Abhirami Anthadhi (end-start poem)

By

Abhirama Bhattar

Translated into verse

P.R.Ramachander

Transliteration in to English

Vasanthi Ramesh

Abhirami is the Goddess of Thirukadayur near MayiladuThurai town of Tamil Nadu. The Lord Shiva who presides over the temple is called Amritha Gateswarar. It is believed that while transporting the Nectar (Amritha) which they got by churning the ocean of milk, the Devas kept a pot of Amritha in Thirukadayur.This pot became one with the land and became the siva linga. It is also believed that it is at this temple that the Sage Markandeya prayed Lord Shiva and could avoid death forever.

Abhirami means “She who is attractive every moment of time”. This goddess is believed to be extremely powerful and fulfills the wishes of all her devotees. One of her great devotees of the past was Abhirama Bhattar. He was so much her devotee that he never used to think of any other thing except her. This made him look like a mad man. People even suspected him of practicing evil rites. One day Raja Serfoji, the Mahratta king who was ruling over Tanjore visited the temple. The Archakas told him about Abhirama Bhattar. The king while returning to the palace casually asked Abhirama Bhattar the Thithi. Abhirama Bhattar who was at the time seeing the Goddess in his reverie, answered that it was Pournami (Full moon). Raja went his way. But actually the day was Amavasya (New moon). Bhattar realized his mistake soon and felt extremely sorry. He then set up 100 rope hangings and hung in them. Below he created a huge fire. He prayed Goddess Abhirami to prove that he is right. This he did by singing 100 stanzas in praise of Abhirami.As soon as one stanza was completed one rope was cut. He also composed the stanzas in such a way that the first word of a stanza was the last word of previous stanza (this style of poem is called Anthadhi meaning end-start).It is believed that when he completed the 79^th stanza, the Goddess appeared before him and reassured him that she will do the needful. She took her Thadanga (a diamond ornament) and threw it in the sky where it stood. This was so sparkling that it appeared like a full moon. The Goddess also ordered Abhirama Bhattar to complete his poem. He continued and ended with 100 stanzas. Raja Serfoji realized how great Abhirama Bhattar was and honoured him.

Each stanza of the poem Abhirami Andhathi is a gem of poetry in itself. The language is not the spoken Tamil and this was further complicated by the fact that the first word of the next stanza should be the last word of the previous stanza, making the thought process of the stanza entwined.

An attempt has been made here to translate Abhirami Andhathi in to free verse and following the rules of Andhathi.In other words, it would be Abhirami End-start poem.

The meaning and import of the stanzas composed by Abhirama Bhattar are retained in English too. I hope you would enjoy this attempt. Not being a great poet either in Tamil or English, I believe that there are likely to be errors and shortcomings. I beseech you to pardon me for those.

thaar amar konRaiyum chaNbaka maalaiyum chaaththum thillai
Urardham baakaththu umai mainthanE!-ulaku Ezhum peRRa
cheer abiraami anthaathi eppOthum endhan sinthaiyuLLE-
kaar amar MEnik kaNapathiYE!-niRkak katturaiYE. --- kaappu

Oh black coloured Ganapathi.

Who is the son of the Lord of Chidambara,

Adorned by the red iris and perfumed Champaka flowers,

And my goddess Uma,

Who shares half her Lord’s body,

Please grant me, my desire,

That this song whose one verse begins,

With the last word of the previous one,

Praising my mother Abhirami,

Who created all the seven worlds,

Should remain in my mind forever.

uthikkinRa chenkathir, uchchith thilakam, uNarvudaiyOr
madhikkinRa maaNikka, maathuLampOthu, malarkkamalai
thuthikkinRa min kodi, men kadik kunkuma thOyam-enna
vidhikkinRa mEni abiraami, enthan vizhuth thuNaiyE:

She who has the reddish sun as a tilaka,

She who is the red gem for those who understand her and worship,

She who is like the tender bud of pomegranate,

She who is the first ray of lightning,

She who is the reddish liquid made of saffron,

She who is like the Lakshmi sitting on red lotus,

She only is my life’s all help.

thuNaiyum, thozhum theyvamum peRRa thaayum, suruthikaLin
paNaiyum kozhunthum pathikoNda vErum-pani malarppoong
kaNaiyum, karuppuch chilaiyum, men paasaankusamum, kaiyil
aNaiyum thiripura sundhari-aavathu aRinthanamE.

Help thine is needed from thee,

Oh, most beautiful one in the three cities,

Who has the cool flowers as her arrows,

Who uses the sweet cane for her bow,

And who has the rope and the ankusha in her hand,

To know that you are in the Vedas,

And in its different branches,

And as holy drops in Upanishads,

And as Pranava in its roots,.

And Oh mother, make me realize.

aRinthEn, evarum aRiyaa maRaiyai; aRinthukoNdu
cheRinthEn, ninadhu thiruvadikkE;- thiruvE!- veruvip
piRinthEn, nin anpar perumai eNNaatha karuma nenchaan,
maRinthE vizhum narakukku uRavaaya manidharaiyE

Realized I have, Oh mother Abhirami,

Of the meaning of Vedas, which no one knows,

And that you shower the wealth of your grace,

On those who worship at your feet.

Those who do not understand,

The greatness of devotees thine,

And fall from hell to hell,

Parted company, I have from those men.

manidharum, thEvarum, maayaa munivarum, vandhu, chenni
kunidharum chEvadik kOmaLamE! konRai vaarsadaimEl
panidharum thinkaLum, paampum, bakeeradhium padaiththa
punidharum neeyum en pundhi enNnNaaLum porundhukavE.

Men, immortal sages and devas,

Bow down at your feet, Oh beautiful one,

You and he,

The holy one who wears the garland of iris,

Who has the coolest moon on his head,

And the snake and the river,

Should always my mind occupy.

porundhiya muppurai, cheppu uraicheyyum puNar mulaiyaaL,
varundhiya vanchi marunkul manOnmaNi, vaar chadaiyOn
arundhiya nanchu amudhu aakkiya ambikai, ambuyamEl
thirundhiya sundhari, andhari-paadham en chenniyathE

Occupy you did, those three great cities,

Oh you, whose tender waist cries

Because it carries thine two breasts,

Which are like the saffron pot,

Oh you, who made the poison taken by Siva into nectar great,

Oh you more beautiful than the great lotus dear,

Oh most beautiful one of all the world,

Keep thine two holy feet my mother, on my head.

chenniyathu, un pon thiruvadith thaamarai! chindhaiyuLLE
manniyathu, un thiru manthiram;- chindhura vaNNap peNNE!-
munniyanNin adiyaarudan koodi, muRai muRaiyE
panniyadhu, enRum unthan paramaakama paththathiyE

Head of mine is below your lotus like feet,

Heart of mine forever is full of manthras praising you,

Oh red colured pretty one,

Think and discuss I always,

With thine devotees great,

Verses singing thine praise and thine agamas and rules.

thathiyuRu maththin chuzhalum en aavi, thaLarvu ilathu Or
kadhiyuRuvaNNam karudhu kaNdaay-kamalaalayanum,
madhiyuRuvENi makizhnNanum, maalum, vaNanki, enRum
thuthiyuRu chEvadiyaay! chinthuraanana sundhariyE

Ruling my life, you always have,

Churn it like curd,

Birth after birth,

In miseries great,

And take me to salvation great,

Oh, you who has reddish feet,

Who is forever worshipped,

By the four faced Lord, doing his creation nonstop,

By the great Lord Vishnu, doing the upkeep,

And by thine Lord Chandrasekara doing

His job of destruction great,

Oh, mother mine with reddish dot,

Who is always pretty and winsome.

sundhari endhai thuNaivi, en paachaththodarai ellaam
vandhu ari chindhura vaNNaththinaaL, makidan thalaimEl
andhari, neeli, azhiyaadha kannikai, aaraNaththOn
kam thari kaiththalaththaaL-malarththaaL en karuththanavE

Winsome goddess who is the consort of my Lord,

Who can cut all attachments of mine forever,

Who is the most pretty red coloured one,

Who killed Mahisha that great ogre of yore,

And danced on his head,

Who is a forever a lass,

Who holds the skull of Brhama in her hand,

Let your feet never fade away from my thoughts.

: karuththana endhaithan kaNNana, vaNNak kanakaveRpin
peruththana, paal azhum piLLaikku nalkina, pEr aruLkoor
thiruththana paaramum; aaramum, chenkaich chilaiyum, ambum,
muruththana mooralum, neeyum, ammE! vandhu enmun niRkavE

Thoughts of the Lord, you ever occupy,

You who is like the ever-shining golden lamp ready to give light,

And are ready to give milk, to the crying child,

From your ever beautiful breasts,

Please come, you who wears the necklace of pearl in your neck,

You who hold the bow made of flowers in your hand,

And you who has white teeth like the base of peacocks feather,

And my mother come before me and stand.

ninRum irunthum kidandhum nadandhum ninaippathu unnai;
enRum vaNankuvadhu un malarth thaaL!-ezhuthaamaRaiyin
onRum arumporuLE! aruLE! umaiyE! imayaththu
anRum piRanthavaLE! azhiyaa muththi aanandhamE

Standing, sitting, lying and walking,

I think and worship your lotus like feet,

Oh grace giving Uma, who is the ultimate aim of unwritten Vedas,

And who appeared in the foothills of Himalayas,

You give us all the perennial redemption,

And are of the form of everlasting happiness

aanandhamaay, en aRivaay, niRaintha amudhamumaay,
vaan andhamaana vadivu udaiyaaL, maRai naankinukkum
thaan andhamaana, charaNaaravindham-thavaLa niRak
kaanam tham aadaranku aam embiraan mudik kaNNiathE

Happiness is your feet,

Wisdom is your feet,

Fully filled nectar is your feet,

Your feet is of the form of endless horizon,

Your feet is the ultimate aim of the four Vedas,

Oh, mother Abhirami,

The Lord who dances in ash,

Keeps his head on your feet and feels it apt.

kaNNiyathu un pukaz, kaRpathu un naamam, kachindhu pakthi
paNNiyathu un iru paadhaampuyaththil, pakal iravaa
naNNiyathu unnai nayanthOr avaiyaththu-naan muNnceytha
puNNiyam Ethu? en ammE! puvi Ezhaiyum pooththavaLE!

Apt to my thought is your fame,

Apt to my daily learning is your name,

Apt to my devotion is your two lotus like feet,

Apt to my participation, day and night is the meeting of your devotees,

What good deeds I did in previous birth to attain,

This glorious state, oh mother,

Who like a child’s play,

These Seven worlds, created she.

: pooththavaLE, puvanam pathinaankaiyum! pooththavaNNam
kaaththavaLE! pin karanthavaLE! kaRaikkaNdanukku
mooththavaLE! enRummoovaa mukunthaRku iLaiyavaLE!
maaththavaLE! unnai anRi maRRu Or theyvam vandhippathE?

She who creates these fourteen worlds,

Takes care of them forever

And destroys them at the time of deluge,

For she is greater than Siva who holds the poison in his neck,

For she is the sister of Vishnu who looks after the worlds,

And she has done great penance,

So except you my goddess,

Will I another salute.

vandhippavar unnai, vaanavar thaanavar aanavarhaL;
chindhippavar, nalthichaimukaa naaraNar; chindhaiyuLLE
pandhippavar, azhiyaap paramaanandhar; paaril unnaich
chandhippavarkku eLithaam empiraatti! nin thaNNaLiyE

Saluted by the asuras and devas you are,

Meditated you are by Vishnu and Brahma,

Always keeps you in his mind the great Lord Shiva

But in this earth, Oh mother Abhirami,

The devotes easily get your grace.

: thaNNaLikku enRu, munnE pala kOdi thavankaL cheyvaar,
maN aLikkum chelvamO peRuvaar? madhi vaanavar tham
viN aLikkum chelvamum azhiyaa muththi veedum, anRO?-
paN aLikkum chol parimaLa yaamaLaip painkiLiyE!

Your grace to get, they did penance,

Billions of years in several births,

And they got not only all the wealth this earth can give,

But also got the pleasures of the land of gods,

And the ultimate happiness,

Only few can get,

Oh Mother who talks better than the best poems,

You have the heavenly beauty of the greenest parrot.

kiLiyE, kiLaiNYar manaththE kidanthu kiLarnthu oLirum
oLiyE, oLirum oLikku idamE, eNNil onRum illaa
veLiyE, veLi mudhal poodhankaL aaki virindha ammE!-
aLiyEn aRivu aLaviRku aLavaanadhu adhichayamE.

Parrot you are oh mother,

Light in the hearts of your devotees, you are,

The source of all light you are,

Limitless empty space you are,

And Mother you are, who looks to us, as nature great,

Limitless you are chained in my limited mind,

Is this not a great wonder.

adhichayam aana vadivu udaiyaaL, aravindham ellaam
thudhi chaya aanana sundharavalli, thuNai irathi
pathi chayamaanathu apachayam aaka, mun paarththavardham
mathi chayam aaka anRO, vaama paakaththai vavviyathE?

Wonderful is your look,

Oh Goddess Sundaravalli

The entire lotus in this world,

Were beaten hollow by your beautiful face.

Did you show to the world thine victory,

Over the Lord Shiva who made to ash,

The god of love Manmatha,

Who is the sweetheart of Rathi,

By thine playful action

And you his left side occupy.

vavviya paakaththu iRaivarum neeyum makizhnNthirukkum
chevviyum, unkaL thirumaNak kOlamum, chindhaiyuLLE
avviyam theerththu ennai aaNdapoR paadhamum aakivandhu-
vevviya kaalan enmEl varumpOthu-veLi niRkavE!

Occupation of the left side,

Of the great Shiva,

And your life of endless happiness with the Lord,

And your look of a blushing bride,

With Him on your wedding day.

Should be my solace and help,

When the Lord of death comes to my bed,

For you will console me and appear.

veLinNinRa niNndhirumEniyaip paarththu, en vizhiyum nenchum
kaLinNinRa veLLam karaikaNdadhu; illai; karuththinuLLE
theLinNinRa NYaanam thikazhkinRathu; enna thiruvuLamO?-
oLinNinRa kONankaL onpathum mEvi uRaipavaLE!

Appearance yours is so pretty,

And caused happiness in me,

Which none can measure.,

And filled my mind with everlasting truth,

What greatness, did you find in me,

Oh mother who in the nine directions exist.

uRaikinRa nin thirukkOyil-nin kELvar oru pakkamO,
aRaikinRa naan maRaiyin adiyO mudiyO, amudham
niRaikinRa veN thinkaLO, kanchamO; enthan nenchakamO,
maRaikinRa vaarithiyO?- pooraNaachala mangalaiyE!

Exist do you not, oh goddess mine,

In the left side of the Shiva the great,

Or is it in the beginning of Vedas that Brahma recites,

Or is it in the end of Vedas, our great holy book,

Or is it in the nectar drenched by the full moon at night,

Or is it in the sea of milk where Indra’s wealth disappeared,

Or is it in the mind of this lowly devotee,

Be pleased to tell, Oh everlasting goodness.

mankalai, chenkalasammulaiyaaL, malaiyaaL, varuNach
chanku alai chenkaich chakala kalaamayil thaavu kankai
pongu alai thankum purichadaiyOn pudaiyaaL, udaiyaaL
pinkalai, neeli, cheyyaaL, veLiyaaL, pachum peNkodiyE.

Goodness and goodness alone,

You are, Mother mine

You are the holy married women forever.

You have breasts like the reddish pots,

You wear white conch bangles in your pretty hands,

You are the most accomplished in all the arts,

You share the left part of the God, who wears the Ganga,

You are of the colour of pure gold,

You are the colour of beautiful black,

And you are also of the pretty red colour of the sun,

Oh pretty one who is as tender as a creeper.

kodiyE, iLavanchik kombE, enakku vambE pazhuththa
padiyE maRaiyin parimaLamE, pani maal imayap
pidiyE, piraman mudhalaaya thEvaraip peRRa ammE!
adiyEn iRanthu inku inip piRavaamal vandhu aandu koLLE

Creeper of tender Vanchi plant,

The karpaga tree on to which the creeper climbed,

You who have become ripe to make me realize,

You who have the heady incense of the four holy Vedas,

You who are the doe playing on the Himalayas,

You who are the mother of all Gods like Brahma,

Give me boon to die and never be born,

And me part of yours make.

koLLEn, manaththil nin kOlam allaathu; anbar koottanthannai
viLLEn; parachamayam virumbEn; viyan moovulakukku
uLLE, anaiththinukkum puRambE, uLLaththE viLaintha
kaLLE, kaLikkunkaLiyE, aLiya en kaNmaNiyE!

Make not I, anything else,

As a part of my mind,

Except thee, my mother,

Nor will I part crowd of devotes thine,

And nor will I adopt any other truth except thee,

Oh Goddess, who is wide and full in all the three worlds,

And also spread beyond those worlds,

You who appear before me as honey,

And you, who are the pleasure of drinking honey,

You are in my eye like a pearl.

maNiyE, maNiyin oLiyE, oLirum maNi punaintha
aNiyE, aNiyum aNikku azhakE, aNukaathavarkkup
piNiyE, piNikku marunthE, amarar peru virundhE!-
paNiyEn, oruvarai nin pathma paadham paNinthapinnE.

Pearl like you are,

You who are the reddish aura of the pearl

You who are like the pearl studded chain,

You who adds beauty to the chain,

You who are pain to those who do not fall at your feet,

You who are the panacea for pains of those who fall at your feet,

You who are the nectar of Gods,

After worshipping at thine lotus feet,

Will I bow before any other,

Now and now after.

pinnE thirinthu, un adiyaaraip pENi, piRappu aRukka,
munnE thavankaL muyanRu koNdEn;- mudhal moovarukkum
annE! ulakukku abiraami ennum arumarunthE!-
ennE?-ini unnai yaan maRavaamal ninRu EththuvanE.

After your devotees I ran,

And got from them the boon of no birth,

Even in my previous birth,

Oh mother of the three great gods,

Oh Abhirami who is panacea of the worlds ills,

What do I need else,

If without fail, I thee worship.

Eththum adiyavar, eerEzh ulakinaiyum padaiththum
kaaththum azhiththum thiripavaraam;- kamazhpoonkadambu
chaaththum kuzhal aNangE!- maNam naaRum nin thaaLiNaikku en
naath thanku punmozhi ERiyavaaRu; nakaiyudaiththE.

Worshippers thine are those,

Who make these fourteen worlds,

Build, move and destroy,

Oh Abhirami, who wears the kadamba flowers,

On her holy hair,

It is your grace,

That makes you accept,

These words foolish mine,

About thine holy feet,

And happy my mind is made.

udaiththanai vanchap piRaviyai, uLLam urukum anbu
padaiththanai, pathma padhayukam choodum paNi enakkE
adaiththanai, nenchaththu azhukkaiyellaam nin arutpunalaal
thudaiththanai,- sundhari - nin aruL EthenRu cholluvathE

Made you, this sinner pure,

Placed in me a melting heart,

Gave me thine lotus like feet,

As an ornament of my head,

Removed from my heart all the dirt,

By thine stream of loving grace,

Oh, beautiful one,

Which grace of thine shall I sing?

chollum poruLum ena, nadam aadum thuNaivarudan
pullum parimaLap poongodiyE! nin pudhumalarth thaaL
allum pakalum thozhumavarkkE azhiyaa arasum
chellum thavanNeRiyum, chivalOkamum chiththikkumE

Singing with meaning thine friends do,

Oh mother, who is like a scented creeper,

You who merge in to thine devotee’s heart,

Who worship thee without break,

Is it not true?

That the reign without end, penance that gives peace,

And a place in the world of Shiva, they all will get.

chiththiyum chiththi tharum theyvam aakith thikazhum paraa
chakthiyum, chakthi thazhaikkum chivamum, thavam muyalvaar
muththiyum, muththikku viththum, viththu aaki muLaiththu ezhuntha
puththiyum, puththiyinuLLE purakkum puraththai anRE.

Getting of those powers great from her,

The Parashakthi who gives such powers,

That power which leads to the knowledge of Shiva,

The salvation that sages who do penance get,

The seed for such salvation,

The wisdom that comes from such seed,

All these thou art, my goddess who is in my wisdom, even then.

anRE thaduththu ennai aaNdukoNdaay; koNdathu alla eNnkai
nanRE unakku? ini naan en cheyinum nadukkadaluL
chenRE vizhinum, karaiyERRukai nin thiruvuLamO!-
onRE, pala uruvE, aruvE, en umaiyavaLE!

Then you showered your mercy and made me thine,

Oh my mother, is it proper for you Goddess mine,

To say that you didn’t.

Whatever I do to you from now on,

Even I fall in the mid sea, my mother,

It is for you to decide,

To save me or not to save,

You who are one,

You who are several,

You who are invisible, Oh Goddess Uma.

: umaiyum umaiyorupaakanum, Eka uruvil vandhu inku
emaiyum thamakku anbu cheyyavaiththaar; ini eNNuthaRkuch
chamaiyankaLum illai; eenReduppaaL oru thaayum illai;
amaiyum amaiyuRu thOLiyarmEl vaiththa aachaiyumE.

Uma and her lord, who keeps her in his left,

Came to me as one,

And ordered me to love them without fail.

Now on, I tell you all,

There are no religions to think,

And more than my mother dear,

And the pretty sweet heart mine, them I desire.

aachaik kadalil akappattu, aruLaRRa andhakan kaip
paachaththil allaRpada irunthEnai, nin paadham ennum
vaachak kamalam thalaimEl valiya vaiththu, aaNdu koNda
nEchaththai en cholluvEn?- eechar paakaththu nErizhaiyE!

Desire is the ocean, in which I am chained,

And would have been dragged by the Lord of Death,

Into the gory hell, to suffer forever,

But for thine graceful feet,

Kept by your will on my sinner’s head.

How shall I sing your grace,

Oh, my lord Siva’s consort,

Occupying his left, for your deed.

imaikkum vinaivazhiyE adum kaalan, enai nadunga
azhaikkum pozhuthu vandhu, 'anchal' enpaay! aththar chiththam ellaam
kuzhaikkum kaLapak kuvimulai yaamaLaik kOmaLamE!
uzhaikkum pozhuthu, unnaiyE annaiyE enpan OdivandhE

Deeds mine would lead me one day,

To make the God of death, call me and punish,.

And thou who art the beautiful young lass,

With firm pretty breasts, that attracts my lord,

Would say to me then, “fear not, oh my son”.

Then I will shout, “mother, oh my mother”,

And come to you with a running rush.

vandhE charaNam pukum adiyaarukku, vaanulakam
thanthE parivodu thaan pOy irukkum--chathurmukamum,
painN thEn alankal paru maNi aakamum, paakamum, poR
chenN thEn malarum, alar kathir NYaayiRum, thinkaLumE.

Rushing to you, your devotees come,

With a cry, ”you are our only protection, mother”

And then you give them, your own heavens to reside,

And would go and reside my mother Abhirami,

In the holy face of Brahma,

The heart of Vishnu wearing the garland of Kousthuba,

The left side of my Lord Shiva,

The beautiful lotus dripping honey,

The Sun with the harshest rays,

And in the pleasure giving moon.

thinkat pachuvin maNam naaRum cheeRadi chenni vaikka
enkatku oru thavam eythiyavaa, eN iRantha viNNOr--
thankatkum inthath thavam eythumO?- tharankak kadaluL
veNG kaN paNi aNaimEl thuyilkoorum vizhupporuLE!

Moon drenched perfumed feet thine,

You keep on the head of this poor devotee fine,

Though all the gods in all the heavens,

Beseech, beg and do penance great and get it not,

You who sleep on the ocean of milk,

Thou who are the eternal wealth.

poruLE, poruL mudikkum pOkamE, arum pOkam cheyyum
maruLE, maruLil varum theruLE, en manaththu vanchaththu
iruL Ethum inRi oLi veLi aaki irukkum uNnthan
aruL Ethu!- aRikinRilEn, ambuyaathanaththu ambikaiyE!

Wealth you are that is great,

The pleasure you are that the wealth gives us all,

The trance you are that the pleasure leads,

And the clarity you are at the end of the trance,

But I am not able to see and understand,

Thine ever-shining grace that is bright,

Which removes the darkness of ignorance from me,

Oh great Goddess with a golden hand.

kaikkE aNivathu kannalum poovum; kamalam anna
meykkE aNivathu veN muththumaalai; vida aravin
paikkE aNivathu paNmaNik kOlaiyum, pattum; ettuth
thikkE aNiyum thiru udaiyaanidam chErpavaLE!

Hands thine hold the bow of sweetest cane,

And the arrows made of flowers,

Draped thou art with chains of lovely white pearls,

Tied you have in thine snake like hips,

The belt made of gems,

Oh Goddess who is with my lord,

Who wears the eight sides as robe,

You wear silks of coral red.

pavaLak kodiyil pazhuththa chevvaayum, panimuRuval
thavaLath thiru nakaiyum thuNaiyaa, enkaL chankaranaith
thuvaLap poruthu, thudiyidai chaaykkum thuNai mulaiyaaL--
avaLaip paNimin kaNdeer, amaraavathi aaLukaikkE.

Coral red mouth of hers,

And pearl like teeth of hers,

That showers the ever-pretty smile,

Make our Lord weak in her love,

And so Worship of the Goddess with tiny hip that bends,

With her pretty heavy breasts,

Drives away your desire for heavens to rule.

aaLukaikku, uNnthan adiththaamaraikaL uNdu; andhakanpaal
meeLukaikku, uNnthan vizhiyin kadai uNdu; mEl ivaRRin
mooLukaikku, en kuRai, nin kuRaiyE anRu;-muppurankaL!
maaLukaikku, ambu thoduththa villaan, pankil vaaNuthalE!

Rule I can thine lotus like feet,

And to escape the God of death,

I can have sight of the edge of the eyes of yours,
And if the desire if I have,

For anything else other than these,
It is my defect and not thine,

Consort of the Lord,

Who burnt the three cities,

With a bow as big as mount Meru,

You on his left reside.

vaaL-nuthal kaNNiyai, viNNavar yaavarum vandhu iRainchip
pENuthaRku eNNiya emperumaattiyai, pEthai nenchil
kaaNuthaRku aNNiyaL allaatha kanniyai, kaaNum--anbu
pooNuthaRku eNNiya eNNam anRO, mun chey puNNiyamE

Resides in thine forehead a third eye,

Oh my mother , Abhirami,

All the Gods, to thine grace request and beg

And you can never be seen,

By the ignorant and the chaff,

Oh, mother Abhirami.

This desire in my mind to see you perhaps,

May be Result of my previous lives good deeds.

: puNNiyam cheythanamE-manamE!- pudhup pooNG kuvaLaik
kaNNiyum cheyya kaNavarum koodi, nam kaaraNaththaal
naNNi inkE vandhu tham adiyaarhaL nadu irukkap
paNNi, nam chenniyin mEl pathma paadham padhiththidavE.

Good deeds we did, Oh mind,

And so the flower eyed one,

With her husband dear

Has come hither in this crowd,

Of them who are their devotees,

And her holy feet on my head place.

idankoNdu vimmi, iNaikoNdu iRuki, iLaki, muththu
vadankoNda konkai-malaikoNda iRaivar valiya nenchai
nadankoNda koLkai nalam koNda naayaki, nal aravin
vadam koNda alkul paNimozhi--vEdhap paripuraiyE!

Placed in their neck those,

Pearl necklaces fine,

Keep thine towering pretty breasts,

Which are like the mountains high,

Attract and shake the heart of our God,

Oh pretty mother,

You who have an underbelly like the hooded snake,

Sweetest words to attract and conquer you have,

And wear Vedas as Anklets fine.

paripurach cheeRadip paachaankuchai, panchapaaNi, iNnchol
thiripura sundhari, chindhura mEniyaL theemai nenchil
purivara, vancharai anchak kuni poruppuchchilaik kai,
eri purai mEni, iRaivar chempaakaththu irunthavaLE

Anklets fine in thine tiny feet,

The Rope and Ankusa in thine pretty hands,

Those flowery arrows with thee,

And sweetest words fine,

Were all thine, Oh Mother Abhirami.

To kill the ogres of Tripura,

Who abused the lord in their crooked mind,

When he who is the colour of red,

Took the bow which is like a mountain high,

You on his left side lived.

thavaLE ivaL; enkaL sankaranaar manai mankalamaam
avaLE, avardhamakku annaiyum aayinaL; aakaiyinaal,
ivaLE kadavuLar yaavarkkum mElai iRaiviyum aam;
thuvaLEn; ini oru theyvam uNdaaka meyth thoNdu ceythE

Lived she as a consort to Sankara our Lord,

And also was she his mother holy,

And so she is the greatest goddess known,

Waste I will not this my life,

And never would I try,

Any other goddess to serve.

thoNdu cheyyaathunNin paadham thozhaathu, thuNinthu ichchaiyE
paNdu cheythaar uLarO, ilarO? ap parisu adiyEn
kaNdu cheythaal adhu kaithavamO, anRich cheythavamO?
miNdu cheythaalum poRukkai nanRE, pin veRukkai anRE

Serving not thine holy feet,

And worshipping not thee,

There were many in olden times,

Oh mother Abhirami.

Know not I,

Whether what I do is sin,

Or holy worship thine,

But Goddess mine,

In thine holy wisdom,

It is not proper for thee,

Not to pardon but hate.

veRukkum thakaimaikaL cheyyinum, tham adiyaarai mikkOr
poRukkum thakaimai pudhiyathu anRE,-pudhu nanchai uNdu
kaRukkum thirumidaRRaan idappaakam kalantha ponnE!-
maRukkum thakaimaikaL cheyyinum, yaanunnai vaazhththuvanE.

Hateful devotees to pardon.

Is not new to you mother,

Even if they do unpardonable sins.

You who reside on the left,

Of the Lord with the black neck,

Even if you excuse me not,

I would your holy feet praise in this life.

vaazhumpadi onRu kaNdu koNdEn; manaththE oruvar
veezhumpadi anRu; viLLumpadi anRu; vElai nilam
Ezhum paru varai ettum, ettaamal iravu pakal
choozhum chudarkku naduvE kidanthu chudarhinRathE.

Life to improve,

The method of the God, I found,

Which my tiny mind never could learn,

Which my chattering mouth never could describe.

Beyond the seven seas wide,

And those seven mountains high,

In between the sun and moon,

This glittering method shines.

chudarum kalaimathi thunRum chadaimudik kunRil onRip
padarum parimaLap pachchaik kodiyaip padhiththu nenchil
idarum thavirththu imaippOthu iruppaar, pinnum eythuvarO-
kudarum kozhuvum kuruthiyum thOyum kurampaiyilE.

Shining moon he has on his hill like tuft,

And on his strong shoulders lay thou,

Like a perfumed creeper tender,

Oh mother, Abhirami.

Even if for one second they think of thee,

Never will they get any time ever again,

Another skin, blood and flesh filled body,

Which is like a hut.

: kurambai aduththu kudipukka aavi, veNG kooRRukku itta
varambai aduththu maRukkum appOthu, vaLaikkai amaiththu,
arambai aduththu arivaiyar choozha vandhu, 'anchal' enpaay--
narambai aduththu ichai vadivaay nNinRa naayakiyE!

Hut like body, occupied by my soul,

Will one day be ordered by the God of death,

And will totter, worry and tremble,

Oh my mother Abhirami.

Then come before me with thine jingling bangled hand,

And say, “do not fear”.

She who is the musical note,

Fitted to the strings of the lyre, Oh my leader.

naayaki, naanmuki, naaraayaNi, kai naLina pancha
chaayaki, chaambavi, chankari, chaamaLai, chaathi nachchu
vaay aki maalini, vaaraaki, choolini, maadhanki enRu
aaya kiyaathiyudaiyaaL charaNam-araN namakkE

Leader great of ours,

You who is with four faces,

You who is the power of Narayana,

You who have five flower bows in her lotus hands,

You who gives pleasure as the soul of the world,

You who is black and called Syamala,

You who wears the serpent garlands,

You who is the daughter of Matanga,

Your holy feet is our only solace with out end.

araNam poruL enRu, aruL onRu ilaatha achurar thankaL
muraN anRu azhiya munintha pemmaanum, mukunthanumE,
'charaNam charaNam' ena nNinRa nNaayaki than adiyaar,
maraNam piRavi iraNdum eythaar, intha vaiyakaththE

Without end those ogres thought,

Those three holy cities were,

And removed forever mercy from their heart,

But them defeated the gods Shiva and Vishnu,

And those gods cry to you for protection, Oh Abhirami.

So thine devotees, Oh mother,

Will neither die or be born in this earth,

Under this sky.

vaiyakam, thurakam, mathakari, maa makudam, chivikai
peyyum kanakam, peruvilai aaram,--piRai mudiththa
Iyan thirumanaiyaaL adith thaamaraikku anbu munbu
cheyyum thavamudaiyaarkku uLavaakiya chinnankaLE

Sky, horses gallant,

Elephants great,

Palanquins to travel.

Showering gold,

And costly necklaces of pearl,

Oh the consort of Lord Shiva,

Who has the crescent on his head,

For those devotees of your feet in their last birth,

Are prizes too small.

chinnaNY chiRiya marunkinil chaaththiya cheyya pattum
pennam periya mulaiyum, muththaaramum, pichchi moyththa
kannankariya kuzhalum, kaN moonRum, karuththil vaiththuth
thannanthani iruppaarkku, ithu pOlum thavam illaiyE.

Small is thine waist, Goddess mine,

Fine is the red silk you wear,

Golden and firm are thine breasts,

Shining is the chain of pearls yours,

And pretty is thine glorious hair,

Adorned by jasmine chased by the bees.

Meditating on thy three eyed face,

When one is alone,

Is the greatest penance, Don’t you think.

illaamai cholli, oruvar thampaal chenRu, izhivupattu
nillaamai nenchil ninaikuvirEl, niththam needu thavam
kallaamai kaRRa kayavar thampaal oru kaalaththilum
chellaamai vaiththa thiripurai paadhankaL cErmiNnkaLE

Don’t you think mother mine,

When one thinks deep,

The insult of others,

For claims false that one makes

Is a base thing to suffer.

And the feet of thee great mother,

Makes one never to reach,

To those who are base and ignorant.

And who have done no penance,

For you are like a beacon light.

min aayiram oru mey vadivu aaki viLankukinRathu
annaaL, akam makizh aananthavalli, arumaRaikku
munnaay, nadu enkum aay, mudivu aaya mudhalvithannai
unnaathu ozhiyinum, unninum, vENduvathu onRu illaiyE.

Lightning billions,

Take one form and it is she,

Who makes her million devotees,

To be happy deep from within their mind.

Whether believe you or not,

In the truth which was, is and will be,

There is nothing else to be had,

To you from that power great.

onRaay arumbi, palavaay virinthu, iv ulaku enkumaay
ninRaaL, anaiththaiyum neenki niRpaal--enRan, nenchinuLLE
ponRaathu ninRu purikinRavaa! ip poruL aRivaar--
anRu aalilaiyil thuyinRa pemmaanum, en aiyanumE

Power great united in one,

But spread in various shapes.

Wherever you see,

That is she my mother,

Who is beyond all that you see,

But never goes she out,

From my mind, which is hers,

Knowledge of this they always had,

The Lord who slept on a banyan leaf then,

And Shiva my lord.

aiyan aLanthapadi iru naazhi koNdu, aNdam ellaam
uyya aRam cheyum unnaiyum pORRi, oruvar thampaal
cheyya pachunthamizhp paamaalaiyum koNdu chenRu, poyyum
meyyum iyampavaiththaay: ithuvO, uNnthan meyyaruLE?

Lord mine gave you two measures of rice,

My mother, but thou,

Fed this entire world forever using those.

But you made me,

Who lives praising thee,

Using sweet and chaste Tamil thine,

To tell truth and lie to another,

At various times,

Is this thine mercy, Goddess who is red.

aruNaampuyaththum, en chiththaampuyaththum amarnNthirukkum
tharuNaampuyamulaith thaiyal nallaaL, thakai chEr nNayanak
karuNaampuyamum, vadhanaampuyamum, karaampuyamum,
charaNaampuyamum, allaal kaNdilEn, oru thanchamE.

Red lotus is thy seat,

The lotus of my mind is thy seat,

Oh mother, who has breasts,

Like the lotus buds when you were young,

You, my mother who has lotus like eyes,

That shower mercy on us,

I have never seen anything else

Except thy face that is like a blooming lotus fine,

And thine hands with the reddish tint,

Which is my only refuge.

thancham piRithu illai eethu allathu, enRu un thavanNeRikkE
nencham payila ninaikinRilEn; oRRai neeLchilaiyum
anchu ambum ikku alaraaki ninRaay: aRiyaar eninum
panchu anchu mel adiyaar, adiyaar peRRa paalaraiyE

Refuge I never had,

Except the thought of thee.

But I request you, oh mother,

Who has the sweet cane as her bow,

And five flowers as arrows,

To be like the mother on earth,

Who has the softest feet,

Pardon and love,

But not to punish for mistakes great,

Their sons, whom they fed their milk.

paalinum chol iniyaay! pani maa malarp paadham vaikka--
maalinum, thEvar vaNanka ninROn konRai vaar chadaiyin
mElinum, keezhnNinRu vEdhankaL paadum meyp peedam oru
naalinum, chaala nanRO--adiyEn mudai naayth thalaiyE?

Milky sweets are thine words, Oh mother,

Did you not find a better place to keep,

Thine feet as soft as snow,

Than the head of the God Vishnu,

Or the long locked head of Shiva,

Worshipped by all others,

Or those platforms of Om,

Those sing the four Vedas,

And chose to keep on the dirty smelling head of mine,

Which is like that of a dog.

naayEnaiyum inku oru poruLaaka nayanthu vandhu,
neeyE ninaivinRi aaNdu koNdaay; nNinnai uLLavaNNam
pEyEn aRiyum aRivu thanthaaY; enna pERu peRREn!--
thaayE, malaimakaLE, chenkaN maal thiruth thankaichchiyE.

Dog like, was I even then,

When thou saw me oh my mother,

And decided in your wish divine,

To rule my mind and made me,

Know thine divine grace.

How lucky I am,

Mother, who is the daughter of mountain great,

And red eyed Vishnu’s sister of gold.

thankach chilai koNdu, thaanavar muppuram chaayththu, madha
veNG kaN uri pOrththa chenchEvakan meyyadaiyak
konkaik kurumbaik kuRiyitta naayaki, kOkanakach
cheNG kaik karumbum, malarum, eppOthum en chinthaiyathE.

Golden bow made of Meru,

Used he to destroy,

Those three cities great,

And killed he the elephant,

Send to kill him once,

And wore he its skin as his robe,

But made you a mark on his body strong,

Scars by thine embrace tight, Oh mother great,

Your bow of cane and arrows of flower,

Are forever in my mind, I tell.

thERumpadi chila Ethuvum kaatti, mun chelkathikkuk
kooRum poruL, kunRil kottum thaRi kuRikkum--chamayam
aaRum thalaivi ivaLaay iruppathu aRinthirunthum,
vERum chamayam uNdu enRu koNdaadiya veeNarukkE.

Telling true tidings,

That you are the goddess of six different faiths,

Is like beating the hardest rock,

With a tender bamboo, Oh mother,

For followed they other faiths,

Knowing thee well, those fools,

Without any need.

veeNE pali kavar theyvankaLpaal chenRu, mikka anbu
pooNEn; unakku anbu pooNdukoNdEn; ninpukazhchchi anRip
pENEn, oru pozhuthum; thirumEni prakaacham anRik
kaaNEn, iru nilamum thichai naankum kakanamumE.

Without any need,

I will not love,

Those small, small gods.

Never will I sing except your fame,

And never will I see anything except thee,

And thine glittering luster,

In this earth and on its sides,

And also in other worlds of this universe.

kakanamum vaanum puvanamum kaaNa, viR kaaman ankam
thakanam mun cheytha thavamperumaaRku, thadakkaiyum chem
mukanum, munNnNaaNnku irumoonRu enath thOnRiya moothaRivin
makanum uNdaayathu anRO?--valli! nee cheytha vallabamE!

This universe, this skies,

And this glorious earth,

Saw the great God Shiva,

Burn the God of love Manmatha,

During his penance great.

To him you gave love,

And the wise god, with six heads,

And twelve hand, as his son,

Oh mother, Does it not show thine great strength.

vallabam onRu aRiyEn; chiRiyEn; nNin malaradich chey
pallavam allathu paRRu onRu ilEn; pachum poR poruppu--
villavar thammudan veeRRiruppaay! vinaiyEn thoduththa
chol avamaayinum, nNin thiru naamankaL thOththiramE.

Strength Know I not,

Me the insignificant one.

Except thine flower like feet,

I don’t have anything else, oh mother,

You who sit with the Lord,

Who has the golden bow.

These words mine written thus,

Even if they are bad and worse,

Since they are your names,

Become thine holy chant.

thOththiram cheythu, thozhuthu, min pOlum nNin thORRam oru
maaththiraip pOthum manaththil vaiyaathavar--vaNmai, kulam,
kOththiram, kalvi, kuNam, kunRi, naaLum kudilkaL thoRum
paaththiram koNdu palikku uzhalaanNiRpar--paar enkumE.

Chanting thy names, and praising thee,

Those who do not do even for a while,

Loose their position and ken,

And loose all they had in life,

And would all day beg all over the street,

In this wide, wide earth.

paarum, punalum, kanalum, veNG kaalum, padar vichumbum,
oorum muruku chuvai oLi ooRu oli onRupadach
chErum thalaivi, chivakaama sundhari, cheeRadikkE
chaarum thavam, udaiyaar padaiyaatha thanam illaiyE.

Earth, water, fire, wind and the sky,

And the taste, sight, sound smell and the feeling,

Ingrained are these, made as one in thine holy feet,

Oh Sivakamasundari,

And those ones, who do penance of thine feet,

Will forever get all the riches great.

thanam tharum, kalvi tharum, orunNaaLum thaLarvu aRiyaa
manam tharum, theyva vadivum tharum, nenchil vancham illaa
inam tharum, nallana ellaam tharum, anbar enbavarkkE--
kanam tharum pooNG kuzhalaaL, abiraami, kadaikkaNkaLE,

Riches great, they will get,

Knowledge fine they will get,

A mind that never tires, they will get,

Godly beauty they will get,

Friends who do not deceive they will get,

And all this and more they will get,

From the incense filled flower haired Abhirami’s,

Slanting sight from her beautiful eyes.

kaNkaLikkumpadi kaNdukoNdEn; kadampaadaviyil
paN kaLikkum kural veeNaiyum, kaiyum payOtharamum,
maN kaLikkum pachchai vaNNamum aaki, mathankarkulap
peNkaLil thOnRiya emperumaattithan pErazhakE.

Eyes mine were filled by the pleasure at the sight of you,

Who was in the city in the forest of Kadamba,

And was playing the Veena kept in your hands,

With the sweetness of a soulful song.

Please say oh, mother,

Who was she of the green colour and darling of earth,

And who was she born as a tiny tot in the family of Madanga,

Is it not my goddess who is the greatest beauty.

azhakukku oruvarum ovvaatha valli, aru maRaikaL
pazhakich chivantha padhaampuyaththaaL, pani maa madhiyin
kuzhavith thirumudik kOmaLa yaamaLaik kombu irukka--
izhavuRRu nNinRa nNenchE!-irankEl, unakku en kuRaiyE?

Beauty of hers that is beyond compare,

Oh tired mind of mine.

When she who has the reddest feet

By walking in the way of Vedas, our books great,

When she who is like the tender climbing plant,

With the crescent in her head,

And when she who is youthful in colour green,

Is there, never will there be, problems for me.

enkuRai theeranNinRu ERRukinREn; ini yaan piRakkil,
nNin kuRaiyE anRi yaar kuRai kaaN?-iru neeL visumbin
min kuRai kaatti melikinRa nEr idai melliyalaay!-
than kuRai theera, emkOn chadai mEl vaiththa thaamaraiyE

Problems for me to disappear,

I worship thee oh mother,

And if I am again born in the world so cruel,

It is your problem not mine,

Oh goddess who has a hip like the lightning in the sky.

Because for his problem to solve when you were irate,

Our lord Shiva kept his head on thine feet,

Which is like the lotus that is red.

thaamam kadambu, padai pancha paaNam, thanuk karumbu,
yaamam vayiravar Eththum pozhuthu; emakku enRu vaiththa
chEmam thiruvadi, chenkaikaL naaNnku, oLi chemmai, ammai
naamam thiripudai, onRodu iraNdu nNayanankaLE.

Red colour she kept,

Kadamba flowers she kept,

Five flower arrows she kept,

Bow made of sweet cane she kept,

The midnight time when Lord Bhairava,

Was worshipped she kept.

But for me who sings her praise,

Kept she her lotus like feet.

Also kept she her name,

As the beauty of Tripura,

And her two merciful eyes.

nayanankaL moonRudai naathanum, vEthamum, naaraNanum,
ayanum paravum abiraama valli adi iNaiyaip
payan enRu koNdavar, paavaiyar aadavum paadavum, pon
chayanam porunthu thamaniyak kaavinil thankuvarE.

Three eyed Shiva, the four Vedas,

The Lord Vishnu and God Brahma,

Praise the holy feet of Abhirami.

If one thinks her holy feet,

AS his only our only begotten wealth,

Then he would be in the world of Indra,

And see the dances and songs from maidens fine,

In the shadow of the all wish giving tree,

And be there and forever live.

: thankuvar, kaRpaka thaaruvin nNeezhalil; thaayar inRi
mankuvar, maNNil vazhuvaay piRaviyai;-maal varaiyum,
ponku uvar aazhiyum, eerEzh puvanamum, pooththa unthik
konku ivar poonkuzhalaaL thirumEni kuRiththavarE

Live they will in the shadow of wish giving tree,

And will never be born,

To another mother again,

If they raise above the seas,

And above the fourteen worlds,

And body of mother with flowery hair, only think.

kuRiththEn manaththil nNin kOlam ellaam; nNin kuRippu aRinthu
maRiththEn maRali varukinRa nErvazhi; vaNdu kiNdi
veRiththEn avizh konRai vENip piraan oru kooRRai, meyyil
paRiththE, kudipukuthum pancha paaNa payiraviyE.

Thought of thee and thine grace,

Helped me stop the god of death in his way.

Oh you who is in the left side,

Of Lord Shiva, who wears the garland of iris,

Followed by flying bees for their scent,

Oh mother Bhairavi.

payiravi, panchami, paasaankucai, pancha paaNi, vanchar
uyir avi uNNum uyar chaNdi, kaaLi, oLirum kalaa
vayiravi, maNdali, maalini, chooli, varaaki--enRE
cheyir avi nNaanmaRai chEr thirunNaamankaL cheppuvarE.

Bhairavi, Panchami, Pasangusa,

Panchabani, Kali, Mandali, Malini, Sooli, Varahi,

Chandi who takes the life of bad ones,

And greatly glittering Vairavi,

All these names the four Vedas,

Tell thine devotees to chant.

cheppum kanaka kalachamum pOlum thirumulaimEl
appum kaLapa abiraama valli, aNi tharaLak
koppum, vayirak kuzhaiyum, vizhiyin kozhunkadaiyum,
thuppum, nilavum ezhuthivaiththEn, en thuNai vizhikkE

Chant they that thine breasts are like,

The ivory box and like the golden pot,

Applied with perfumed sandal paste,

Oh Abhirama Valli.

Thine necklace of pearl, ear studs of diamond,

Merciful eyes, coral mouth and pearl white teeth,

I have written,

Are the only companions for my dying eyes.

vizhikkE aruL uNdu, abiraama vallikku; vEdham chonna
vazhikkE vazhipada nenchu uNdu emakku; avvazhi kidakka,
pazhikkE chuzhanRu, vem paavankaLE cheythu, paazh narakak
kuzhikkE azhunthum kayavar thammOdu, enna koottu iniyE?

Eyes of Abhiramavalli has divine grace,

And I have the mind,

That worships her as the Vedas tell.

When that royal path I have,

Why should I only now sin,
And fall in the hell forever,

By the bad peoples company.

koottiyavaa ennaith than adiyaaril, kodiya vinai
ottiyavaa, eNnkaN Odiyavaa, thannai uLLavaNNam
kaattiyavaa, kaNda kaNNum manamum kaLikkinRavaa,
aattiyavaa nadam--aadakath thaamarai aaraNankE.

Company of thine devotees that you gave,

Trouble free life that you gave,

Entry thine into my mind fast,

From where you made me act,

And Appeared thou before me in thine true form,

As my eyes danced madly at thine sight,

All these are but,

Thine will and drama,

Oh, my beautiful Goddess.

aNankE!-aNankukaL nNin parivaarankaL aakaiyinaal,
vaNankEn oruvarai; vaazhththukilEn nNenchil; vanchakarOdu
iNankEn; enathu unathu enRiruppaar chilar yaavarodum
piNankEn; aRivu onRu ilEn; eNnkaN nNee vaiththapEr aLiyE!

Goddess Mine,

Bow I will not before other Gods,

For they are only in thine employ,

Nor I will praise these gods in my mind.

Move I will not with people, who deceive,

But will never ever quarrel,

With those great ones,

Who do not say mine and thine,

I, Oh mother, with wisdom small,

For mine eyes are but thine light.

aLi aar kamalaththil aaraNankE! akilaaNdamum nNin
oLiyaaka nNinRa oLir thirumEniyai uLLuthoRum,
kaLi Aki, anthakkaraNankaL vimmi, karaipuraNdu
veLiyaayvidin, eNGNGanE maRappEn, nNin virakinaiyE?

Light of thine glittering body,

Lights the entire universe without fail,

Oh, beauty who sits on lotus red,

Thought of thee in penance deep,

Makes my mind leap,

And drowns it in happiness great,

How can I forget ever your grace.

viravum pudhu malar ittu, nNin paadha viraikkamalam
iravum pakalum iRaincha vallaar, imaiyOr evarum
paravum padhamum, ayiraavadhamum, pakeerathiyum,
uravum kulikamum, kaRpakak kaavum udaiyavarE.

Graceful new flowers, they who shower,

At thine holy feet,

Day and night,

Would be worshipped by Gods,

And for sure,

The Iravatha, the elephant of gods,

The holy Ganges of the sky,

The powerful Vajarayudha of Indra,

Karpaga, the wish-giving tree,

Will they forever have.

udaiyaaLai, olku chempattudaiyaaLai, oLirmathich cheNY
chadaiyaaLai, vanchakar nenchu adaiyaaLai, thayanku nNuN nNool
idaiyaaLai, enkaL pemmaan idaiyaaLai, iNGku ennai inip
padaiyaaLai, unkaLaiyum padaiyaavaNNam paarththirumE.

Having all that she wishes fulfilled,

Clothed in red silk fine,

Glittering crowning glory on her head,

She never reaches the ones who deceive.

She who has narrow hips like thread,

She who is the left part of our Lord,

She who makes me never to be born again,

Should be worshipped by you,

So that no more birth you see.

paarkkum thichaithoRum paachaankuchamum, panich chiRai vaNdu
aarkkum pudhumalar ainthum, karumbum, en allal ellaam
theerkkum thiripuraiyaaL thiru mEniyum, chiRRidaiyum,
vaark kunkuma mulaiyum, mulaimEl muththu maalaiyumE

Saw I, in all the sides,

And I saw her hands with the Pasangusa,

I saw those five arrows made of flower,

Followed by bees,

I saw the bow made of sweet cane,

I saw the Goddess Of Tripura,

Who puts an end to my sufferings great,

I saw her narrow hips,

I saw her covered breasts,
Applied with saffron,

And I saw her garland of pearls.

maal ayan thEda, maRai thEda, vaanavar thEda nNinRa
kaalaiyum, choodakak kaiyaiyum, koNdu--kathiththa kappu
vElai veNG kaalan eNnmEl vidumpOthu, veLi nNil kaNdaay
paalaiyum thEnaiyum paakaiyum pOlum paNimozhiyE!

Pearl studded feet thine,

And graceful hands thine

Which are searched by Vishnu my God,

Which are searched by Brahma the creator,

And which are searched by Vedas that are holy,

Show them to me and save,

When the God of death,

Drives his three pronged spear at me,

Oh goddess great,

Who has milk, honey and sweet syrup like words.

: mozhikkum ninaivukkum ettaatha nNin thirumoorththam, eNnthan
vizhikkum vinaikkum veLinNinRathaal,--vizhiyaal madhanai
azhikkum thalaivaa, azhiyaa virathaththai aNdam ellaam
pazhikkumpadi, oru paakam koNdu aaLum paraaparaiyE!

Words and thoughts can never describe,

Thine holy form, mother mine,

But how come I see you in a simple form,

Oh Goddess, Who made Lord Shiva,

Who burnt the God of love with his sight,

Look at thee with love

And give thee half his side,

You are my forever refuge.

param enRu unai adainthEn, thamiyEnum; un paththarukkuL
'tharam anRu ivan' enRu thaLLath thakaathu--thariyalardham
puram anRu eriyap poruppuvil vaankiya, pOthil ayan
chiram onRu cheRRa, kaiyaan idap paakam chiRanthavaLE!

Refuge seeking I came to thee,

So I request thee mother,

Never ever compare me with thine devotees great,

And send me away from thee,

Who is the consort of He,

Who made Meru Mountain his bow,

And cut one head of Brahma,

To burn the city of Tripura,

And gave you his left to glorify.

chiRakkum kamalath thiruvE! nNiNnchEvadi chenni vaikkath
thuRakkam tharuma nNin thuNaivarum nNeeyum, thuriyam aRRa
uRakkam thara vandhu, udampOdu uyir uRavu aRRu aRivu
maRakkum pozhuthu, en munnE varal vENdum varunthiyumE.

Glorious lotus like you are,

And grant salvation to those,

Who keep their head,
on your holy feet,

Oh mother mine,

Do come with thine Lord,

In whose left side you are,

When I breath my last,

And give me boons so that I am not sad.

varunthaavakai, en manaththaamaraiyinil vandhu pukunthu,
irunthaaL, pazhaiya iruppidamaaka; ini enakkup
porunthaathu oru poruL illai--viN mEvum pulavarukku
virunthaaka vElai marunthaanathai nNalkum melliyalE!

Sadness to prevent in me,

She entered the lotus of my mind,

So that none of the joy giving things,

Are required by me in this world from now on,

My mother Abhirami,

Who helped the Devas of Heaven get,

The nectar they got from the sea of milk,

She who is pretty and thin.

: melliya nNuN idai min anaiyaaLai virichadaiyOn
pulliya men mulaip pon anaiyaaLai, pukazhnthu maRai
cholliyavaNNam thozhum adiyaaraith thozhumavarkku,
palliyam aarththu ezha, veN pakadu URum padham tharumE

Thin as lightning your hips are,

Tender breasts for the Lord you have,

Oh, mother Abhirami,

For thine devotees great,

Who praise thee,

And the holy sages,

Who know the Vedas,

Thou grant their desire,

To sit on the white elephant of heaven,

And make them of happy mind.

pathaththE uruki, nNin paadhaththilE manam paRRi, uNnthan
idhaththE ozhuka, adimai koNdaay; ini, yaan oruvar
madhaththE madhi mayankEn; avar pOna vazhiyum chellEn--
mudhal thEvar moovarum yaavarum pORRummukizh nNakaiyE!

Mind Of mine, like the molten gold,

Was shaped and made in to your slave,

By devotion to thine feet.

And where is the need,

For me to follow some one else.

Or for me to follow their path,

Oh Goddess mine,

The holy trinity ever praises thine smile.

nNakaiyE iqthu; intha NYaalam ellaam peRRa nNaayakikku,
mukaiyE mukizh mulai, maanE; mudhu kaN mudivu_il; antha
vakaiyE piRaviyum; vambE, malaimakaL enpathum nNaam;
mikaiyE ivaLthan thakaimaiyai nNaadi virumbuvathE.

Smile thee mother, who has the world,

When you hear,

That you were the tiny tot,

Born to the king of mountain great,

For really you are without birth and death.

And when they sing that thine eyes are like Doe,

And thine breasts are like sweet cane,

All they tell you are but lies,

For words mother mine,

Are of no use to describe thee.

Devotees thine come to thee, oh mother,

Not because they understand but because they desire.

virumbith thozhum adiyaar vizhinNeer malki, mey puLakam
arumbith thathumbiya aanantham aaki, aRivu izhanthu
karumbin kaLiththu, mozhi thadumaaRi, mun chonna ellaam
tharum piththar aavar enRaal abiraami chamayam nNaNnRE

Desire great thine devotees have,

And their eyes are full of happy tears,

Their body is thrilled thinking of thee,

Their mind is full of joy,

Their brain is dulled into that of a fool,

Their words don’t flow from their tongue,

Their look is that of mad, mad man

For they are in love with thee,

Oh, Goddess Abhirami,

Only thine path is good.

nNaNnRE varukinum, theethE viLaikinum, naan aRivathu
onREyum illai; unakkE param: enakku uLLa ellaam
anRE unathu enRu aLiththu vittEn:- azhiyaatha kuNak
kunRE, arutkadalE; imavaan peRRa kOmaLamE!

Good even if it comes,

Or bad even if it comes,

Is all the same for me,

For I do not know any thing that is mine.

Have I not given all that I have to thee,

Oh imperishable mount of virtue,

Oh sea of grace,

Oh Himalayas daughter who is pretty and tender.

kOmaLavalliyai, alliyanN thaamaraik kOyil vaikum
yaamaLa valliyai, Etham ilaaLai, ezhuthariya
chaamaLa mEnich chakalakalaa mayilthannai, thammaal
aamaLavum thozhuvaar, ezhu paarukkum aathiparE.

Tender climber like she is,

Yamalavalli sitting in the lotus ,

That has opened petals, she is,

With nothing unholy in her she is,

Of the colour of green,

That words can never unfold, She is,

And peahen trained in all arts, she is,

And those who but worship her,

With devotion they can muster,

Would the seven worlds rule,

Like the Sun.

aadhiththan, ambuli, anki kubEran, amarardham kOn,
pOthiR piraman puraari, muraari podhiyamuni,
kaadhip porupadaik kanthan, kaNapathi, kaaman mudhal
chaathiththa puNNiyar eNNilar pORRuvar, thaiyalaiyE.

Sun and the moon,

Fire and Kubera the lord of Riches,

Indra the Lord of Devas,

Brahma, Siva and Vishnu,

Agasthya the sage,

Lord Muruga and Ganapathi,

And Kama, the God of love,

And many more that is beyond count,

Always worship thine feet,

My maiden fine.

thaivanthu nNin adith thaamarai choodiya chankaraRku
kaivantha theeyum, thalai vandha aaRum, kalanthathu enkE?--
mey vandha nenchin allaal orukaalum virakar thankaL
poyvandha nenchil, pukal aRiyaa madap pooNG kuyilE!

Maiden fine,

When Shiva the great,

Took thine lotus like feet,

And kept it on his head,

Where went Pot of fire,

And Ganga the river, from his head.

You only enter the mind,

Of people who know the truth,

And not in theirs,

Who live on lies,

Oh nightingale fine.

: kuyilaay irukkum kadampaadaviyidai; kOla viyan
mayilaay irukkum imayaachalaththidai; vandhu udhiththa
veyilaay irukkum vichumbil; kamalaththinmeethu annam am;
kayilaayarukku anRu imavaan aLiththa kanankuzhaiyE

Nightingale of the forest of Kadamba trees,
Peahen dancing on the Himalayas,

The sun shining over the skies,

The swan that sits on lotus pretty,

Thou were given to the Lord of Kailasa,

By Himalaya the king of mountains,

Oh pretty haired one.

100

kuzhaiyaith thazhuviya konRaiyanN thaar kamazh konkaivalli
kazhaiyaip porutha thirunNedunN thOLum, karuppu villum
vizhaiyap poru thiRal vEriyam paaNamum veN nNakaiyum
uzhaiyaip porukaNNum nenchil eppOthum udhikkinRavE;

One, whose breasts divine,

Are Fondled by the Lord of Kailasa,

Who wears the Garland of iris,

Emits great perfumes divine.

One who has shoulders like bamboo,

One who has the bow made of sugarcane,

One who has arrows made of flowers,

One has pearly white teeth,

One who has doe like eyes,

You never leave my mind forever.

101

nNooRpayan

aaththaaLai, enkaL abiraama valliyai, aNdam ellaam
pooththaaLai, maathuLam poo nNiRaththaaLai, puvi adankak
kaaththaaLai, amkaiyil paachankuchamum karuppuvillum
chErththaaLai, mukkaNNiyaith, thozhuvaarkku oru theenku illaiyE

Forever they suffer not in this life,

Who worship the mother of us all,

My mother Abhirami,

Who created the universe,

Who has the colour of flowers of pomegranate,

Who protects the entire world,

Who has with her the pasangusa,

And the bow made of sugarcane, And who has three eyes.