṭattu
aṛava nāyahaṛku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! Now, You have become the servant of the Lord – who has no material connections like friends or relatives; the most righteous Lord who resides in Tirumala where the gypsy women and the bees, seeing that He removes the material birth for His pure devotees, sing His glories in kuṛiñji and maruḷ meters.”
1050 iṇḍaiyāyina koṇḍu * toṇḍarhaḷ ēttuvār uṛavōḍum * vāniḍaik
koṇḍu pōyiḍavum * adu kaṇḍu en neñjam enbāy! **
vaṇḍu vāḻ vaḍa veṅkaṭa malai * kōyil koṇḍu adanōḍum * mīmisai
aṇḍam āṇḍiruppāṛku * aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! Now, You have become the servant of the Lord who delivers the devotees—who worship Him by offering garlands—from their material relationship on this earth and take them to Vaikuṇṭha; whose glories are sung by the bees in His abode Tirumala, in the northern direction (to Tirumaṅgai); who rules not only Tirumala but also the eternal abode, Vaikuṇṭha.”
1051 pāviyādu seydāy * en neñjamē! paṇḍu toṇḍu seydārai * maṇmisai
mēvi āṭkoṇḍu pōy * visumbēṛa vaikkum endai **
kōvi nāyahan koṇḍaluntuyar * veṅkaṭa malai āṇḍu * vānavar
āviyāy iruppāṛku * aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“Well done my heart! Now, You have become the servant of the Lord who delivers those who have become His devotees on this earth and takes them to Vaikuṇṭha; who is the consort of the gopīs; who rules Tirumala whose peaks rise high to push the clouds, and is the lifeline of the demigods.”
1052 poṅgu pōdiyum piṇḍiyumuḍaip * buddhar nōnbiyar paḷḷiyuḷḷuṛai *
taṅgaḷ devarum tāṅgaḷumēyāha * en neñjam enbāy! **
eṅgum vānavar dānavar niṛaindēttum * veṅkaṭam mēvi ninṛaruḷ *
aṅgaṇāyahaṛku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! You have become the servant of the merciful lotus-eyed Lord—instead of taking up the religion of Buddhists and Jains whose shelter is the aśoka or banyan tree, which has spread wide with many branches, and who are present all over the world with their deities and temples—who resides in Tirumala, which is swarmed by the demigods and the Dānavas (asuras) who glorify the Lord.”
1053 tuvariyāḍaiyar maṭṭaiyar * samaṇ toṇḍarhaḷ maṇḍiyuṇḍu pinnarum *
tamarum tāṅgaḷumē taḍikka * en neñjam enbāy! **
kavari mākkaṇam sērum * veṅkaṭam kōyil koṇḍa kaṇṇār visumbiḍai *
amara nāyahaṛku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! You have become the servant of the Lord—instead of becoming one among the Jains who are saffron-clad, clean-shaven-headed, and who compete with each other to eat as they like and grow fat—who resides in Tirumala where many herds of musk deer roam around, and who is the master of the eternally liberated devotees in the vast abode, Vaikuṇṭha.”
1054 tarukkināl samaṇ seydu * sōṛu taṇ tayirināl tiraḷai * miḍaṭṛiḍai
nerukkuvār alakkaṇ * adu kaṇḍu en neñjam enbāy! **
maruṭkaḷ vaṇḍuhaḷ pāḍum * veṅkaṭam kōyil koṇḍu adanōḍum * vāniḍai
arukkan mēvi niṛpāṛku * aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! You have become the servant of the Lord—instead of becoming one among the Jains who waste time in arguments and gobble up plenty of rice mixed with thick curd—who resides in Tirumala where the bees hum His glories in maruḷ meter and who controls the movement of the sun.”
1055 sēyan aṇiyan siṛiyan periyan enbadum * silar pēsak kēṭṭirundē *
en neñjam enbāy! * enakku onṛu sollādē **
vēyhaḷ ninṛu veṇmuttamē sori * veṅkaṭa malai kōyil mēviya *
āya nāyahaṛku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart! Without my knowledge, today you have become the servant of Lord Gopāla-kṛṣṇa—though you have heard the whimsical arguments of the unfortunate persons to avoid worshipping the Lord like ‘He (the Lord) is far away, (not possible to worship); or ‘Why to worship the statue?’ or ‘How to worship one born in the lowly cowherd community?’ or ‘How to worship one supposed to be in the heart when He cannot be seen?’—who resides in Tirumala where clusters of bamboo trees split and shed white pearls.”
1056 kūḍi āḍi uraittadē uraittāy * en neñjam enbāy! tuṇindu kēḷ *
pāḍi āḍip palarum * paṇindēttik kāṇgilā **
āḍu tāmaraiyōnum īsanum * amarar kōnum ninṛēttum * veṅkaṭattu
āḍu kūttanukku * inṛu aḍimait toḻil pūṇḍāyē
“O my heart, listen! All along you have been indulging in materialistic activities like worldly people, and speaking the meaningless words spoken by them; but today, (I am happy that) you have become the servant of the Lord who could not be seen even by those who dance singing His glories, bow down to Him, and worship Him; who is worshipped by Brahmā, Śiva, and Indra in Tirumala, and who danced on the pots.”
1057 * minnu māmuhil mēvu * taṇ tiruveṅkaṭa malai kōyil mēviya *
annamāy nihaḻnda * amarar perumānai **
kanni māmadiḷ maṅgaiyar kalikanṛi * intamiḻāl uraitta * im
mannu pāḍal vallārkku * iḍamāhum vānulahē
“Those who can recite these eternal songs rendered in sweet Tamiḻ by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār, the chief of Tirumaṅgai surrounded by high-rise ramparts—about the Lord who resides on the cool Tirumala Hills above which glowing rain clouds gather; who took the form of a Haṁsa, and is the chief of the demigods—will become the residents of Vaikuṇṭha.”
1058 * kāsaiyāḍai mūḍiyōḍik * kādal seydān avanūr *
nāsamāha namba valla * nambi namperumān **
vēyin anna tōḷ maḍavār * veṇṇey uṇḍān ivan enṛu *
ēsa ninṛa emperumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē 1
“The all-powerful Lord—who was determined to destroy Laṅkā, the city of Rāvaṇa who came in the disguise of a mendicant because of his vulgar desire (to possess Mother Sītā); our benefactor who was ridiculed by cowherd damsels, who possess bamboo-like shoulders, ‘He is a butter thief’—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”[1]
1059 taiyalāḷ mēl kādal seyda * dānavan vāḷ arakkan *
poyyilāda pon muḍigaḷ * onbadōḍu onṛum ** anṛu
seyda vempōr tannil * aṅgōr señjarattāl uruḷa *
eyda endai emperumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“Our Lord—who, in the ghastly war that ensued on the shores of Laṅkā, with His incredible red arrows felled the ten golden crowns of the sword-wielding asura king Rāvaṇa who fell in love with the charming Mother Sītā—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1060 munnōr tūdu * vānarattin vāyil moḻindu * arakkan
mannūr tannai * vāḷiyināl māḷa munindu ** avanē
pinnōr tūdu * ādi mannarkkāhip perunilattār *
innār tūdan ena ninṛān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“The Lord—who (Rāma) sent Hanumān as a messenger to Rāvaṇa, destroyed his opulent Laṅkā with His arrows; later, He acted as a messenger to the Pāṇḍavas and is hailed all over the world as ‘the messenger of the Pāṇḍavas’—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1061 pandaṇainda melviralāḷ * pāvai tan kāraṇattāl *
ventiṛal ēṛēḻum * venṛa vēndan viripugaḻ sēr **
nandan maindanāga āhum * nambi namperumān *
endai tandai tam perumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“Our all-opulent Lord—the benefactor of our clan, who appeared as the son of the widely famous Nanda Mahārāja, tamed the seven fierce bulls to claim the hand of Nappinnai who has slender fingers playing softball—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1062 bālanāgi ñālam ēḻum uṇḍu * paṇḍu ālilai mēl *
cāla nāḷum paḷḷi koḷḷum * tāmaraik kaṇṇan eṇṇil **
nīlamār vaṇḍuṇḍu vāḻum * neytalandaṇ kaḻani *
ēla nāṛum paimpuṛavil * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“Lord Puṇḍarīkākṣa—once as a small child, He swallowed all the planetary systems and reclined on a banyan leaf for a long period; He is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr which has many vast, fragrant groves, cool fertile fields where swarms of bees live in the countless blue lotus flowers drinking their honey.”
1063 sōtta nambi enṛu * toṇḍar miṇḍit toḍarndu aḻaikkum *
ātta nambi seṅgaṇambi * āgilum dēvarkkellām **
mūtta nambi mukkaṇambi enṛu * munivar toḻudu
ēttum * nambi emperumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“The benefactor—who is worshipped by the thronging devotees calling, ‘My Lord, our obeisances to You;’ Lord Puṇḍarīkākṣa, though the Supreme Personality, is extolled by the four sanas (Sanaka, Sanatkumāra, Sanandana, and Sanātana), ‘O the Supreme demigod!’ ‘O Brahmā!’ ‘O Śiva!’—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1064 tiṅgaḷ appu vān eri kālāgi * tisai muganār
taṅgaḷ appan * sāmiyappan bāgattirunda ** vaṇḍuṇ
toṅgalappu nīḷ muḍiyān * sūḻ kaḻal sūḍa ninṛa *
eṅgaḷ appan emperumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“Our father who is the Supersoul of the moon, the body of the five elements, the father of Brahmā, glorified by Sāma Veda, and whose lotus feet are worshipped by Śiva—who has given half of his body to his wife, and wears the garland of flowers of the golden shower tree and the Ganges in his matted hair—is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1065 munivan mūrtti mūvarāhi * vedam viritturaitta
punidan * pūvai vaṇṇan aṇṇal * puṇṇiyan viṇṇavar kōn **
taniyan sēyan tān oruvan āhilum * tan aḍiyārkku
iniyan * endai emperumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“Our father who desired to create the cosmic universe; who expanded as trinity (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva); the immaculate Lord who revealed the Vedas; who is ironwood flower-hued; the Supreme Personality of Godhead; the Lord of the ever-liberated devotees; who has nobody equal to Him or above Him; who, though is very difficult to attain, is very benevolent to His devotees is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1066 pandirukkum melviralāḷ * pāvai panimalarāḷ *
vandirukkum mārvan * nīla mēni maṇivaṇṇan **
andarattil vāḻum * vānōr nāyahanāy amainda *
indiraṛkum tam perumān * evvuḷ kiḍandānē
“The Lord whose chest is the eternal abode of Lakṣmī—who was born from the cool lotus and has slender fingers playing softball—who is blue sapphire gemstone-hued, and is the Lord of the celestial king Indra is reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr.”
1067 * iṇḍai koṇḍu toṇḍar ētta * evvuḷ kiḍandānai *
vaṇḍu pāḍum paimpuṛavil * maṅgaiyar kōn kaliyan **
koṇḍa sīrāl taṇ tamiḻ sey mālai * īraindum vallār *
aṇḍam āḷvadu āṇai * anṛēl āḷvar amarulagē
“Those who can recite this garland of ten sweet tamiḻ songs about the Lord, reclining in Tiruvaḷḷūr, who is worshipped by devotees offering garlands—rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār, who has divine qualities, and is the chief of Tirumaṅgai which has vast groves where the ecstatic bees keep humming—will certainly rule the entire cosmic creation; those who have no desire to rule the cosmic creation will become an eternal resident of Vaikuṇṭha.”
[1] Tiruvaḷḷūr: A Divya Dēsam situated 30 miles away from Chennai, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
1068 * viṛperu viḻavum kañjanum mallum * vēḻamum pāganum vīḻa *
seṭṛavan tannai purameri seyda * sivanuṛu tuyar kaḷai dēvai **
paṭṛalar vīyak kōl kaiyil koṇḍu * pārttan tan tēr mun ninṛānai *
siṭṛavai paṇiyāl muḍi tuṛandānait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who disrupted the great bow sacrifice (Dhanur-yajña) and killed Kaṁsa (who had arranged it), his wrestlers and the royal elephant and its caretaker; the merciful Lord who nullified the severe curse on Śiva who burnt Tripura (the three demoniac cities built by Maya Dānava); the Lord who as Pārtha-sārathi held the whip in His hand and orchestrated the destruction of the enemies (of the Pāndavas), and who renounced the crown as ordered by His stepmother—in Triplicane.”[1]
1069 * vedattai vēdattin suvaip payanai * viḻumiya munivargaḷ -
viḻuṅgum *
kōdil in kaniyai nandanār kaḷiṭṛaik * kuvalayattōr toḻudēttum **
ādiyai amudai ennai āḷuḍai appanai * oppavarillā
mādargaḷ vāḻum * māḍamā mayilait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who revealed the Vedas; who gives the fruits of the actions performed as prescribed in the Vedas, of each individual; who is like a blemishless fruit (obtained by pure devotional service) enjoyed by His pure devotees; who is the elephant calf of Nanda Mahārāja; who is the primeval cause worshipped by all; who is nectarean, and who is my eternal master—in Triplicane, which is near Mylāpūr, the place where peerless ladies live in the multi-storied houses.”[2]
1070 vañjanai seyyat tāyuruvāhi * vanda pēy alaṛi maṇ sēra *
nañjamar mulaiyūḍu uyir sega uṇḍa * nādanait dānavar kūṭṛai **
viñjai vānavar sāraṇar sittar * viyantudi seyyap peṇṇuruvāhi *
añjuvai amudam anṛaḷittānait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who sucked not only the milk but also the life from the poison-laced nipple of the demon Pūtanā who came in the form of a mother but with a wicked motive; the nemesis of the asuras; once, who took the form of Mohinī-Mūrti, to the amazement of Vidhyadaras, Cāraṇas, Siddhas, and other demigods, and distributed the sweet nectar to the demigods—in Triplicane.”
1071 indiranukkenṛu āyargaḷ eḍutta * eḻil viḻavil paḻa naḍai sey *
mandira vidiyil pūsanai peṛādu * maḻai poḻindiḍat taḷarndu ** āyar
entammōḍu ina ānirai taḷarāmal * emperumān! aruḷ enna *
andamil varaiyāl maḻai taḍuttānait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who prevented the cowherds from performing the traditional Indra-yajña which angered Indra to cause a deluge of rains; when the harassed cowherds prayed to Him, ‘O our Lord Kaṇṇā! Please save us and our herds of cows from this misery’ He lifted and held the huge Govardhana Hill as an umbrella to protect them from the rains—in Triplicane.”
1072 intuṇaip padumattu alarmagaḷ tanakkum inban * naṛpuvi tanakku - iṛaivan *
tantuṇai āyarpāvai nappinnai tanakku iṛai * maṭṛaiyōrkku ellām
vantuṇai ** pañja pāṇḍavarkkāhi vāyurai tūdu senṛu * iyaṅgum entuṇai
* endai tandai tammānait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who is the dear husband of Lakṣmī, born on lotus flower; the consort of Bhū-devī; the eternal companion of the cowherd damsel Nappinnai; also the ever-present support of all; who went as a messenger of the Pāṇḍavas and advised Duryodhana, and my shelter—in Triplicane.”
1073 andhakan siṛuvan arasar tam arasaṛkiḷaiyavan * aṇiyiḻaiyaic cenṛu *
entamakku urimai sey enat tariyādu * emperumān! aruḷ enna **
sandamar kuḻalāḷ alakkaṇ nūṭṛuvar tam * peṇḍirum eydi nūl iḻappa *
indiran siṛuvan tēr mun ninṛānait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who stood as the charioteer of Indra’s son (Arjuna) to ensure that the hundred Kauravās’ wives lost their auspicious necklace (means that their husbands were killed) and underwent the same anguish suffered by the beautiful, dark-tressed Draupadī adorned with elegant jewels, responding to her pathetic cry for protection, ‘O Lord Kṛṣṇa! Please be merciful to me,’ when Dushashana, the brother of Duryodhana—the eldest son of the blind Dhṛtarāṣṭra who thought of himself as an emperor—came to her and said, ‘You are our slave,’—in Triplicane.”
1074 * bharatanum tambi shatrughnanum * ilakkumanōḍu mythiliyum *
iravum nanpahalum tudi seyya ninṛa * irāvaṇāndaganai emmānai **
kuravamē kamaḻum kuḷir poḻilūḍu * kuyiloḍu mayilhaḷ ninṛāla *
iraviyin kadirgaḷ nuḻaidal seydaṛiyāt * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—the slayer of Rāvaṇa and who is constantly worshipped by Bharata, his brother Shatrughna, Lakṣmaṇa, and mother Sītā—in Triplicane which is surrounded by cool bowers of tarenna trees in full bloom, preventing entry of the sun rays, and echoes with the cooing of koels and peacocks.”
1075 * paḷḷiyil ōdi vanda tan siṛuvan * vāyil ōrāyira nāmam *
oḷḷiyavāhip pōda āṅgu adanukku * onṛumōr poṛuppilanāhi **
piḷḷaiyaic cīṛi veguṇḍu tūṇ puḍaippap * piṛai eyiṭṛu anal viḻip – pēḻ vāy *
teḷḷiya siṅgamāhiya dēvait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—whose devotee (Prahlāda), on his return home from school, was chanting nicely the thousand names of the Lord; (on hearing this) his father, Hiraṇyakaśipu could not tolerate; he became very angry and kicked the pillar from which the Lord appeared in half-lion and half-man form (Teḷisiṅgap Perumāḷ) with a gaping mouth filled with crescent-shaped sharp teeth, and fiery eyes—in Triplicane.”
1076 * mīnamar poygai nāḷ malar koyvān * vēṭkaiyinōḍu senṛiḻinda *
kānamar vēḻam kai eḍuttalaṛak * karā adan kālinaik kaduva **
ānaiyin tuyaram tīrap puḷḷūrndu * senṛu ninṛu āḻi toṭṭānai *
tēnamar sōlai māḍamā mayilait * tiruvallikkēṇik kaṇḍēnē
“I worshipped the Lord—who was called in great anguish by the elephant king Gajendra, who wanted to pluck fresh flowers and stepped into a lake, full of fish, and whose leg was caught by a crocodile there; to relieve the distress of the elephant, who flew on the back of Garuḍa, appeared on the lakeside and threw the disc (on the crocodile)—in Triplicane, which is near Mylāpūr, the place where there are many multi-storied houses.”
1077 * mannu taṇ poḻilum vāviyum madiḷum * māḍa māḷigaiyum - maṇḍapamum *
tennan toṇḍaiyar kōn seyda nalmayilait * tiruvallikkēṇi ninṛānai **
kanni nanmāḍa maṅgaiyar talaivan * kāmaru sīrk kali kanṛi *
sonna sol mālai pattuḍan vallār * suham inidāḷvar vānulagē
“Those who can recite this garland of ten songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who possesses vast wealth, and is the chief of Tirumaṅgai which has a lot of strong, multi-storied houses—about the Lord present in Triplicane, which is near the elegant Mylāpūr—which was established by the Pāṇḍiya king Tonḍaimān with ever-cool groves, lakes, multi-storied palaces, meeting and resting halls, and ramparts—will attain the blissful Vaikuṇṭha.”
[1] Triplicane: The place in Chennai, Tamiḻ Nāḍu where the Divya Dēsam, Pārtha-sārathi temple is situated.
[2] Mylāpūr: In Chennai. The birthplace of Peiāḻvār.
1078 * anṛāyar kulak koḍiyōḍu * aṇimāmalar maṅgaiyoḍu anbaḷavi * avuṇarkku
entānum irakkam ilādavanukku * uṛaiyum iḍamāvadu ** irumpoḻil sūḻ
nanṛāya punal naṛaiyūr tiruvāli kuḍandai * taḍam tigaḻ kōval nagar *
ninṛān irundān kiḍandān naḍandāṛku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of Kṛṣṇa—whose loving consorts are the cowherd damsel Nappinnai with a slender waist and Lakṣmī who was born on the best lotus flower; the Lord who is never merciful to the asuras—is Tirunaṛaiyūr, surrounded by vast gardens and clear lakes, where the Lord is standing; is Tiruvāli where He is sitting; is Kumbakōṇam where He is reclining, and is Tirukkōvalūr, famous for its lakes, where the Lord is in Tiruvikrama form measuring the planetary systems—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”[1]
1079 kāṇḍā vanam enbadōr kāḍu * amararkkarai annadu kaṇḍavan niṛka * munē
mūṇḍār aḻal uṇṇa munindaduvum * aduvanṛiyum munnulagam poṛai - tīrttu
āṇḍān ** avuṇan avan mārbahalam * ugirāl vagirāha munindu * ariyāy
nīṇḍān kuṛaḷāgi nimirndavanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the Lord—who ensured that Agni devoured the famous forest Khāṇḍava, against Indra’s desire, and while he was helplessly watching; further, who reduced the burden of the earth and protected the world (by establishing Yudhiṣṭhira as the emperor) by orchestrating the Mahābhārata war; who expanded as the fierce Nṛsiṁhadeva and cleaved the broad chest of Hiraṇyakaśipu into two halves with His nails, and who first went as Vāmanadeva and later expanded as Tiruvikrama—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1080 alamannumaḍal surisaṅgam eḍuttu * aḍal āḻiyināl aṇiyār uruvin *
pulamannu vaḍam punai koṅgaiyināḷ * poṛai tīra munāḷ aḍuvāḷamaril **
pala mannar paḍac cuḍar āḻiyinaip * pahalōn maṛaiyap paṇi koṇḍu aṇisēr *
nila mannanumāy ulagāṇḍavanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the divinely charming Lord—who wields the effulgent disc, the plough (as Balarāma), and the Pāñcajanya (the sound of) which terrorises the enemies; who orchestrated the Mahābhārata war to reduce the burden of Bhū-devī, adorned with elegant pearl necklaces, by ensuring that many men and kings are killed; who employed His resplendent disc to cover the sun and seemingly make it set (at the end of the day), and who, as the proprietor, protected all the planetary systems—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1081 tāṅgādador āḷariyāy * avuṇan tanai vīḍa munindu avanālamarum *
pūṅgōdaiyar poṅgeri mūḻga viḷaittu aduvanṛiyum * venṛikoḷ – vāḷamaril **
pāṅgāha mun aivaroḍu anbaḷavip * padiṭṛaindiraṭṭip paḍai vēndar paḍa *
nīṅgāc ceruvil niṛai kāttavanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the Lord—who appeared as the incredible half lion-half man, terrorising the asuras, and killed the angry Hiraṇyakaśipu, causing his wives to jump into the funeral pyre; also, who orchestrated the great Mahābhārata war, guided and facilitated the victory of the Pāṇḍavas over the mighty Kauravas who were totally decimated, and by that great war, who helped to fulfil the vow of Draupadī—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1082 mālum kaḍalāra malaikkuvaḍiṭṭu aṇai kaṭṭi * varamburuva madi sēr *
kōla madiḷāya ilaṅgai keḍap * paḍai toṭṭu orukāl amaril adira **
kālam iduvenṛu ayan vāḷiyināl * kadir nīḷmuḍi pattum aṛuttu – amarum *
nīlamuhil vaṇṇar emakku iṛaivaṛku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the rain cloud-hued Lord—who once got a bridge built across the sea by the army of monkeys who filled the sea with mountains, hills, and rocks, reached Laṅkā, protected by strong ramparts rising to the moon, destroyed it, and by a brahmāstra cut off the effulgently crowned ten heads of Rāvaṇa; afterward who returned to Ayodhyā with mother Sītā—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1083 pārār ulagum panimāl varaiyum * kaḍalum suḍarum ivai uṇḍum * enakku
ārādena ninṛavan emperumān * alai nīr ulagukku arasāgiya ** ap
pērānai muninda munikkaraiyan * piṛarillai nunakkenum ellaiyinān *
nīrār pērān neḍumāl avanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the Supreme Lord Nīrvaṇṇan—who wanted more even after swallowing all the planetary systems, the cold mountains, oceans, and the sun and the moon; my Lord; who appeared as the mighty Paraśurāma who annihilated twenty-one generations of the kṣatriya dynasty, and who has no equal or no one above Him—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1084 pugarār uruvāhi munindavanaip * pugaḻ vīḍa munindu uyir uṇḍu * asuran
naharāyina pāḻ paḍa nāmam eṛindu aduvanṛiyum * venṛikoḷ vāḷ – avuṇan **
pagarādavan āyira nāmam * aḍip paṇiyādavanaip paṇiyāl amaril *
nigarāyavan neñjiḍandān avanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the Lord—who killed the demoniac Pauṇḍraka, who tried to imitate the appearance of Kṛṣṇa (by making and wielding the disc and the conch), erased his name and fame, and destroyed his cities; further, our Lord who, to protect Prahlāda, cleaved the chest of the demoniac Hiraṇyakaśipu, the wielder of a victorious sword, and who never chanted the thousand names of the Lord—is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1085 piccac ciṛu pīli piḍittu ulagil * piṇandin maḍavār avar pōl * aṅṅanē
accamilar nāṇilarā tanmaiyāl * avar seyhai veṛuttu aṇimāmalar – tūy **
nacci namanār aḍaiyāmai * namakku aruḷ sey ena uḷ kuḻaindu – ārvamoḍu *
niccam ninaivārkku aruḷ seyyum avaṛku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“The abode of the Lord who is very merciful to those who reject the uncommon activities of the jains—like holding a broom of peacock feathers (to sweep away the small insects, worms, etc., on the path) and wandering naked like the shameless devils who eat the dead bodies—and instead engage in uninterrupted, loving devotional service to the Lord, worship Him with flowers, and pray for protection from Yama is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai.”
1086 pēsum aḷavanṛu idu vammin namar! * piṛar kēṭpadan mun paṇivār - vinaihaḷ *
nāsamadu seydiḍumā tanmaiyāl * aduvē namadu uyviḍam nāḷmalar – mēl **
vāsamaṇi vaṇḍaṛai paimpuṛavil * manamaindoḍu nainduḻalvār * madiyil
nīsaravar senṛu aḍaiyādavanukku iḍam * māmalaiyāvadu – nīrmalaiyē
“O devotees! The glories of this abode of the Lord cannot be described in simple words! Before the atheists hear it, please come and hear; this abode eliminates the sins of those who worship it; so, it is undoubtedly our shelter; that is the abode of the Lord who is not attainable to those who suffer bound by their desire for sense gratification, and are lowly people who have lost their wisdom; it is the famous hill Tirunīrmalai which has vast gardens and bowers where the bumble bees sit on the just blossomed fragrant flowers and hum throughout the day.”
1087 * neḍumāl avan mēviya nīrmalai mēl * nilavum puhaḻ maṅgaiyar kōn * - amaril
kaḍamā kaḷiyānai vallān * kaliyan oli sey tamiḻ mālai vallārkku ** uḍanē
viḍumāl vinai * vēṇḍiḍil mēlulagum eḷidāyiḍum anṛi ilaṅgoli sēr *
koḍumā kaḍal vaiyagam āṇḍu * madikkuḍai mannavarāy aḍi – kūḍuvarē
“Those who can recite this garland of Tamiḻ songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—the chief of Tirumaṅgai who can control the elephant in musth and conduct it ably on the battlefield—about Tirunīrmalai, the eternal abode of the Lord will be relieved of their sins immediately; if they so desire, they can easily go to the heaven and other celestial planets and enjoy the pleasures there; further, they will rule this earth, surrounded by turbulent oceans, as kings with royal parasols as white as the moon, and then attain the lotus feet of the Lord.”
[1] Tirunaṛaiyūr: Divya Dēsam near Kumbakōṇam, Tamiḻ Nāḍu; also known as Nācchiyār Kōil
Tiruvāli: Divya Dēsam in Sīrkāḻi, Tamiḻ Nāḍu; known as Tiruvāli Tirunagari
Tirukkōvalūr: Divya Dēsam in South Ārcot district, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
Tirunīrmalai: Divya Dēsam near Tāmbaram, Chennai, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
1088 * pārāyadu uṇḍu umiḻnda pavaḷat tūṇaip *
paḍukaḍalil amudattaip parivāy kīṇḍa
sīrānai * emmānait toṇḍar taṅgaḷ
sindai uḷḷē * muḷaittu eḻunda tīṅgkarumbinai **
pōrānaik kombositta pōrēṭṛinaip *
puṇar marudamiṛa naḍanda poṛkunṛinai *
kārānai iḍar kaḍinda kaṛpagattaik *
kaṇḍadu nān kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē 1
“I worshipped the Lord—who swallowed all the planetary systems (to protect from pralaya) and manifested them (after pralaya); as desirable as a coral stone; as nectarean as the ambrosia from the ocean of milk; the chivalrous one who tore of the mouth of Keśī demon who came as a wild horse; my Lord, who appears in the hearts of His devotees and grows like a sweet sugarcane; the valiant one who broke the tusk and killed the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa; who crawled in between the twin arjuna trees and brought them down; who dazzles like a golden mountain; who relieved the distress of the huge elephant Gajendra; who fulfills all the desires like a wish-fulfilling tree—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple.”[1]
1089 * pūṇḍavattam piṛarkkaḍaindu toṇḍu paṭṭup *
poynnūlai meynnūl enṛu enṛum ōdi
māṇḍu * avattam pōhādē vammin * endai
en vaṇaṅgappaḍuvānai ** kaṇaṅgaḷ ēttum
nīṇḍa attaik karumuhilai emmān tannai *
ninṛavūr nittilattait tottār sōlai *
kāṇḍavattaik kanal eri vāyp peyvittānaik *
kaṇḍadu nān kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“Instead of engaging in activities unsuitable for devotional service; taking shelter of lowly people and becoming their slaves; accepting false writings of other religions as revealed scriptures and always reading them and wasting the life, come and worship the Lord. I worshipped the Lord—who is my father; who is worshipped by all; who is glorified by the saints; who is unlimited; who is our rain cloud-hued Lord; the Lord residing in Tiruninṛavūr who is precious like a pearl necklace; who enabled Agni to burn the lush Khāṇḍava forest[2]—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple.”
1090 uḍamburuvil mūnṛonṛāy mūrtti vēṛāy *
ulaguyya ninṛānai * anṛu pēycci
viḍam parugu vittaganaik * kanṛu mēyttu
viḷaiyāḍa vallānai varaimīkānil **
taḍam parugu karumugilait tañjaik kōyil *
tava neṛikku ōr peru neṛiyai vaiyam kākkum *
kaḍum pari mēl kaṛkiyai nān kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—the Supreme Personality of Godhead who took three different forms (Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva) to manage the cosmic activities; the incredible Lord who (as Kaṇṇan) sucked the poisoned nipple of the demon Pūtanā; who taught the calves how to drink water from the lakes in the forests on the hills; who is rain cloud-hued; who is in the standing posture in Thanjai Māmaṇik Koil to demonstrate that the best way to attain Him is to surrender to His lotus feet; who will appear as Kalki riding a mighty horse to cleanse the world[3]—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1091 pēyt tāyai mulai uṇḍa piḷḷai tannaip *
piṇai maruppiṛ karuṅgaḷiṭṛaip piṇai mān nōkkin *
āyt tāyar tayir veṇṇey amarnda kōvai *
andaṇar tam amudattaik kuravai munnē
kōttānai ** kuḍamāḍu kūttan tannaik *
gōkulaṅgaḷ taḷarāmal kunṛam ēndik
kāttānai * emmānaik kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—who as a baby, sucked the poisoned nipple of the demon Pūtanā who came in the form of a mother; who was playful like an elephant calf; the Lord who was always fond of the curd and butter stored by the fawn-eyed Mother Yaśodā; the ambrosia of the devotees; who enacted the wonderful rāsa dance with the cowherd girls; our Lord who held the Govardhana Hill as an umbrella to protect the cows (from the torrential rains)—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1092 pāyndānait tiri śakaṭam pāṛi vīḻap *
bālaganāy ālilaiyil paḷḷi inbam
ēyndānai * ilaṅgoḷi sēr maṇik kunṛanna *
īriraṇḍu mālvarait tōḷ emmān tannai **
tōyndānai nilamagaḷ tōḷ tūdiṛ senṛu * ap
poyyaṛai vāyp pugappeyda mallar maṅgak
kāyndānai * emmānaik kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—who kicked and shattered the cartwheel (in which Śakaṭāsura was hiding); who as a baby enjoyed mystic sleep on a banyan leaf; who is as resplendent as a huge hill of gemstones; the Lord who displays four arms; who (as Varāhadeva) embraced Bhū-devī; our Lord who killed the wrestlers hiding in the secret underground room (as schemed by the evil Duryodhana) when He went as a messenger (of the Pāṇḍavas)—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1093 kiḍandānait taḍaṅgkaḍaluḷ paṇaṅgaḷ mēvik *
kiḷar poṛiyamaṛitiriya adanin pinnē
paḍarndānaip * paḍu madatta kaḷiṭṛin kombu
paṛittānaip * pāriḍattai eyiṛu kīṛa
iḍandānai ** vaḷai maruppin ēnamāhi *
irunilanum peru visumbum eydā vaṇṇam
kaḍandānai * emmānaik kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—who is reclining under the hoods of Ananta Śeṣa in the Ocean of Milk; who followed (and killed) the magical deer with glowing spots; who broke the tusk of the demoniac elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa and killed it; who appeared as a boar and lifted the earth planet with His tusk from the depths of the ocean; the Lord who expanded so much that He measured all the planetary systems with just two steps—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1094 pēṇāda vali arakkar meliya anṛu *
peruvarait tōḷiṛa nerittu anṛu avuṇar kōnai *
pūṇāgam piḷaveḍutta pōr vallōnaip *
poru kaḍaluḷ tuyil amarnda puḷḷūrdiyai **
ūṇāgap pēy mulai nañju uṇḍān tannai *
uḷḷuvār uḷḷattē uṛaiginṛānai *
kāṇādu tiritaruvēn kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“After wandering for a long time without realisation, I worshipped the Lord—who broke the mountain-like shoulders and killed the arrogant asuras who didn’t respect Him; who cleaved the well-decorated chest and killed Hiraṇyakaśipu because he harassed his son Prahlāda; who is very chivalrous; who is reclining in the Ocean of Milk; who has Garuḍa as His vehicle; who sucked the poisoned nipple of Pūtanā; the Lord who resides eternally in the hearts of the devotees who remember Him always—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1095 peṇṇāhi innamudam vañjittānaip *
piṛai eyiṭṛu anṛu aḍalariyāyp peruginānai *
taṇṇārnda vārpunal sūḻ meyyam ennum *
taḍavarai mēl kiḍandānaip paṇaṅgaḷ mēvi **
eṇṇānai eṇṇiṛanda pugaḻinānai *
ilaṅgoḷi sēr aravindam pōnṛu nīṇḍa
kaṇṇānai * kaṇṇārak kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—who appeared as Mohinī and cheated the asuras by not giving them the sweet ambrosia; who took the form of the mighty Nṛsiṁhadeva with crescent moon-shaped teeth; who is reclining under the hoods of Ananta Śeṣa on the huge hill of Tirumeyyam surrounded by cool water; who is meditated upon by the yogis; whose glories are unlimited; who has very effulgent long eyes like the lotus petals[4]—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1096 toṇḍāyār tām paravum aḍiyinānaip *
paḍi kaḍanda tāḷāḷaṛku āḷāy uydal
viṇḍānai * tennilaṅgai arakkar vēndai *
vilaṅguṇṇa valaṅgai vāyc caraṅgaḷ āṇḍu **
paṇḍāya vedaṅgaḷ nāngum * aindu
vēḷvigaḷum kēḷviyōḍu aṅgam āṛum
kaṇḍānai * toṇḍanēn kaṇḍu koṇḍēn *
kaḍipoḻil sūḻ kaḍalmallait talaśayanattē
“I worshipped the Lord—whose lotus feet are worshipped by His devotees; who measured the planets with His lotus feet; who shot arrows and left the body of the arrogant Rāvaṇa to be eaten by the animals; who became the eternal Vedas, the five yajñās, the smṛtiś, and the six aṅgas[5]—as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple surrounded by fragrant gardens.”
1097 * paḍa nāgattaṇaik kiḍandu anṛu avuṇar kōnaip *
paḍa veguṇḍu marudiḍai pōyp paḻanavēli *
taḍamārnda kaḍal mallait talaśayanattut *
tāmaraik kaṇ tuyil amarnda talaivar tannai **
kaḍamārum karuṅgaḷiṛu vallān * vel pōrk
kalikanṛi oli seyda inbap pāḍal *
tiḍamāga ivai aindum aindum vallār *
tīvinaiyai mudalariya vallār tāmē
“Those who can recite with pure devotion these ten sweet Tamiḻ songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who can control the huge elephant in musth and is victorious on the battlefield—about the lotus-eyed Lord Sthalaśayana who reclines in the Kadalmallai temple—will be rid of their sins.”
[1] Kadalmallai temple: Divya Dēsam in Mahābalipuram, Chennai, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[2] Tiruninṛavūr: Divya Dēsam near Chennai, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[3] Thanjai Māmaṇik Koil: Divya Dēsam in Tanjore district, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[4] Tirumeyyam: Divya Dēsam in Pudukkōṭṭai district, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[5] The five Yajñās: brahma- yajna, deva-yajña, ṛṣi-yajña, pitṛ-yajña and nṛ-yajña
The Smṛtiś: Like Manu-smṛti, Yājñavalkya-smṛti etc.,
The six Vedāṅgas: śikṣā, cchanda, vyākaraṇa, nirukta, jyotiṣa, and kalpa.
1098 * naṇṇāda vāḷ avuṇar * iḍaip pukku * vānavaraip
peṇṇāhi * amudūṭṭum perumānār ** maruviniya
taṇṇārnda kaḍalmallait * talaśayanattu uṛaivārai *
eṇṇādē iruppārai * iṛaippoḻudum eṇṇōmē
“We shall not respect at all those who do not think of the Lord who took the form of Mohinī, spoke to the antagonistic asuras and deceived them by giving the nectar to the demigods only, and that Lord who is residing eternally as Lord Sthalaśayana in the cool Kadalmallai temple.”
1099 pārvaṇṇa maḍamaṅgai * pani nanmāmalark kiḻatti *
nīrvaṇṇan mārvattil * irukkaiyai mun ninaindu avanūr **
kārvaṇṇa mudu munnīrk * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
ār eṇṇum neñjuḍaiyār * avar emmai āḷvārē
“Those pure devotees—who meditate first on Śrī-devī, born on the best lotus flower, who decorates the chest, and Bhū-devī, full of transcendental qualities, present on the left of the ocean-hued Lord, and then think of that Lord Sthalaśayana’s abode, the Kadalmallai temple on the shore of the dark ocean—are our masters.”
1100 * ēnattin uruvāhi * nilamaṅgai eḻil koṇḍān *
vānattil avar muṛaiyāl * magiḻndu ētti valaṅg koḷḷa **
kānattin kaḍalmallait * talaśayanattu uṛaihinṛa *
ñānattin oḷi uruvai * ninaivār en nāyagarē
“Those pure devotees who meditate on the Lord—who appeared as a divine boar and brought up the glorious earth from the depths of the ocean; who is present as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple, amidst the forest, and is circumambulated and worshipped blissfully by the demigods according to their authority; the resplendent Lord full of knowledge—are my masters.
1101 viṇḍārai venṛu āvi * vilaṅguṇṇa melliyalār *
koṇḍāḍum allagalam * aḻalēṛa veñjamattuk
kaṇḍārai ** kaḍalmallait * talaśayanattu uṛaivārai *
koṇḍāḍum neñjuḍaiyār * avar eṅgaḷ kula deyvamē
“Those pure devotees who extol the activities of the incredible Lord—who, in a fierce battle, defeated the asuras headed by Rāvaṇa, left them to be eaten by animals like fox, dog, etc., and made agni burn their formidable chests celebrated by the women and that Lord who is residing eternally as Lord Sthalaśayana in the Kadalmallai temple—are the heads of our clan.”
1102 piccac ciṛu pīlic * camaṇ guṇḍar mudalāyōr *
viccaikkiṛai ennum * avviṛaiyaip paṇiyādē **
kaccik kiḍandavanūr * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
naccit toḻuvārai * naccu endan nalneñjē!
“Those pure devotees who lovingly worship—the Lord without surrendering to the naked god who is celebrated as ‘omniscient’ by the lowly Jains and others who carry an umbrella and a small fan made of peacock feathers; the Lord who is reclining in Tiruvekkā and the Kadalmallai temple, the abode of Lord Sthalaśayana—are worshipped by my surrendered heart.”[1]
1103 pulaṅgoḷ nidikkuvaiyōḍu * puḻaik kaimmā kaḷiṭṛinamum *
nalaṅgoḷ navamaṇikkuvaiyum * sumandu eṅgum nānṛosindu **
kalaṅgaḷ iyaṅgum mallaik * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
valaṅgoḷ manattār avarai * valaṅgoḷ en maḍa neñjē!
“O my purified heart! Worship those devotees who want to circumambulate the abode of Lord Sthalaśayana, the Kadalmallai temple, which is on the shore of the ocean where many huge ships—loaded with heaps of glittering gold, herds of huge elephants, and heaps of invaluable gemstones—cruise majestically.”
1104 pañjic ciṛu kūḻai * uruvāhi maruvāda *
vañjap peṇ nañjuṇḍa * aṇṇal mun naṇṇāda **
kañjaik kaḍandavanūr * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
neñjil toḻuvārait * toḻuvāy en tūy neñjē!
“O my purified heart! Worship those devotees who lovingly worship the divine Kadalmallai temple, the abode of Lord Sthalaśayana who sucked the poison from the nipple of the cruel and evil demon Pūtanā who came in the form of a mother with soft hair and who killed the envious Kaṁsa.”
1105 seḻunīr malark kamalam * tirai undu vanpagaṭṭāl *
uḻunīr vayal uḻavar uḻap * pin mun piḻaittu eḻunda **
kaḻunīr kaḍi kamaḻum * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
toḻunīr manattavarait * toḻuvāy en tūy neñjē!
“O my purified heart! Worship those devotees who lovingly worship the divine abode of Lord Sthalaśayana the Kadalmallai temple, which is surrounded by fertile fields ploughed by the farmers with strong bulls and filled with the fragrance of the lotus flowers which have escaped uncrushed by the ploughing.”
1106 piṇaṅgaḷiḍu kāḍu adanuḷ * naḍamāḍu piññaganōḍu *
iṇaṅgu tiruccakkarattu * emperumānārkku iḍam ** visumbil
kaṇaṅgaḷ iyaṅgum mallaik * kaḍalmallait talaśayanam *
vaṇaṅgum manattār avarai * vaṇaṅgu endan maḍa neñjē!
“O my purified heart! Worship those devotees who lovingly worship the divine abode of Lord Sthalaśayana, the Kadalmallai temple, which is regularly visited by the demigods, and which is the abode of Cakrapāṇi who empowers Rudra who wanders on the cremation ground.”
1107 * kaḍi kamaḻum neḍumaṛugil * kaḍalmallait talaśayanattu *
aḍigaḷ aḍiyē ninaiyum * aḍiyavarhaḷ tam aḍiyān **
vaḍikoḷ neḍuvēl valavan * kalikanṛi oli vallār *
muḍikoḷ neḍumannavar tam * mudalvar mudal āvārē
“Those who can recite this divine rendition of Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who is an expert in fighting with a long, sharp lance, and who is a servant of the devotees who meditate always on the lotus feet of Lord Sthalaśayana in Kadalmallai which has fragrant, long streets—will become an emperor controlling many kings of kings.”
[1] Tiruvekkā: Divya Dēsam in Kānchipuram district, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
1108 * tivaḷum veṇmadi pōl tirumugattarivai * seḻuṅgkaḍal amudinil - piṛanda
avaḷum * ninnāgattiruppadum aṛindum * āhilum āsai viḍāḷāl **
kuvaḷaiyaṅ kaṇṇi kolliyam pāvai * sollu nin tāḷ nayandirunda
ivaḷai * un manattāl en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai - pirānē!
Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār, in the mood of a lover of the Lord, is known as Parakāla Nāyakī. He has rendered these ten songs as Parakāla Nāyakī’s mother’s supplication to the Lord narrating her daughter’s love and seeking His plan for her.
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai![1] Though she (my daughter Parakāla Nāyakī) is aware that Śrī-devī—whose charming face is like the effulgent moon; who is eternally youthful and was born along with the ambrosia from the sea—is eternally decorating Your chest, she doesn’t want to give up her desire for You. What do You intend to do with this girl who is like the beautiful spirit in Kolli Hills and is in love with Your lotus feet?[2]”
1109 tuḷampaḍu muṛuval tōḻiyarkku aruḷāḷ * tuṇai mulai cāndu koṇḍu - aṇiyāḷ *
kuḷampaḍu kuvaḷaik kaṇṇiṇai eḻudāḷ * kōla nalmalar kuḻaṛku – aṇiyāḷ **
vaḷampaḍu munnīr vaiyam mun aḷanda * mālennum mālina moḻiyāḷ *
iḷampaḍi ivaḷukku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! This soft-spoken girl doesn’t smile, revealing her pomegranate seeds-like teeth, at her friends; she doesn’t decorate her lovely breasts with sandalwood paste; she doesn’t apply collyrium to her lotus eyes; she doesn’t decorate her hair with beautiful flowers; she meditates always on the Lord who measured this earth surrounded by oceans having valuable things like gemstones. What do You intend to do with this girl who is suffering from the love of separation?”
1110 cāndamum pūṇum sandanak kuḻambum * taḍamulaikku aṇiyilum - taḻalām *
pōnda veṇ tiṅgaḷ kadir suḍa meliyum * poru kaḍal pulambilum - pulambum **
māntaḷir mēni vaṇṇamum ponnām * vaḷaigaḷum iṛai nillā * en tan
ēndiḻai ivaḷukku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! Even after applying a mixture of cooling pastes, wearing a pearl necklace, and sandalwood paste her big breasts are burning hot; the rays of the cool moon scorches her, and she falls sick; if the wavy ocean wails, she also wails; her healthy skin tone, like the tender foliage of mango, has turned pale; the bangles also slip off ( as she has thinned); What do You intend to do with this girl of mine?”
1111 ūḻiyil peridāl nāḻigai ennum * oṇ suḍar tuyinṛadāl ennum *
āḻiyum pulambum anṛilum uṛaṅgā * tenṛalum tīyiniṛ koḍidām **
tōḻiyō! ennum tuṇaimulai arakkum * sollumin en seyhēn? ennum *
ēḻai en ponnukku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! This girl says, ‘One nāḻigai (30 minutes) is longer than a kalpa; the sun is dead;’ she tells her friend, ‘Alas! The ocean keeps wailing; the (lonely) glossy ibis bird keeps calling; the south wind is blowing hot like fire;’ she is ready to pluck out her breasts and asks often, ‘What is the remedy for these sufferings?’[3] What do You intend to do with this pathetic girl?”
1112 ōdilum un pēr anṛi maṭṛōdāḷ * urugum nin tiruvuru ninaindu *
kādanmai peridu kaiyaṛavuḍaiyaḷ * kayal neḍuṅgaṇ tuyil maṛandāḷ **
pēdaiyēn pēdai piḷḷaimai peridu * teḷḷiyaḷ vaḷḷi nuṇmaruṅgul *
ēdalar munnā en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! This girl utters nothing else other than Your names; she is wasting thinking of Your divine body; her love for You keeps growing; she remains stunned; she has forgotten her sleep; this foolish girl of mine, though still young, is very knowledgeable about You (His transcendental qualities). What do You intend to do with this slim-waisted girl in front of her enemies?”
1113 tan kuḍikku ēdum takkavā ninaiyāḷ * taḍaṅgaḍal nuḍaṅgeyililaṅgai *
vankuḍi maḍaṅga vāḷamar tolaitta * vārttai kēṭṭu inbuṛum - mayaṅgum **
minkoḍi maruṅgul suruṅga mēl neruṅgi * menmulai pon payandirunda *
enkoḍi ivaḷukku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! This girl isn’t concerned about her clan’s respectability; when she hears about the annihilation of the mighty asuras on the battlefield (by Rāma) in Laṅkā which is protected by the encircling fortification and the big ocean, she rejoices (that Rāma did this to save a woman, mother Sītā) and swoons (lamenting that the Lord is not concerned about her); her ample breasts, too heavy to be borne by her slim waist, have paled. What do You intend to do with this girl of mine?”
1114 uḷaṅgkanindirukkum unnaiyē pidaṭṛum * unakkanṛi enakku anbonṛu - ilaḷāl *
vaḷaṅgkani poḻilsūḻ māliruñjōlai * māyanē! enṛu vāy veruvum **
kaḷaṅgkani muṛuval kārigai peridu * kavalaiyōḍu avalam sērndirunda *
iḷaṅgkani ivaḷukku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! (Since this girl always thinks about You) Her heart is mellifluous; she blabbers about You only; she is in love with You and has no love for me; she sighs saying, ‘O incredible Lord of Tirumāliruñjōlai surrounded by orchards of fleshy fruits!’ She has lovely red lips resembling the Bengal currant; she is pining and getting weak.[4] What do You intend to do with this girl?”
1115 * alaṅgeḻu taḍakkai āyan vāyāmbaṛku * aḻiyumāl en uḷḷam ennum *
pulaṅgeḻu porunīrp puṭkuḻi pāḍum * pōdumō nīrmalaikku? ennum **
kulaṅgeḻu kolli kōmaḷavalli * koḍi iḍai neḍu maḻaik kaṇṇi *
ilaṅgeḻil tōḷikku en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! She says, ‘My heart longs for the melody from the flute played by the lips of Gōpāla Kṛṣṇa who wields the plough (as Balarāma)’; she sings the glories of Tiruppuṭkuḻi which is full of water bodies; she wants to go to Tirunīrmalai; she is like the beautiful spirit in Kolli Hills; she has a thin waist like common rattan, eyes pouring water, and elegant shoulders.[5] What do You intend to do with this girl?”
1116 ponkulām payalai pūttana mentōḷ * porukayaṛ kaṇtuyil maṛandāḷ *
anbināl un mēl ādaram peridu * ivvaṇaṅginukku uṭṛa nōy aṛiyēn **
minkulā maruṅgul suruṅga mēl neruṅgi * vīṅgiya vanamulaiyāḷukku *
enkolām? kuṛippil en ninaindirundāy? * iḍavendai endai pirānē!
“O Lord of Tiruviḍandai! Her slender arms have paled; the eyes, resembling two warring fish, have lost sleep; because of her desire, her love for You keeps growing; I am unable to understand her affliction; what may happen to this girl with heavy, beautiful breasts, a big burden for her slender waist! What do You intend to do with this girl?”
1117 * annamum mīnum āmaiyum ariyum āya * em māyanē! aruḷāy *
ennum in toṇḍarkku innaruḷ puriyum * iḍavendai endai pirānai **
mannu māmāḍa maṅgaiyar talaivan * mānavēl kaliyan vāy oligaḷ *
panniya panuval pāḍuvār * nāḷum paḻavinai paṭṛaṛuppārē
“Those who can recite these songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who wields the best lance and is the chief of those in Tirumaṅgai which is full of elegant multi-storeyed palaces—about the Lord of Tiruviḍandai who appeared as Haṁsa, Matsya, Kūrma, and Nṛsiṁha, and who showers mercy on His pure devotees who pray for His mercy will never suffer from sinful reactions.”
[1] Tiruviḍandai: Divya Dēsam near Mahābalipuram, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[2] The spirit in Kolli Hills: Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai is a small mountain range located in central Tamil Nadu and spread over the Nāmakkal and Tiruchirāpaḷḷi districts. Ancient Tamiḻ literature Naṭṛinai (songs 185,192, 201) describes that an ever-beautiful and undamaged sculpture has been created on the Kolli Hills by a demigod to protect the sages and people there from evil forces. This spirit has been mentioned also in Ahanānūru (songs 62, 209), Puranānūru (song 251), Cīvaka Cintāmaṇi (songs 197, 667), and Kurunthohai (songs 89, 100).
[3] A kalpa constitutes one day of Brahmā. One day of Brahmā consists of a thousand cycles of four yugas.
The glossy ibis: Plegadis falcinellus
[4] Bengal currant: Carissa carandas. Also known as Christ’s thorn, carandas plum, karonda, and karanda.
[5] Tiruppuṭkuḻi: Divya Dēsam near Kanchipuram, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
Common rattan: Calamus rotang
1118 * tiripuram mūnṛu erittānum * maṭṛai malar misai mēl ayanum viyappa *
muri tirai mākaḍal pōl muḻaṅgi * mūvulagum muṛaiyāl vaṇaṅga **
eriyana kēsara vāḷ eyiṭṛōḍu * iraṇiyan āgam iraṇḍu kūṛā *
ari uruvām ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“To the amazement of Śiva who burnt Tripura and the exalted Brahmā born from the lotus flower; while the inhabitants of the three planetary systems paid obeisances and chanted the Vedic mantras loudly matching the noise of the stormy ocean, Nṛsiṁhadeva with a fiery mane and sword-like feline teeth split the body of Hiraṇyakaśipu into two. A personality resembling Nṛsiṁhadeva appeared in front of me and when I enquired, ‘Who is this personality?’ He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”[1]
1119 ventiṛal vīraril vīrar oppār * vēdam uraittu imaiyōr vaṇaṅgum *
centamiḻ pāḍuvār tām vaṇaṅgum * devar ivar kol? terikka māṭṭēn **
vandu kuṛaḷ uruvāy nimirndu * māvali vēḷviyil maṇ aḷanda *
andaṇar pōnṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“Is this personality, resembling Rāma, the greatest of all valiant heroes, worshipped by the demigods chanting the Vedic mantras, the Lord who was worshipped with sweet Tamiḻ songs by the earlier Āḻvārs? I am not sure; when I enquired who is this personality resembling the dwarf bachelor, who came to the sacrifice performed by Bali and expanded incredibly and measured the planetary systems, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1120 sempon ilaṅgu valaṅgai vāḷi * tiṇ silai taṇḍoḍu saṅgam oḷ vāḷ *
umbar irusuḍar āḻiyōḍu * kēḍagam oṇmalar paṭṛi eṭṛē! **
vembu sinattu aḍal vēḻam vīḻa * veṇmarupponṛu paṛittu * iruṇḍa
ambudam pōnṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“When I asked who is this personality resembling the fresh rain cloud-hued Kaṇṇan and holding arrows made of pure gold and the Śārṅga bow in the right hand; also holding the club Kaumodakī, the conch Pāñcajanya, the resplendent sword Nandaka, and the fiery Sudarśana disc which is superior to all these weapons, the shield, and the lovely lotus flower, and holding the white tusk of the demoniac and the mighty elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa He had killed, to my great wonder, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1121 mañjuyar māmaṇik kunṛam ēndi * māmaḻai kāttu oru māyavānai
añja * adan maruppu anṛu vāṅgum * āyar kol? māyam aṛiya māṭṭēn **
veñjuḍar āḻiyum saṅgum ēndi * vedam mun ōduvar nīdi vānattu *
añjuḍar pōnṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“Is He Gōpāla Kṛṣṇa who held the Govardhana Hill, which rises to the sky and possesses valuable gemstones, to protect from the heavy downpour and who broke the tusk and killed the demoniac elephant? I am unable to understand this incredible personality. When I asked who is He who wields the fiery disc and the conch, chants the Vedas, and is like the brilliant Lord in the transcendental planet Vaikuṇṭha, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1122 kalaihaḷum vedamum nīdi nūlum * kaṛpamum soṛporuḷ tānum * maṭṛai
nilaihaḷum vānavarkkum piṛarkkum * nīrmaiyināl aruḷ seydu ** nīṇḍa
malaihaḷum māmaṇiyum * malarmēl maṅgaiyum saṅgamum taṅguhinṛa *
alaikaḍal pōnṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“Who is He who revealed the Vedānta, the Vedas, and mercifully gave the Itihāsas, the Kalpasūtras, Vyākaraṇa, Mīmāṁsā, the duties to the demigods and the mankind and who is like the deep Ocean of Milk in which are huge mountains, the Kaustubha gem, the goddess of fortune, and the conch, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”[2]
1123 eṅṅanum nām ivar vaṇṇam eṇṇil * ēdum aṛihilam ēndiḻaiyār *
saṅgum manamum niṛaivum ellām * tam manavāgap pugundu ** tāmum
poṅgu karuṅgaḍal pūvai kāyā * pōdaviḻ nīlam punainda mēham *
aṅṅanam pōnṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“With my endeavour, I am unable to understand Him. He has captured the heart, the desire (because of which in separation the body thins and the bangles fall down from the hands), the modesty, and everything else from the damsels. When I asked who is He with the body hue resembling the dark ocean, ironwood flower, fully blossomed blue water lily, or the fresh rain cloud, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1124 muḻusi vaṇḍāḍiya taṇ tuḻāyin * moymmalark kaṇṇiyum mēni * añjān
diḻusiya kōlam irundavāṛum * eṅṅanam sollugēn? ōvi nallār **
eḻudiya tāmarai anna kaṇṇum * ēndeḻil āgamum tōḷum vāyum *
aḻagiyadām ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“How can I describe the elegance of the garland of cool tulasī leaves, swarmed by the bumblebees, He is adorned with, or the beauty of His body smeared with sandalwood paste? When I enquired who is this personality who is very charming with lotus eyes which look as if drawn by an expert artist; attractive chest and shoulders; and reddish lips, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1125 mēvi eppālum viṇṇōr vaṇaṅga * vedam uraippar munnīr maḍandai
dēvi * appāl adir saṅgam ippāl cakkaram * maṭṛivar vaṇṇam eṇṇil **
kāvi oppār kaḍalēyum oppār * kaṇṇum vaḍivum neḍiyarāy * en
āvi oppār ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“Being surrounded and worshipped by His eternal associates, He chants Vedic hymns; the ocean-born Lakṣmī is by His side; the resounding conch is on His left hand; the disc is on His right hand; His body hue resembles the ironwood flower or the dark ocean; His eyes are very charming and in total He is my life. When I asked who is He, He replied, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1126 tañjam ivarkku en vaḷaiyum nillā * neñjamum tammadē - sindittēṛku *
vañji maruṅgul neruṅga nōkki * vāy tiṛandu onṛu paṇittadu uṇḍu **
nañjamuḍaittu ivar nōkkum nōkkam * nān ivar tammai aṛiya māṭṭēn *
añjuvan maṭṛu ivarār kol? enna * aṭṭabuyakarattēn enṛārē
“My bangles want to leave my hands and belong to Him; in fact, my heart too is owned by Him; He looked at my slim waist and uttered something, opening His red lips; His look takes away my life like poison. I am unable to understand Him and afraid to ask who He is. On his own, He said, ‘I am Aṣṭabhuja!”
1127 * mannavan toṇḍaiyar kōn vaṇaṅgum * nīḷmuḍi mālai vayira mēgan *
tan vali tan pugaḻ sūḻnda kacci * aṭṭabuyakarattu ādi tannai **
kanninan māmadiḷ maṅgai vēndan * kāmarusīrk kalikanṛi * kunṛā
innisaiyāl sonna señjol mālai * ētta vallārkku iḍam vaikuṇṭhamē
“Those who can worship the Lord with these melodious songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who is the chief of those in Tirumaṅgai which is protected by eternal, huge ramparts, and possesses desirable qualities—about the Supreme Lord who is decorated with a long garland and was worshipped by the king of the country of Thoṇḍai and who is present as Aṣṭabhuja of Śrī Ādi Keśava Perumāḷ temple in Kanchipuram where the might and fame of the king called Vairamēgan were well known—will attain Vaikuṇṭha.”
[1] Tripura: Maya Dānava, the great leader of the demons, prepared three invisible residences and gave them to the demons. These dwellings resembled airplanes made of gold, silver, and iron, and they contained uncommon paraphernalia. Because of these three dwellings, the commanders of the demons remained invisible to the demigods. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the demons, remembering their former enmity, began to vanquish the three worlds — the upper, middle, and lower planetary systems.
Aṣṭabhuja: The principal deity of Śrī Ādi Keśava Perumāḷ temple in Kānchipuram, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
[2] The Itihāsas: Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyaṇa
Kalpasūtras: Speak about the methodology to observe the karmas mentioned in the Vedas
Vyākaraṇa: Grammar
Mīmāṁsā: Commentary on Vedas
1128 * solluvan soṛporuḷ tānavaiyāyc * cuvai ūṛu oli nāṭṛamum - tōṭṛamumāy *
nallaran nāraṇan nānmuganukku * iḍandān taḍam sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
pallavan villavan enṛu ulagil * palarāyp pala vēndar vaṇaṅgu kaḻal
pallavan * mallaiyar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the Lord—who is the material sound and the Vedic sound and their substance; who is also the five objects of knowledge-acquiring senses namely taste, touch, sound, smell, and form; who conducts the activities of the material world as Śiva (controller of the mode of ignorance) and as the soul of Brahmā—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram surrounded by lakes and built by the Pallava king, ruler of Mallāpuri, who was hailed as ‘The Pallavan,’ ‘The Villavan (the expert archer)’ and by many more titles by the kings under his control.”[1]
1129 kārmannu nīḷ visumbum * kaḍalum suḍarum nilanum malaiyum * tan undit
tārmannu tāmaraik kaṇṇaniḍam * taḍa māmadiḷ sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
tērmannu tennavanai munaiyil seruvil * tiṛal vāṭṭiya tiṇ silaiyōn *
pārmannu pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the Lord Puṇḍarīkākṣa—from whose navel lotus the sky with the clouds, the oceans, the luminants like the sun and the moon, the earth, and the huge mountains were created—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram surrounded by lakes and huge ramparts and built by the expert archer, the Pallava king (Parameśvara Varman) who lived for a long time and defeated the Pāṇḍiya king who also was an expert archer and an expert chariot conductor.”
1130 * urantaru mellaṇaip paḷḷi koṇḍān * orukāl munnam mā uruvāyk kaḍaluḷ *
varantaru māmaṇi vaṇṇaniḍam * maṇi māḍaṅgaḷ sūḻndu aḻagāya – kacci **
nirandavar maṇṇaiyil puṇṇugar vēl * neḍuvāyil ugac ceruvil muna nāḷ *
parandavan pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who reclined on the soft bed of the powerful Śeṣa Nāga in the Ocean of Milk, and who is blue sapphire gemstone-hued—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram full of palaces decorated by gemstones and built by the Pallava king who fought valiantly on the battlefield and killed with his murderous lance the kings of Maṇṇai city.”
1131 aṇḍamum eṇtisaiyum nilanum * malai nīroḍu vān erikāl mudalā *
uṇḍavan endai pirānadu iḍam * oḷi māḍaṅgaḷ sūḻndu aḻagāya – kacci **
viṇḍavar iṇḍaik kuḻāmuḍanē * viraindār iriyac seruvil munindu *
paṇḍu orukāl vaḷaittān paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who swallowed the planetary systems including the eight directions, the earth, the oceans, the sky, Agni, Vāyu, and many more—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram full of elegant palaces and built by the Pallava king who fought valiantly with his bow on the battlefield and made the enemies run helter-skelter with their armies.”
1132 tūmbuḍait tiṇkai van tāḷ kaḷiṭṛin * tuyar tīrttu aravam veruva * - muna nāḷ
pūmpunal poygai pukkān avanukku * iḍandān taḍam sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
tēmpoḻil kunṛeyil tennavanait * tisaippac ceru mēl viyandu – anṛu senṛa *
pāmbuḍaip pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who relieved the distress of the mighty elephant king; who jumped into the lake and challenged the serpent Kālīya—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram surrounded by lakes and built by the Pallava king who has the snake emblem on his flag and who vanquished the king of Pāṇḍiya kingdom which is full of fragrant groves and mountain-like ramparts.”
1133 tiṇ paḍaik kōḷariyin uruvāyt * tiṛalōn agalam seruvil muna nāḷ *
puṇ paḍap pōḻnda pirānadu iḍam * poru māḍaṅgaḷ sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
veṇkuḍai nīḻal seṅgōl naḍappa * viḍai velkoḍi vēṛpaḍai mun uyartta *
paṇbuḍaip pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who appeared as the incredible Nṛsiṁhadeva and split the chest of the mighty Hiraṇyakaśipu with His nails—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram full of elegant palaces and built by the Pallava king who follows dharma and executes justice; who has the snake emblem on his victorious flag and a spear as his weapon.”
1134 ilagiya nīḷmuḍi māvali tan peru vēḷviyil * māṇ uruvāy muna nāḷ *
calamoḍu mānilam koṇḍavanukku * iḍandān taḍam sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
ulaguḍai mannavan tennavanaik * kanni māmadiḷ sūḻ karuvūr veruva *
pala paḍai sāya venṛān paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who went as Vāmana to the sacrifice of the valiant king Bali and obtained the planetary systems as a charity by deception—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram surrounded by lakes and built by the Pallava king who defeated the powerful Pāṇḍiya king, wiped off his huge army, and conquered the city of Karuvūr protected by strong and huge walls.”[2]
1135 kuḍait tiṛal mannavanāy orukāl * kuraṅgaip paḍaiyā * malaiyāl kaḍalai
aḍaittavan endai pirānadu iḍam * maṇi māḍaṅgaḷ sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
viḍait tiṛal villavan nenmeliyil * veruvac ceruvēl valaṅgaip piḍitta *
paḍait tiṛal pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who appeared as the son of the victorious emperor (Daśaratha); who went with an army of monkeys and built a bridge of rocks and mountain peaks (to cross the ocean)—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram full of palaces decorated by gemstones and built by the Pallava king who is an expert in handling all weapons; wields a spear in his right hand, and drubbed the king Villavan of Nenmeli who was powerful like a bull.”
1136 piṛaiyuḍai vāṇudal pinnai tiṛattu * munnē orukāl seruvil urumin *
maṛaiyuḍai mālviḍai ēḻ aḍarttāṛku * iḍandān taḍam sūḻndu – aḻagāya kacci **
kaṛaiyuḍai vāḷ maṛa mannar keḍak * kaḍal pōl muḻaṅgum kural kaḍuvāy *
paṛaiyuḍaip pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura viṇṇagaram – aduvē
“The abode of the merciful Lord—who tamed seven demoniac bulls to claim the hand of Nappinnai whose forehead was as bright as the crescent moon—is the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple in the beautiful Kāncipuram surrounded by lakes and built by the Pallava king who has a war drum which reverberates like a thunderous ocean and who annihilated the enemy kings who were envious and wielded murderous swords.”
1137 * pārmannu tol pugaḻp pallavar kōn paṇinda * paramēccura - viṇṇagar mēl *
kārmannu nīḷ vayal maṅgaiyar tam talaivan * kalikanṛi kunṛādu – uraitta **
sīrmannu centamiḻ mālai vallār * tirumāmagaḷ tan aruḷāl * ulagil
tēr mannarāy oli mākaḍal sūḻ * ceḻunīr ulagāṇḍu tigaḻvarhaḷē
“Those who can recite these sweet Tamiḻ songs, devoid of any grammatical mistakes, rendered by Kaliyan (Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār)—who is the chief of those in Tirumaṅgai which has very fertile lands—about the Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple built by the Pallava king who attained eternal fame will, by the mercy of Mother Lakṣmī, become mahārata kings and rule a prosperous world.”
[1] Parameśvara Viṇṇagaram temple: Divya Dēsam in Kānchipuram, Tamiḻ Nāḍu; also known as Śrī Vaikuṇṭha Perumāḷ Temple. This temple was built by Parameśvara Varman (also known as Vairamēgan), the son of Rājā Pallava Siṁhan.
[2] City of Karuvūr: The present day Karūr near Trichy, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
1138 * mañjāḍu varai ēḻum kaḍalgaḷ ēḻum * vānagamum maṇṇagamum maṭṛum ellām *
eñjāmal vayiṭṛu aḍakki ālin mēl ōr * iḷantaḷiril kaṇ vaḷarnda īśan tannai **
tuñjā nīr vaḷam surakkum peṇṇait tenpāl * tūya nānmaṛaiyāḷar sōmuc ceyya *
señjāli viḷaivayaluḷ tigaḻndu tōnṛum * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who swallowed the seven tall mountains, the seven seas, the heaven, and the other celestial planets, the earth, and all other objects to protect them (from pralaya) and performed yoga-nidrā on a tender banyan leaf—in Tirukkōvilūr, situated on the southern bank of the perennial Peṇṇai river, where without expecting any benefit the priests well-versed in the Vedas perform soma-yajña and because of which the fields yield a bumper harvest of paddy.”[1]
1139 kondalarnda naṛuntuḻāy sāndam dūpam * dīpam koṇḍu amarar toḻap paṇaṅgoḷ pāmbil
* sandaṇi menmulai malarāḷ taraṇi maṅgai * tām iruvar aḍi varuḍum tanmaiyānai **
vandanai seydu isaiyēḻ āṛaṅgam * aindu vaḷar vēḷvi nānmaṛaihaḷ mūnṛu tīyum *
sindanai seydu irupoḻudum onṛum * selvat tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who is reclining on Śeṣa Nāga and is worshipped by the demigods with fresh, fragrant tulasī leaves, sandalwood paste, incense, and lamp; and whose lotus feet are gently massaged by Lakṣmī-devī with sandalwood paste smeared tender breasts and Bhū-devī—in Tirukkōvilūr where brāhmaṇas worship Him with sapta svaras, six aṅgas, pañca-mahā-yajña, and three agnis, and by chanting the Vedas twice a day.”
1140 koḻundalarum malarc cōlaik kuḻāṅgoḷ poygaik * kōḷ mudalai vāḷ eyiṭṛuk koṇḍaṛku eḷgi *
aḻundiya mākaḷiṭṛinukku anṛu āḻi ēndi * andarammē varat tōnṛi aruḷ seydānai **
eḻunda malark karunīlam irundil kāṭṭa * irumpunnai muttarumbic cempon kāṭṭa *
seḻuntaḍa nīrkkamalam tīvigai pōl kāṭṭum * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who appeared quickly on the bank of the lake, surrounded by groves full of fragrant flowers, to relieve the distress of the exhausted king elephant whose leg was caught by the crocodile with sword-like teeth—in Tirukkōvilūr which resembled the workshop of a goldsmith (where his various paraphernalia are found all around) with the dark blue lily flowers looking like the coal, the flower buds on the large mastwood trees the pearls, and the flowers like gold, and the lotus in the lakes bright as the lamps.”
1141 tāṅgarumpōr māli paḍap paṛavai ūrndu * tarātalattōr kuṛai muḍitta tanmaiyānai *
āṅgu arumbik kaṇṇīr sōrndu anbu kūrum * aḍiyavarhaṭku āramudam ānān tannai **
kōṅgkarumbu sura punnai kuravār sōlaik * kuḻāvari vaṇḍu isai pāḍum pāḍal kēṭṭu *
tīṅgkarumbu kaṇvaḷarum kaḻani sūḻnda * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who is praised for having killed the valiant fighter, the demon Māli, and put an end to the miseries caused by him to the earthly people; who was like the ambrosia for His pure devotees who engage in His devotional service in great ecstasy[2]—in Tirukkōvilūr, where in its multitude of groves, full of Malabār silk-cotton trees in full bloom, red cotton trees, and wild lime trees, droves of bumble bees keep humming; (hearing this melodious humming) and the sweet sugarcane stalks in the fields grow one node taller.”
1142 kaṛai vaḷar vēl karan mudalāk kavandan vāli * kaṇai onṛināl maḍiya ilaṅgai tannuḷ *
piṛai eyiṭṛu vāḷ arakkar sēnai ellām * peruntagaiyōḍu uḍan tuṇitta pemmān tannai **
maṛai vaḷarap pugaḻ vaḷara māḍantōṛum * maṇḍapam oṇtoḷi anaittum vāram ōda *
siṛai aṇainda poḻil aṇainda tenṛal vīsum * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who eliminated Rākṣasas like Karan, wielding a bloody spear, and Kabandha; Vāli by a single arrow; and in Laṅkā, the entire army of Rākṣasas, who had crescent-shaped feline teeth and swords, including their king Rāvaṇa—in Tirukkōvilūr, where in every house Vedic hymns are chanted, creating a pious atmosphere, the students learn the Vedas in all the public shelters built on the clean streets, and a pleasant wind blows carrying the fragrance from the groves and the coolness from the lakes.”
1143 uṛiyārnda naṛuveṇṇey oḷiyāl senṛu * aṅgu uṇḍānaik kaṇḍu āycci uralōḍu ārkka *
taṛiyārnda karuṅgaḷiṛē pōla ninṛu * taḍaṅgkaṇgaḷ pani malgum tanmaiyānai **
veṛiyārnda malarmagaḷ nāmaṅgaiyōḍu * viyan kalai eṇtōḷināḷ viḷaṅgu * selvac
ceṛiyārnda maṇimāḍam tigaḻndu tōnṛum * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who was caught by Mother Yaśodā when He was gobbling fragrant butter, stored in pots and hung by rope hangars, in the dark attic which was illuminated by His smile and the jewels He was wearing; when He was bound to a wooden mortar, like a calf elephant chained to a pillar, His large eyes brimmed with tears—accompanied by Lakṣmī-devī, born of a fragrant lotus, Saraswatī, and Durgā who has eight arms and is carried by a lovely deer in Tirukkōvilūr, which is very opulent and full of palaces decorated by gemstones.”
1144 iruṅgaimmā kari munindu pariyaik kīṛi * ina viḍaigaḷ ēḻaḍarttu marudam sāyttu *
varum śakaṭam iṛa udaittu mallai aṭṭu * vañjam sey kañjanukku nañju ānānai **
karuṅgkamugu pasumpāḷai veṇmuttu īnṛu * kāy ellām maragadamāyp pavaḷam kāṭṭa *
serunti miha moṭṭu alarttum tēnkoḷ sōlait * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who broke the tusk and killed the demoniac elephant, split the mouth of the horse demon, tamed the seven demoniac bulls, kicked and scattered the cartwheel demon, killed the wrestlers, and became the poison for the evil Kaṁsa and eliminated him—in Tirukkōvilūr, where the green pods of the betel nut trees display white nuts like pearls, the fresh fruits from them resemble emerald gemstones, and the nuts inside resemble corals; the red cotton trees are full of buds, and the groves are in full blossom.”
1145 * pārēṛu perum bāram tīrap * paṇḍu bhāradattut tūdu iyaṅgi * pārttan selvat
tērēṛu sārathiiyāy edirndār sēnai * seruk kaḷattut tiṛal aḻiyac ceṭṛān tannai **
pōrēṛu onṛu uḍaiyānum aḷagaik kōnum * purandaranum nānmuganum porundum ūr pōl *
sīrēṛu maṛaiyāḷar niṛainda selvat * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who orchestrated the Mahābhārata war to reduce the burden of the earth, went as the messenger of the Pāṇḍavas, became the chariot driver of Arjuna, and guided him to annihilate the enemies in great numbers—in Tirukkōvilūr, where Śiva riding a bull, Kubera, Indra, and Brahmā gather, and the residence of many Vedic scholars.”
1146 tūvaḍivin pārmagaḷ pūmaṅgaiyōḍu * suḍar āḻi saṅgu irupāl polindu tōnṛa *
kāvaḍivin kaṛpagamē pōla ninṛu * kalandavargaṭku aruḷ puriyum karuttinānai **
sēvaḍi kai tiruvāy kaṇ sivanda āḍai * sempon sey tiru uruvam ānān tannai *
tīvaḍivin sivan ayanē pōlvār mannu * tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn nānē
“I worshipped the Lord—who, accompanied by Lakṣmī-devī and Bhū-devī, wielding the conch and the disc in two hands, stands like a wish-fulfilling tree with the desire to bless His devotees; whose body is of golden hue, the lotus feet, hands, lotus mouth, lotus eyes, and even His silk robe are red;—in Tirukkōvilūr, where many great devotees like Śiva in the form of jyotī, and Brahmā have gathered to worship Lord’s incredible form.”
1147 * vāraṇam koḷ iḍar kaḍinda mālai * nīla maradagattai maḻai mugilē pōlvān tannai *
sīraṇaṅgu maṛaiyāḷar niṛainda * selvat tirukkōvalūr adanuḷ kaṇḍēn enṛu **
vāraṇaṅgu mulai maḍavār maṅgai vēndan * vāḷ kaliyan oli aindum aindum vallār *
kāraṇaṅgaḷāl ulagam kalandu aṅgu ēttak * karandu eṅgum parandānaik kāṇbar tāmē
“Those who can recite these ten songs rendered by Tirumaṅgaiyāḻvār—who wields a victorious sword and is the chief of Tirumaṅgai, the residence of many elegant ladies—about having worshipped Gōpāla, whose body hue resembles the dark blue water lily, dark green emerald stone, and the fresh rain cloud, in Tirukkōvilūr, which is the residence of many devotee scholars, will be blessed to worship the all-pervasive Lord who is worshipped by the people in the world to seek benedictions to fulfill their desires.”
[1] Tirukkōvilūr: Divya Dēsam in South Arcot district, Tamiḻ Nāḍu
Peṇṇai river: Also known as Dakṣiṇa Pinākinī in Kannaḍa and Thenpeṇṇai or Ponnaiyār or Peṇṇaiyār in Tamiḻ). Bangalore, Hōsur, Tiruvaṇṇāmalai, and Cuḍḍalore are the important cities on the banks of South Peṇṇār river. This is the second longest river in Tamiḻ Nāḍu, with a length of 497km, after the Kāverī.
Soma-yajña: Performed to appease celestial entities to promote the well-being of all humanity based on methods described in the Vedas. Soma is used as the main offering in this yajña, hence the name soma-yajña. The Soma plant, the king of medicinal herbs, is said to be relished by the celestials.
[2] Demon Māli: Mali along with his two brothers, Sumāli and Mālyavān lived in Laṅkā. He was killed by Lord Viṣṇu.