Thiruppavai

Composed by Andal also known as Nachiyar.

(One of the thirteen Azhwars)

Translated in to free verse,

P.R.Ramachander

Transliteration in to English

Smt.Vasanthi Ramesh

Introduction.

Saint Andal also known as Nachiar and also as Kodhai was the daughter of Vishnu Chitta alias Periyazhvar of Srivilliputtur. She is one of the most important saints of Sri Vaishnavism. At an early age she well in love with Lord Krishna and because she used to wear the garlands meant for the deity before it is worn by the God, she was also called Chudi Kodutha Chudar Kodi. People believed that she was an avathara (incarnation) of Bhooma Devi. At the end of her life she left her ethereal body and mingled with her Lord.

Her most important poetic work is Thiruppavai. This extols the virtues of Lord Krishna and requests him for help and guidance in the worship of Goddess Pavai. The worship of this Goddess was very common in Tamil Nadu since ancient times. The worship was done by unmarried girls. They all used to take bath in the rivers daily early in the dawn, in the month of Margazhi(December-January) and worship the goddess by dance and music and observe very strict penance during the day.This it was believed would get them good husbands and would lead to a very happy married life. On each day one of the hymns are being sung during this month even today.

Her poetic works reveal her Nayaki-Nayaka bhava (Heroine-Hero feeling) and absolute surrender to the God. Surrender being the bed rock principle on which Sri Vaishnavism rested , she was revered very much. Her sentiments expressed in her pasurams(poems to God) found an immediate echo in the common man’s mind. Sri Ramanuja who was possibly the greatest saint –philosopher of Sri Vaishnavism , extolled her Bhakthi and sang all the thirty Thiruppavai pasurams every day. Because of that he was called Thiruppavai Azhwar.Also there is a practice to this day among Sri Vaishnavas that during the Poojas of God in any of their temples the last two stanzas of Thiruppavai are sung .It is also interesting to know that these two stanzas are also recited in Tamil during coronation of the kings of Thailand (Rama dynasty).

There are very many translations and commentaries available in English of Thiruppavai. But As far as I am aware no one has attempted to translate it in to English verse.By doing so, it has not been possible to include some mystical connotations of these verses .

Thaniyan

This is a song which is a prelude to Thiruppavai and is generally termed as thaniyan or that which stands separately..

Anna vayaRpudhuvai aandaaL arangaRkup
Pannu thiruppaavaip palpadhiyam
Innisaiyaal paadikkoduththaaL naRpaamaalai
Poomaalai soodik koduththaaLaich sollu

Soodik koduththa sudark kodiyE tholpaavai
Paadi aruLavalla palvaLaiyaai
Naadi nee vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi onRa immaaRRam
Aangadavaa vaNNamE nalgu.

Andal from the swan filled Puduvai,

Sang she, in her sweet voice,

Several enchanting sweet odes,

For being sung during,

The worship and adulation of Pavai.

They are but a garland to him,

From her who wore them first,

Before presenting them to Him.

1.Margazhi Thingal

Maargazhi-th thingal madhiniraindha nannalal
Neeradap pothuveer pothumino nerizhayeer!
Seermalgum aaipadi selvachirumeergal
Kooerval kodum thozhilam Nandagopan kumaran
Er aarndha kanni Yosadai ilam singam
Kaar mein-ch-chengan kadhir madhiyam pol mukathan
Narayanane namakke parai tharuvaan
Paaror pugazha-p-padindul-el or empaavaai.

In this month of Marghazhi[1],

On this day filled with the light of moon,

Come for bathing,

Oh ladies who are richly dressed,

And Oh ladies in rich homes of cowherds,

For he with the sharp spear,

He who kills his enemies without mercy,

He who is the son of Nanda gopa[2],

He who is the darling son of Yasodha[3],

Who wore scented flower garlands,

He who is a lion cub,

He who is pretty in black colour,

He who has small red eyes,

He who has a face like the well-lit moon,

And He, who is our Lord Narayana[4],

Is going to give us big drums,

So that we bathe and worship Our Goddess Pavai,

In a way that the whole world sings about.

2.Vaiyathu Vazhvirgal

Vaiyathu Vaazhveerkaaal! Naamum nam paavaiku
Seyyum kirisaigal keleero paar-k-kadalul
Payya-th-thuyinra parama adi paadi
Ney-unnom paal unnom! Naatkaale neeraadi
Mai-ittu ezhuthom, malar ittu naam mudiyom
Seyyaadana seyyom; thee kuralai senrodhom
Aiyamum pichayyum aanthanayyum kaikaati
Uyyumaaru enni uganthu-el or em paavaai.

Oh, people of this world,

Be pleased to hear of those penances,

That we daily do for the worship of Pavai,

We will sing of those holy feet,

Of Him who sleeps in the ocean of milk[5],

We will not take the very tasty ghee,

We will avoid the health giving milk,

We will daily bathe before the dawn,

We will not wear any collyrium[6] to the eye,

We will not tie flowers in our hair,

We will not do Any act that is banned,

We will not talk ill of any to any one else,

We will give alms and do charity,

As much as we can,

And do all those acts to make others free of sorrow,

And worship our Goddess Pavai.

3.Oongi ulagalandha Utthmar peyrar padi

Ongi ulagalanda uthaman per paadi
Naangal nam paavaiku chaatri neeradinaal
Theenginri nadellaam thingal mummaari peidu
Ongu peru sennal oodu kayal ugala
Poomkuvalai-p-podhil porivandu kannpaduppa
Thengaade pukkirundu seertha mulai patri
Vaanga-k-kudam niraikkum vallal perum pasukkal
Neengade selvam niraindhu-el or em paavaai.

If we sing the praise of Him,

Who grew big and measured the world[7],

And worship our Goddess Pavai ,

Then would there be at least three rains a month,

And the red paddy plants would grow big,

And in their fields would the fish swim and play ,

And the spotted bees after sipping honey,

To their hearts content ,

Would sleep in the flower themselves

After having their fill,

And the cows with big udder

Would fill milk pots to the brim,

And healthy cows and never diminishing wealth,

Would fill the country,

And all this I assure by worship of our Goddess Pavai.

4.Azhi mazhai kanna

Aazhi mazhai kanna! Onrum nee kai karavel
Aazhiyul pukku mugundhu koda aathu, ari
Oozhimudalvan uruvam pol mei karuthu
Paazhi am tholudai Padmanabhan kaiyil
Aazhipol minni valampuripol minru adhirndhu
Thaazhaade Sarngaam udhaitha saramazhai pol
Vaazha ulaginil peidhidaai; naangalum
Maargazhi neerada magizhndu-el or em paavaai.

Please obey our wishes,

Oh rain God who comes from the sea,

Enter the sea, please, and bring water to your fill,

And with zest and sound take it up,

And like the God of the deluge become black,

And shine like the holy wheel in the hands ,

Of The God Padmanabha[8] who has powerful biceps,

And make booming pleasing sounds,

Like the right spiraled conch,

And rain with out stop like the arrow storm,

From Saranga the bow of Vishnu and descend on us,

To make this world happy,

And to help us take bath in month of Margahzhi,

And worship our goddess Pavai.

5.Mayanai

Maayanai mannu vada Madhurai maindhanai
Thuyao-peruneer Yamunai-t-thuraivanai
Aayar kulathinil thonrum mani vilakkai
Thaayai kudal vilakkam seida Dhamodharanai
Thooyomaai vandhu naam thoomalar thoovi-t-thozhudhu
Vaayinaal paadi manatthinaal sendhikka
Poya pizhayum pugutharuvaan ninranavum
Theeyinil thoosaakum seppu-el or empaavaai.

To Him the enchanter of all,

To Him the son of Mathura[9] in the north,

To Him who played and frolicked,

In the shores of holy Yamuna[10],

To Him who is the ornamental lamp,

Of the family of cow herds,

And to the Damodhara[11] who made ,

His mothers womb holy,

We came after a holy bath,

And offered pure flowers at his feet,

And sang with our mouth,

And brought the thoughts of him in our mind,

And we were sure,

That all our mistakes of the past,

And all that we will do in future,

Will vanish as ashes in fire,

Oh, Goddess Pavai.

6.Pullum chilambina kaan

Pullum sillambina kaan; pull araiyan koilil
Vellai vili sangin peraravam kettilaiyo
Pillaai! ezhundirai peymulai nanjundu
Kalla-ch-chakatam kalallazhi-k-kaalochi
Vellathu aravil thuyil amarandha vithhinai
Ullathuk kondu munivarkalum yogikalum
Mella ezhundu 'Hari' enra per aravam
Ullam pukundhu kulirndhu-el or empaavaai

Did you not hear alternate twittering birds making loud noises,

Did you not hear the loud sound of white conch,

From the temple of the king of Garuda[12],

Oh , girls please wake up,

Let us hear the holy sounds of “Hari[13], Hari”.

From the savants and sages,

Calling him who drank the poisonous milk from the ghost[14],

Him who kicked and killed the ogre of the cart[15],

And him who sleeps on the great serpent Adi Sesha

So that it goes through our mind,

And make our mind cool, Oh, Goddess Pavai.

7.Kisu kisu chendrengum

Keechu keechu enru engum aanauchaathan kalandhu
Pesina Pecharavam kettilyo peyppennay!
Kaasum pirappum kalakalapp-k-kai perthu
Vaasanarumkuzhal aaichiar maththinaal
Osaipadutha thayir aravam kettilayo?
Nayaka-p-penn pillai! Naarayanan moorthy
Kesavanai-p-paadavum nee kette kidaththiyo!
Thesamudayai Thirav-el or empaavaai

Did you not hear , Oh slow witted girl,

The twittering sound of black birds of the morn,

Which sounds like a talk between them,

Did you not hear the tingling sound ,

When the big and small coin like pendants,

Rub against each other,

Did you not hear the sound of vigouros pull,

Of the curd churner being pulled,

By the flower bedecked cow herdesses,

Did you not hear the sound of twirling curd,

When churned using the mixer,

Oh, leader among girls,

How can you sleep,

When they sing the names sweetly.

Of Narayana[16] and Kesava[17],

Oh, She who is sparkling,

Be pleased to open the door,

And worship our goddess Pavai.

8.Kizh vanam Veluthathu

Keezh vaanam vellendru! erumai siru veedu
Meyvaan paranthana kan! mikkulla pillaikalum
Poovan pokinraarai-popokaamal kaathu unnai-k
Koovuvaan vandhu ninrom! kothu kalamudaya
Paavaai! ezhunthiraai! paadi-p-parai kondu
Maavai-p-pilanthaanai, mallarai maatiya
Devaathi dhevanai chenrunaam sevithal
Aa Aaa enru aaraindhu arul-el or empaavaai

The eastern sky has become white,

The buffalos are free to walk and graze,

The remaining lasses , have stopped from going,

All those who wanted to go,

And have come to call you,

Oh girl filled with happiness,

Please wake up.

Let us all sing and get gifts,

From Him who has killed the horse like ogre[18],

By pulling apart his mouth,

From Him who killed the wrestlers[19] ,

Sent to kill him,

From the Narayana, who is first among the Gods,

And prostrate before him..

Please hear what we tell.

And decide for yourself,

And worship our Goddess Pavai

9.Thoo mani madathu

Thoomani maadathu sutrum vilakkeriya
Dhoopam kamazha thuyil anai mel kann valarum
Maamaan magale! mani-k-kadavam thaalthiravaai!
Maameer! Avalai ezhuppeero! Un magal thaan
Oomayo? anri-ch-chevido? ananthalo?
Ema-p-perum thuyil manthira-p-pattalo?
Maa maayan, Maadhavan, Vaikuntan, enrenru
Naamam palavum navinru-el or empaavaai

Oh my uncle’s daughter , who sleeps ,

In the soft cotton bed,

In the pearl filled Villa,

Well lit from all sides,

And full of the smoke of incense,

Please open the ornamental door.

Oh aunt, why don’t you wake her up,

Is your daughter dumb or deaf ,

Or down right lazy,

Or she is in trance of deep pleasurable sleep,

Let us all call him the great enchanter,

Madhavan[20] and he who lives in Vaikunta[21],

By several of His names,

And get benefited ,

And worship the Goddess Pavai.

10.Nothu Swargam

Notru Suvargam puguginra ammanai!
Maatramum thaaraaro vaasal thiravaadaar
Naatrathuzhaai mudi Naraayana: nammaal
Potra-p-parai tharum punniyanal pandorunaal
Kootrathin Vaai veezhnda Kumbakarananum
Thotrum unakke perum thuyilthan thandhaano
Aatra ananthal udayaai! arumkalame
Thetramaai vandhu thira-el or empaavaai

Oh lady fine , who has entered the heaven,

Due to penance done in last birth,

Won’t you reply,please

Won’t you open the door,please

If we pray the God Narayana,

Having with him the scented garland,

Made of holy basil,

He would give us gifts , many,

He is the same who is holy in times ancient,

Sent Kumbhakarna[22] to his death ,

After beating him in the field of war.

Did that ogre give you his sleep,

Before he went off from here,

Oh lass who is very lazy,

Oh lass, who is like pretty jewels,

Wake up from your sleep, well,

And open the door.

And worship the Goddess Pavai.

11.Kathu karavai

Katru-k-karavai kanangal pala karandhu
Setrar thiral azhiya-ch-chenru seru-ch-cheyyum
Kutram onrlladha kovalar tham porkodiye
Putraravu algul punamayile! podharaai!
Sutrathu thozimaar ellarum vandu nin
Mutram pugundhu mugil vannan perpaada
Sitraadhe pesaade selva-p-pendaatti nee
Etrukku urangum porul?-el or empaavaai

Oh daughter of the cattle baron,

Who milks herds of cows,

And wages war on enemies

And makes his enemies loose their strength,

Oh Golden tendril,

Oh lass who has the mount of venus,

Like the hood of the snake,

Wake up and come,

When your flock of friends,

Have come to your courtyard,

And sing of Krishna ,

Who has the colour of the cloud,

Oh rich , rich lady,

How can you neither move nor talk,

And lie in deep trance,

And not worship our Goddess pavai.

12.Kanaithilam Katherumai

Kanaithu ilam katrerumai kanrukku irangi
Ninaithu mulai vazhiye ninru paal sora
Nanaithu illam serarkkum narchelvan thangaai!
Panithalai veezha nin vaasal kadai-patri
Sinathinaal then ilangai-k-komaanai-ch-chetra
Manaththukkiniyaanai paadavum nee vaaithiravaai!
Iniththan ezhundiraai, eethenna peruakkam!
Anaithu illaththuaarum arindhu-el or empaavaai