SALUTATIONS Hail, the five letters! Hail, foot of the Lord !

Hail, foot of Him Who not for an instant quits my heart ! Hail, foot of the Guru !earl that rules in GO"ari ! Hail, foot of Him Who #e$omes, a#ides, dra%s near as the A"amam ! Hail, foot of Him, the One, the Not One, and the &in" ! '() *i$tory to the foot of the &in", %ho soothed my soul+s unrest and made me His ! *i$tory to the ,e%elled foot of -inna"an, %ho severs $ontinuity of #irth ! *i$tory to the flo%er foot of Him Who is far from those %ithout ! *i$tory to the an.lets of the &in", re,oi$in" +mid those that fold adorin" hands ! *i$tory to the an.lets of the "lorious One, %ho u!lifts those that #o% the head ! '/0) -raise to the foot of I1an ! -raise to my 2ather+s foot ! -raise to the foot of the Tea$her ! -raise to 1ivan+s roseate foot ! -raise to the foot of the Stainless, %ho in love stood near ! -raise to the foot of the &in", %ho $uts off delusive #irth ! -raise to the foot of "lorious -erun turrai+s God ! '/() -raise to the 3ount, in "ra$e affordin" !leasures that $loy not ! INT4O5U1TION 6e$ause He, 1ivan, %ithin my thou"ht a#ides, 6y His "ra$e alone, #o%in" #efore His feet, With ,oyous thou"ht, 1ivan+s +Ways of Old+ I+ll tell, That thus my former +deeds+ may %holly !ass7 '80) I $ame, attained the "ra$e the +6ro% eyed+ sho%ed, Adored the #eauteous foot #y thou"ht unrea$hed7 O Thou, Who fill+st the heaven, Who fill+st the earth, art manifested li"ht, Trans$endin" thou"ht, Thou #oundless One ! Thy "lory "reat I, man of evil +deeds+ .no% not the %ay to !raise ! '8()

HIS *A4IOUS 936O5I39NTS Grass %as I, shru# %as I, %orm, tree, 2ull many a .ind of #east, #ird, sna.e, Stone, man, and demon7 +3idst Thy hosts I served7 The form of mi"hty Asuras, as$eti$s, "ods I #ore7 Within these immo#ile and mo#ile forms of life, ':0) In every s!e$ies #orn, %eary I+ve "ro%n, "reat Lord ! H9 2OUN5 TH9 3AST94 Truly, seein" Thy "olden feet this day, I+ve "ained release7 O Truth! as the On"Aram d%ellin" in my soul, That I may +s$a!e7 O s!otless one ! O 3aster of the #ull ! Lord of the *9das! 4isin", sin.in", s!readin", su#tile One ! ':() Thou art the heat ! and Thou the $old ! the 3aster Thou, O s!otless One ! Thou $am+st in "ra$e, that all thin"s false mi"ht flee, True Wisdom, "leamin" #ri"ht in s!lendour true, To me, void of all %isdom, #lissful Lord ! O Wisdom fair, $ausin" un%isdom+ self to flee far off ! ';0) 1I*AN+S 2I*9 O-94ATIONS Thou .no%+st no in$rease, measure, end ! All %orlds Thou dost $reate, !rote$t, destroy, enri$h %ith "ra$e, 4elease7 Thou $ausest me to enter +mid Thy servant #and7 3ore su#tile Thou than fra"ran$e7 Thou+art afar, art near7 Thou art the 3ysti$ %ord, trans$endin" %ord and thou"ht7 ';() As %hen are min"led mil., s%eet ,ui$e of $ane and #utter, Thou dost distil, li.e honey, in the thou"ht of "lorious devotees, And $uttest off the $ontinuity of #irths our mi"hty One ! HU3AN 936O5I39NT AN5 9NLIGHT9N39NT 6< G4A19

Thou hast the $olours five ! While heavenly ones e=tolled Thou didst lie hid, our mi"hty Lord ! In the stron" "ras! of deeds, '(0) I lay, hidden amid illusion+s shroudin" "loom7 Thou #indin" %ith rare $ords of virtue and of sin, 5idst $lothe %ith outer s.in, envelo!in" %ith %orms and filth, Within my nine "ated d%ellin" foul #e%ildered, 6y the five senses sore de$eived, '(() To me, mean as I %as, %ith no "ood thin", Thou didst "rant "ra$e, That I, %ith mind ere%hile em#ruted, !ure one ! should 6e$ome $ommin"lin" love, in soul su#duin" ra!ture melt ! Thou $am+st in "ra$e on this same earth, didst sho% Thy mi"hty feet To me %ho lay mere slave, meaner than any do", '>0) 9ssential "ra$e more !re$ious than a mother+s love ! 9-ITH9TS O2 -4AIS9 S!otless s!lendour ! 6ri"htness of full #lo%n flo%er ! O Tea$her ! Honied am#rosia ! Lord of 1iva to%n ! O venerated One, Guardian, Looser of -A$am+s tie, Wor.in" in "ra$e of love, that in my mind delultion may die out ! '>() Great river of e=$eedin" tenderness, %ith $easeless flo% ! Am#rosia that satiates not ! Infinite, almi"hty Lord ! Li"ht unseen that lur.s %ithin the souls that sou"ht Thee not ! Thou Who a#idest in my soul, till meltin" %aters flo% ! Thou Who art %ithout !leasure or !ain, Who yet hast #oth ! '?0) Lovin" to lovin" ones ! 9fful"ent One, Who all thin"s art, And their ne"ation too ! Great 3aster, %hom no dar.ness "athers round ! 2irst One, Thou+rt 9nd and 3idst, and art devoid of these ! 2ather, Lord, Who dre%+st, and mad+st me Thine ! 9ye of the minds that see #y .eenest "lan$e of %isdom true, '?() Hard to #e eyed ! Su#tle understandin", none $an s$rutini@e ! Holy ! Who $omest not, nor "oest, nor min"lin" liv+st !

Guardian %ho "uardest us ! Great Li"ht %hom none $an see ! 2lood of deli"ht ! 2ather ! Li"ht of all !assin" s!lendours That a!!ear ! Unuttera#ly su#tle Intelle$t ! 'A0) Of all that in this %orld diverse !ronoun$ed as truth Is .no%n, Thou art the .no%led"e sure ! 2ull $ertitude ! -re$ious am#rosia, fountain %ellin" u! %ithin ! 3y O%ner Thou ! -ASSIONAT9 IN*O1ATION I $an+t endure, our Guru, in this $han"in" straitened frame to +#ide7 Aran! All Thy saints made true invo.e Thee, 'A() Worshi!!in" a#ide, and !raisin" Thee, from falsehood freed, Hither return no more ! That deeds and #irth $lin" not, To sever #onds of this de$eitful sensuous frame the mi"ht is Thine ! Lord %ho dost dan$e, tram!lin" dense dar.ness do%n ! 5an$er in Thillai ! 5%eller in the Southern -Andi land ! 'B0) Thou Who dost $ut off evil #irth ! Adorin" ever, Thee they name, Whom %ords de$lare notC then +N9ATH TH< SA1495 299T TH9< L9A4N TH9 39ANING O2 TH9I4 SONG7 The #lessed ones In 1ivan+s to%n %ho d%ell, full many a one, #eneath The feet of 1ivan, lo%ly #endin" utter !raise7 'B() $om!osed in Tillai, tiru vAtavUrar !urANam, v7 >8) The Is In All 3y Within He sa$red His, in lore earth, ordered His d%ells, dar.ness foot Who in hath hath servants+ in #eauty that all of s.y, He He inmost His dan$ed varied innumerous, and revealed, driven soul "lory in and for that and He in lives Tillai+s has $elestial made aye love His far varied $ity qualitiesC %orlds7 void7 '() off7 $hoi$e7 old

ener"i@edC

4evealed

o+erflo%s

On In He -leasant With He In He And 3oreover, 2rom In And Assumin" As He 4i"ht In In Gave His In In To The Nor fair a form ma"i$ 3ade His our as her $aused "uise san. he of "ra$e

"reat He $ame and %hose s%eet a in a on five a diverse of Lady, the re$eived 3ah9ndra mouths a#ode $aused %ith "ra$ious, %ords "ra$e,

3ah9ndra+s the uttered the min"lin" are that of mil. her %ith in

#idin" A"amas "ood men the li!s the $au"ht a s!a.e He d%elt diverse thousands $ame Western in the #ull He !om!7 %ith he horse the sa$red -Andiyan the hea!ed u! of in in the at +fivefold to are a!!ear7

hill '/0) "oddess, &allAdam7 $ou$h,+ "ro%7 '/() #reast7 shar.7 s!oil7 A"amas '80) "ra$e7 ha#itudes, natures, '8() "ra$e7 land, state7 rode, ':0) #o%7 sho%ed7 made, foot, sold, "old7 #e$ame,

unfailin" %hose of

a$$umulates,

%oodman, lovely

$rimson, the ri$h forth7

e=!anse He seated, He a

s%ellin"

6e$omin"

fisherman the

A"amas, "ra$iously 6rAhman Guru and of !artner, the rode dart, and of held of into He the of %oodman that u!on

self same

deathless forms, hundreds His in He of at to the flame, the state His

hundreds and the

I 1an, Lord of the #ull, that the %orld mi"ht #e saved, 6rin"in" horses, royally -uttUr, manifest mirror, in$rease all #eauty to%n

"lorious the armed the old

-uttUr

santhal %ood, +"ram #a"+,

e=quisite, ,a$.als His, to to ta.e

He %hose e=tent to Hari and to 6rahmA %as not .no%n, ':() "oodness ma.e dei"ned him $har"ers

Our &in" made me His slave, and in the !ath of "ra$e to .ee!, ';0) 3ade 6e$omin" He 1omin" He And He In He In And In And In And In He A And He 6eneath In The In He In He In ei"ht a the %ater #ooth "ra$iously $ame the royal "reat hunter, forest a #ore Da$.al to%n #e$ame -ANTUr He he #e$ame a &urunthu 3an"ai, mysti$ and %ith #ody, the %ell an $ame to !leased earthly d%ell7 -Uvanam sho%ed he sho%ed *AthavUr $aused the sound #lissful in -erun turrai+s "uileful, -Uvalam, His he of His home, to #e$ame therein too, $ondes$ended His vou$hsafed to $ame tin.lin" a lustre s%eet to attendant to He fair in the He assumed fittin" in tree in !o%ers assumin" "uile "ain %ho sat #eauty "ra$e form lay at He He hid7 an$ient manifest a 6rAhman, sho%ed 3adura, a for to the the the $ity horse+s the an$ient "ra$iously ma.in" ma"i$ "reat "room7 female $arry s!e$ial a!!ear in s%eetly an.lets One and the serves that hid to #e He 6lessed #eauty, s!otless and #ri"htenin" me His ray7 o%n, illusion7 fair, ';() devotee earth7 a#idin" form7 '(0) form7 "ra$ious heard7 d%elt, '(() "ra$ious, destroyed7 vi$tory, %ater7 '>0) day7 throned, "ave7 desired, '>() !leasure, form7 "ra$e #a#e7 '?0)

Uttara &O$a 3an"ai

undimmed #eauteous, sin !la$ed, an "uest

Himself7

*en.Adu7

6e$omin" 9=hi#itin"

In He In He In He

the sa$red

res!lendent ArUr, #esto%ed Idai maruthu, !lanted the !artner He in an in a the

island, famed the

in for #y

the its "ift

south

of

59vUr, state7 "roves, %isdom7 attended, '?() 9.am#am, queen7 *An,iyam, 'A0) #o%,

assumed

.in"ly honey dri!!in" of hosts !ure nature %ith d%elt his in of her of #earin" home in in desire sa$red He tau"ht %as "reatness only nature Lord of as to and mountain the of form "ra$e, !rimal in One $ame into "ra$e, moonli"ht #eauteous filled %ith lore, "reat mysti$ !alm+ d%elt virtues for form assumed in Himself, our He manifested the in d%elt His %ithout a of a a manifold7 of never sundered sa$red !erfumed a in AiyAru7 lo$.s7 foot7

His

Assumin" He In And He And He And He He In In In In In In In Too. 6ein" 6e$ame Thro+ He Lord The of u!!er $ame the &in" in the the d%elt sho%ed #e$ame a#ode +to%n &arumalam #e$ame "lory deli"hted #e$ame

so$iety attendant many a

mi"hty

assumed Himself

various #eauty

a!!earan$es, &adam#UrC hill In"Oy7 'A() Turutti7 desired7 !resen$e7 fla%7 'B0) si"n7 fire, form, "ra$e, 'B() .in", #ri"ht7 LAN5 "ra$e, '/00) !

s!a$ious in %ith 1aivan

of

the He Hill+ He He endless the

+*ulture+s &ut4Alam His ma"i$ ea$h the a air HILL of

-urram#ayam

1on$ealin" #eauteous

dis"uise one+s infinite

s!lendour

Sa"e des$endin" fairest 3ah9nthiram,

immeasura#ly

If He He The All The While He He The Who A In Hari On He The He To The His His 2itted

one

$ould His

tell His of

the

%ay form

He of of that in in

made !o%er sa$red

me and

HisE "ra$eC ashesC '/0() "aveE ! loud not7 '//0) emits, #ondC #lue %oreC '//() rode7 returnC

sho%ed e=hi#ited 4I*94 human -artner the made #ears s!lendour $uts lovin" and sho%s old #ears the GO5 *9HI1L9 the to in $ur, #ade Ah ea$h

sa$red

6ANN94 ra!ture s%ee!s the 5A39, so %hose the the .ne% $har"er not the the that mysti$ flame !rimal lotus a%ay,

strai"ht%ay "ra$e mer$y s!a.e tou$hes li"ht S-9A4, !ure threefold GA4LAN5 He to .no%s LAN5 His He !ious TOWNC "ives NA39C the !o%erC them %ith me dis!els that one+s sa$red meteC He no is He "reat

vileness of me "reat His,

NATHA 54U3 im!urity

the He a%ay one,

fra"rant 6rahmA !ran$in" in dominion to

loveliness Him forth %ay -Andi

"ra$e of #liss is O2 is

HisC saints '/80) "ra$e, dar.C "ives, '/8() HisC "ood,

su!ern His 6ein"s His of "ra$e nature, He Tillai ni"h He ,oy ea$h

Uttara &O$a 3an"ai !rimeval

GO5S "ift of lofty

3OUNT one+s in dra% ! love

"reatness

3eetly 3e, He <et,

ma.es filled left

th+all "lorious

$om!anyC here7

That day His servants %ho "ained "ra$e to "o %ith Him, '/:0)

3in"led While Then On They +Our While And And He That There Thus Doyous to those did earth rushed Lord, those $ried, dan$es

in that they %ith Our %ho +1elestial +mid "olden Umai, the hath the

!erfe$t "ained rolled, ea"er foot Lord+, "ained 5an$er, to $om!any #eauty %hose &in" roseate %ith +Ti"er to%n,+ "ain of it #e%ilderment

union not they to they His %ho to lea!ed $ome fell, rea$h %e!t foot

%ith on the over they the seaC and !ressed "ave of

Himself, fire ! them, %ailed, '/:() $alled7 near, "ra$e,+ #liss, '/;0) %ears, s%eetness, saints '/;()

-atan,ali satiety

yearned

#eauteous is

+Ti"er to%n+, %ith

li.e mouth His %ith

HimAlaya filled

And to &Ali "rants the #eauteous smile of His #lest $ountenan$e7 assem#led "arners filled, entered

Hi"h Lord of &ailai that resounds %ith ra!turous son"7

HYMN III - thiruvanndappahudi THE NATURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE UNIVERSE

This !oem has an introdu$tion of t%enty ei"ht lines, after %hi$h the !raises of 1ivan are intermin"led %ith some%hat intri$ate #ut in"enious alle"ories7 The %hole !arta.es of the nature of a rha!sody, not %ithout some su#limity, and $an #e fully a!!re$iated #y those only %ho have studied the %hole 1aiva system as sho%n in Notes I F*II7 It is an imitation, it %ould seem of the Sans.rit 1atarudriya or Hyme to 4udra7 <et, 1ivan the Aus!i$ious is ima"ined #y the Tamil 1aivaites quite other%ise than #y the northern and more an$ient authorities 1ivan in the south is the Guru, the friend, ulmost the familiar $om!anion, of His votaries, and is addressed %ith a mi=ture of a%e and of sim!le

affe$tion that has a !e$uliar effe$t 7 Throu"h all 3Ani..a*a$a"ar !oems this !ersonal relation of the God as manifested Guru to His devotees or dis$i!les is, of $ourse most !rominent7 I am not a%are of anythin" quite li.e this in the mytholo"y of the north thou"h amon" the %orshi!!ers of *ishnu in His various in$arnations somethin" analo"ous may e=ist7 Here lines / /8 are very intri$ate, and em!hasi@e t%o thou"hts '/) that the Su!reme in His "reatness em#ra$es all, and !ervades the minutest thin"s in His universeC and '8) that He is the unique 6ein", %hose %ondrous and admira#le su#limity is not to #e fully $om!rehended #y any finite #ein"s, "ods or men7 The t%o e!ithets the the Great One 'line >), and the 6eautiful one7 'line /8)7 The idea of lines /: /> is !e$uliar to the 1aiva system, %hi$h tea$hes that there are three "reat !ro$esses $arried on #y 1ivan, the Su!reme, in the Universe7 In the #e"innin" of ea$h aeon He evolves the !henomenal universe, and throu"h $ountless a"es sustains it as the theatre of #irths and deaths of the %hole drama of metam!sy$hosisC and at the end of ea$h aeon He involves the !henomenal universe in its !rimal elements7 These three !ro$esses of evolution,$onservation and involution, are $ommonly assi"ned to three deities, of %hom 6rahmA is the 1reator, *ishnu the -reserver, and 1ivan the 5estroyer7 This ho%ever %as seen to "ive to 1ivan an offi$e a!!arently inferior, and $ertainly less "ra$ious, than that %hi$h #elon"s to the other Gods7 The South Indian 1aiva system #oldly fa$es this diffi$ulty7 A$$ordin" to it there is really #ut one God7 He is $alled, amon" many other names, 1ivan +the 6lessed One+7 *ishnu and 6rahmA and the other so $alled "ods are #ut de!endent +souls+ li.e the rest, and at the #e"innin" of ea$h aeon their !la$e and offi$e for that aeon are assi"ned them #y the Su!reme as the result of merits a$$umulated7 The 6rahmA of the !resent aeon is the 5emiur"e or fashioner of The evolved UniverseE he !uts it into sha!e, and is the mere a"ent of 1ivan7 This system invites us to $ontem!late the universe at the #e"innin" of ea$h aeon a%aitin" the a$tion of the Su!reme7 9=isten$e is eternalC it is su#,e$t to %hat are $alled delu"es, or overhelmin" $atastro!hes, in %hi$h all the heavens, and all the re"ions of the a#yss, all %orlds, and all #ein"s

are restored to their rudimental $ondition, after %hi$h, #y the %ill and o!eration of 1ivan they resume their normal manifestations7 What e=ists at the #e"innin" of an aeon 2irst, %e have the Lord, -athi, Sivan, -erumAn7 He is the 2irst 1ause of all thin"sC the only God7 Inse!ara#le from Himself, d%ellin" in Him,is His !ersonified ener"y or Sa.ti his #ride said to #e the ori"inator, sour$e, fountain, #e"innin" of all emotion, a$tion, %isdom, and "ra$e7 Se$ondly, %e have Souls, lives, atomi$ e=isten$es,the flo$.s, !a$u7 These have no% no em#odiment , no !o%ers, ener"ies, or fa$ulties,a#idin" li.e #irds slee!in" in the ni"ht on the #ran$h$es of some mi"hty tree, hardly to #e distin"uished from the tree itself, save that they live7 These are definite in num#er, and are eternalC no addition $an ever #e made to the num#er of souls that are alive in the universe, none of them $an ever die7 Sin$e, as %e shall see, these may "ain a#solute identifi$ation %ith 1ivan -erumAn and thus #e em#odied no more, the num#er of em#odied souls diminishesC #ut no soul $eases to e=ist even after o#tainin" release, and #ein" ta.en into God7 It may #e, a$$ordin" to this system, that the time shall arrive %hen all em#odied lives have o#tained release, and then the %orlds %ill for ever $ease and 1ivan #e all in all7 9a$h of these souls has its load of deeds %hi$h are stored u!, and are a+ !arte ante, eternalC the result of %hi$h, in !leasure or in !ain, ea$h soul in some em#odied form must e=!erien$e7 As the 1aiva system says, The fruit of deeds must #e eaten + These souls, at the #e"innin" of ea$h aeon, $rou$h %aitin" for their em#odiments7 There are no% no evolved %orldsno heaven, no hell, no "ods and demons, men7 All these have #een, and shall #e,#ut no% are not7 That SOULS may #e furnished %ith em#odiments, and %ith %orlds in %hi$h they may e=!erien$e their fate, %e have thirdly, the 6ond, !A$am the eternal material $ause of the $reation7 This is threefold, !ure maya, im!ure maya and !ra.rithi, the of offs!rin" of the latter, %hi$h is undefined7 These three $ate"ories -ATHI,

-A1U and -A1A3 %hi$h %e $all rou"hly +The God, SOUL AN5 3ATT94+ Are the su#,e$ts e=!ounded in the 1aiva Siddhantha -hiloso!hy7

Civan' The Its If

pa!pa"!# develo!ement immeasura#le of tell the nature, their

and s!here and #eauty in of

u"t!# the elemental all its

#$i t#n%# universe, !henomena, !arti$ulars,

a#undant

one

%ould

As %hen, more than a hundred millions in num#er s!read a#road, The thron"in" atoms are seen in the ray that enters the house, '() So is He the G49AT ON9, Who e=ists in the minutest elements7 If His 1on,oined His They The Th# He He He 6ut, To He 5ay In &indled is is is the is #y the the the the si= the day in you %ould %ith su#tile sou"ht to 6eauteous One .no% His Him, eternity, ant understand7 drave As 6rahmA His !al!a#le the rush far them &' One, Who thou"ht, %ith of to moon the Who $reates the and "lory, e=tent, of in His a the rest and a#idin" mi"hty %ith 3Al, end, essen$e, '/0) %hirl%ind $ourse ! "reatness, sour$e,

manifestations, %hirlin" th# the the the diverse 1reator of thin"s 5estroyerC thin"s .inds an "ave7 its its of

&p#rati&n An$ient God, Who God, %ithout sa$red se$ts

Supr#(# of allC '/() men inse$t7 '80) heatC $oolnessC

!reserves

-reserver

$reatedC destroyed7

destroys re"ards their all, si= Who sun He mi"hty its

thin.in"

He is the attainment of deliveran$eC and Sour$e of #ein" to the heavenly ones -ossessor He sa$red resem#les lustre fire !la$ed the

In 9ndued And 2or All

the

!ure the

ether am#iant

!la$ed %ind %ith and $ells its millions hath

!ervasive %ith stren"th other He He than

!o%erC ener"yC "aveC me,

To the streams that "leam in the shade their savour s%eet, '8() to ever in the and their e=!anded aye, earth me several

en$losed7

F&rt) See See See See See See, See, See, See See See See See, See, See See, See See See See, See See Him Him Him Him Him I in Him, Him, Him, He He Him He Him, Him, Him, Him, Him, the the min"lin" Him, the d%ells is that e=tends more the -re$ious %ith a#ove, all Su#tile the Himself, adorned Whose %ith $annot the ea$h the ash #ear s%eet thin", the Great the afar ta.en One, %ith "irdle #esmeared the voi$ed as ! One its See Whom One, in Whose than &in" One, #ein"s, One, #elo%, 2irst! 6ein" the is ! thou"ht lute See %ild the ! He essen$e Him, 6rahmA See, human the title the an rarest ea$h He is %ide atom of one s$ien$e I is Him %ithout #oar+s forest I !erish the is, the and the thou"ht net +the the $om!are an$ient ti"er+s thin. !

#pith#t Whole tus. s.in and ! One not ! not !iety One+ earth ! "reat all He fails that+s to ! $herishes see ! ':0) ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ';0) ! ! ! ! ';() ! rare! ! ! '(0)

Whene+er

thin., ':()

over%helmed melody He An$ient 3Al %ords "oes of only small sa% .no%s

Infinite

Wonderful! An$ient %here

3anifold

trans$endin"

throu"hout su#tile

e=tended

in$om!ara#ly

Whom

s!reads

See See, See, See, See See, See See, See, Lo, See, See See, See, See,

the the He He Him,

#e"innin" +#ond+ is That dis$erns the the I

and and that the

the stands,

endin" +loosin"+ and all "ods 2emale, Him yieldin" mer$y s earth the made aeon and

He He That may and %ith its

trans$ends ordains that "ain "oes end ! not +neither my eyes

! ! ! ! '(() ! one+! !

Lord Whom 3ale, have

Whom the the seen 2ount, His 2oot have He

1ivan Him7 even the I His Him, in her His Her

.no%

am#rosial have even S!ouse and seen I

a#oundin" mi"ht hath 6lessed me lotus stand ! trod

"ra$e! '>0) ! ! ! ! '>()

roseate "ra$e

this .no%n, eyes are

One His flo%ers !

%hose Him

dar. #lue

to"ether

The

Sea

and

the

1loud

Lines >> B( are %ell ni"h untranslatea#le, for they $ontain a su#tle and intri$ate alle"ory, #y means of %hi$h the "ra$e of the manifested 1ivan, %ho is !raised under the title of the +1loud+ is set forth7 The idea is that the Infinite sea of ra!turous su!reme feli$ity is 1ivan, #ut as the 1loud in the monsoon season su$.s u! %ater from the sea, and rises in #la$. masses that $over the s.y, %hile all the !henomena of the %onderful out#urst of the #enefi$ient, #ut also fearful, monsoon are e=hi#ited so does the Su!reme manifest Himself as the Guru, the O#,e$t of Love, and Give of "ra$e to His %orshi!!ers7 In the monsoon season, li"htnin"s flash from one end of the s.y to the other, $rested torrents s%ee! do%n over the hills, #earin" %ith them u!rooted !lants and trees, and not unseldom hu"e sna.es that have #een distur#ed from their ro$.y mountain

hidin" !la$es7 The various .inds of +Gloriosa+ s!read forth their #eautiful flo%ers li.e su!!li$atin" hands, %hile every valley and hollo% is filled %ith %ater7 3ean%hile, as the heat is most intense ,ust #efore the #urst of the monsoon, the !oet !i$tures a troo! of thirsty antelo!es, deluded #y the mira"e %hi$h seems to offer them refreshin" streams and shadeE disa!!ointed they are left to die of thirst in the %ilderness7 3ean%hile the !ain of the fier$e heat has $eased7 5o%n the "or"es of the hill the torrent rushes, and is re$eived into tan.s !re!ared for it #y the e=!e$tant hus#andmen7 These la.es are fra"rant %ith #eautiful flo%ers, and on their #an.s the maidens have .indled fires %ith aromati$ %oods, at %hi$h they dry their hair and "arments after the refreshin" #ath7 The $ultivators may no% so% their seed and e=!e$t a ri$h harvest7 All this is the %or. of the #la$. $louds %hi$h dre% %ater from the sea to fertilise the earth7 In these lines every !arti$ular of the des$ri!tion has its mysti$al meanin", %hi$h hardly needs illustration7 The student %ill $om!are *II, >/ >;7

The Arisin" Whilst While While While

an$ient in sa$red ser!ent the

sea li.e

of the

#liss a hill

su!reme #la$. of flash sensual

is

THAT vast -etun turrai every dies heat

indeed

A!!earin"

1LOU5, #lest, !oint , hides mortal , '?0) itsellfC forth, !ain, drum7 '?() distil, side, C se$ts thron"7 'A0) a hands, "ra$e every la.e

li"htnin"s #ri"ht sorro% its forth in dro!s the of of of %rath stret$hes of

frorn #onda"e fervent Hi#is$us li.e our "ra$e

sore the in

the

all #eauteous mi"hty

shines as

S%ellin" It While And While And The 9=$ites the sounds the the the rises

.Anthal tender to thirst "leamin" +demon $ar+

out s%eet

su!!li$atin" unfailin" on of s%ells

torrent hi"hest of the

#an.s the lar"e eyed

every si=

antelo!e

And And 4ises And Those It Is Where In And The So% Hail, tan.,

they faint and t%ofold rushes "ro% %here as in %ith

%ith the rushes, deeds throu"h the rises it ri$h "od, of trees,

ea"er

desire thirst heavenly haste %ith "ro%in" u! of the $left

$ro%d hither hu##les from and the a"e and mi"hty

to

drin.C thitherE stream deli"ht, 'A() a%ay7 hills, la.e, 'B0) humC ,oy, %orshi! love ! 'B() Prai # a"e,

unquen$hed

3ean%hile,

$ro%ned ours roots the in e=!anded smo.e s%ells in a#undan$e hard in of

of to #ears hi"h flo%ers,

9ddies around, dashes a"ainst the #an. of our +em#odiment, mi"hty im!risoned

en$ir$lin" fra"rant a"il, %here field seed of to universe #eetles of rea$h

the the this &'

%ith

ever risin"

!lou"hmen devotees 1LOU5 LI&9

A %ripti&n God 2irst Warrior Who One, Who %ear+st "ivin" dost #la$. "ra$e to remove

sna.e the our

for devout fear,

"irdle, as$eti$s, all

hail hail hail

! ! !

Thou Who dost ever dra% us to Thee, ma.e us Thine, all hail ! Thou Who dost %i!e a%ay sorro%s that "ather around, all hail ! '/00) Thou Who "iv+st am#rosia rare to those that "ain a$$ess to Thee, all hail ! Thou Lover Thou Who of in Her thi$. %ith hostile dar.ness shoulders to the dan$in" li.e the hostile dost one, #end do%n, #am#oo, all all hail! ! ! s%ellin" hail hail

Who art

our &in",

Thou Who to thy lovers art treasure in distress, all hail ! '/0() Prai #

-raise -raise What Thou Not Not Li.e Thy This 3a.in"

to to

Thee, Thee, stands,

our

O%n,

%avin" in

the

envenomed ash smeared esta#lish7

sna.e form

! !

-raise to Thee, Great One, Who fill+st our souls %ith !ious ra"e ! mi"hty Thou One, #y eye of me of a!!rehension !er$eived, the %ithout in flo%er $ease fall nor Thine dost of #y In every !art %hat moves, Thou mov+st itC %hat lies still, Thou lay+st to rest '//0) s!ee$h, soul ! all7 '//() !ervades, $am+st ! "lorious An$ient "ras!ed #y the trans$endin" the sense or"ans every%here, thin"s "ra$e O Thou 6ein"

Thou didst arran"e in order, manifest the ether and all elem$nts7 fra"ran$e "reatness day this to #ody u!risin" all a%ay,

$ondes$endin"

destru$tion

To day to me in $ondes$endin" "ra$e Thou $am+stC I !raise Thee ! '/80) Thou Who did+st fashion this de$ayin" frameC I !raise Thee ! As fountain s!rin"in" in my soul Thou ma.+st me "lad, I !raise Thee ! Whlle I Hi 6ri"ht The 2rom 6rahmA "ems li"htnin"+s %ent them %ho u! .no% !leasure not #eyond ho% hidin* flash+d !lay to toiled see. %ith emerald %ith mysti$ TheeC Thou to #ound #ear li.e this &' s!lendour "leam didst s$rolls of didst hide flo%er #ody e=!ands vile !

Hi( #!' forth, "old, hide '/8() ! Thyself! Thyself

min"lin"

2rom those %ho in their homes !ra$tised virtue, Thou didst hide Thyself 2rom those %ho, in union %ith Thee, fi=ed their $ontem!lative soul Wlth 2rom 6y 6eni"n, !ainfiul those that %ho same re"ardin" effortC #oasted devi$e, all, Thou to there, re$eivin" didst see hide #y %ith Thyself some Thou hide a#undant ! rare '/:0) devi$e, Thyself! "ra$e Thee didst

As

male the

a!!earin" senses five

Thou de!art,

dost

$han"e over s!urnin"

to every

neutral tra$.less all

form, hill

And in a #ri"ht #ro%ed female form dost hide Thyself ! 2ar off '/:() 6iddin" With !assin" frames s$ar$e livin", deli"hts,

As$eti$ saints in $ontem!lation d%ellC in their souls Thou fitly hid+st Thyself! Seemin" one thin", then not, eludin" .no%led"e, Thou dost hide Thyself ! When e+en of old I strove to find Thee, %hen to day I strive, '/;0) Thou hid+st Thyself, 5e$eiver ! 6ut %e+ve found Thee no% !

+&r hip Haste, Around Assem#le, The That He He Then, I In as %hile utter raised "o haste His around, ye, "arlands feet follo% told li.e in a enra!tured undyin" %ilderment distrau"ht, than honied $aused mi"hty fire the fren@y He fall7 of "ra$e "ra$e love voi$e I 6rAhman a#ove fell, and %ild out hard His me He sho%ed dissolved the I as of my His frame, I #illo%y rolled, a ra"in" and sea+s of to on, leave nature made I fresh #ind ye as me "lory $riedC loud $ried no it flo%ers ! "a!7 is, hear7 His, forth, '/(0) %avesC aloud, ravedC '/(() #lest7 day '/>0)

Lay hold of Him, althou"h He hide Himself, avoid your "ras! ! '/;() In$om!ara#le those $alled, mi"ht

3adman 3ore A He With

mania$ ele!hant made so me that d%ellin"s

While those %ho sa% %ere %ildered, %ho heard it %onder+d sore7 6ore me a%ay #eyond enduran$e far7 +T%as then throu"h all my lim#s s%eetness to infused, 9v+n our The an$ient $ity of His foes %ith fire lit #y His #eauteous smile hum#le

He To me

destroyed as the ri!e

that Nelli

none fruit in

%ere !alm He

left7 %as7

Raptur# What I I mere to $ur say not I ! .no% endure Ah I+m not, ! dead I He s!ee$h His #ody me dro!s throu"hout soul, for and !ure "ave ele!hant found, in as me a and my thou"h frame made %hile "ra$e e=!lores He+d fields full in %ith most #ein" ma.e of even He su!ernal %here to me "ra$e s%eet me to as mi"ht $ane, live7 foodE mi=ed, at In Hail What ! He To ! to hath me Thee done Thy it sea !ore7 %or. $urrish honied distil7 %aters $om!lain7 to me '/>() ! mil. rise, '/?0) ! state s%eetnessC marvellous '/?() Himself, flo%7 last me '/A0) slave not of

$annot

understand

What Thou in "ra$e hast "iven I .no% not, tastin" am not satiate, Thou"h Li.e Within Am#rosia This In He He With He And He He Am#rosial $aused tender formed as an sou"ht, filled I+ve flo%in" my is every im#i#ed #illo%s soul s%ell $om!rehend from made filled "ra$ious this out the dee! every

sur!assin"

3er$y+s

honey

9v+n He Whose nature nor 6rahmA .no%s nor 3Al !

H)(n , p&RRith thiru a*ava! THE SACRED A-AVAL OF PRAISE.

TH9 149ATION O2 TH9 WO4L57

H9 1AUS95 TH9 -H9NO39NAL UNI*94S9 TO A--9A47 'This seems to the translator to read more li.e a %or. of UmA!athi, than of our sa"e!) Lines / /0 Th# F##t &' Civan While the 2our fa$ed and other heavenly d%ellers rose, Adorin", sa$red 3Al, %hose head %ith rays is $ro%ned, With His t%o feet measured the threefold %orld, While saints from the four quarters !raised %ith all their sentient !o%ers, 9a"er that day Thy foot and $ro%n to .no%, '() He then #e$ame a fier$e stron" #oar, and rushin" on 5u" do%n throu"h sevenfold re"ions, %earied $ried at lastE 9ternal Sour$e of all, to Thee #e trium!hs manifold !+ <et thou"h He %orshi! !aid, Thy !air of 2eet flo%ers sa% he notC <et Thou to me Thy %orshi!!er art easy of a$$ess ! '/0) Lines // :( Hu(an #("&di(#nt On earth "irt #y the %atery seas, from ele!hant to ant, Throu"h many matri$es I !assed, O#tained a human form %ithin my mother+s %om#7 77 Thus %as I #orn into the sad sea of th+ affli$tive life7 '8() Then durin" ea$h year as it met me I "ained and hoarded "ains7 Ho% varied %as my life!7 3ornin"+s routine, hun"er in noontide hour, and ni"ht 2or slee!7 In ,ourneys oft I lived7 Det #la$. lo$.s, and $rimson li!s, and radiant smiles %ere hersC ':0) Into love+s sea I !lun"ed7 77 ':/ :()

In the %ide marts %here foolish %orldlin"s toil I lived, still slave to fier$e desires7 I lived #y sea of learnin" multiformC I lived in sorro% men $all %ealthC I lived +mid an$ient stin"s of !overty, ';0) And thus in varied forms and fortunes s!ent my days7 Lines ;8 (/ Th# id#a &' -&d %&(# int& hi !i'# Then %ondrous thou"ht of the 5ivine, so $alled, arose7 Soon as I .ne% that 69ING, free from hate, unique, 5elusive !o%ers in ever $han"in" millions 6e"an #e"uilin" varied !lay7 ';() 4elations, nei"h#ours, $ame around, With fluent ton"ue they ur"ed their +atheism+ 2riends around 'su$h herds of $attle old !) Sei@+d me, $all+d, hurried to and froC The 6rAhman said +the %ay of !enan$e is su!reme+C '(0) And others sho%ed the la% of trustin" love ! Se$tarian dis!utants $om!la$ently 5is$ordant tenets shouted loud and fou"ht7 Then hau"hty *edAnt $reed unreal $ame, Whirled, dashed, and roared li.e furious hurri$ane7 '(() LO.Ayathan a "listenin" mi"hty sna.e 6rou"ht $ruel !oisoned heresies7 Whilst these delusions, endless, "irt me round, Lines (B A> Hi %&nv#r i&n Lest I should "o astray, He laid His hand on me !

As %a= #efore the un%earied fire '>0) With meltin" soul I %orshi!t, %e!t, and #ent myself, 5an$ed, $ried aloud, and san", and !rayed7 They sayE +The tooth of ele!hant and %oman+s "ras! rela= not,+ So I %ith love, real, interrnittin" never, Was !ier$ed, as %ed"e driven into soft youn" tree7 '>() All tears, I li.e the refluent sea %as tossedC Soul %as su#dued, and #ody quivered %ith deli"ht7 While the %orld $alled me demon, mo$.in" me, 2alse shame I thre% asideC the fol.+s a#usive %ord I too. as ornamentC nor did I s%erve7 '?0) 3y mind %as ra!tC a fool, #ut in my folly %ise, The "oal I sou"ht to rea$h infinity ! All %onderin" desire, As $o% yearns for its $alf, I moanin", hurried to and fro7 Not ev+n in dreams thou"ht I of other "ods7 The One most !re$ious Infinite to earth $ame do%nC '?() Nor did I "reatness of the Sa"e su!erne $ontemn, Who $ame in "ra$e7 Thus from the !air of sa$red feet Li.e shado% from its su#stan$e !artin" not, 6efore, #ehind, at every !oint, to it I $lun"7 3y inmost self in stron" desire dissolved, I yearnedC 'A0) Love+s river overflo%ed its #an.sC 3y senses all in Him %ere $entredlC +Lord !+ I $ried7 With stammerin" s!ee$h, and quiverin" frame I $las!ed adorin" handsC my heart e=!andin" li.e a flo%er7 9yes "leamed %ith ,oy and tears distilled7 'A() His love that fails not day #y day still #ur"eons forth ! To the end E Prai #

Li.e mother, Thou hast #rou"ht me u!, I !raise ! God, stron" to $an$el deeds of ours, Who didst #e$ome in truth a Sa"e, I !raise ! &in" of "olden 3adura ! 'B0) Guru -earl, in &Udal shinin" #ri"ht ! 5an$in" in southern Tillai+s $ourt, This day to me !re$ious am#rosia Thou ! Sour$e of the fourfold mysti$ S$roll that ne+er "ro%s old ! 1ivan, %hose $onquerin" #anner is the 6ull ! 'B() Thy varied form "leams as the li"htnin"C Thee I !raise ! In me the stony heart Thou softenest7 Guard me, Thou "uarded hill of "old ! Ah, "ive Thy "ra$e to me ! Thou dost $reate, Thou tost !reserve, Thou dost destroy ! '/00) 2ather, %ho dost remove all "riefs, I !raise ! 4uler, I !raise ! 3y &in", I !raise ! 3ount of shinin" $rystal, !raise ! 3onar$h, to Thee #e !raise ! Am#rosia, !raise ! Unfailin" refu"e are Thy fra"rant feet ! '/0() Thee *9di$ Sa"e, I !raise ! S!otless One, !raise ! Thee 2irst, I !raise ! Wisdom, I !raise ! Thou Goal I see.,!raise ! S%eet fruition, Thee I !raise ! Our Lord, on Whose #ri"ht $rest the river flo%s, Our 3aster, !raise! Understandin",!raise ! '//0) Thou hast #eheld the servitude of lo%liest me, O Tea$her, !raise ! 3inute as atom, !raise ! O 1aivan, !raise ! Our 1hief, I !raise ! Our Si"n, I !raise ! *irtue, I !raise ! ThouWay, I !raise ! O Thou"ht, I !raise! '//() 6alm, hardly #y $elestials "ained, I !raise !

&in", easy of a$$ess to others, !raise ! 3onar$h in "ra$e, Who savest lest %e sin. In hell+s hated one and t%enty rounds, I !raise ! 1om!anion, !raise ! 3y Hel!er, !raise! '/80) O 6liss of life, I !raise ! 3y Treasure,!rais$ ! O free from #onds,!rais$ ! 2irst One,!raise ! 2ather,!raise ! Haran,!raise ! Thou One, trans$endin" %ord and understandin",!raise ! <ield of the %orld "irt #y the e=tended sea, !raise! '/8() 6eauty rare, yet easy of a$$ess, I !raise ! 9ye li.e an a@ure $loud, I !raise ! A#idin" 3ount of sa$red "ra$e, I !raise ! 3e, too, Thou mad+st a man,Thy t%in feet Thou !la$ed+st on my head, O Warrior,!raise ! '/:0) Thou dost %i!e off all sorro% from adorin" hand, !raise ! Sea of im!erisha#le ra!ture, !raise , Thou dost trans$end all forms that !ass and $ome rene%ed, !raise ! 2irst One sur!assin" all, !raise ! 6ride"room of Her %ith fa%nli.e eyes, !raise ! '/:() 3other of the Immortals in the heavenly land,!raise! 2ivefold Thou dost in earth e=tend, !raise ! 2ourfold Thou dost e=ist in the %ater, !raise ! Threefold in fire Thou shinest, !raise ! T%ofold in the air Thou art all "lorious, !raise ! '/;0) One in the ether Thou hast s!run" forth,!raise ! Am#rosia of the trou#led mind,!raise ! Hard to #e a!!roa$hed #y "ods e+en in a dream,!raise ! In %a.in" hour to me a $ur Thou "avest "ra$e,!raise ! 2ather, Who d%ell+st in Idai maruthu,!raise ! '/;()

Thou #earest Gan"ai on Thy $rest, !raise ! &in" in ArUr a#idin",!raise ! Lord of "lorious Tiru aiyAru,!raise ! Our -rin$e of AnnAmalai,!raise ! Sea of am#rosia, fillin" all the !la$e, !raise ! '/(0) Our 2ather d%ellin" in 9.am#am, !raise ! Thou Who in form art half a %oman, !raise ! Who d%ell+st su!reme in -erun turrai, !raise! 1ivan Who d%ell+st in Sira !alli, !raise ! None other refu"e here I .no%, !raise ! '/(() Our 5an$er in &ut4Alam, !raise ! Our &in" d%ellin" in GO.a@i, !raise ! Our 2ather of In"Oy+s 3ount, !raise ! 6eauteous One of seemly -aranam, !raise ! Idan"an Who d%ell+st in &adam#Ur, !raise ! '/>0) 2ather, "ra$ious to those that $ome to Thee, !raise ! 6eneath the Itti tree to si=, &in", Thou %ert "ra$ious, and to th+ ele!hant, !raise ! 1ivan, Lord of the southern land,!raise ! &in" of our $ountry fol., !raise ! '/>() Thou %ert "ra$ious to the litter of the #oar, !raise ! Lord of "lorious &ailai+s 3ount!raise ! 2ather, Who "rants us "ra$e, !raise ! &in", Who our dar.ness dissi!ates, !raise ! I Thy slave lan"uish all alone, !raise ! '/?0) In "ra$e remove my "uile, !raise ! In "ra$e say to me + 2ear not, G!raise! -oison #e$ame am#rosis #y Thy love, !raise ! 2ather, !raise ! Guru, !raise ! 9ternal, !raise ! -ure One, !raise! '/?()

6rother, !raise ! 9=istent One, !raise! O Great One, !raise ! O Lord, !raise ! O 4are One, !raise ! O -ure One, !raise ! Glorious -ath of *edi$ sa"es, !raise ! I ma.e my !laint,nor $an endure, O 2irst One, !raise ! '/A0) &insman, !raise ! Life, !raise ! Glory, !raise ! 6liss, !raise ! O 1loud, !raise ! O 6ride"room, !raise ! S!ouse of Her %hose feet are soft, !raise ! I, a $ur, Thy slave am !er!le=ed, !raise ! '/A() Our 3aster Thou, all da@@lin" #ri"ht, !raise ! 9ye a!!rehendin" forms diverse, !raise ! &in", d%ellin" in the $ir$lin", sa$red to%n, I !raise ! Lord of the mountain land, !raise ! Thou in Whose lo$.s is the $res$ent moon, !raise ! '/B0) 6lessed Lord of the sa$red 9a"le mount, !raise ! Aran of hilly -Uvanam, !raise ! 2ormless, in form revealed Thou art, !raise ! 3ountain of mer$y ever ni"h, !raise ! Li"ht trans$endin" utmost #ound, !raise ! '/B() 1learness, hard to understand, !raise ! 4ay of the fla%less Gem, !raise ! Lovin" to those Thou ma.+et Thine o%n, !raise! Am#rosial "ra$e that satiates not, !raise ! Our Lord, the #earer of a thousand names, !raise ! '800) Thou Whose "arland is the TAli arru"u, !raise ! 5an$er in li"ht e=!andin" far, !raise ! O 6eauteous %ith the santhal %ood !erfume, !raise ! 6liss, hard for thou"ht to rea$h, !raise !

On 3andira+s mi"hty mount Thou d%ell+st, !raise ! '80() Thou Who dost underta.e to save us, !raise ! Thou Who in "ra$e didst "ive the ti"er+s du" to th+ antelo!e, !raise ! Thou Who didst %al. u!on the #illo%y sea, !raise! I hou didst "ive "ra$e that day to the #la$. #ird, !raise ! Thou didst a!!ear #y sense dis$erned, !raise ! '8/0) 2iery One on earth dis!layed, !raise ! Thou art the 2irst, the 3idst, the Last, !raise ! Hell, -aradise, or !endant 9arth not enterin", The heavenly "oal Thou "av+st unto the -Andiyan, !raise ! Thou that fillest all, to Thee #e !raise ! '8/() &in" of 1iva !uram ri$h %ith $lusterin" flo%ers, to Thee #e !raise ! God, "arlanded %ith !ur!le lotus flo%er, to Thee #e !raise ! Thou dost $ut off #e%ilderment of those that %orshi! Thee, !raise ! -raise ! Ta.e in "ra$e this %reath of #a##lin" %ords 2rom me, mere $ur, that .no% not to distin"uish false from true ! '880) An$ient of days 6urner of many to%ns, !raise ! Infinite Lord of s!lendours infinite, !raise ! -raise ! -raise ! 6huyan"a -erumAn ! -raise ! -raise ! An$ient $ause of all ! -raise! -raise ! Trium!hant !raise ! '88()

HYMN V - thiru%atha/a( THE SACRED CENTO. RELI-IOUS ENTHUSIASM.

Introdu$tion to the Sa$red 1ento This remar.a#le !oem $ontains a hundred es!e$ially flo%in" and harmonious

verses of varyin" metres7 These are divided into ten de$ades, and the %hole are $onne$ted #y the la% %hi$h requires that the last %ord of ea$h verse shall #e"in the follo%in" verse7 The %hole ten lyri$s %ith their hundred verses are thus lin.ed to"ether7 This arran"ement, %hi$h is very $ommon in Tamil, is $alled AnthAthi, %hi$h I venture to translate +ana!horeti$ verse+7 This $ento is intended to e=hi#it the !ro"ress of the soul throu"h the su$$essful sta"es of reli"ious e=!erien$e till it loses itself in the ra!ture of $om!lete union %ith the Su!reme7 The "eneral titile "iven #y one editor is equivalent to +The *aryin" -hases of 4eli"ious 9nthusiasm+ at least this is the nearest e=!ression for it that I $an find in 9n"lish7 The !oem is su!!osed to have #een $om!osed in HTiru !eran turai immediately after the de!arture of the Saints, for some time 3Ani..a *A$a"ar+s $om!anions, %ho !assed throu"h fire and %ent home to 1ivan7 2rom the #order of the tan., %here the divine $onfla"ration had arisen, into he midst of %hi$h his $om!anions had thro%n themselves, he returned to the &ondral tree, %here he s!ent a lon" !eriod in solitary meditation, of %hi$h these !oems are the sum7 He surveys his !ast e=!erien$es, $ontem!lates the %or. assi"ned him and %hile he #e"ins the series of sa$red !oems #y %hi$h he %as to esta#lish the 1aiva system n the hearts of his fello% $ountrymen, he never $eases to $om!lain in most tou$hin" lan"ua"e, that he is not !ermitted at on$e to follo% his 3aster and #rethren into the rest and "lory of -aradise7 This is indeed the #urthen of mu$h of his !oetry7 The titles of the ten de$ades, into %hi$h the !oem is divided, indi$ate in some measure the $ourse of his thou"hts and the $hara$ter of his mental $onfli$ts7 There is a most !atheti$ alternation of ra!turous and realisin" devotion %ith $oldness and a!athy, and even, it seems of tem!orary a#andonment to "ross sensuality7 It is to #e dou#ted %hether the %hole of these verses are of one !eriod, and I should !refer to thin. that they really em#ody his meditations and solloquies u! to the !eriod of his final settlement in 1itham#aram7 591A5 /7

TH9

1OGNITION

O2

TH9

T4U97

/7 Hum#le a$$ess to the Ne% 3aster 3y frame #efore Thy fra"rant foot is quiverin" li.e al/ o!enin" #udC 3y hands a#ove my head I raiseC %hile tears !our do%n, my meltin" soul, The false renoun$in",, !raises TheeC %ith son"s of trium!h !raises Thee, Nor suffer I adorin" hand to restC O 3aster, loo. on me ! ';) II7 Self surrender7 He a$$e!ts the as$eti$ life7 I as. not #liss of Indra, 3Al, or AyanC thou"h my house and home 6e ruin+d, friendshi! form I none save %ith Thine o%nC thou"h hell+s a#ys I enter, I unmurmurin" "o, if "ra$e divine a!!oint my lotC O &in" I no other "od save Thee I !onder, our Trans$endent Good ! 'A) III7 He is des!ised as a mad enthusiast7 Trans$endent Good ! O%ner and Sire ! Thy servant meltin" thin.s on Thee7 In ra!tures meet I utter forth my fever+d soul+s e$stati$ ,oys, Still %anderin" from to%n to to%nC %hile men $ry out, +A madman thisC+ And ea$h one s!ea.s, %ith mind distrau"ht, dis$ordant %ords7 O, %hen $ome death I*7 None to #e %orshi!!ed #ut 1ivan 9re%hile %as 5a.shan+s offerin" death7 They ate the flesh, and !oison feared + Our 2ather,+ $ried our friends and %orshi!t Him %ith su!!liant voi$e7 And yet +Three are the "ods that rule in heaven and earth,+ they vainly deem7 What sin is this your hau"hty minds #reathe out, ye errirn" !enitents I '/>) I '/8)

*7 I !lead no merit am no real devotee7 No !enan$e have I done, nor #o%ed, %ith hand unstintin" s$att+rin" flo%ersC 6orn all in vain, to + $ruel deeds + a thrall, the #liss of 1ivan+s heav+n, Amon"st Thy lovin" ones, I+ve fail+d to "ainC see, and in "ra$e #esto% On me, Thy slave, $onsummate life #eneath Thy feet, Su!ernal Lord ! '80) *I7 Gra$e unfailin" to the faithful They roam+d and $ull+d $hoi$e varied flo%ers to lay in %orshi! at Thy feet, They deemed that all they sou"ht they should o#tainC and from these lovin" hearts In mysti$ "uile Thou hidest still, a#idin" not ! In "ra$e #esto%, Love to Thy "lorious foot, that I may $easeless !raise %ith !erfe$t son" ! '8;) *II7 1ivan %as an as$eti$,as am I no%7 9re%hile the 3a.er+s ma.er #o%ed, #rou"ht #loomin" flo%ers, and every%here Sou"ht for Th+ All seein" One, nor found7 Our mi"hty One, Who d%ells #eyond, Here in the %ilds %ith demons dan$ed, a homeless, friendless oneC and there In ti"er s.in arrayed Himself, as madman %and+rin" to and fro ! '8A) *III7 Save Thy servants in the day of doom! J The %and+rin" %ind, the fire, the flood, the earth, the heaven, a time shall #e When these ado%n the "ulf shall "o ! After that hour un.no%n has $ome The deeds mi"hty the soul to #ind Thy slave in %and+rin" days has done Let the time $ome for these to !ass ! Guard us from these, our Guardian then ! ':8) IF7 6havan+s our Lord7

6havan+s our Lord, Whose "arland is the $ool vast moon, of heavenly one The -rin$e7 1ivan+s our Lord,Who made me His, my meanness thou"h He sa% Our Lord Su!reme is He, and I, His lo%ly servant, thus de$lare ! That earth may .no%, sound out that 6huvan is our Lord ! ':>) F7 +Tis %ondrous "ra$e that sou"ht me out7

Unmeet %as I to enter +mon"st Thy lovin" ones, my fla%less Gem ! Am#rosia rare ! The %ay Thou too.+st me for Thine o%n and mad+st me meet The very meanest liftin" hi"h, Thou didst the heav+nly ones #rin" lo% ! What Thou our Lord to me hast done is as a !lay men lau"h to see ! ';0)

591A5 TH9 FI7 I3-A4TATION A !rayer O2 for 5I*IN9

II &NOWL95G97 !erfe$t love

+3idmost of Thy devoted ones, li.e them in mysti$ dan$e to moveC Within Thy home a#ove to "ain %ish+d entran$e, lo, I ea"er haste ! O "olden "lorious Hill of "ems ! Give "ra$e, that $easeless love to Thee7 Our 3aster, in my heart of hearts, meltin" my very soul, may +#ide7 ';;) FII7 Lon"in" for "ra$e alone7

I dread not any #irth7 To death %hat should I o%e ! Nor do I $rave 9ven heaven itself to "ain7 No !o%er to rule this earth do I esteem7 O 1ivan, $ro%ned %ith $assia flo%ers that s%eets distilC our -erumAn ! Our only Lord! I faintin" $ryE + When $omes the day I find Thy "ra$e I+ ';A)

FIII7

Without

Thy

!resen$e

!ine

I ever !ine Thy flo%+ry feet to see,

Thy slave, do" thou"h I am !

I sit, no fittin" flo%ers !resent, my ton"ue no risin" ra!tures s!ea.s7 Thou Who the %ell strun" "olden #o% didst #end ! Am#rosia of Thy "ra$e If Thou "ive not, I -IN9, a %ret$h forlorn, %hat other $an I #eI '(8) FI*7 5eadness of soul7

3y inmost self -IN9S not, as %ere #efittin", for Thy sa$red 2ootC Nor melts in loveC I #rin" no %reathC s!ea. out no %orthy %ord of !raise Within the shrine of Him, the &in" of "ods, !erform no servi$e dueC Nor move in dan$e7 To death I haste ! Thou Whom true %isdom #rin"eth ni"h! '(>) F*7 God all in all

Thou art the HeavenC Thou art the 9arthC Thou art the WindCThou art the Li"ht! The 6ody ThouC the Soul art ThouC 9=isten$e, Non e=isten$e ThouC Thou art the &in"C these !u!!ets all Thou dost ma.e move, d%ellin" %ithin That ea$h one saysE + 3yself and mine7 +What shall I sayI Ho% render -4AIS9 '>0) F*I7 3y !raise is !ure7 2ree me from em#odiments7

The heavenly ones adore Thee still heaven+s #liss to share ! Their minds to Thee They lo%ly hum#le that, on hi"h e=alted, men may %orshi! themC Thou round %hose flo%er %reath hum the honey #ees ! Thy slave, I !raise Thee, even I, that Thou may+st save from idle round of earthly #irth ! '>;) F*II7 The #liss of 1ivan+s heaven of !resen$e7

The heavenly d%ellers $haunt Thy !raiseC the fourfold *9das utter son"C She of the shinin" lo$.s that shed !erfume is sharer of Thy seatC There in true love Thy servants all $ommin"lin" d%ellC there, more and more, Thy feet %ith soundin" an.lets "irt do they #ehold, Thou hard to .no% !'>A) F*III7 This a#andonment is unendura#le7

Thou Whom +tis hard to .no%, in s.y and in the "olden $ourt revealed, Our mi"hty One ! #eneath the ,e%elled feet %here I %as made Thine o%n, No more I s$atter fra"rant flo%ers, nor %onderin" %ee!, nor melt in love7 +Tis !ast my !o%er to #ear ! Ho% $an it #e I I die, insooth, I die ! '?8) FIF7 He is a#oveC %e earthly still7

With flo%+ry arro%s in the s!rin" time $omes the "od of soft desire, And %it$hin" smile of maidens fair, %ith rosy mouths and flo%er %reathed lo$.s ! -oor soul, that !ants and melts throu"h these, Who made thee His, and thrilled thy '?>) FF7 O soul #e %ise! frame, To day hath "one and d%ells in heavenC yet see, thou still art lin"erin" here !

O soul, that livest here in ,oy ! Of life+s true ,oys #ereft, in mire Thou sin.+st of +mi"hty deeds +! Him Who "uards men from sin.in" !raisest not ! Thou art devisin" ruin to thyself,I tell thee so full oftC Thou+rt sin.$in" even no% #eneath the 2LOO5 of the distressful sea! 'A0) 591A5 III7

5<ING

TO

S9NS9

AN5

S9L27

This de$ad des$ri#es the mysti$ e=!erien$e .no%n #y 1aiva Siddhantha, as NAna 1arithai, in %hi$h the devotee, thou"h a#le to dis$ern God in and a#ove and #eyond all thin"s, $ontinues to !erform out%ard rites '1arithai) and to avail himself ofall means of "ra$e7 See 1iva -ra"A1am II7;A7 Sin$e 1ivan so dei"ns to manifest, and yet vell, His !resen$e, the devotee is assiduous n !erforman$e of all !res$ri#ed a$ts of %orshi!, %hile his soul trans$ends the visi#le, and #y NAnam FFI7 'in I this $onne$tion have K divine faith) into sees God7 a!athy7

rela!sed

Throu"h Thine e=!andin" lo$.s the 2LOO5 !ours do%nC the 6ull is Thine, Lord of the heavenly ones ! They san", and stood, %ith !antin", meltin" souls, li.e torrent, !lun"in" in th+ a#yss ! and I, With yearnin" soul I heard ! Thou mad+st me Thine ! <et no% from head to foot, I melt notCfrom my eyes The rushin" %aters !our not do%nCmy heart is stoneC#oth eyes are %ood to SIN2UL me ! 'A;) FFII7 5eadness has $ome over me7 Thou ent+rin" stood+st #y me fast #ound IN SINC as one %ho says, + I+m sin+s destroyer, $ome !+ Thyself announ$in" thus, Thou mad+st me Thine, #e$am+st my mi"hty Lord7 Li.e iron statue, I No% sin" no !raise, nor dan$e, nor %ee!, nor %ail, nor faint %ith #liss7 6ehold, O -rimal One, To Thee I ma.e my !laintC nor .no% ho% this

%ith me shall end, Thou Who art 2irst and Last !'AA) FFIII7 *ery vile, #ut Thine, save me! Thou+rt Ayan, Thou the fourfold *9das+ LordC I .no% Thee, I, lo%est of men that liveC I .no%, and see myself a very $urC yet Lord, I+ll say I am Thy lovin" one ! Thou"h su$h I %as, Thou too.+st me for Thine o%n Thy saints are here no lon"er, only I, *ile %ret$h ! and is it thus Thy "reatness shines I Our -erumAn, %hat shall I say to Thee I 'B8) FFI*7 Thy votary, thou"h full of sin7 And if I s!a.e, + Thou+rt I1an, 2ather, Sire "reat -erumAn C+ thus have I ever saidC If I #esmear+d, +t%as sa$red ash alone I smear+d, still !raisin" Thee, our -erumAnC Who erst made those Thine o%n %ho+d !assed #y love o+er #irth and death7 In torrent !lun"ed of lust And "uile, #ehold me, s!otless Hill of "ems ! 2ather ! +T%as su$h an one Thou mad+st Thine o%n ! 'B>) FF*7 The mystery of His #ein"7 Thy $olour is not red, nor %hite Thy formC Thou+rt 3any, OneC Atom, than Atom far Su#tlerC the heavenly host in +%ildered thou"ht .no% not the %ay, 2ather, to rea$h Thy feet7 Thou sho%d+st Thy form, Thy #eauty didst dis!lay

didst sho% Thy no%+ry feet ! 3e %anderin", Thine Thou mad+st, safe"uardin" me from future + #irth + ! Our -erumAn, %hat shall I say, %hat THIN& I '/00) FF*I7 Wonders of "ra$e7 Thou mad+st my THOUGHT Thy THOUGHT ! Of me, mere $ur, Thou mad+st the eye rest on Thy foot+s #lest flo%er, Thou mad+st me #o% #efore that flo%er alone ! 3y mouth Thou mad+st to s!ea. a#road Thy "em li.e %ord ! 3y senses five to fill Thou $am+st, and mad+st me Thine7 Am#rosial Sea of ma"i$ mi"ht ! O 3ount ! Thyself Thou "av+st, Thy form li.e %ild of roseate lotus flo%ers, to LON9L< hel!less me7 Thou Only Li"ht ! '/0;) FF*II7 The voya"e I, LON9L<, tost #y #illo%s #road of an"uish sore, on the "reat + sea of #irth,+ %ith none to aidC 5istur#ed #y %inds of mouths roseate li.e ri!ened fruit, lay $au"ht in ,a%s of the sea monster lust ! + Hen$eforth,%hat %ay to +s$a!e I + I frequent $ried ! then thou"ht, and sei@+d the raft of Thy 2ive Letters ! So to me, O -rimal One, Thou sho%d+st a #oundless fertile shore, and mad+st the rash insensate one Thine o%n ! '/0A) FF*III7 What He did for me7 Him none #y hearin" .no%C He .no%eth no de$ayC He hath no .inC nau"ht as.in", heareth all ! While !eo!le of the land #eheld, here on this earth

to me, a $ur, He "ave a royal seatC To me, a do", all thin"s not sho%n #efore, He sho%edC all thin"s not heard #efore, He $aused to hearC And "uardin" me from future + #irth,+ He made me His7 Su$h is the %ondrous %or. our Lord hath %rou"ht for me ! //8 FFIF7 His a!!earin"7 The WON594 this ! Say, is there au"ht li.e this I He made me servant of His lovin" saintsC 5is!ell+d my fear, am#rosia !ourin" forth, He $ame, and %hile my soul dissolv+d, in love made me His o%nC The Sire, 3ale, 2emale, Neither, 9ther !ure, %as HeC as %ondrous 2ireC as 9nd of allC #eyond all farC His #ody li.e a flo%er of "olden hueC our 1iva -erumAn, our Lord, O2 GO5S TH9 &ING ! '//>) FFF7 Trium!h The GO5 O2 GO5S, to .in" of "ods un.no%nC &in" of the + Three +C %hat teemin" %orlds $reate, -reserve, destroyC the 2irstC 9ssen$e divineC the Sire of siresC 2a,ther, %hose half the 3other isC The &in" of all ! He $ame, and made me, too, His o%n7 Hen$eforth I+m no one+s vassalC none I fear ! We+ve rea$hed the "oalC %ith servants of His saints in sea of #liss %e evermore shall #athe ! '/80) 591A5 I* TH9 SOUL+S -U4l2I1ATION7

FFFI7 The slu""ish soul7 Thou dan$est notC thou hast no love for the 5AN194+S footC %ith meltin" thrill Thou sin"est notC thou thro##est notC thou #o%est not do%nC the flo%er of His foot Thou %earest notC thou $ro%nest it not %ith flo%ersC there+s none li.e Thee, 59A5 H9A4T ! Thou see.est Him not throu"h every streetC thou %ailest notC nothin" .no% I thou dost ! '/8;) FFFII7 The un"rateful, trea$herous heart7 3y Sire $ame, entered, made His o%n me %ho .ne% nau"htC in mer$y tau"ht me allC 1aused me to .no% the hi"her !athC He loos+d my every #ond ! 5es!ite the "ain of $han"eless, s%eetest "ifts of "ra$e,thou+rt $han"ed, 59A5 H9A4T ! 4UIN95 #y thee, to all that+s false su#,e$ted, thus I 4UIN95 lie ! /8A FFFIII7 Heart un%orthy of trustC insensi#le to $om!laint 3y foolish senseless H9A4T, that $han"in", 4UIN #rin"st to me, Hen$eforth I trust thee nevermoreC assuredly on 1ivan+s mi"hty arm The ashes thi$.ly smeared thou sa%+st, yet melted+st notC this, #ody+s #onds Thou rendest not, nor $an I #id restore the ruin thou hast %rou"ht7 '/:8) FFFI*7 The utter folly of the fi$.le mind7 -erish, O restless mind ! #efore the 3aster A#solute,

A do" I layC Thou didst en,oy His fra"rant flo%ery 2ootC 6ut no% thou+rt severed li.e a youn" and tender shootC all former #liss Hast lost ! Truly I deem Thy %isdom and Thy "reatness measureless ! '/:>) FFF*7 Insensi#le to infinite mer$y7 When He to heavenly ones ins$ruta#le, of a$$eLs easy to His saints, Our hidden sin destroyed, and made me His, thou .ne%+st the meltin" ,oy ! <et, H9A4T thou hast not, hatin" all thy hidden sin, !re!ar+d an am!le field for Him, Nor #o%+d #efore the 3aster+s healin" 2eet, the heavenly "oal to "ain ! '/;0) FFF*I7 What remedyI If +tis not "iven to !ass the "olden "ate, %here all may entran$e find, And %hen$e none e+er de!artsC nor yet to melt in love #efore the foot Of Him, my Sire, my LordC if there to me a#ound no more Am#rosia, every honied s%eetC a sinful man, %hat $an I do for this I '/;;) FFF*II7 A sinner I quit thee not7 What other sinners are there li.e to me, $ur at the 3aster+s 2ootI <et not a %hit from me to sever is Thy sa$red %illC and thus, O -rimal One, Thy 2oot+s fair flo%er if I should quit, arld yet live on, 3y soul is iron, stone my mindC my ear to %hat shall it $om!are ! '/;A) FFF*III7 Life, a lon" e=ile7 The others all have rea$hed the "oal, yet I, %ho .no% not anythin", Haste not to Thee %ho art all s%eetness, 1ivan, &in" of 1iva %orldC Thou S!ouse of her %hose eye is li.e the tender fa%nC lon" time

I still a#ide, $herish this flesh, and so my death in life dra"s on ! '/(8) FFFIF7 Ho% do I #ear lifeI O #liss that $eases not ! O #liss #eyond $om!are ! His #ri"ht flo%er foot He "aveC to me of .ind more #ase than do"s, He sho%ed the !erfe$t %ay 3y 1hief, %ho "ave me "ra$e s%eeter than mother+s love, I see not no% ! <et in the fire I fall not, %ander not o+er hills, nor !lun"e me in the sea ! '/(>) FL7 Still the senses+ slave7 +When 1u!id+s dart in s!rin"tide %ounds, moonli"ht %ill s$or$h C+ of this I too.! No heedC li.e mil. +neath $hurnin" sti$. I+m stirred #y %iles of those of fa%n li.e eyes7 To 1ivan+s $ity "o I not, %here "ra$e as honey to the soul is "ivenC To $herish soul %ithin the #ody, still I eat, and "arments still !ut on! '/>0) 591A5 * TH9 49N594ING A 2IT 49TU4N FLI7 I did not $learly a!!rehend Thine a!!earin"7 Li.e ele!hant t%o handed I sa% not 3y mind+s true "ermC I sa% #ut sore distress7 Thou #ad+st me, +$ome+C yet, +mid the heavenly ones +T%as l alone !assed not, the senses+ slave7 '/>;) FLII7 It must have #een illusion7 Is H9 manI To all %ho a!!rehend that one #ri"ht 9ssen$e truly is, As female, male, or lifeless thin" Thou art not .no%nC To me Thy servant, $omin" as Thou art, Thou didst a!!ear ! I sa% Thee, yet I sa% Thee not ! What visual ,u""le this !'/>A)

FLIII7 When shall I really see Thee as Thou artI Thou 2orm unique, to even heavenly ones Un.no%n ! Thou 3ysti$ 5an$er, Who didst ma.e me Thine ! 3e Thine ! On earth, in heaven, or %hen all these Have !assed a%ay, WH9N shall I see Thy fa$eI '/?8) FLI*7 I am of earth, earthy7 Thou Infinite, #y men yet seen ! 6eyond eye+s .en Thou 9ssen$e "leamin" #ri"ht ! Here, li.e a fled"lin", I Would "ladly leave this faulty frameC yet .no% I not 5%eller in this sense %orld ho% I may Thee !ut on7 '/?>) FL*7 5eadness of soul7 I $all not on Thee filled %ith mi"hty love, Nor render !raise, nor fall in e$stasy +Tis %ith me as %hen death $onfronted Thee, 6o%in" #efore those lotus flo%ers Thy feet7 '/A0) FL*I7 1all me, ta.e me on$e more7 1all, ta.e me +midst Thy lovin" ones, Thou $ro%ned With $assias, home of s%eets and hummin" #ees ! In +midst, #eneath, a#ove, in all $ontained, Thou art, my Sire, + li.e oil %ithin the seed ! +'/A;) FL*II7 The Self suffi$in" sou"ht out me7

2ath$r and 3other, Lord ! To all #esides7 Sire, 3other, LordE to Him all these are not ! 9re%hile %ithin my inmost soul He entered, Whom none #y thou"ht $an .no%, the 9ver #lissful One ! /AA FL*III7 I had #ut a "lim!se of His "lory7 To Thee, nor %ealth, nor %ant ! 2rom heavenly ones to %orms, And "rass, 'no limit), all Thou fillest, 6ein" rare ! I sa% Thy 2oot "em limitless, yet s%erved from Thee7 This is the "rief I stony hearted have endured ! '/B8) FLIF7 An a!!eal7 3y #onds Thou loosed+st, mad+st me Thine ! And all The lovin" saints %ho ashes "ave #eheld7 Thou didst e=alt, %ithin the tem!le $ourt, 9v+n me Thou didst e=alt, %ho .ne% not anythin"7'/B>) L7 I %as not $hosen for my %isdom or mi"ht7 Thou Only Wise ! Am#rosia ! me, a servile $ur, When Thou didst ta.e and ma.e Thine o%n, %as I then %ise I Thou sa%+st my i"noran$e that day Thou mad+st me Thine ! Ah, Lord of "ra$e, %as I then %ise I %as I then stron" I'800) 591A5 *I7 O*942LOWINGS O2 DO<7 LI7 No !ossi#le return for su$h mer$ies7

O 3aster, O my 3i"hty One, my 2ather, -erumAn, my #irths+ 5estroyer, Thou Who mad+st me Thine, an evil %holly %orthless do", And throu"hly #aseC I $annot thin., Thou see+st, of any meet return to Thee, O Shinin" One, Lord of the -or$h, nor .no% I au"ht that I $an do7 '80;) LII7 I am still the senses+ slave 3ean $ur, that .ne% not %hat to do, I "ave myself to "ain those thin"s That false ones "ain, %ho ne+er have seen Thy flo%ery 2eet of ruddy "old7 I sa% and heard that Thy true saints set free from lies, had "ained Thy fra"rant 2ootC <et I, false one, O Warrior stron" ! still eat, am $lothed, and here a#ide7 '80A) LIII7 I only left ! Thou Warrior stron" from out Thy "olden $ity $am+st, mad+st dar.ness fleeC With Her the #eauteous Mueen didst dei"n to $ome7 The "lorious devotees Who "ra$e had "ained, a!!roa$hed Thy 2eet7 I sa%, yet li.e a si"htless ho" That roams the villa"e street, shall I still roam a %ret$h doomed to live on I '8/8) LI*7 3y love is %ea. 2ull many a saint throu"h deathless time %rou"ht !enan$e,mem#ers mortified With frustrate ho!e to see Thee here ! <et Thou didst sinful me Thy servant ma.e7 O Gem ! This frame %ith foulness filled %ears not a%ay7 To see Thy fa$e, The stron" desire and love +#ide not in meC my -rin$e, ho% may I rise I'8/>) L*7 Still I live this loathed life7 Thy #ride is Umai %ith the fa%n li.e eyes ! Thou $am+st and mad+st me Thine

Am#rosia Thou, essential s%eetness shed ! O 1ivan, southern Tillai+s &in" Thy saints assem#led +neath Thy sa$red si"n have "one to "ather round Thy feet This loathsome #ody still I "uard, still here I d%ell, O 3AST94 3IN9 !'880) L*I 7 Thy %ill ordains my e=ile7 O 3AST94 3IN9 ! They thin. on Thee, Thy lovin" ones, %ith ra!ture filled They+re Thine, Thy 2oot I sa% them ,oin7 <et here more mean than villa"e $ur I d%ellC my heart no ra!ture feelsC my mind is stone, nor melts %ithin7 This #ody vile I still must "uard and here a#ide, su$h is TH< WILL ! '88;) L*II7 3y old life of earthly love7 The %ay TH< WILL ordains #efits me %ell ! 2aithless I strayed, I left Thy saints7 A re!ro#ate %as I I Ho% did I %at$h the one #elov+d, The quiverin"s of the li!, the folds of $ir$lin" ro#e, the timid #ashfull loo.s To read love+s sym!toms there ! 3y mind thus ruin to myself %rou"ht out7 '88A) L*III7 Was my vo$ation a mo$.ery thenI Thou honied S%eetness, !urest Doy, Souls+ Li"ht, 3aster Who fill+st %ith #liss The frame of those that trust in Thee, Giver of endless "ifts ! Of %orth7 I void am yet Thy slaveC Thou me hast made Thine o%nC if this #e so Thy servant+s state %ould sho%, I !lead, Thy "ift of "ra$e %as #ut Thy s!ort7 '8:8) LIF7 What other refu"e have I I Thy nature others .no% not ! Lord ! 3e evil $ur, lo%est of all, Hast Thou not made Thine o%n I And %ilt Thou let me "o $ast out from TheeI Then %ho %ill dei"n to loo. on me I What shall I do, O -erumAn I 2ather, %hose sa$red form is "leam of "old, %here shall I refu"e findI '8:>)

LF7 I have sure ho!eC yet ho% un%orthy! I shall enter #eneath Thy 2oot %hi$h is mine ! +mid saints that adore I standin" Shall lau"h, "lad as I "a@e on the %ell .no%n form! shameless do" tho+ I am ! No meltin" love is here! To see Thee to #e made Thine o%n, $an I 6e meet I This a#,e$t state, 2ather ! #ehold, +tis !ast my !o%er to 69A4 !'8;0) 591A5 *II7 TH9 O*94WH9L3lNG S9NS9 O2 TH9 5I*IN9 1O3-ASSION7 LFI7 -raises I 69A4 no more these ,oys of senseC Hail I 1an"arA ! Hail ! heaven+s an$ient Lord7 Hail ! our *idalai ! Hail ! 3at$hless One ! Hail ! &in" of heavenly hosts ! Hail ! Tillai+s 5an$er ! All hail ! our S!otless One ! '8;;) LFII7 9$tasy7 All hail ! Na ma $i va ya ! 6uyan"an ! 3y senses fail ! All hail ! Na ma $i va ya ! Other refu"e is there none ! All hail ! Na ma $i va ya ! Send me not forth from Thee ! All hail! Na ma $i va ya! Trium!h, trium!h, Hail! '8;A) LFIII7 All in all ! Hail ! Lovin" One, Who dei"n+st to ma.e false ones li.e me Thine o%n ! Hail ! to Thy 2oot ! Hail ! O Lord ! Hail, hail ! Hail ! S%eetness ne% of mer$y+s flood ! 9arth, %ater, fire,

Wind, ether, the t%o li"hts of heaven,are Thee, O GO5 ! '8(8) LFI*7 1ome qui$.ly ! Hail, O my GO5 ! In "ra$e #ehold meC Hail ! Hail ! I !ray Thee melt my soul %ithin me, ma.e me Thine ! Hail ! This #ody stri! from off meC qui$.ly "ive the heavenly realms ! Hail ! 1an"arA, Who in Thy #raided lo$. hast Gan"A !la$ed ! '8(>) LF*7 -raise7 Hail ! O 1an"arA, other refu"e have I none ! Hail ! -artner of the Mueen of "lorious form, of ruddy li!s, And "leamin" smile, and #la$. #ri"ht eye ! Hail ! 4ider on the mi"hty 6ull Here these earthly ,oys I #ear not, 9m#iran,I all renoun$e ! '8>0) LF*I7 -rostration7 I have myself renoun$ed, even IC Hail, hail, 9m#iran ! I have not done Thee %ron" ! Hail ! 2oot to %hi$h I servi$e o%e ! Hail ! 2aults to for"ive is duty of the "reat ! O $ause this earthly life to $ease ! Hail, Lord of heaven ! '8>;) LF*II7 Adoration7 Hail, Lord ! Hail ! Thou &in" of heavenly saints ! -artner of the Mueen+s "ra$eful form, Hail ! Wearer of the sa$red ash ! Hail ! Worthy -rin$e ! Hail ! Thou of Tillai+s sa$red $ourt ! Hail! ! &in" of heaven ! 3y only 4uler, Hail ! '8>A) LF*III7 Ta.e me

Hail !, only 5eity ! ln$om!ara#le 2ather, Hail ! Hail ! Guru of the heavenly ones ! Hail ! ! Tender 6ran$h ! Hail, #id me $ome, re$eive me ! "rant Thy 2oot to "ainC And thus remove my lonely friendless %oe ! '8?8) LFIF7 Hail, to those %ho love %ith !erfe$t love, Giver of love sur!assin" theirs ! Hail ! Greatness that oft my falsehood !ardon+d, "ranted "ra$e, and made me Thine ! Hail ! -rin$e, Who dran. the out!oured !oison, to the heavenly ones am#rosia "ave ! Hail ! Thy !erfe$t 2oot on me, a %ret$h, in "ra$e #esto% ! '8?>) LFF7 The Universal Lord7 Hail ! Thou Who art earth, %ater, fire, %ind, ether too ! Hail ! Thou, all life+s !henomena, Thyself invisi#le ! Hail, all livin" #ein"s+ 9nd, Thyself %ithout an end ! Thyself rea$hin" throu"h all, #y senses five unrea$hed ! '8A0) 591A5 *III7 3<STI1 UNION7 LFFI7 Sin.in" in ra!ture7 Sire, as IN UNION stri$t, Thou mad+st me ThineC on me didst loo., didst dra% me nearC And %hen it seemed I ne+er $ould #e %ith Thee made one, %hen nau"ht of Thine

%as mine, And nau"ht of mine %as Thine, me to Thy 2eet Thy love In mysti$ union ,oined, Lord of the heavenly land ! +Tis hei"ht of 6L9SS95N9SS7 '8A;) LFFII7 All #liss in God7 2or 6L9SS95N9SS I see.C not Indra+s $hoi$e deli"hts, nor those of other "odsC Thou Only One, I live not save %ith Thy 2eet t%ain ! Our Lord,my #reast is 4iven, With trem#lin" sei@edC my hands in adoration ,oinC And from my eyes a $easeless stream !ours do%n, as of a river, O 3< SAG9 ! '8AA) LFFIII7 -rayer for $onsummation7 3< SAG9, save to Thyself there+s none to %hom I $lin"C in me, de$eitful one No !art from min"led falseness +s$a!esC I+m falsehood+s self !-artner of Her %hose dar. 9yes "leam, $ome Thou to me ! the love Thy true ones feel, Who at Thy ,e%ell+d 2eet in love $ommin"lin" rest, mine #e it too, I -4A< ! '8B8) LFFI*7 Give me essential oneness7 I -4A< for love of Thine o%n ,e%ell+d 2eetC remove the falseC Thine o%n 3a.e me in truthC do" thou"h I am,O #id me $ome, in "ra$e ,oin to Thyself 2or ever more Thine o%n ! So let me $easeless !raise, Thro+ every %orld returnin" ever $omeC my &in", that I may WO4SHI- TH99 ! '8B>) LFF*7 Thou art sole a$tuality

TH99 WO4SHI- #oth the earth and heaven, %ith shouts of ,oy, and fourfold mysti$ s$rollE They yearnin" !ine for Thee7 2or they %ho "ain Thee .no% nau"ht true e=ists #ut Thee7 Ah ! sin$e %e vo% to quit Thy servi$e never, $ome And "rant Thy "ra$e,Thou -artner of the lovely Mueen ! -ausin"%hy -ON594 so I':00) LFF*I7 He trans$ends thou"ht and s!ee$h7 WH9N -ON594ING Thee the thou"ht "oes forth, to rea$h the #ound desired #y fittin" %ord Is not a %hit attaina#leC nor are these thin"s one hears throu"h forms of s!ee$h7 Thee, Who art all the %orld, the senses five .no% not7 Ho% GAIN the 2ather+s 2oot that rests in all that is and every s!here #eyondI ':0;) LFF*II7 -ity me ! To me, a "uileful soul, %ho thou"ht to GAIN Thee, Lord, salvation save #y Thee Is none7 No other 6ein" truly is, save Thee ! Lest !inin" sorro% $ome, In mer$y to my sin, my soul vou$hsafe to "uard7 +Tis !ityin" "ra$e li.e this alone 4UL94 SU-94N9 ! Thy "lory doth #eseem7 ':0A) LFF*III7 3y soul $lin"s to Thee7 + 4UL94 SU-94N9, there+s none #utThee, or here or there,+ and thus I ever s!a.e, 2ool thou"h I %as, there %as no differen$e ! Our LordE Thou S!otless One,

Who didst 3a.e me, an out$ast %ret$h, Thine o%n, my Tea$her Thou, The THOUGHT, that other "od e=ists than Thee the One, my mind shall never THIN& !':/8) LFFIF7 Old days of i"noran$e7 6< THOUGHT, #y deed, #y hearin", or #y s!ee$h, or #y these %ret$hed senses five I failed in days of old Thy truth to rea$hC I, lo% and foolish one7 I !assed not throu"h the fire, my heart #urst not %ith shame7 To Thee, O 2ather, even yet may I attain ! 3ay I yet d%ell %ith Thee ! ':/>) LFFF7 Stran"e $ommandE +Tarry yet #elo%7+ 3e iron hearted and de$eitful one, Thine o%n Thou mad+stC Thy foot+s s%eet #liss 2illed me %ith ,oyC %ith me Thou didst $ommin"lin" ,oin7 The fire %as there and I Was thereE that %as %hi$h %as ! Thou"h this %as so that day, There %as in Thee desire for me, in me for TheeC %hat i"noran$e %as mineI ':80) 591A5 IF7 91STAS<7 LFFFI7 2alsehood lin"ers yet7 +The seed of lies is not destroyed C+ so sayin", Thou hast !la$ed me here ! All those that %ere to Thy desire have $ome, and rea$hed Thy sa$red 2oot ! ln de!ths of fear I sin. O God, Who didst in ArUr as. for alms,

What shall I do I S-9A& Thou to me ! ':8;) LFFFII7 4esi"nation7 Thou S-A&+ST to me, amid Thy saints %ith sa$red ash I %as #esmearedC 6y men on earth as Thy !oor slave I+ve #een a#usedC hen$eforth, if %hat I suffer !leases not, +tis %hat my soul desires, #e$ause I am Thy SLA*9, %hom ThoL didst ma.e Thine o%n ! ':8A) LFFFIII7 <et I .no% not %hy I+am left7 And am I not Thy SLA*9 I and didst Thou not ma.e me Thine o%n, I !ray All those Thy servants have a!!roa$hed Thy 2ootC this #ody full of sin I may not quit, and see Thy fa$e, Thou Lord of 1iva %orld! I fear, And S99 NOT HOW TO GAIN TH9 SIGHT ! '::8) LFFFI*7 Tell me the hindran$e to my instant freedom7 I S99 NOT HOW TH< SIGHT TO GAINC thou"h Thee THAT 5A< I sa% ! S!ea. Thou In musi$ say %hat +tis that %ei"hs my s!irit do%n, O Li"ht Su!erne ! 3ale, 2emale, rare Am#rosia, Sire ! I die, a do", of !o%er #ereft, 6y %hat may I rise u!, my Lord I '::>) LFFF*7 2alseness .ee!s me out7 Thou -artner of the fa%n eyed MueenC Thou Word, %hose end the Word .no%s notC Am#rosia s%eet, to thou"ht un.no%nC &in", faults of %ret$hed me Thou #ear+st I #a##lin" tell my %oes7 Thy saints have rea$hed the $ity #lest7 OUTSI59 I and my 2ALS9N9SS %ander here ! ':;0)

LFFF*I7 6ut O, the !ity of it7 OUTSI59 We "o, 2ALS9N9SS and I !True love to "ain I+ve lost the !o%er7 This is my "ain! Thy saints to Thee %ho utterly are ,oined no%, &no% nothin" else #ut TheeC in a$ts all "lorious on their %ay they "o ! O 1ivan, they have rea$hed Thy 2OOT ! ':;;) LFFF*II7 2ailure ! O 3aster, "ive Thy slave to love Thy 2OOTC Thy servants no% have "ained The %orld from %hi$h they $ome not #a$.C outside I have remained, I+ve tried +To $ro%n the villa"e $o%, and so have $ro%ned the #lind !+ 2rom love, of Thy t%ain 2eet 9stran"ed, a slave I +%ildered W99- ! ':;A) LFFF*III7 I am un%orthy to #e num#ered %ith Thy saints7 I W99- ! With lovin" mind to%ards Thee, li.e %a= #efore the fire %ere they7 Thy "leamin", "olden, ,e%elled 2oot have they #eheld, and %orshi!!in" Have follo%ed TheeC not follo%in" on %ith them, in vain have I #een #orn ! Where%ith shall I #efore Thee #o%I ':(8) LFFFIF7 At least, ta.e my sin a%ay7 In "ra$e Thou hast !ut far all ills of those that #o%edC on an$ient saints Thou didst #esto% Thy 2oot adorned ! If that+s too "reat for me, my "uilt 'Who+m li.e a tou"h #am#u) destroyC $ome s%iftly, "ive Thy healin" 2oot Thou only True, from 2ALS9HOO5 free ! ':(>) F17 Tea$h me Thy %ay7

All 2ALS9 am IC 2ALS9 is my heartC and 2ALS9 my loveC yet, if he %ee!, 3ay not Thy sinful servant Thee, Thou Soul+s Am#rosial s%eetness, "ain I Lord of all honied "ladness !ure, in "ra$e unto Thy servant tea$h The %ay that he may $ome to Thee ! ':>0) 591A5 F TH9 O*942LOW O2 4A-TU497 F1I7 The true ones #lest #ut I! O 2lood of mi"hty $han"eless "ra$e ! They $ame, %ho "ain+d ere%hile the "ift immuta#le Of station +neath Thy t%ain flo%+r %reathed 2eet7 They, LO*ING TH99 IN T4UTH, HA*9 49A1H+5 TH9 T4U9 ! Thee, 9ndless One, #eni"nly manifest, diffusin" li"ht, as 3an, I sa% Thee $ome ! <et I, a do", of heart #y fate un#lest, lie at the "ate, ah me ! in lo% estate7 ':>;) F1II7 5eny me not Thy truth7 O Half of Her %ith eyes of "list+nin" ,et, Thou $am+st and mad+st me Thine, %ith tender hand As feedin" me from "olden $u!, sin$e %hen hard of a$$ess I deem Thee never moreC Thou on Whose 6ody "leam the ashes %hite ! They, LO*ING TH99 IN T4UTH, HA*9 49A1H+5 TH9 T4U9 ! 6ut, tell me, is it 399T that Thou should+st "o

and leave me here, in falsehood thus to fall I ':>A) F1III7 Ta.e +deeds+ a%ay7 399TN9SS I+d none, the false I too. for trueC #ut %hen %ith lovin" "lan$e Thou had+st me $ome, Affli$tions $eased ! <et no% de$eit seems truth7 I have not died, O #loomin" lotus 2oot ! Thou %ith Thy lovin" ones to %hom Thy "ra$e %as "iven, O roseate 2orm, on hi"h Hast "one, and left me here7 Lord, hear my !laintE there is no end of deeds for %orthless me ! ':?8) F1I*7 No limit to Thy !o%er7 There %as no love in me to%ards Thy 2OOT, O Half of Her %ith #eauteous fra"rant lo$.s ! 6y ma"i$ !o%er that stones to mello% fruit $onverts, Thou mad+st me lover of Thy 2eet7 Our Lord, Thy tender love no limit .no%s7 Whatever s%ays me no%, %hate+er my deed, Thou $an+st even yet Thy 2oot a"ain to me dis!lay and save, O S!otless Heavenly One ! ':?>) F1*7 3y $ourse laid out #y Thee7 Thou Whom the lords of heaven themselves .no% not ! Thy sour$e and end the *9das $annot tra$e ! Tlou Whom in every land men fail to .no% ! As Thou hast s%eetly made me Thine hast $alled This flesh to dan$e on sta"e of earth,

me to en,oy Thyself %ith meltin" soul, In mysti$ drama, too, hast $aused to move, !inin" on earth, Thou Lord of ma"i$ !o%er ! ':A0) F1*I7 +I am Thine, save me!I Without a seed, the fruit Thou $ausest s!rin"C th+ entire of heaven and earth, and all therein Thou didst ordain, and %ilt destroy ! 3e too, de$eitful, mean, %ithin Thy tem!le "ates Thou fill+d+st %ith fren@yC mad+st to ,oin the #and of Thy "reat lovin" ones ! 9v+n should the tree They !lant yield !oison, men destroy it notC and thus am I, 3< OWN94 AN5 3< LO45 ! ':A;) F1*II7 5evotion7 OWN94 AN5 LO45, all hail! 6esides Thyself su!!ort to $lin" to hath Thy servant au"ht I I serve Thee, hail ! Trans$endent 6ein", Lord of those in heavenly $ourts %ho d%ell, all hail ! Lo%est of all have I #e$ome, all hail ! Giver7to me of every "ra$e, all hail ! Thou Who didst ma.e me Thine o%n servant, hail ! the 2irst Thou art, and Last, my 2ATH94, hail ! ':AA) F1*III7 9arnest a!!eal7 3y 2ATH94 ! unto me Am#rosia Thou ! O 6lest Su!reme ! Thou art to honey li.e That flo%s a#undant, thrills the soul %ith #liss I

Thy lovin" ones en,oy Thee as their o%n ! Hel!er Thou art ! %ith "list+nin" "lory $ro%ned, in %eary an"uish of Thy %orshi!!ers7 O Treasure ! tell me, %ilt Thou leave me here, in this !oor %orld to !ine a%ay, our &ING I ':B8) F1IF7 1ome ! O &ING, our Lord, $ome Thou to me, to me ! Who art #efore the four fa$ed One and 3Al, And all the "ods7 Our Lord, $ome Thou to me, to me ! After the day %hen all thin"s have their end Thou art ! Our Lord, $ome Thou to me, to me ! I at Thy ,e%ell+d feet %ould utter !raise With lovin" ton"ue ! Our Lord, $ome Thou to me, to me I that I, Sin+s slayer, may Thy "lories SING ! ':B>) 17 Lon"in" desire7 TH< -4AIS9 TO SING I lon", all hail ! Thee sin" ! %hile all my #ein" sin.s and melts in love7 I lon" to dan$e, all hail ! in Thy #lest $ourts, #efore Thy flo%+ry dan$in" 2oot ! A do", I lon" to ,oin, all hail ! 4emove me from this nest of %orms, all hail ! The false I lon" To Ieave, all hail ! Grant me Thy home, all hail ! Hail Thou %ho art to TH< T4U9 S94*ANTS T4U9 !

HYMN VI - n##tha! viNNappa( 0prapan1a vaira//i)a(2 'FORSA3E ME NOT'

This title, %hi$h forms the #urthen of the !oem, is "iven to one of the Sa"e+s most interestin" $om!ositions7 It $onsists of fifty quatrains, $onstru$ted in a #eautiful metre 'see my Se$ond Grammar /B8) %hi$h is in fa$t e!i$horiam#i$ 'as is e=!lained in the notes to the Tamil te=t)7 It is $alled AnthAthi !oem7 This means that it is ana!horeti$, the last %ord of a verse is to #e re!eated in the #e"innin" of ea$h follo%in" verse, and very often stri.in" its .eynote7 Hymn * is the same)7 This has a #eautiful effe$t in Tamil, #ut the differen$e of Idiom often for#ids translator to attem!t to re!rodu$e it in 9n"lish7 The !oem throu"hout is a "enuine human $ry for 5ivine hel! in the midst of a terri#le stru""le and is full of the most vivid emotion7 It %as $om!osed, a$$ordin" to tradition, immediately after the %onderful $ento that forms the fifth !oem, and "ives e=!ression to the youthful devotee+s feelin"s after his "uru had finally de!arted, and the $om!any of the BBB 'I) saints %ho attended him had thro%n themselves into the fire7 He is said to have "one round the 1ivan shrines in the -Andiyan &in"dom, and first of all to have s!ent some $onsidera#le time in the an$ient $ity of Tiru uttara .O$aman"ai, %hi$h %as at one time a -Andiyan $a!ital, situate ei"ht miles south %est of 4amnad, %here the ruins of an im!ortant 1ivan shrine are yet to #e seen7 There he suffered from the rea$tion naturally $onsequent u!on the e=$itement !rodu$ed #y the %onderful events of the !re$edin" months7 He had #een till no% the !etted, hi"hly "ifted favourite and !rime minister of the -Andiyan &in"dom livin" in the midst of !om! and lu=ury, invested %ith almost a#solute !o%erC and %as still in early manhood7 He finds himself at on$e a 1aiva mendi$ant, %ho has renoun$ed everythin" su#sists on alms, and must s!end his days and ni"hts in solitary meditation7 3ean%hile the $ir$umstan$es in %hi$h he finds himself !la$ed the lives of his $om!anions, the %hole environment of the tem!le, are not favoura#le to !ure and

hi"h devotion7 The lofty ideal is not reali@ed here7 Then, as no%, the influen$es surroundin" and emanatin" from the shrine itself %ere in many %ays deterioratin"7 2rom the eviden$e of these verses, %e $on$lude that there %ere t%o thin"s from %hi$h he suffered7 One of these %as the allurements of the female attendants %ho, in #ands !ertained to the tem!le7 We have noti$ed this else%here7 Hindu $ommentators %ill often find mysti$ meanin"s, %hi$h are harmless, if unfounded7 A"ain and a"ain in this and other !oems he de!lores the %ay in %hi$h he has #een led to violate his vo%7 The other diffi$ulty, often referred to %as the %ay in %hi$h mere $eremonial a$ts had to #e !erformed, affordin" no relief to his $ons$ien$e7 He thus fell into a des!ondin" and %ell ni"h des!airin" state of mind, and sent forth this $ry li.e that heard in the -salter, and reiterated #y the "reatest 6ein" that ever trod the !ath%ay of this human life7 2e% thin"s in literature have su$h a "enuine rin" as some of the verses in %hi$h youn" no#le #e%ails his a!!arent desertion #y his 3aster7 <et he never quite lost his $onfiden$e and loveC and after%ards, as many of the lyri$s sho%, e=$han"ed for the +s!irit of heaviness the "arment of !raise+7 I do not thin. that any one $an #e found %ho %ill %ithhold his sym!athy from the Sa"e7 It may #e noti$ed, thou"h it is in $onne$tion %ith the Tamil te=t that the matter must #e more fully dis$ussed, that there is a "reat differen$e, as it seems to me, #et%een the style of the first t%enty stan@as '%here indeed it may #e $on,e$tured that the !oem ori"inally ended) and those that follo%7 Nota#ly in verses 8/ (0 there is only referen$e to Uttara .O$a man"ai, %hi$h $ity in verses / 80 is a !art of the !er!etual refrain7 These latter verses, too, are more in"enious and su#tle, and are more ful of !oeti$ fan$ies7 Sometimes, indeed, they may seem to #e even more #eautiful than those that are the undou#ted $om!osition of the Sa"e7 Their lan"ua"e, rhythm, and manner seem to me, ho%ever, to #e different7 6ut I readily a$.no%led"e the diffi$ulty that lies in the %ay of all merely su#,e$tive $riti$ism, es!e$ially #y a forei"ner7 <et the e=$eedin"ly un$riti$al %ay in %hi$h these te=ts have #een hitherto handled ne$essitates and ,ustifies the attem!t7

The %riter did a "reat !art of these translations at #eautiful Lu"ano, not unfrequently relievin" the toil #y the en,oyment of an hour in the $hur$h of S7 3aria de"li An"oli, #efore the marvellous fres$oes of 6ernardino LuiniC and $ould not hel! %ishin" oft times that the Tamil Sa"e and See.er after God $ould have stood there, or ha!ly .nelt #y his side7 1ould 3ani..ava$a"ar have tra$ed that history of the Great 3aster, of His !assa"e from Gethsemane to the "lory of His heavenly d%ellin" !la$e, ho% %ould he have #een affe$tedI7 One %onders!7 It may #e that he, and the %eaver of 3ailA!Ur, and the %anderin" sa"es of the NAladiyAr, and others %hose le"ends %e re$all, have sin$e, freed from the flesh, visited that s!ot7 1ertainly they .no% those histories no%! Shall %e not in re"ard to our !oet sa"e, %herever his ashes are s$attered, say ho!efully and tenderly, 4equies$at in !a$eI 3etreE .aTTaLai..aliththu4ai I7 The foresa.en one+s !etition 3e, meanest one, in mer$y min"lin" Thou didst ma.e Thine o%n, Lord of the 6ull ! Lo, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39! O Thou Who %ear+st Gar# of fier$e ti"er+s s.in ! A6I5ING UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING Thou of the #raided lo$. ! I faintin" sin.7 Our Lord, u!hold Thou me ! ';) II7 The $rimson li!s of maidens fair, in ri!eness of their $harms, I !ress no moreC yet, Lo ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39C thou"h in, Not out Thy %orthy servi$e, UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING, I am ! Thou mad+st false me Thine, %hy dost Thou leave me NOW I 'A) III7

A tree on river #an. of dar. eyed maiden+s senses five I rooted stand ! LO, 39 THOU HAST 2O&SA&9NC Thou %ho d%ell+st In ArUr+s shrine reno%nedC O UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Half of her form, the #eauteous one ! Thou 2OST9494 of my life ! '/8) I*7 Thou too.+st me in Thy "ra$ious 2OST94ING handC and then, %ithdra%n, LO ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N me lost hereC Thou Whose lofty $ro%n 6ears the !ale $res$ent moon, O UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Thou radiant 6eam as li"htnin" seen +mid sheen of GLIST9NING "old ! '/>) *7 Li.e moth in GLIST9NING flame, to those of "entle s!ee$h, lon" time I fall a !rey ! LO, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39! In Thy flo%er $ro%n S%eet #ees si! fra"rant honeyC UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Sin$e %ith am#rosia of Thy "ra$e to feed me I 492US95 ! '80) *I7 Throu"h i"noran$e I have Thy "ra$e 492US95C and Thou, my Gem! Hast loathed me ! Lo, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! 3y thron" of +deeds + Su!!ress, and ma.e me Thine, O UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Will not the "reat soul+d #ear, thou"h little $urs are 2ALS9 I '8;) *II7 2ALS9 me Thou mad+st Thine o%n, as thou"h some %orth I hadC didst mend 3e, O Thou True ! LO, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39! Thy throat is #la$.

With s%allo%+d !oison ! STAT9L< UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING! O roseate One, 1ivan, %ho -UTT+ST AWA< my mortal !ains ! '8A) *III7 What is Thy %ay of "lorious "ra$e that -UTS AWA< my sin I I as. %ith a%eC THOU+ST L92T 39, UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &INGC 6efore %hose ,u#ilant 6ull flo%er $ro%n+d foes fearin" fled ! The senses +five+ and fear in %ays 5I*94S9 dra% "uilty me ! ':8) IF7 Li.e ant on fire#rand lit at 5I*94S9 ends, sever+d from Thee, 5istrau"ht, Lo ! 39 THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N, Thou the only Lord Of the vast tri!le %orld, stron" UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Whose 64IGHT ri"ht hand u!lifts the %arrior+s tri!le headed s!ear ! ':>) F7 I "ained a$$ess to Thy 64IGHT 2eet, freed from this mortal frame ! <et me %ho !ine, THOU+ST L92TC O UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING, Around Whose #eauteous flo%ery "roves the s%arms of #eetles humC Thou Who %ith #o% of mi"ht didst #urn the $ity of, Thy 2O9S ! ';0) FI7 3< 2O9S, +the five+ de$eived meC from Thy ,e%elled flo%er li.e 2eet I !artedC LO! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou honey of 3y sinful soul ! O UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! O WO4TH, Whose "olden form "leams +neath the hallo%ed ash ! ';;)

FII7 O WO4TH< ON9, Thou mad+st me ThineC #y senses + five + de$eived, I %orthless left Thee ! UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! And Thou Hast left me ! Thou Whose mi"hty ,avelin slays Thy trem#lin" foesC Great S9A of $lear Am#rosia "iven for %orthless me to taste ! ';A) FIII7 As do" la!s %ater from the la.e, my soul Thy mer$y+s S9A Muits notC me THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N, UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &INGC Who dost as in a home a#ide in those %ho leave Thee not, Wine of the !alm ! Am#rosia ! Gem ! 3y 2LOO5 of #liss ! '(8) F*7 Li.e one %hose ton"ue amid the 2LOO5 is !ar$hed I "ain+d Thy "ra$e, <et sorro% s!rin"sC 39 THOU+ST 2O4SA&9NC UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &INGC Who ever d%ellest in Thy servants+ hearts that Thee desire ! To me in "uile immersed "rant "ra$e ! 3y ,oy is DO<L9SS all ! '(>) =v, With DO<OUS thou"ht I sa% Thy 2oot, dre% near, and "ained Thy "ra$eC <et am not free ! 39 THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N, UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING, Whose flo%ery ,e%ell+d 2oot is Li"ht of all true li"hts that "leam ! 2ather a$$essi#le ! Lord, Who didst ma.e me all Thine o%n ! '>0) F*I

I %andered %eary, none to say +2ear not !+ Li.e li"htnin"+s flash 6ehold, THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou Truth #eyond $om!areC Great UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING, that li.e Thyself a#idesE Li.e 3other Thou, li.e 2ather Thou, my soul+s most !re$ious W9ALTH ! '>;) F*II7 O W9ALTH ! Sole 4efu"e of my lonely heart ! 6y those %ho s!urn Thy "lories fear+d ! Lo, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C O Gra$e #y ea"er heart And true en,oyedC THOU &ING O2 UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S SH4IN9, With fair "roves "irt ! 5ar.ness and li"ht, this %orld and that, Thou art ! '>A) F*III7 +6e %ith me ! Govern, use, sell, !led"e me,+ thus I $ried, <et me, ere%hile Thy "uest, THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N, Who didst drin. The !oison as am#rosiaC UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAI+S &ING ! Thou healin" 6alm for those #o%ed do%n #y +$han"eful #irth+s+ disease ! '?8) FIF7 2ire of Thy +#idin" "ra$e my sins+ thi$. s!rin"in" %ood #urns u!, *idan"an ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C O UTTA4 &O1A 3ANGAI+S &INGC Who dost destroy the root of human +#irth,+ and ma.e me ThineC The hill li.e ele!hant didst flay, and fri"ht the *an,i 6OUGH ! '?>) FF7 Li.e $lim#in" !lant %ith no su!!ortin" 6OUGH, I %averin" hun" ! Lo, Tender One, me trem#lul" THOU+ST 2O4SA&9NC Thou Who d%ell+st

Where heavenly ones $ome notC stron" UTTA4A &O1A 3ANGAl+S &INGC Thou Who art 9ther, 9arth, and 2ire, and Wind, and %atery 2LOO5 ! 'A0) FFI7 Li.e little shru#s %here ele!hants $ontend, #y senses five I+ve #een sore ve=edC lo, THOU, my 2ather, HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! To sinful me $ommin"led honey, mil., s%eet $ane, am#rosia, LIGHT of my soul, thrillin" my flesh and inmost frame, Thou art ! 'A;) FFII7 The LIGHT Thou artE the White One, "leamin" #ri"ht7 %ith sa$red ash 6esmeared7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C Thou to Thy servants true Art nearC from others ever distantC hard to .no%C The 2eminine, the an$ient 3ale, the neutral One art Thou ! 'AA) FFIII7 The form Thou "av+st I %ore, in faults a#oundin", s$ant of love,7 3e, %orthless slave, THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N, see ! 6ut, if Thou leave, I !erishC none #ut Thee u!holds Thy slaveC Sour$e of my #ein"+s #lissC This $lear !er$e!tion hath Thy servant "ained, Ind%ellin" Lord ! 'B8) FFI*7 Thin"s true a#idin", folly stirred, for vanities I #urn+dC And THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C Thou Who as ro#e dost %ear the hide Of fiery mi"hty handed ele!hant ! I ,oys of sense See.in" "ain not, li.e ANTS that noiseless round the oil ,ar s%arm7 'B>)

FF*7 Li.e %orm in midst of ANTS, #y senses "na%ed and trou#led sore, 3e, utterly alone, Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9NC Thou Whom fiery death o#eyedC Whose fra"rant flo%ery 2oot the heavenly ones attain, and they Who .no%C O 3IGHT< One, Who from Thy servants !artest not ! '/00) FF*I7 +When the G49AT %aters fail, the little fishes faintC + so reft of Thee I qua.e7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! The moon+s %hite $res$ent #orne On Gan"a+s %ave, li.e little s.iff on mountain stream, Is hidden in Thy #raided lo$.s, O 1HOI19ST G93 of heaven ! '/0;) FF*II7 1HOI19 G93S they %ore, those softly smilin" maidsC I failed, I fell7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou "av+st me !la$e +mid Saints %ho %e!t, Their #ein"s fill+d %ith ra!turous ,oysC in "ra$e didst ma.e me Thine ! Sho% me Thy 2eet, even yet to S9NS9 revealed, O s!otless Gem ! '/0A) FF*III7 While S9NS9S made me qua.e, I trem#lin" s%erved to falsehood+s %ay7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! While heaven and earth the !oison feared 2rom out the mi"hty sea, Thou madest it am#rosiaC Home of "ra$e ! Thy servant I, O 3aster, stand distrau"htC sole Worshi! of my heart ! '//8) FFIF7 Thyself from every fetter free, Thou freed+st me from all fault, O Sire,

Whose #o% vi$torious is the mi"hty mount ! Lo, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thy lotus form the $assia+s "old %reath %earsC O mat$hless One ! 6y fivefold evil am I stirred li.e mil. #y 1HU4NING STA227 '//>) FFF7 The senses+ fire #urns fier$eC I+m stirr+d as the $ool $urds #y 1HU4NING+STA22, Lo ! 39 THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N I Thou Who %ear+st $ha!let of s.ulls And $lusterin" %reaths of flo%ers, and the lon" entrails+ t%ineC and dost Thyself Adorn %ith ashes, and s%eet sandal !aste, O 9SS9N19 -U49 ! '/80) FFFI7 Thou art %ith all ! #ut me ! -U49 9SS9N19 3ultiform, Who art $ool flood, s.y, %ind, earth, fireC THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! White, #la$., and a@ure art Thou seen ! 4oseate Thy form ! Thy "irdle is the "listenin" hooded sna.e ! O WA44IO4 9L9-HANT, %ith dri!!in" #ro% and mi"hty foot ! '/8;) FFFII7 Sensuality %as my #ane7 Those WA44ING 9L9-HANTS, the senses five, I feared, %as lost7 THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39, Thou, hard to leave, hard to attain, Save #y Thy %orthy saints, #ri"ht Gem ! While fier$e fire ra"ed, -oison hard %on from out the sea, Thou mad+st Thy food, O A@ure throat! '/8A) FFFIII7 -ardon my %ay%ardness ! That I %ished to do I did, %ine of Thy "ra$e I dran., re,oi$edC Then s%erved ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thy fra"rant flo%ery 2oot, As in the days of old Thou "av+st, $ommand and #id me serve !

Ta.e me, my 2ather ! O remove this %ay%ard 2ON5 59SI49 ! '/:8) FFFI*7 I %as fi$.le and self %itted Sitirred #y no stron" 59SI49 I did my %ill, nor $lun" to Thine ! And, lo ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! When %ilt Thou yet as %ine Of ,oy meet me, and all my mind %ith fra"rant s%eetness fill, As of the !lantain fruit, T4ANS19N59NT LO45 of &ailai+s hill I '/:>) FFF*7 I am, thou"h faulty, Thine ! T4ANS19N59NT LO45, %ith Thine o%n an$ient saints, me faulty one Thou didst desire ! O Aran, yet LO ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou didst me !la$e near Thee, li.e the hare s!ots thou %ear+st, O mi"hty Warrior +"ainst #irth+s five mouth+d sna.e, my soul %ould shun! '/;0) FFF*I7 Muen$h sensual fires7 Li.e flames in forest "lade sense fires %ith smo.y "lare #urn fier$e ! I #urn ! LO, THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! O $onquerin" &in" of heaven, The "arlands on Whose #raided lo$. dri! honey, %hile the #ees Hum softly +mid 3andAra #uds, %hen$e fra"rant s%eetness #reathes7 '/;;) FFF*II7 Is there no !ityI O &in", to me !oor i"norant, +2ear not for faults,+ Thou didst Not say, #ut HAST 2O4SA&9N 39, O Thou %ith fra"ran$e $ro%ned ! S!ouse of the sea #orn maid %ith s!ar.lin" "ems and ,et #la$. eyes ! 6huyan"an ! Golden 2oot ! 3y +deeds+ -49SS round li.e $lusterin" hills7 '/;A) FFF*III7 I have erred throu"h %ea.ness7

6y senses -49SS95, fearin" I left Thee, %ea. to quit the $harms Of s%eet voi$ed maids7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou radiant 6eam &in" of the #urnin" "roundC Am#rosia to Thy %orshi!!ersC Hard to #e "ainedC sole H9L-, removin" loneliness of lonely me ! '/(8) FFFIF7 Hel! me in this $onfli$t %ith flesh7 SOL9 H9L-, %hilst Thou %ert there I %andered %anton, +deeds+ my hel! ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39, Thou Hel!er of my "uilty soulC Thou Sour$e of all my #ein"s #lissC Treasure that never fails ! No %hit #ear I this "rievous #ody+s mi"hty N9T ! '/(>) FL7 The !ain of sensuality7 1au"ht #y those eyes %hose timid "lan$e is li.e fa%n+s in the N9T, +Wildered I "rieved7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou on Whose head The !ale moon+s $res$ent thin is seen ! O$ean of "ra$e ! Thou Lord Of &ailai+s hill ! S!ouse of the mountain 3aid ! Sour$e Of my #ein"+s ,oy ! '/>0) FLI7 Woe is me, in this vile fleshy !rison7 In the hot flood of lust for those of ruddy li!s, li.e $ro$odiles, I ea"er !lun"ed7 Lo ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! This #ody foul, Ant eaten, I endure notC 1ivan, list to my $om!laint ! Thou 6ride"room of the #eauteous 6rideC my ,oyous Goal of #liss ! '/>;) FLII7 Gra$e on$e "iven, no% %ithdra%n7 Thou "av+st indeed to me in "ra$e to "ain my "oal, Thy 2eetC <et THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39, not fated to sha.e off this flesh !

The moon #eheld the ser!ent #ri"ht in s.ull $ave hid, and fearedC Then !lun"in" hid his s%ellin" $rest %ithin Thy #raided lo$., O &ING ! '/>A) FLIII7 I adore Thee, thou"h forlorn7 O &ING, to %ret$hed me, %ho .no% not any !ath, the Li"ht Of ,oy ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Thou the true *9di$ Lord To me didst s!ea., Who !assed s!ee$h ! To steadfast %orshi!!ers, Thou art the 2irst, the Last too, Thou this universal Whole !'/?8) FLI*7 Tormented #y lust7 Li.e oil %as I !oured in fier$e fire of "lan$in" dartli.e eyes, LO ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39! Whose %ord erst ,oined me to Thy saints, Who ever %orshi! at Thy fra"rant flo%ery 2eetC my Lord ! 3y 3aster, faulty thou"h I am, forsa.e me not ! Thee %ill I SING7 '/?>) FL*7 S!iritual desertion I SANG Thee not, nor %orshi!!ed Thee, O hidden Gem, nor left this flesh7 LO ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! All %onderment I %e!t, yet sou"ht Thee not, Nor, +Where is 1ivan,+ +Who hath seen HimI+ did I haste to as.7 I lay su!ine, my soul no ra!tures .ne%C I suffered sore ! '/A0) FL*I7 Still %ill I adore the mysteries of Thy nature7 Li.e fly in ,a$. fruit $au"ht, I fell a !rey to fa%n eyed maids ! LO ! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! 6ut if Thou leave, I+ll utter loud re!roa$h ! I+ll $all Thee +6la$. throat,+ +Who ate !oison from the sea,+ +The Unqualified,+ +The man,+ +1ro%ned %ith the %anin" moon,+ +The mi"hty God "one %ron"7+ '/A;)

FL*II7 *arious %anderin"s7 The an$ient %orshi! of Thy #lameless 2eet I "ainedC then fellC 4eviled TheeC %o.e on$e moreC and, LO ! THOU HAST 2O4SA&9N 39 ! Greatness, that heavenly Gan"a stirs to shed #ri"ht "ems and !earls ! Thy W49ATH+S the $res$ent in the %ater seen, $au"ht in Thy #raided lo$. ! '/AA) FL*III7 I %ill #oast Thy name7 Hero, Who %ear+st the fiery sna.e W49ATH on Thy starli.e head ! Lo I THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C 6ut if Thou leave %hen others as. +Whose servant Thou I+ +Slave of the "lorious slaves Of Uttara .O$a man"ai+s &in",+ I+ll name myself, and $ause them S3IL9 at Thee7 '/B8) FLIF7 9ver !raisin"7 I+ll ma.e them S3IL9, unfoldin" faults and servi$e to the Lord ! Lo! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39C #ut if Thou leave, I shall A6US9 Thee sore ! +3adman, $lad in %ild ele!hant+s s.inC+ +3adman, %ith hide for his "ar# +3adman, that ate the !oisonC+ +3adman of the #urnin" "round fire +3adman, that $hose even me for His o%n !+ '/B>) L7 A6USING Thee or !raisin", $rushed #y sin, and "rieved am I ! LO! THOU+ST 2O4SA&9N 39, Thou 6ri"htness on red $oral hill ! Thou madst me ThineC didst fiery !oison eat, !ityin" !oor souls, That I mi"ht Thine am#rosia taste, I, meanest one ! '800)

HYMN VII - thiruv#(paavai 0Catti)ai vi)antatu2 THE MAIDENS' SON- OF THE DA+NINThe mysti$ +Son" of the 3aidens+ forms a !endant to the +3ornin" Hymn+ 'FF)7 It has al%ays #een attri#uted to 3ani..a vA1a"ar %ithout any hesitation, thou"h in many res!e$ts it is $ertainly unli.e most of his other lyri$s7 It is said to have #een $om!osed for the use of the %omen at ArunA1alam, amon" %hom it is, and %as, the $ustom to $ele#rate %ith "reat demonstrations of ,oy a festival in honour of the "od 1ivan and the "oddess 1atti in the month of 3ar"a@hi, %hi$h $orres!onds to the se$ond half of 5e$em#er and the first half of Danuary7 At that time the females of the $ity of all a"es for ten su$$essive days rise #efore da%n, and !eram#ulate the !re$in$ts, arousin" their $om!anions from house to house, and !ro$eedin" to #athe 'in ri"idly de$orous manner) in the sa$red tan.7 There are !assa"es in this !oem %hi$h I have #een o#li"ed some%hat to veil, and modify, $arefully !reservin", ho%ever, the full and e=a$t meanin" of the ori"inal, as I $on$eive it7 There is, ho%ever, $onne$ted %ith the 1aiva %orshi!, it must #e said, a series of rites %hi$h is sometimes $alled the tantri$, and sometimes the 1a.ti system7 No dou#t, in $onne$tion %ith this, many uns!ea.a#le a#ominations have #een, and are at times !er!etratedC and every thou"htful Hindu is sin$erely an=ious that all tra$e of these $orru!tions should #e s%e!t a%ay7 In all nations Similar thin"s have e=isted, and it %ould #e quite su!erfluous to enumerate the an$ient rites of a similar $hara$ter that have #een enthusiasti$ally $ele#rated7 2rom su$h thin"s the 1aiva system must sever itself a#solutely, %hi$h it $an the more de$idedly do, #e$ause they have no real root in the 1aiva Siddhanta !hiloso!hy itself7 In one edition of these !oems there is the introdu$tion to the +3aidens+ 4eveille,+ %hi$h "ives a mysti$ inter!retation to a lar"e !ortion of the lyri$7 A$$ordin" to this author, from the month of Adi to the month of 3ar"a@hi 'i7e7 from Duly /(th

to Danuary /(th) is the ni"ht seasonC the other half of the year #ein" the daytimeC the %hole year formin" a sin"le day of the Gods7 The former half of the year, in %hi$h there is rain %ith #la$. $louds, is the re!resentative of the se$ular !eriod of involution or destru$tion, %hen all thin"s have #een re involved in the ri!!le veils of dar.ness, %hi$h !eriod !re$edes that of the re$reation, or evolution7 The other half of the year re!resents the !eriod of $reation, i7e7 the time durin" %hi$h the !henomenal universe is re evolved from its eternal elements as the s!here of the a$tivities of all thin"s that have life7 The month of 3ar"a@hi is then the sym#ol of the a%a.in" of the universe from its slum#er of involution7 It is the da%n of the ne% $reation,N of se$ular evolution7 ONOT9 FIIIP7 No% this $reation is the %or. of 1atti, the manifested ener"y of 1ivanENhis %ife, %ho is the author, not of life indeed, #ut of the %hole !henomenal system in %hi$h and #y %hi$h life e=erts its ener"y, and a$hieves its destinies7 1ivan himself $an $ome into no !ersonal relation %ith matter and its veilin" delusions and dar.ness7 It is, therefore, 1atti that a$$om!lishes the %or.C she is an ener"y of a$tivity, of .no%led"e, and of desireC and throu"h her alone the Su!reme evolves all thin"s7 6ut this tantri$ system, li.e the "nosti$ systems of old, does not !ermit 1atti as the -artner of the Su!reme, to a$$om!lish dire$tly the %or. of evolution7 This %ould #e far too sim!le and dire$t for Hindu !hiloso!hy7 There is a lon" $hain of feminine manifestations 'aeons evolved in su$$ession, ea$h $omin" into a relation to the Su!reme that $onstitutes a distin$t sta"e in the !ro$essC and it is only at last that 6rahmA and *ishnu are evolved, to #e res!e$tively the fashioned and the maintainer of the $osmi$ %orld7 The %riter here enumerates nine of these 1attis amon"st %hom are num#ered the $hief female divinities that, under various names and e!ithets, are %orshi!!ed or !ro!itiated in various !arts of India7 Amon" them is the dreaded &Ali7 No dou#t there are hints of all this in this !oem, #ut its !lain and o#vious inter!retation is the only one .no%n to the ma,ority of those that use it, and I ima"ine the $om!oser himself %as inno$ent of anythin" li.e the "nosti$ism and mysti$ism that his inter!reters have "iven him $redit for7 As the hymn stands it is a

#eautiful $om!osition, #ut in some !arts it %ill seem to #e some%hat o#s$ure7 I have tried to "ive a version that still #e as literal as !ossi#le, #ut only the Tamil reader $an feel ho% "reat a !oet its author %asC and only the student of the South Indian 3etreE 1aiva !hiloso!hy $an e=!e$t to enter into its s!irit7

veNTanaiyAnvanta

iya44avinai.

.o$$a$.ali!!a

I7 'The %aits

The sin"

tem!le at the

%orshi! door)

The S!lendour rare and "reat, that .no%s nor first nor end, %e sin"C Thou hear+st the son", yet still slee!+st onC O lady of the lar"e #ri"ht eye ! is thine ear dull that it !er$eives not sound of !raise that hails The "reat God+s $in$tured feet INShe hears the strain resound throu"h all the street, yet in for"etful slee! On her flo%er $ou$h she mutterin" turns ! N See, here she nothin" notin" lies ! Why thus, %hy thus I doth this our friend #eseem I OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! ';) II7 Trifle not7 +Hail to the heavenly Li"ht,+ thou ever say+st, as %e, #y ni"ht and day7 No% of this flo%ery $ou$h Art thou enamour+d, maid %ith faultless "ems adorned I Shame I ,e%ell+d dames, are these thin"s trifles too I To s!ort and ,est is this the !la$e, %hen He in "ra$e Hath $ome to "ive the foot flo%er, shame fast an"els !raise I The Tea$her, Lord of 1iva %orld, in Tillai+s !or$h He rules7 Who are His lovers all I OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! 'A)

III7 O thou %hose smile as !earl is #ri"ht, arise, !resent thyself #efore the Sire, the #lissful One, th+ Am#rosial, And %ith o+erflo%in" s%eetness s!ea. ! 1ome, o!e thy doors ! OShe ,oins them7 They enter the tem!le !or$hP +<e men devout, the 4uler+s an$ient saints, ye reverend men, Will+t #e amiss if ye our %ea.ness aid, us novi$es admit I+ Oin the tem!leP No $heat is this .no% %e not all Thy %ondrous love I Who sin" not %hat they #eauty deem I Our 1ivants form ev+n so %e yearn to see7 OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '/8) I*7 O They all hen$eforth sin" their mornin" son" to the "oddess, im!lorin" H94 to arise in "ra$eP O thou of radiant !earl li.e smile, is+t not no% da%n I have not the s%eet voi$ed $ome, li.e !arrots many hued I Thus thin.in", as is meet, %e s!ea.C mean%hile in slee! $lose not Thine eyeC let not thy time in vain #e s!ent ! Sole 6alm of heaven, the *9da+s !re$ious Sense, the 5ear to eyes that see, %e sin", our meltin" minds In ra!ture all dissolvedC nor deem thou should+st remain for ever thus aslee! ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '/>) *7 Say not, +1ivan is un.no%a#le!+ The +3ount+ that 3Al .ne% not, and Ayan sa% not, %e $an .no%C so Thou dost utter falsities, O "uileful one, %hose mouth %ith mil. and honey flo%s, o!e thy door! He Whom earth, heaven, and other realms .no% not, In "lory ma.es us His, $leanses our souls in "ra$e7

His "oodness sin" ! +O 1ivan, 1ivan,+ har. ! they $ry7 Thou understandest notC thou understandest not ! So+s she %ith !erfumed lo$.s ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '80) *I7 O fa%n, #ut yesterday thou said+st, +At da%n I $ome to rouse you u!C+ #ut no%, all una#ashed Tell us, %hat quarter didst thou see. I is+t not yet da%n I He Who is s.y, and earth, and all thin"s else, to men un.no%nE Himself %ill $ome, %ill "uard, and ma.e us HisC to us %ho $omin" sin" His heavenly $in$tur+d 2oot, s!ea. thou ! In ra!ture melt I The &in" of thee, of us e=tolC of all the %orlds ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '8;) *II7 3other, are these too triflesI 3any heavenly ones .no% not, the One, the mi"hty "lorious Lord7 Hearin" His si"nals, o!e thy mouth, and +1ivan + $ry, 1ry Southern One7+ Li.e %as #efore the fire 3eltin", +3y o%n, my &in", Am#rosia,+ %e all have sun"! Hear thou ! a!art from us yet dost thou slee! I 5ost thou yet s!ee$hless lie, li.e the hard hearted silly ones I What "ra$e is in this slee! I OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '8A) *III7 While $o$.s are $ro%in", small #irds $hant on every sideC %hile trum!et sounds, sound out the $on$h shells every%hereC The heav+nly Li"ht %ithout $om!are, the Gra$e %ithout $om!are, the 6ein" "reat %ithout $om!are, %e+ve sun"C hear+st not I 6less thee, %hat slum#er+s this I Thou o!enest not thy mouth I

is su$h the re$om!ense for our &in"+s love %e #rin" I Th+9ternal, 2irst of 6ein"sC Him Who+#ides the Only OneC the Lady s -artner sin" %e all ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! ':8) IF7 An$ient of days, e=istin" ere the an$ient %orld! Whose nature shares the ne%ness of $reated thin"s! Thy %orshi!!ers devout, %ho+ve "ained Thee for their Lord, adore Thy servants+ feet7 to them "ive reveren$e due7 And these alone shall #e our %edded lordsC ,oyous ev+n as they #id, due servi$e %ill %e render mee.7 Thus, if Thou "rant to us this #oon, our &in", no la$. Thy handmaids e+er shall .no%! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! ':>) F, 6eneath the sevenfold "ulf, trans$endin" s!ee$h, His foot flo%er restsC %ith flo%ers adorned His $ro%n of all the universe is $ro%n ! The Lady+s at His side ! His sa$red form d%ells not alone ! The *9dam, heavenly ones, and earth, !raise HimC and yet He+s our one 2riend, Whose !raise ne+er diesC %ithin His saints He d%ellsC !ure He sustains the +$lan +C ye tem!le ladies, say What is His To%n I His Name I His .in I and %ho His foes I And ho% sin" %e His !raiseI OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9! ';0) FI7 OIn the tem!le tan.P 9nterin" the #road, frequented tan. %ith ,oyful $ries, and hands outstret$hed, %e !lun"e and !lun"e, and sin" Thy 2oot O Guru, see, Thy faithful %orshi!!ers are #lest! As fire Thy+hue is redC Thou %ear+st %hite ashesC 6lessed One! Thou 6ride"room of the Lady lithe, %ith #road, #la$. eyes !

O Guru, ma.e us Thine in "ra$e7 In this our s!ort, What those %ho %ould #e saved !erform, %e+ve done, as theyC "uard that %e %eary not! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9! ';;) FII7 Lord of the sa$red stream, %here %e, that thron"in" mortal %oes may $ease, a$$laimin" #athe ! 5an$er in Tillai+s sa$red $ourt +3idst %avin" fire ! This heaven, this flo%ery earth, us all, in s!ort Thou "uardest, formest, dost enshroudC Thou say+st the %ord ! 6ra$elets tin.lin", ,e%els rattlin" %ith a merry sound, tuneful #eatles hummin" round our lo$.s adorned, -lun"e in the tan., %here flo%ers are "listenin"C !raise the 3asterts "olden 2oot, and in the fountain #athe ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! ';A) FIll7 There #urn dar. $rimson flo%ers of &uvalai, here the red lotus #loomsC there the #ri"ht ra$e of small #irds utters son"sC Here those %ho %ash a%ay their sin are "athered round ! This s%ellin" tan. is Li.e our Mueen and &in"! We ent+rin" !lun"e and !lun"e a"ain, our shells resoundC our an.lets tin.lin" soundC our #osoms thro# %ith ,oyC The %ave %e !lun"e in s%ells7 -lun"e in the lotus $ro%ned flood and ,oyful #athe! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '(8) FI*7 While ear dro!s s%in"C %hile "olden ,e%els %aveC %hile flo%+ry lo$.s are dan$in"C s%arms of %in"+d thin"s flitC 6athe in the $ool flood, sin" the sa$red $ourt! sin" the mysti$ *9dasC sin" their inner sense! Sin" "lory of the Li"ht, sin" Him the $assia %reath Who %ears !

Sin" ye the !o%er of Him, the 2irst, sin" Him the Last! Sin" ye the "lory of Her 2oot, Who armlets %ears, Whose "uardian $are %e o%n ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '(>) F*7 The Lady of &Arai .Al7 On$e on a time, +our -erumAn,+ full oft $ried she7 His "lory any time to s!ea. she $eased not With "ladsome mind, %hile tears in $easeless stream flo%ed forth7 On$e on a time, this %oman $ame to earth, nor #o%ed 6efore the heavenly ones, #y the "reat &in" %ith freti@y filled7 Who li.e to her I Of this mysterious One, O lovely damsels, sin" the 2oot, and #athtin" !lun"e #eneath the flo%+ry flood ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9! '>0) The %ord +time+ is &al, so there is a !lay on the %ord &arai .Al7 It may #e that the !oet in another !assa"e alludes to her #eautiful !rayer'FI, verse A) +He "ave me "ra$e, tho+ I all else for"et, ne+er to for"et His foot, %hose mi"hty dan$e %e sin"!7+

Th# M&th#r &' 3arai/A! 4 Some of the le"ends in the Tamil !eriya -urAnam relate to the !eriod #et%een the first and se$ond "reat revivals of 1aivism, and a fe% are anterior to #oth7 It seems !retty $ertain that, %hile the Dains and 6uddhists %ere a$tive and a!!arently trium!hant every%here, there %ere a "reat multitude of the faithful 1aivites %ho, li.e the 1ovenanters in S$otland, %ere rendered more @ealous #y the !erse$utions to %hi$h they %ere e=!osed7 Amon" these %as the +3other+ of &Arai .Al, %ho %as a !oetess, many of %hose verses are still !reserved7 The le"end "ives a most interestin" !i$ture of some !hases of South Indian life a thousand years a"o7 The 3other +%as the %ife of a ri$h mer$hant of &Arai .Al+,

%hose name %as, -aramadattan '+9ndo%ed %ith heavenly "ifts+)7 Her o%n name %as -unithavathiyAr '+the !ure+)7 She %as very devout, and es!e$ially $areful to entertain all 1aiva devotees that $ame to her door7 One day her hus#and re$eived from some !ersons %ho had $ome to him on #usiness a !resent of t%o man"oes, of a very su!erior .ind, %hi$h he "ot home to his %ife7 Soon after%ards, a holy devotee arrived at the house as a mendi$ant "uest #ut she had nothin" ready to offer him e=$e!t some #oiled ri$e7 This she set #efore him, and havin" no other $ondiment to !resent, "ave him one of the aforesaid man"oes At noon her hus#and returned, and atter his meal ate the remainin" man"o, %hi$h !leased him so mu$h that he said to his %ife, +There %ere t%oC #rin" me the other7+ She %ent a%ay in dismayC #ut remem#erin" that the "od to %hose servant #e$ause he %as His servant she had "iven the fruit, never deserts those %ho serve Him, she offered a mental !rayer, and strai"hta%ay found a man"o in her hand, %hi$h she $arried to her hus#and7 6ein" A divine "ift, it %as of in$om!ara#le s%eetness, and he said to her, +Where did you o#tain thisI+ She hesitated at first to reveal the %onder that had #een %rou"ht on her #ehalf, #ut refle$ted that she ou"ht to have no $on$ealments from her hus#and and so told him everythin"7 He "ave no $reden$e to her %ords, #ut rou"hly re!lied, +If that is so, "et me another li.e it7+ She %ent a%ay, and said in her heart to the "od, +If thou "ivest me not one more fruit, my %ord %ill #e dis#elieved+7 2orth%ith she formed another fruit still more lovely in her hand7 When she $arried this to her hus#and he too. it in astonishmentC #ut #ehold ! it forth%ith vanished7 Utterly $onfounded #y these %onderful thin"s, he $ame to the $on$lusion that his %ife %as a su!ernatural #ein", and resolved to se!arate at on$e from her7 He revealed the matter, ho%ever, to no one, #ut quietly equi!!ed a shi! in %hi$h he em#ar.ed a "reat !art of his %ealth and then on a lu$.y day, %orshi!!in" the "od of the sea, %ith sailon end a s.illful $a!tain, he a$t sail for another $ountry, %here he made mer$handise, a$$umulated a fortune, and after some time re em#ar.in", $ame #a$. to India to another $ity in the -Andiyan land, %here he married a mer$hant+7 dau"hter, and lived in "reat lu=ury7 A dau"hter %as #orn to him, to %hom #e "ave the name of the %ife %ith %hom he had feared to remain, #ut for %hom he

retained

e=$eedin"

reveren$e7

After a%hile his return and !ros!erity #e$ame .no%n to his friends In &Arai .Al, %ho resolved to $om!el him to re$eive a"ain his first %ife, their .ins%oman, %hom he had deserted7 They a$$ordin"ly !ro$eeded to his ne% residen$e, $arryin" %ith them in a litter his saintly s!ouse, the +3other+ of &Arai .Al7 When he heard that she had arrived and %as haltin" in a "rove outside the to%n, he %as sei@ed %ith a "reat dread, and !ro$eeded %ith his se$ond %ife and dau"hter to %here the +3other+ %as en$am!ed surrounded #y her .indred7 He at on$e !rostrated himself %ith !rofoundest reveren$e #efore her, sayin", +<our slave is ha!!y here and !ros!erous thorou"h your #enedi$tion7 To my dau"hter I have "iven your sa$red name, and I $onstantly adore you as my tutelary "oddess+7 -oor -unithayathiyAr, utterly $onfounded #y this salutation and %orshi!, too. refu"e amon" her .insfol., %ho all $ried out, +Why is the madman %orshi!!in" his o%n %ife!+ To this -aramadattan re!lied, +I myself #eheld her %or. as mira$le, and I .no% that she is no dau"hter of the human ra$e, #ut a su!ernatural #ein", and so I have se!arated myself from her, and I %orshi! her as my tutelary divinity, and have dedi$ated this my dau"hter to her, and therefore have I %orshi!!ed her and $all u!on you to do the same7+ 6ut -unithavnthiyAr !ondered the matter and !rayed %ithin herself to 1ivan the Su!reme, sayin"E +Lord, this is my hus#and+s !ersuasion7 Ta.e from me then the #eauty that I have hitherto $herished for his sa.e alone7 4emove from this #urthen of the flesh, and "ive to me the form and features of one of the demon hosts %ho evermore attend on Thee, and !raise Thee7+ That very instant, #y the "ra$e of the "od, her flesh dried u!, and she #e$ame a demoness, one of 1ivan+s hosts, %hom the earthly %orth and heavenly %orld hold in reveren$e7 Then the "ods !oured do%n a rain of flo%ers, heaveny minstrelsy resounded, and her relative fearin", !aid her adoration and de!arted7 So she had no% #e$ome a demoness, and her a#ode %as the %ild ,un"le of Alan.AduC #ut throu"h the ins!iration the "od she san" several sa$red !oems, %hi$h are !reserved7 After%ards there $ame u!on her an irresisti#le desire to #ehold the Sa$red Hill of &ailA1am, and %ith in$on$eiva#le

s!eed she fled north%ards till she arrived at the foot of the 3ountain, and refle$tin" that it %as not ri"ht %ith feet to tread the heavenly as$ent, she thre% herself do%n and measured the distan$e %ith her head7 The "oddess UmA, 1ivan+s #ride, #eheld her thus as$endin", and said to her s!ouse, +Who is that in this stran"e fashion dra%s near, A "aunt fleshless s.eleton, sustained only #y the ener"y of loveI To %hi$h 1ivan re!lied, +She that $ometh is the Q3otherQ devoted to my !raises, this mi"hty demon form she has o#tained #y her !rayers7+ When she dre% near he addressed %ith %ords of love, $allin" her #y the name of +3other,+ %hi$h she for ever #ears7 As soon as heard the %ord she fell at his feet %orshi!!in", and e,a$ulatin" +2ather !+ 1ivan then said to her What #oon dost thou as. of meI+ She %orshi!!ed and re!lied, +Loni, to me your slave "ive love %hi$h is undyin", and infinite #lessedness7 I %ould fain #e #orn on earth no moreC #ut if I must so #orn, "rant me at least that I may never, in any form, at any time, for"et Thee, my GodC %hen thou dost !erform thy sa$red mysti$ dan$e, #eneath thy feet in ra!ture may I stand and sin" thy !raise+, To %hi$h the God re!lied, +In Alan.Adu thou shall see my dan$e, and %ith ra!ture thou shalt sin"7+ Then the sa$red +3other+ of &Arai .Al returned, measurin" the distan$e still on head to holy Alan.Adu, %here she #eheld the God+s sa$red dan$e, and san" her reno%ned lyri$ his !raise7

This le"end illustrates a remar.a#le feature in the 1aiva %orshi! of the south, %here devotees are not infrequently adored as havin" #e$ome demons7 5ou#tless, this is $onne$ted %ith !re Aryan usa"es, and the !oems attri#uted to the +3other+ of &arai.aal !resent the most vivid !i$ture demon %orshi! %ith %hi$h I am a$quainted7 It is not diffi$ult to ima"ine the sour$e of tradition7 We have the !i$ture of a devout and enthusiasti$ %orshi!!er of 1ivan, %ho sa$rifi$es everythin" to the !erforman$e of her su!!osed duties to the "od7 She is misunderstood #y ina!!re$iative hus#and, %ho forsa.es her, and finally, %ith s$orn, re!udiates her7 She has herself a $ha!el in the ,un"le, %here she s!ends her days and ni"hts in !rayers and austerities on her death is %orshi!!ed7 The le"ends %ould soon a$$umulate, and the !oems re!resent dramati$ form the

artisti$

vie%

of

all

the

$ir$umstan$es7

F*I

The

1loudR,

an

Alle"ory

9re%hile thou didst the sea diminish, risin" li.e the MueenC didst "listen li.e Her slender %aist Who rules my soulC 5idst li.e the "olden an.lets sound that on Her sa$red foot in #eauty "leamC didst #end li.e to Her sa$red #ro% The #o%7 As she, mindful of those %ho love our &in", %ho li.e herself, our 3istress, never quit His sideC 3indful of us too, as our Mueen, !ours forth s%eet "ra$e, even so !our do%n, O 1LOU5 ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '>;)

R Here there is a su#tle $om!arison #et%een 1ivan, 1atti, and a $loud that in the monsoon season rises from the sea7 The $loud drin.s the %aters of the sea, "leams in the s.y %ith li"htnin" fires, sends forth the voi$e of the thunder, is sometimes made #eautiful %ith a rain#o%, and then s!readin" itself over the heavens, !ours do%n fertili@in" sho%ers on all the earth #elo%7 So 1ivan dran. the !oison of the seaC dan$es in 1itham#aram %hile His "olden an.lets soundC %ears a form of da@@lin" s!lendourC is reno%ned for the vi$tories He "ained %ith His #o%C and !ours forth #lessin"s over all the earth7 The $om!arison of UmA or 1atti is o#vious7 This $losely resem#les III, >> B;

F*II7 The red eyed one+, and He Whose fa$e turns to ea$h !oint+,

and "ods in every heaven, taste no deli"ht li.e ours7 Thou of the fra"rant lo$.s didst ma.e our #ein"s !ureC and here in "ra$e didst rise in every home of oursC The Warrior "ave in "ra$e His "olden lotus feetC the &in" of #eauteous eyeC Am#rosia rare to us His slavesC Our -erumAn ! Sin"in" His "ift, !lun"e %e and #athe in the $lear lotus flood ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '>A)

F*III7 AnnAmalai His form, His lotus foot heaven+s host adored, %hile lustre of their ,e%ell+d $ro%ns "re% dimC So %hen the #ri"ht eyed sun the dar.ness drives a%ay, the $ool moon+s rays are !aled, the stars themselves de!art7 Thus stood He forthC %as 2emale, 3ale, %as Neither oneC %as Heaven %ith "leamin" li"hts, %as 9arth, %as all the rest7 Am#rosia manifest! -raisin" His ,e%ell+d 2oot, O 3aid !lun"e in this flo%ery stream ! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! '?8) FIF The 3aidens+ *o% +The $hildren of Thy hand are %eC our 4efu"e Thou C+ thus that old %ord %e say ane%C in this our dread Our Lord, to Thee one !rayer %e ma.eC vou$hsafe to hear +let none #ut Thine o%n lovers true our forms em#ra$eC Our hands no servi$e !ay save to Thyself aloneC our eyes, #y ni"ht, #y day, let them see nou"ht #ut Thee++ Our &in", if here this #oon Thou "rant, to us the sun in !erfe$t #eauty shines! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9! '?>)

FF7 6e "ra$i$us Thou ! to Thy foot+s flo%er #e !raise! #e "ra$ious! To Thy rosy #eauteous feet #e !raise! The "olden feet, the sour$e of all that live, #e !raised! The flo%+ry feet, the #liss of every life, #e !raised! The t%ain feet, Goal and 9nd of every life, #e !raised! The lotus flo%er, unseen #y 3Al and the 2our fa$ed, #e !raised ! The "olden flo%ers, that savin" made us His, #e !raised! In 3ar"a@hi month %e #athin" !raise! OU4 LA5< 2AI4, A4IS9 ! 'A0)

HYMN VIII - THE SACRED AMMANAI. RAPTUROUS 5OY.

The remar.s made in the introdu$tion to *II %ill a!!ly in Some de"ree to this !oem also, %hi$h is traditionally said to have #een $om!osed at the same !la$e and time #y the #ard, %ho seein" %omen in "reat num#ers en,oyin" their favourite "ame of AmmAnai and a$$om!anyin" it a sim!le son", listened to their %ords, and then !ut the su#stan$e into these verses7 In some of them He relates his o%n e=!erien$esE In others he !uts %ords into their mouths In the !lay the %omen, "enerally si= in num#er, sit in a $ir$le and toss a num#er of little #alls from one to another %ith "reat de=terity and very s%iftly7 It is a !retty si"ht7 They a$$om!any their "ame a sim!le son", the rhythm of %hi$h is suited to the a$tion of the !layers7 In this $ase there are t%enty verses of si= lines, ea$h verse havin" #ut a sin"le rhythm7 The su#,e$t of su$h verse 7777 "enerally some heroi$ e=!loits, su$h as are !o!ular amon" all $lassesC or the "reat a$ts of a deity7 Here the title of +ra!turous ,oy+ has #een !refi=ed, as the editor seems to have $on$eived that as the main idea of the verses7 I7 His advent as Guru7 The 2oot

Great 3Al, the fiery eyed, delved do%n, #ut failed to rea$h His foot+s e=!andin" flo%er! To earth that foot $ame do%n, Our #irth+ $ut off, made those li.e us His o%n7 Lord of The south landis $lusterin" $o$oa "roves, and -erun turrai+s shrine, And Tillai+s sa$red $ourt, a sa"e He $ame, $all+d me in "ra$e+ And "ave release7 SING %e His foot %hen$e mer$y flo%s ! A33ANA<, S99 ! '>)

/ >7 Here there are four lendin" ideasE /) 1ivan risin" as the mountain ArunA$halam !assed a#ove and #elo% the roarin" fli"ht of 6rahmA and the delvin"s of *ishnuC 8) this same 1aiva "ra$iously manifested Himself as a GU4U to the hum#le, lovin" #ard in order to release him from further metem!sy$hosisC :) He is also %orshi!!ed in the tem!le of -erun turai, His "reat southern shrine, %here the saint first .ne% HimC and ;) in the sa$red $ourt of Tillai He d%ells, a 6rAhman, one of the :000 saints, the mysti$ 5an$er and 5is!enser of "ra$e7 There the sa"e is to o#tain his $onsummation7 These four ideas !er!etually re$ur in these !oems7 This is un unfailin" to!i$ treated %ith ine=hausti#le variety7

II7 3anifestations To men on earth, to heavenly ones, to those #eneath, To those #eyond, He+s s$ar$e made .no%nC to us a$$essi#le ! The Name revered, the South &in", -erun turrai+s Lord 9nterin" our souls, %ith fren@y filled them, sho%ed the final %ay7

Unsatin" Ne$tar, in the #illo%y sea He $ast His netC The Sea of full desire SING %e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '/8)

1ivan $ast His net, is a fisherman7 This refers to a story in the fifty seventh of the GSa$red s!orts+7 -Arvathi %as one day inattentive %hile 1ivan %as e=!oundin" to her the *9di$ mysteries, for %hi$h she %as $ondemned #y her an"ry hus#and and !re$e!tor to #e #orn on earth as a %ife of a fisherman7 A$$ordin"ly one day she %as dis$overed lyin" as a tender infant under a -innai tree'or -unnai, 1alo!hyllam Ino!hyllam)#y the headman of the -aravar, a "reat $lan of fisherman found every%here alon" the $oasts of the Tamil lands7 6y him she %as ado!ted, and "re% u! a maiden of sur!assin" #eauty7 At this time Nandi the 1ham#erlain of 1ivan, in order to #rin" a#out the a$$om!lishment of the "od+s !ur!ose %ith re"ard to the #anished -Arvathi, assumed the form of a monstrous shar.C and in various %ays annoyed the !oor fishermen, #rea.in" their nets and %re$.in" their #oats7 On this the headman of the !aravars issued a !ro$lamation that %hoever should $at$h the sea monster should #e re%arded %ith the hand of his #eautiful ado!ted dau"hter7 1ivan forth%ith made his a!!earan$e as a youth of no#le as!e$t %ho had $ome from 3adura, and at the first thro% of his net $au"ht the shar. and #rou"ht it to land7 He a$$ordin"ly, havin" himself #e$ome a fisherman, re$eived the fisherman+s dau"hter in marria"e7 The "od no% assumed his an$ient form, and restored !Arvathi to hers, and %ith many "ra$ious %ords too. the foster father %ith Him to &ailA1ham, the !aradise of Silver Hill7

III7 Inthiran,

The 3Al, all

Initiation the other

in heavenly

-erun turrai ones,

Stood round in u!!er airC All "lorious -erun turrai+s

1ivan in "ra$e to earth $ame do%n, Lord, %ho $omes our hearts to thrillC

3ade those li.e us His o%n7 His arm the sa$red ashes sho%sC

To

loose

our ra!turesC

#onds SING

He the

on #liss the

a !

$har"er

rode,

and S99! me Indra Him

"ave '/A) ! too, ! aidC foot

Unendin" I*7 The Sore To In He "ods me flesh a

A33AANA<, as$eti$s, 3Al, yet #ut Ayan, .no% He lent me

$hose %ho $ur filled li.e He

not the $ame, %ith

heavens, stood, %ith

!enan$e He

did, $ame,

anthills trem#lin"

not His

mother love ra!ture !ureC the

thrilled

throu"h

Honied

am#rosia+s

9ssen$e

,e%ell+d

That trends the s.ies in "leamin" li"ht SING %e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '8;) *7 The 3e Of Who &neaded His 3i"hty vilest the Tillai+s mer$yC $ur, stone, all $ity "ra$e One, of made my the mind it sin enterin", to me South &in", untau"ht, s%eet in fruitC the destroyed7 To all -erun turrai+s %ith !lun"ed Him, sa$red fren@y in $ourt the the un%orthy7 Lord, filledC flood Sa"e, a#ides,

The an$ient 4ider of the 6ull, SING %e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! ':0) *II And The Sho%ed hast 1ivan, thou heard, of His my a friend, +false+ ho% one %ith mendi$ant falsehood shrine of His $ameI #e"irt "ra$eC

Lord us

-erun turrai+s lotus foot, and

southern honey

With storied %alls, sho%ed thin"s ne+er sho%n #efore, sho%ed #liss, While rusti$s lau"hed, that %e the heavenly home mi"ht "ain,

He made us HisC SING %e this "ra$e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! ':>) *II7 1ivan+s ten e!ithets7

Ind%eller The Of With

in

the

heart southern Who

of the

those the

%ho Sa"eC

$easeless half the of

!onder Whose

HimC ha#itant form %orld

2aroff OneC -erun turrai+s

WarriorC

ever lovin"

shrineC visits

The Lady sharesC the Love+d One Who made me, mere $ur, His o%nC mother love menC sevenfold Whose essen$e isC 4uler of soulsC SING %e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! ';8) *III7 Half The He The of rules the the Seven Mueen, Lord, eye the in e=!anded as!e$ts %hose &in" s!here midmost of "ra$e of of of a$$e!ts of #ro%C our u!!er in 1ivan7 melodies, shrineC heavenC 3adura

mi"hty God%ith

-erun turrai+s His

reno%ned

5istreat,

He $arried earth for hireC %as smitten

#y the &in",

SING %e His "olden form that #ore the %ounds ! A33AANA<, S99 ! ';A) IF7 His He 2irst the %ears in Ten $res$entC the all mythi$ His t%isted %orlds the mysti$ He the ideas %ordC rides of -erun turrai+s the "lorious %ithout 1ivan &in"C #ullC end

threadC is He,

6la$. is His throatC His #ody redC He smears the ashes %hiteC ra!ture As in the days of yore to an$ient saints in "ra$e He "ives ! That all the %orlds may %onder, SING ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '(;) F7 The In Sa"e *arious a#ove the "ods the !raises, that rule the that si= heavensC rule Who this to!i$s7 stands earthC

ma,esty

a#ove

.in"s

The !leasant -Andi land, %hose "ift is Tamir+s !leasant s!ee$h, is HisC

The He

6ride"room sho%ed His His

of

the

MueenC feet, %e

in made !

-erun turrai, me, a do", A33AANA<,

His His S99

deli"ht, o%nC ! '>0)

"ra$ious shrine,

AnnAmalai+s FI7 The Whose The A#ides fair Sire

SIN9

-raises7 Mueen+s thrills %ho their HalfC the made souls, of souls that %ho southern that $lin" -aandi land ri"htly render -erun turrai around the them His LordC feetC

Nature

1iva %orldC to HimC

Ado%n Whose #raided lo$. the %aters flo%C Whose #lissful ,e%ell+d foot %ithin 6eyond the furthest limits !raise u!lift ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '>>) FII7 The Su!reme and A#solute7

Listen, O damsel %ith the ,et #la$. eyes ! 3Al, Ayan, IndrA too, Throu"h every +#irth+ sou"ht Him, me, %ith s%eet "ra$e, in this one #irths He made His o%nC "uards me that I may suffer +#irths+ no moreC In The all Self that+s in all real, that manifestC is, is the HeC of true His #idin" !la$eC the HomeC everythin"

Our 1ivan, Who that essen$e is, SING %e ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '?8) FIII7 -raises, si= %hile ear rin"s %ave honey the hearts flo%s, ashes untrue and %hite, still e!ithets7 %hile ,etty lo$.s #eetles Whose deem humC home untrue,

While #ra$elets tin.lin" around, 5isheveled The The fall, Who Sa"e %hile %ears Whom 4uddy One True, the

None rea$h or .no%, %ho d%ells in every !la$e,

to lovin" ones

Who in Ai Aru d%ells, SING %e and !raise ! A33AANA<, S99 ! '?A)

FI*7 As He 3y In ele!hant, stood sin "ra$e

The as flesh

story %orm, in

of human melted His sha!es, my

his in and and me

$onversion forms ,oyous as a divine, drove .in"

In other #irths diverse, in a%ayC %ith

I lived and died, soulC filledC servi$e every in s%eetness

%as %earied soreC

revealed,

a!!earin",

re$eivedC

That Heavenly One+s foot flo%er SING %e, A33AANA<, S99 ! 'A;) F*7 He He Teet Lord 1ivan+s made Indra+s of of the the South the trium!h moon "ro% $rushedC sun, and at dim $ut that drove in off rides a%ay %ith 5a.shan+s 5a.shan+s the the to +9$$han+s s.y, He every flo%+ry sa$rifi$e7 sa$rifi$eC headC #ro.eC !ointC "roves

shoulder "ods,

#ri"ht #eamed

5is!ersed

-erun turrai+s

shrine

6e"irtC the 2ra"rant "arlanded, SING %e, A33ANAA<, S99! 'B0) F*I7 His As He Of The -resen$e honey, "ave His s%eetness min"led rare "ra$e, .no%n, in in am#rosia, %ays %ith the souls of my #ody, every heavenly in His and $hoi$est ones num#er .no% -resen$e7 thou"htC s%eet notC

The Warrior $ro%ned %ith $assia+s honied flo%ersC as "lorious li"ht %isdom infinite, Their &in" He d%ells, this tell %e out! A33AANA<, S99 ! 'B>) F*II7 I+ll To %ear 1ivan+s the 9$tasy flo%+ry mi"hty +$assia+ armC and %reath, ,oinin" of and %earin" in adoration7 ,oin ra!ture myself lostC

$lin"

Then I+ll I+ll

shrin.in" see. faint Him, and

shall droo!,

I and

melt I+ll yet

%ith !onder a"ain

love revive7

of

His The

red ruddy

li!C footC foot

see.in"

1ivan+s

,e%ell+d

Of Him %ho dan$es there +mid fire SING %e! A33ANAA<, S99 ! '/08) F*III7 1ivan a!!eared as a 6rAhman

In li"ht He "leams, Her Half %hose %ords as -arrot+s note are soft, The Sa"e %hom 3Al and Ayan $omin" forth $ould not dis$ernC In In In "lorious mer$y li"ht He -erun turrai+s affa#le, $ame, and "rove s%eetest li"ht %ith honied my fra"ran$e soul to filled, thou"ht, shineC "ra$e %ithin trans$endin"

$aused

The 6rAhman full of tenderness SING %e! A33ANAA<, S99 ! '/0A) FIF7 The The Who Who -rimal &in", d%ells o%ns, -raise One, the in 9nd %ith of the the those eleven Three, -artner the %ho #eyond of southern $all e!ithets7 the the Him 9nd MueenC theirs,

The After One, %ith #raided lo$., of -erun turrai %hi$h He "uards Heavenly One, southern s%eet to Anai .A, -Andi land

Am#rosia

To su$h as one, the 2ather, SING %e !raise ! A33ANAA<, S99 ! '//;) FF7 1lin"in" to the Guru7

The mi"hty Lord %hose nature others .no% not, In His Severed "ra$e servant+s the u!on faults $lin"in" vi$torious removedC $ords of "ave earthly $har"er virtue, ties !

-erun turrai+s &in" ridin" $ameC stainC old from !raises

$leansed His

We $lin" to,

so may earthly #onds #e loosedC the mi"hty #liss

Of Him to %hom %e $lin", SING %e !, A33AANA<, S99 ! '/80)

HYMN I6 - thirupp&R%uNNa( 0Anantha(an&!a)a(2 THE SACRED -OLD DUST. THE MER-IN- OF THE SOUL IN RAPTURE. 3etre E Aru$hIradi A$hiriaviruttam In the *Atha*urar -urAnam *, >:, %e are told that the Sa"e %hen in Tillai sa% %omen !oundin" the "old dust %hi$h, mi=ed %ith !erfumes, is stre%n on the heads of distin"uished visitors to the shrine, and on "reat o$$asions is lavishly thro%n over all thin"s and !ersons $onne$ted %ith the %orshi!7 As they !ounded, they sun" foolish son"sC and he $om!osed these t%enty verses, in a some%hat loose metre, to #e sun" in time %ith the !estles7 The son" is mu$h admired, #ut is a little o#s$ure, and almost $olloquial7 I have tried to !reserve the rhythm, five !rin$i!al a$$ounts in ea$h half line7

I7 4everen$e to the various queens of heaven The !earl t%ined %reath and flo%ery "arland raiseC the flo%er vase !la$e, in$ense, and sa$red lam! ! To 1atti, 1Omi Goddess earth, and Mueen of s!ee$h, $haunt ye aus!i$ious son"s ! 2or Sitti, Gauri, -Ar!!athi, and Gan"ai, haste, and $omin" %ave your $oolin" fans ! The Sire, Lord of AyyAr, the 2ather &in" e=tol, and dan$in", -OUN5 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ';) II7 5evoutly do this servi$e7

2or our Lord of the flo%in" $ro%ned lo$. %e needs must -OUN5 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! <e of the #eauteous sha!ely eyes, $ome ye, and $omin" all, %ith us in union sin", 1ry out, nor stand aloof from the devoted thron"C #o% do%n, our &in", our 5an$er %orshi!!in" ! The Goddess and He $omin" shall %e ta.e us for theirsE -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 4U55< GOL5 ! 'A) III7 Adorn the !la$e as a sa$red !avilion7 Adorn %ith #eauteous ashes, $leanse the !la$eC s!rin.le !ure "old, the treasures s!read ye out, -lant Indra+s sa$red treeC lift every%here the #anner, !la$in" round soft "leamin" li"hts ! 2or the &in" of the heavenly onesC the Lord of Ayan, the 3onar$hC the Lord, the Sire of *9lan the "oodC 2or the s!ouse of the 3istress %ho rules su$h as %eE -OUN5 W9 692ITTING 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '/8) I*7 Adorn ea$h !estle %ith "listenin" "emsC the handle and mortar adorn ye ! The lovin", lo%ly devotees, salute and %ish them lastin" #liss ! The "olden shrine of sa$red 9.am#an in &a$hi, %hither all the land resorts, Sin" %e7 And, freed from deeds that #onda"e #rin",

sin"in", -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GO5 ! '/>) *7 Ayan and Ari shall their "arlands #rin"! not Indra, nor %ith him the deathless ones, Nor all the !erfumed hosts of "ods, save after us, the !estle suffer %e to lift Sin" %e the "olden shrine of sa$red T.am#an the 6o%man Who smote three forts of his foes, <e of smilin" roseate li!s ! for the three eyed Sire+s dan$e -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '80) *I7 3any a !estle %ould the "reat ones u!raiseC that the %orld %ould not serve for a mortar, To mi= the fra"rant dust the saints $ro%d round, that the %orlds suffi$e not to #ehold7 In favourin" love He made us slaves His o%nC and "ave His flo%ery 2eet to $ro%n our #ro%s, To the mountains Son in la%, ,oyous ever, sin" %e and -OUN5 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '8;) *II7 While the "olden armlets tin.lin" soundC %hile the saintly #ands u!risin" $hantC While to%nsfol. "reet us %ith loud a$$laimC %hile them %e "reet %ith ans%erin" shoutC The -artner of the Mueen, on %hose soft feet

the an.lets tin.lin" sound, our God, The &in", li.e mi"hty mount of !urest "old, To serve, -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '8A) *III7 <e sim!le maidens fair, %ith #ri"ht %ide eyes, %hile armlets tin.le, #osoms heave and s%ell, While shoulders "leam %ith ashes !ure, !ro$laim ye ever !raises of our Lord, Who sho%ed His #ri"ht flo%er 2oot, and in this %orld made us, lo%er than very do"s His o%n ! His %ays of "ra$e, sin" o+er and o+er, and Him to serve, -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ':8) IF7 Let the %hole earth #e the mortarC as !estle !lant 3eru the loftyC Saffron of truth !our forth in $o!ious stream7 Him Who in southern -erun turrai d%ells His sa$red roseate 2oot sin" evermore ! With ri"ht hand sei@e the !estle+s ruddy "old7 The Sa"e, the "lorious One of #eauteous Tillai+s shrine to serve, -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ':>) F7 While our #osoms !earl adorn+d #eat hi"hC %hile in our $lusterin" lo$.s the honey #ees !layC While %ith 1ivan our minds are dan$in"C %hile #ri"ht

eyes %ith de% are "leanin"C While %ild ra!ture from our Lord is thrillin"C, as others live, their $han"in" lives %e liveC With our 2athers mer$y "lad, ever dan$in", -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ';0) FI7 4i$h ,e%els li.e the moonli"ht "leamin"C !antin" mouths and li!s of $oral quiverin"C Sin" ye the %ay He made us HisC sin" ye the %ay our servi$e He a$$e!tsC See. ye our -erumAn, and see.in", ,oy in heart, then let your trem#lin" minds "ro% #oldC 5an$e ye to Him %ho dan$es in the 1ourtC dan$e and -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ';;)

FII7 Him in %hose throats is the #la$.ness, 6alm of the d%ellers in heaven, the ru#y 5an$er Himself, The Sa"e, the Lord of the sa"es, us %ho too., and made us His, and all His rareness sho%edC The 2alse to the false, the Truth of the true, ye #eauteous ones %ith eyes li.e o!enin" flo%ers, Who %ear the "olden armlets ye of lovely form, !raisin", -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! ';A) FIII7

5amsels %ith slender %aists and $rimson li!s, #la$. eyes, #ri"ht smile, and %ords li.e musi$ s%eet ! 3y rare Am#rosiaC our SireC our Lord of mi"htC to the dau"hter of Himavat Her Hus#and, Son and Sire, and 6rother tooC our Tea$her+s feet sin" ye, %hose #osoms "leam With "old and "ems, ye damsels #eautiful, sin" and -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '(8) FI*7 While the shells aound, %hile the an.lets tin.le, %hile %avin" $ha!lets $ro%n your flo%in" loo.s, While your roseate li!s li.e ri!e fruit quiver, #ri"ht ,e%elled ones, sin" the 1iva %orld ! 2or His foot, Whose head is $ro%ned %ith #raided lo$. %here Gan"A+s streams resound %ith ser!ent+s hissC While our #osoms %ith s%ellin" tenderness heave, -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '(>) F*7 9ssen$e of %isdom+s s%eetness e=quisiteC honey unfailin", full of e=$ellen$eC Him %ho is savour ri$h of every fruitC the &in" %ith !o%er to enter s%eetly every mindC The 5an$er Who $ut off em#odiment and made us His, in s%ellin" strains !raise ye, <e maidens s%eet, %ith eyes li.e !ur!le lotus flo%ers,

sin"in", -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '>0) F*I7 Thus %e too, $omin" %ith the lovin" ones, shall sin" the %ays He ma.es us His, He sho%s the roseate flo%ery feet, that "ods in Heaven %ho rule, e+en in their dreams, .no% not7 He #ears aloft the fla" of vi$tory in !ros!erous %ar7 -raise 1iva -erumAn ! Sin"in" the $onquerin" Hero+s names %ho too. the to%ns, -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '>;) F*II7 Sin" %e the $assia flo%er %ith honey rifeC sin" 1iva to%nC sin" %e the infant moon U!on His sa$red #raided lo$.C sin" %e the mi"hty 6ull, the trident and the a=e, His %arrin" ri"ht hand %ieldsC that d%ellers in this %orld, and in other %orlds mi"ht +s$a!eC Sin" ho% the !oison for his food He ate, that day, and -OUN5 W9 TH9 SA1495 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '>A) F*III7 He trundled Ayan+s head li.e #all, sin" Him ! He #ro.e the teeth of Aru..an, sin" Him ! He sle% the ele!hant, and %ore its s.in, !raise Him ! The Lord of death He s!urned %ith sa$red 2oot, !raise Him ! He shot His arro%s +"ainst the to%ns $om#ined, !raise Him !

-oor %ret$hed slaves, He made us His, !raise %e That love ! Here stand, and ever dan$e and sin", and for the Lord, -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '?8) FIF7 Sin" ye the $assia %reath of rounded flo%ers ! Sin" ye His folly %ild ! His %isdom sin" ! Sin" ye southern Tillai, the saints+ a#ode ! Sin" %e the #lest One of the +sa$red hall+ ! Sin" %e the ser!ent "irdle that He #inds ! Sin" %e the armlets ! on His hollo% !alm Sin" ho% the ser!ent rears its folds, and for the 4uler, -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! '?>)

2or Him Who is the *9dam and the Sa$rifi$eC for Him Who is the 2alsehood and the TruthC 2or Him Who is the S!lendour and the GloomC for Him Who is Affe$tion and 5eli"htC 2or Him Who is the Half, Who is the WholeC for Him Who is the 6ond and the 4eleaseC 2or Him Who is the 2irst, Who is the LastC dan$in", -OUN5 W9 TH9 5UST O2 GOL5 ! 'A0)

H)(n 6- tiru/ /Ottu(pi THE HUMMIN- 7EE

3etre E Naladittaravu .o$$u. .ali!!A

Our !oet sa"e, li.e S7 Anthony of -adua, and some other mediaeval saints, had a "reat sym!athy %ith the irrational $reation7 This !oem is addressed to the hummin" #ee, or %in"ed #eetles, %hi$h a#ound in all the to!es and "lads of South India, and are es!e$ially numerous in the shady "roves that surround the tem!lesCC havin" a "reat !referen$e for the fra"rant and #eautiful trees %hi$h are sa$red to the Hindu deities7 The inse$t, here $alled Gottum#i, is !ro#a#ly the dra"on fly 4u!lea S!enders7 Here the SOUL is really addressed and e=horted to see. 1iva+s feet7 I7 3ysteriously "reat7 The &in" that $ro%ns the flo%erC -urandaranC the Lady #lest, in #eauty $lothed, That sits on learned ton"uesC and NArananC the fourfold mysti$ *9di$ S$roll, The S!lendours, 4iders in ma,estyC %ith all the heavenly ones too, .no% Him notE Go to His roseate foot %ho mounts the 6ullC AN5 649ATH HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! ';) II7 I am nou"ht, yet made li.e to Him Who am II Wisdom+s lessons %hat are they that fill my mindI and me %ho+d .no% Had not the Lord of heaven made me His o%nI He of the tem!le $ourt, Who erst A mendi$ant %ith mind distrau"ht as.ed food, in #ro.en s.ull %ith flesh im!ure ! Haste to Him lotus foot, as honey s%eetC

AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! 'A) III7 All s%eetness is in Him7 Honey from any flo%er si! not, thou"h small as tiniest "rain of millest seed ! Whene+ver %e thin. of Him, %hene+er %e see, %hene+er of Him our li!s $onverse, Then s%eetest ra!ture+s honey ever flo%s, till all our frame in #liss dissolves ! To Him alone, the mysti$ 5an$er, "oC AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! '/8) I*7 His love "ives to loveless me7 There %as no love in me li.e &anna!!an+sC %hen He, my Sire, sa% this, me !oor 6eyond $om!are, in "ra$e He made His o%nC He s!a.e, and #ade me $ome to Him7 With heavenly "ra$e adorned He shines, and %ears %hite ashes, and the "olden dust ! To Him, of mer$y infinite, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '/>)

The Le"end of &anna!!a Nayanaar, or the +9ye 5evotee+7 The ima"e of this reno%ned South Indian devotee stands in the tem!le at &Alahasti '1alastri) near the -uli$at Hills7 He %as a rA,a of Udu!!Ur, and of the She!herd $aste ' a v9dan or Hill men, !erha!s a &urum#an)7 The story re!resents his an$ient $lan as !ossessin" "reat %ealth and authority in a %ild

hilly distri$t, %here their %hole o$$u!ation %as huntin"7 There is a UamindAr, %ho lives there no% in feudal state7 The old $hieftain, the father of &anna!!an, %hose name %as NA"an 'the 5ra"on man) is re!resented to us as movin" a#out attended #y fier$e huntin" do"s, armed %ith every .ind of rusti$ %ea!onC a s.illful ar$her, around %hose mountain d%ellin" innumera#le forest animals of every .ind had their home, and %here the $ries +shoot+ +hurl+ +stri.e+ %ere min"led from mornin" to ni"ht %ith the ho%lin"s of %ild #easts, the #ar.in" of do"s, and the sound of the horns and drums of the hunters7 He had no son, and therefore he and his %ife %ent to the tem!le of Su#rahmanyan ' a son of 1ivan) the favourite deity of mountaineers, and !ro#a#ly a !re Aryan deity of the South, an o#,e$t of %orshi!, under many names and forms, in every Tamil hamlet7 To him they offered $o$.s and !eafo%l, made "ood feasts %ith $o!ious li#ations of stron" drin., !erformed %ild dan$esC and in fa$t, a$$ordin" to the le"end, seem to have %orshi!!ed mu$h after the rude fashion of the demon %orshi!!ers of the !resent day7 The result %as that #y the favour of their tutelary deity a son %as #orn to them, %ho from his early $hildhood shared in his father+s !ursuits, #ein" #rou"ht u!, it is e=!ressly said, li.e a ti"er+s $u#7 The !roud, ha!!y father used to $arry him a#out on his shoulder, #ut findin" him one day too heavy to #e thus #orne, "ave him the name of +Tinnan+ '+the sturdy man+) %hi$h remained his !et household name7 He %as ere%hile to #ear a more honoura#le and endurin" title! Soon after this the old $hief, findin" himself una#le any lon"er to $ondu$t the huntin" e=!editions of the tri#e, made over his authority to his son, %ith %hom alone this history is $on$erned7 Hen$eforth our youn" hero is ever in the dense ,un"le %ith his veteran huntsmen7 One day a %ild #oar, of "i"anti$ si@e, that had #een $au"ht in their nets, es$a!ed and made off %ith !rodi"ious s!eed to the mountain side7 Tinnan !ursued it %ith t%o faithful attendants, #ut it let them a %eary $hase and did not sto! till, e=hausted %ith fati"ue, it fell do%n in the shade of a tree on the slo!e of a distant hill7 There Tinnan %ith his s%ord $ut it in t%o7 His attendants $ame u! and %ere astonished and deli"hted at his su$$ess and said, + We %ill roast the #oar here,

and refresh ourselves+7 6ut there %as no %ater at hand, so they too. u! the $ar$ase of the #oar and $arried it some distan$e on%ard, till they $ame to si"ht of the sa$red hill of +&Alahasti+7 At the vie% of the mountain one of the attendants $ried out, that on that mountain summit there %as an ima"e of the +God %ith flo%in" hair+ '1ivan)7 +If %e "o thither %e may %orshi! him+ added he7 Hearin" this the youn" "iant Tinnan a"ain shouldered the #oar and strode on, e=$laimin", +%ith every ste! that I advan$e to%ards the mountain the #urden of the #oar diminishes7 There is some mira$ulous !o%er hereC I must find out %hat it is+7 So sayin" he rushed on %ith "reat ea"erness till he $ame to the #an. of a river, %here he de!osited his #urden, #ade his $om!anions ma.e a fire and !re!are the feast, %hile he himself hastened on%ard till he #eheld on the slo!e of the hill, on the further #an. of the stream, a stone lin"am, the u!!er !art of %hi$h %as fashioned into a rude ima"e of the head of the "od7 The moment he #eheld it, as the ma"net dra%s the iron, it dre% his soul, %hi$h had #een someho% !re!ared #y the merit of "ood deeds and austerities !erformed in some former #irthC and his %hole nature %as $han"ed, every feeln" #ein" s%allo%ed u! the intense love for the "od, %hom for the first time he no% #eheld7 As a mother, seein" her lon" lost son return, tarries not, #ut rushes to em#ra$e him, as he thre% himself u!on the ima"e, tenderly em#ra$ed it, and fervently .issed it7 With tears of ra!ture, his soul dissolvin" li.e %as n the sunshine, he $ried out, +Ah, %ondrous #lessedness! to me a slave this divinity has #een "iven! 6ut ho% is that the "od remains here alone in a %ilderness %here lions, ele!hants, ti"ers, #ears, and other %ild #easts d%ell, as thou"h he %ere some rude mountaineer li.e meI+7 Then, e=aminin" the ima"e more $losely, he sa% that %ater had #een re$ently !oured u!on it and "reen leaves stre%n over it7 +Who $an have done thisI+ said he7 His attendant, %ho had in the meantime has $ome u!, re!liedE +In the olden time, %hen I $ame here on a huntin" e=!edition %ith your father, a 6rAhman, I remem#er $ame, !oured %ater and !la$ed leaves u!on this ima"e, re!eatin" some mysterious %ordsC !erha!s he is still here7 So it da%ned u!on the mind of

Tinnan that these and other servi$es, %hi$h he himself $ould render, mi"ht #e a$$e!ta#le to the "od7 +6ut,+ said he, +there is no one here to su!!ly him %ith food7 He is alone, and I $annot leave him for an instant, yet I must !erfor$e "o and #rin" for him some of the #oar+s flesh $oo.ed for our feast+7 So, after mu$h hesitation and un%illin"ness to lose si"ht for a moment of his ne% found treasure he %ent #a$., $rossed the stream, %here he found the food already !re!ared and his servants %onderin" at the delay in his return7 Tinnan re"ardin" them not, too. some of the #oar+s flesh and $uttin" off the tenderest !ortions, roasted them on the !oint of an arro%C tasted them to as$ertain that they %ere savouryC $arefully sele$ted the #est, !uttin" them into a $u! of tea. leaves %hi$h he had se%n to"etherC and !re!ared to return to the %oodland deity %ith his offerin"7 The servants seein" all this, very reasona#ly $on$luded that their master had suddenly "one mad, and hastened off home to ta.e the ne%s, and to as. the !riestess of their tri#e to return %ith them and e=or$ise the evil s!irit that they su!!osed had ta.en !ossession of their lord7 Tinnan un$ons$ious of their de!arture, hastened #a$. %ith the food in one hand, and his #o% and arro% in the other7 As he $rossed the river, he filled his mouth %ith %ater, %ith %hi$h $omin" #efore the ima"e he #es!rin.led it7 He then too. the %ild ,un"le flo%ers from his o%n hair, and !ut them over it, and !resented the $oarse #oar+s flesh he had #rou"ht, sayin"E +3y Lord, I have $hosen for thee the daintiest !ortions, have $arefully !re!ared them %ith fire, have tasted them, and softened them %ith my o%n teeth7 I have s!rin.led thee %ith %ater from the stream, and have !ut on thee flo%ers thou mayest love7 A$$e!t my "ifts!+ O This !resentation of the food to the lin"am and other ima"es is often referred to in these stories, and the im!ression is "iven that the %orshi!!ers #elieved that the idol itself $onsumed the offerin"C #ut it is never e=!ressly said that the food disa!!eared #efore the shrines, thou"h this is sometimes im!lied7P 3ean%hile the sun %ent do%n and durin" the %hole ni"ht Tinnan %ith his arro% on the strun" #o% .e!t %at$h and %ard around the "od and at da%n %ent forth to the mountain to hunt, that he mi"ht !rovide for the daily %ants of his ne% master7

While he %as "one on this errand the 6rAhman in $har"e of the lin"am, %ho %as a learned as$eti$ of reno%ned virtue and holiness, 1iva"O$hariyAr, $ame at day#rea., and havin" !erformed his o%n a#lutions in the river, !rovided himself %ith a vessel of !ure %ater for the !urifi$ation of the divine ima"e, and a #as.et of sa$red flo%ers and fresh leaves for its adornment and utterin" the mysti$ 2ive Sylla#les, devoutly dre% near7 A s$ene of unuttera#le !ollution met his horrified "a@e7 2lesh and #ones %ere stre%ed around, and the ima"e itself had #een defiled %ith filthy %ater and $ommon %ild flo%ers! With trem#lin" horror he s!ran" aside, e=$laimin", +Oh, "od of "ods!%hat an unhallo%ed im!ious hands of mountaineers have #rou"ht these !ollutions here7 Ho% didst thou !ermit them thus to !rofane thy !resen$eI+7 So sayin", he %e!t, fell do%n, and rolled in an"uish #efore the "od7 6ut, refle$tin" that at any rate it %as %ron" to delay any lon"er the sa$red servi$e, he $arefully removed the unhallo%ed thin"s from the !re$in$ts, and !ro$eeded to !erform %orshi! a$$ordin" to the *edi$ ritesE and havin" sun" the a!!ointed Hymn, and many times "one round the ri"ht ima"e, and !rostrated himself in adoration, de!arted to his hermita"e7 3ean%hile the servants, havin" ta.en the ne%s of Tinnan+s madness to old NA"an, his father returned %ith him and the !riestess of their demon tem!le7 They #oth attem!ted to reason %ith the youn" enthusiast, and to re$all him tot he %orshi! to %hi$h he had #een a$$ustomedC #ut its %ild or"ies deli"hted him no more7 His %hole affe$tion %as $entered u!on the ne% found 1ivan so they re"ardin" him as ho!elessly mad, returned sorro%in" to their villa"e7 OOne o#,e$t of this le"end seems to #e the re$on$iliation of the orthodo= 1iva %orshi! and the ruder forms of demon %orshi! then in use7 The $ontrast is e=$eedin"ly stri.in" %hen the refined and thorou"hly instru$ted 6rAhman, %ith his s$ru!ulous attention to all the minutiae of v9di$ %orshi!, %ho re"arded the slayin" of animals as a $rime, and the eatin" of their flesh as an uns!ea.a#le a#omination, and $onsidered that %hatever had tou$hed a man+s mouth %as !olluted and that the %ild human inha#itants of the ,un"le %ere a lo%er order of $reation is #rou"ht fa$e to fa$e %ith the youthful $hieftain of an almost sava"e

tri#e, %hose $hief deli"ht is ho% to hunt do%n, slay and devour the #irds and #easts of the forestC %ho #rin"s #oar+s flesh for the un!olluted 1ivan to eat, and $arries %ater in his mouth %here%ith to #es!rin.le the ima"eC %ho a$tually uses his leathern sli!!ers to #rush a%ay the refuse leaves from the head of the "od, %ho .no% no sa$red te=tsC and %ho %orshi!s the same "od, indeed, #ut has nothin" to $ommend him save a rude uninstru$ted thou"h @ealous devotion7P 3ean%hile the mountaineer "uards the "od #y ni"ht, returns at eventide to Offer his "ifts and !erform his rude servi$e, and s!ends the day in !rovidin" flesh of #easts for the "od+s re!ast7At da%n, %hen the youn" %oodman has de!arted, duly $omes the !ure and e=$lusive 6rAhman havin" s$ru!ulously made his o%n a#lutions, $leanses the !re$in$ts, and !erforms his $eremonious %orshi!7 These men so different serve #y turns #efore the same lin"am, %hi$h they #oth re"arded %ith equal reveren$e! 6ut this $annot lon" $ontinue so7 The 6rAhman ma.es a !assionate a!!eal to 1ivan to "uard himself from these !ollutions, the author of %hi$h he $annot tra$e7 He then return to his hermita"e sad and utterly !er!le=ed7 6ut in the ni"ht the "od a!!ears to him, and then addressed himE + That %hi$h thou dost $om!lain of is to me most dear and a$$e!ta#le! Thy rival ministrant is a $hieftain of the rude foresters7 He is a#solutely i"norant of the *9das and the 1aiva te=ts7 He .no%s not the ordinan$es of %orshi!7 6ut re"ard not HI3, re"ard the s!irit and motives of his a$ts7 His rou"h and "i"anti$ frame is instin$t %ith love to me, his %hole .no%led"e in thine eyes $ra@e i"noran$e is summed u! in the .no%led"e of 3e! His every a$tion is dear to meC the tou"$h of his leathern sli!!er is !leasant to me as that of the tender hand of my son S.anda7 The %ater %ith %hi$h he #es!rin.les me from his mouth is holy to me as the %ater of the Gan"es7 The food he offers me to thee so a#omina#le is !ure love7 I re"ard not the e=ternals of %orshi!7 He utterly loves me, even as thou dostC #ut $ome to morro% %hen thou shalt see his %orshi!, and I %ill "ive thee !roof of his devotion to me+7 The 6rAhman sle!t no more that ni"ht, #ut at day#rea. %as !ut in hidin" #ehind the lin"am #y the "od himself7 And no% 1ivan, %ho .no%s the hearts of

%orshi!!ers, in order that Tinnan+s truth mi"ht #e manifest, $aused #lood to tri$.le do%n from the ri"ht eye of the ima"e7 The youn" %orshi!!er dra%in" near #eheld this, and e=$laimed E + Oh, my master, %ho hath %ounded theeI What sa$rile"ious hand, evadin" my %at$hfulness, has %rou"ht this evilI+ Then sei@in" his %ea!ons he !ro$eeded to s$our the nei"h#ourhood to see if any mountaineer or %ild animal $ould #e dete$ted as author of the mis$hief7 2indin" none, he thre% himself on the "round in des!airC #ut at len"th refle$ted that he had heard of remedies %hi$h %ould staun$h the flo% of #lood7 So he %ent and sou"ht out in the ,un"le some her#s of virtue, and a!!lied themC #ut the %ound #led all the more $o!iously7 Then a ha!!y idea stru$. himC + for a %ounded eye the remedy is another eye a!!lied,+ said heC and !ausin" not an instant, %ith his arro% he s$oo!ed out his o%n ri"ht eye, and a!!lied it to the #leedin" eye of the ima"e, from %hi$h at on$e the #lood $eased to flo%! At this his ra!ture .ne% no #ounds7 He san" and dan$ed, and !oured forth un$outh e=!ressions of ardent than.s"ivin"C #ut on loo.in" at the ima"e on$e more, alas! #lood %as seen issuin" from the other eye7 After a moment or t%o of #e%ildered sorro%, his $ountenan$e %as lit u! %ith a radiant li"ht of "ladnessC for he has still one eye left, and the effi$a$y of the remedy has #een tried alreadyC so he raises himself u!, !uts his one foot $lose u! to the ima"e+s sufferin" eye, that he may #e a#le to feel, %hen he no lon"er $an see, %here to a!!ly the remedyC and !ro$eeded to s$oo! the other eye7 6ut this last sa$rifi$e is too mu$h for 1ivan to !ermit to #e $onsummatedC from out the lin"am he !uts forth a sa$red hand, and "ras!s that of the youthful enthusiast, %ho still holds the arro% ready to a$$om!lish his !ious intention, and saysE +Stay, Tinnan, stay thine hand, my lovin" son! Hen$eforth the !la$e for ever shall #e at my ri"ht hands, on my holy mount+7 1iva"O$hari had learnt the lesson that LO*9 AN5 S9L2 59*OTION AN5 3O49 THAN 19493ONIAL -U4IT<, and fell !rostateC %hile the $hoirs of heaven $hanted the #eatifi$ation of the Saint, %ho is from a"e to a"e adored %hile his title of &ann a!!an the devotee %ho "ave his eyes for the servi$e of his God7

*7

The

only

"od7

Those "ods are "ods indeed, These others are the Gods, men %ran"lin" say, and thus 2alse "ods they tal. a#out, and rant and rave u!on this earthly sta"e7 And I No !iety $ould #oastC that earthly #onds mi"ht $ease to $lin", to Him I $lun" ! To Him, the God of all true Gods, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '80) *I7 He elevates, $alms and !urifies the soul In this mad %orld, +mid stress and strife $onfused, from #irth and death, that $easeless s!rin", Where hoarded treasure, %omen, offs!rin", tri#e, and learnin"+s store, men !ri@e and see.C He $alms the storm of mental $han"in" states, and $lears from error+s mists the soul7 To mysti$ %isdom+s mi"hty God "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '8;) *II7 Nothin" shall dra% me from Him ! On 1an.aran the soul+s em#rosia, %ho thin.s, shall he fare illI The sa$red 2oot That aye endures shall I a !rodi"al for"etI 6ut those %ho $leave not to that 2oot, A sinful fello%shi! in %orshi! vain,

their very forms %e %ill not .no%! To Him, su!remely 9=$ellent, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '8A) *III7 His "ra$e to me and mine Unique it s!rin", rose u!, sent forth its #ou"hs that none $an $ount, a tree of "ra$e ! 4i"ht %ell He $ared for me, a $ur and $alled, and $aused in state aloft to ride, He is my Sire ! To sirs and house and ra$e the mi"hty -erumAn is He ! To Him, the 2ount of #liss unfailin", "oC AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! ':8) IF7 His self for"ivin" $om!assion7 His throat is #la$.C His nature !asses far all !o%ers of thou"ht that men !ossess ! I %ent, dre% near, too. refu"e at His feetC and He, strai"hta%ay, delusions all 2rom $han"in" deaths and #irths that $easeless rise %ithin my #ein" $aused to $ease7 To Him, Who is $om!assion+s sea, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! ':>) F7 His tender love has follo%ed me7 -ain I endured, "re% old, a"ain %a=ed li.e a %eanin" $alf, in $easeless $han"eC And here I d%elt, desirin" evermore

en,oyments that a do" mi"ht share, In folly+s every "uise7 With mother love, He $ame in "ra$e, and made me His ! To the ri$h Lord of mer$y+s store "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! ';0) FI7 He "ave "ra$e %ithout u!#raidin" Thou didst not $all me +stony heart, +de$eiver+, +o#stinate of mindC 6ut Thou didst $ause my stony heart to melt, and in $om!assion mad at me ThineC Thou Lord of Tillai+s sa$red tem!le $ourt, in #eauty ri$h, %here s%ans dis!ort ! Go, hasten to the "olden #eauteous 2ootC AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! ';;) FII7 The lovin" Lord, Who tau"ht, %ret$h as I am, my li! to sin"7 His ,e%ell+d 2eetC The Tea$her "reat, Who !ardon+d all the faults of me, a very fiend in soothC He still in "ra$e a$$e!ts my servi$es, nor s!urns my %orthlessness ! To I$an "o, as tender mother .no%n, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! ';A) FIII7 His love demands my all 5evoid of love for Him in sooth %as I7

I .no% it, and He .no%s it too ! And yet He made me His, this too all men on earth shall surely see and .no%7 He there a!!eared, in all His "ra$e revealed7 He only is my #ein"+s &in" ! 1ome thou, and ,oyous ,oin thyself %ith me TO 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '(8) FI*7 He $ame to me as my Guru Germ of all #ein", far #eyond this %orld, yet in this %orld too, seenC With Her, %hose flo%ery lo$.s #reathe s%eet !erfume, in mer$y manifest, He $ameC A sa$red Sa"e, versed in the mysti$ s$roll, He stood revealed, and made me His7 Go the God, in sa$red form dis!layed, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699! '(>) F*7 Only His mer$y #rou"ht me near7 Ho% far a%ay had I and all my thou"ht from Him the lovin" Lord remained, Had not the Wearer of the flo%in" lo$., He %ith the Lady, made me His ! The Lord, Who is the heaven, Who is ea$h realm of earth and of the mi"hty sea ! Go to the roseate 2eet that s%eets distil AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! '>0) F*I7 The thou"ht of Him is ,oy7

Soon as I thou"ht u!on His sa$red form %hi$h every thou"ht of man trans$ends, The Lord of mer$y+s flood of !urest ,oys, that ne+er delude, s%e!t o+er my soul7 3y Lord revealed Himself that He mi"ht ma.e me ever fully His alone7 To Him, the Lord of Lords Su!reme, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '>;) F*II7 He saved me from senses+ #onda"e In !leasures false I !lun"ed, and san. dee! do%n, ea$h day of earthly !ros!erous ,oy, I thou"ht it true, and thus enslaved I layC in "ra$e revealed, He made me His ! 1all Him +my Tea$her+ +!re$ious Life+, +"reat Lord, of Tillai+s sa$red tem!le $ourtC And see. those selfsame roseate flo%ery 2eet, TO 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, THOU HU33ING 699 ! '>A) F*III7 1ivan as de!i$ted in an$ient myths7 The ti"er+s s.in, the ro#e, the !endants rare, the ears+ round "olden ornaments, The ashes %hite as mil., the sandal !aste so $ool and s%eet, the !arrot "reen, The trident, and the armless lin.edE this !om!, and an$ient fair array He o%ns, 4e"ardin" %ell, %ith ,oyous soul "o thou,

AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '?8) FIF7 *isited me, nor des!ised my un%orthiness +5e$eiver+ + sinner vile+ +re#ellious one,+ all this to me He did not sayC The Generous One $ame oft to visit me, nor too. His -resen$e from my mind ! Of all the !ains that fill+d my soul, no one in any %ise %as left %ith me ! So to His "leamin" ,e%eled 2oot "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! '?>) FF7 His "ra$e to the lo%ly Ayan, %ho $ro%ns the lotus flo%er, and 3Al %ere "rieved for He %as hard to rea$h ! 6ut I, His lo%ly slave, all ,u#ilant fulfilled of e=ultation stood ! To me, mere $ur, He "ave a lofty seat, endued ri"ht %ell %ith %orthiness ! To Him, Whose form is fiery flame, "o thou, AN5 649ATH9 HIS -4AIS9, O HU33ING 699 ! 'A0)