Tirrupavai Verses and their

meaning

Thanks to Sundarapandian ah724@yfn.ysu.edu, Selvakumar

selvakumar@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca and others who suggested
several
improvements.

This translation is by Dr. K. Srinivasan

email Internet: srini@ireq.ca
snail mail: 1109 Rue Gaboury, St.Bruno, QC. J3V 5X4 Canada.

anna vayaRpudhuvai ndL arangaRku(p)

pannu thiruppvai(p) palpadhiyam
innisaiyl pdikkoduththL naRpmlai
poomlai soodi(k) koduththLai(ch) chollu

soodi(k) koduththa sudar(k) kodiyE tholpvai

pdi aruLavalla palvaLaiyy
ndi n vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi onRa immtram
nngadav vaNNamE nalgu.
------ uyyakkondn --------
The 'pvai nOnbu' is a penance practiced since very ancient times by
young
girls in the month of December/January, to pray for rain and prosperity
for
the country. The girls bathe before sunrise in the river and worship a
girl
idol made out of wet sand. There is no basis for this in the Vedas.
However,
it has a basis in the Tamil Sangam literature as well as Sanskrit
Puranas.
The Rgams mentioned are as sung by Sudha Ragunathan. Some differ
from
those of Ariyakkudi, MLV and Bombay Sisters, G.P Kamala etc.

This is an attempt to provide a thiruppvai translation helpful to those

choreographing the verses for Bharata Natyam, and to those who
would simply
like to know the literal meaning while singing.
K.Srinivasan srini@ireq.ca
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7444

mrgazhi(th) thingaL madhi niRaindha nannLl

nrda(p) pOdhuvr pOdhuminO nErizhaiyr
sr malgum yppdi(ch) chelva(ch) chiRumrgL
koorvEl kodundhozhilan nandhagOpan kumaran
Errndha kaNNi yasOdhai iLam singam
kr mEni cengaN kadhir madhiyam pOl mugaththn
nryaNanE namakkE paRai tharuvn
prOr pugazha(p) padin dhElO rempvy

Oh bejewelled girls (nEr izhaiyr)! Prosperous (chelva) young girls

(chiRumr) of the rich city (sr malgum) of Tiruvoypadi (ypdi)! This is
the month (thingaL) of December/January (margazhi), an auspicious
day (nan
nL) filled (niRaindha) with moonlight (madhi). Those of us who want to
go
(pOdhuvr) to perform the penance of 'pvai nOnbu' (nrda), let us
go
(pOdhumnO). The Lord (nryaNan), who was the son (kumaran) of
NandagOpan, who could give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to
enemies
using his sharp spear (koor vEl); who was the little lion (iLam singam)
of
the beautiful (Errndha) eyed (kaNNi) YasOda; who is dark (kr)
skinned
(mEni); who has perfect (sen) eyes (kaN); and who has a face
(mugaththn)
like (pOl) the radiance (kadhir) of the moon (madhiyam); will give
(tharuvn) us (namakkE) his blessings (paRai). Hey (El)! Let us
immerse in
water (padindhu) and do the penance of 'pvai nOnbu' (Or embvi), a
practice praised (pugazha) by the people of the world (prOr).

vaiyaththu vzhvrgL nmum nampvaikku(ch)

cheyyum kirisaigaL kELrO pRkadaluL
paiya(th) thuyinRa paramanadi pdi
neyyuNNOm pluNNOm ntklE nrdi
maiyittu ezhudhOm malarittu nm mudiyOm
seyydhana seyyOm thkkuRaLai(ch) chenROdhOm
aiyamum pichchaiyum ndhanaiyum kai ktti
uyyumR eNNi ugandhElOr empvy.

Oh! you people born to live (vzhvr gL) in this world (vaiyam), won't
you
listen (kELrO) to the dds (kirisai) we do (chey) to ourselves (nm)
and
to our (nam) idol (pvai)!. We sing (pdi) in praise of the ft (adi) of
the Lord (paraman) who is in meditative slp (paiyath thuyil) on the
ocean of
milk (pl kadal). We do not eat (uNNOm) gh (ney). We do not drink
(uNNOm)
milk (pl). We bathe (nrdi) early morning (nt klE). We do not use
(ezhudhOm) eye liner (mai). We (nm) do not braid our hair (mudiyOm)
with
flowers (malar). We do not do (seyyOm) prohited things (seyydhana).
We do
not go and recite (chenRu OdhOm) evil (thya) demons (kuRaL) works.
We donate
(kai kttu) to poor people (pichchai), to deserving people (aiyam), to
ascetic people (ndhanai). We think (eNNi) about our salvation (uyya)
and
fl happy (ugandhu).

Ongi ulagaLandha uththaman pEr pdi

nngaL nam pvaikku(ch) chtri nrdinl
thnginRi ndellm thingaL mum mri peydhu
Ongu peRum senN nel oodu kayalugaLa(p)
poonguvaLai(p) pOdhil poRi vandu kaN paduppa(th)
thEngdhE pukkirundhu srththa mulai patri
vnga kudam niRaikkum vaLLal perum pasukkaL
nngdha selvam niRaindhElOr embvy

If we (nngaL) bathe (nrdinl) and perform our (nam) 'pvai nOnbu'

(pvaikku chtri), chanting (pdi) the name (pEr) of the best Lord
(uththaman), who measured (aLandha) all thr (Ongi) worlds (ulagu).
The whole
(ellm) country (ndu) will be fr of (inRi) evil (thngu). It will rain
(peydhu) thr rainfalls (mum mri) every month (thingaL). Little fish
(kayal) will play (ugaLa) amidst (oodu) overgrown (Ongu) big (perum)
rice
fields (sen nel); bright (poRi) beas (vandu) lieing drowsily over (kaN
paduppa) the flower bushes (poonguvaLai); Cows standing
(pukkirundhu)
motionless (thEngdhE), cowherds milking (srththa mulai patri
vnga), the
generous (vaLLal) and big (perum) cows (pasu) fill up (niRaikkum) the
containers (kudam); the land will be filled with (niRaindhu) long lasting
(nngdha) prosperity (chelvam).

zhi mazhai(k) kaNN onRu n kai karavEl

zhi uL pukku mugandhu kodu rthu ERi
oozhi mudhalvan uruvam pOl mey kaRuththu(p)
pzhiy am thOLudai(p) paRpanban kaiyil
zhi pOl minni valamburi pOl ninRu adhirndhu
thzhdhE srnga mudhaiththa sara mazhai pOl
vzha ulaginil peydhidy nngaLum
mrgazhi nrda magizhndhElOr embvy

Oh Lord (KaNN) of rain (mazhai) and oceans (zhi), please do not

discontinue (kai karavEl), any thing (OnRu). Diving (pukku) into (uL) the
ocean (zhi); fetching the water (mugandhu kodu), causing thunder
(rthu);
going up to the sky (ERi); darkening (kaRuththu) your body (mey) like
(pOl)
the form (uruvam) (uruvam) of the prime Lord (mudhalvan) of the
universe
(oozhi); standing (ninRu) and roaring (adhirndhu) like (pOl) the shining
(minni) conch (valamburi) and the chakram (zhi) of Lord
Padhmanabha
(paRpanban) with broad (pzhi) and beautiful (am) shoulders (thOl);
please do cause it rain (peydhidy), like a torrential rain (sara mazhai)
like (pOl) shooting (udhaiththa) with the divine bow (srngam), without
delay (thzhdhE); so that we (nngal) may live (vzhndhida). Let us
enjoy (magizhndhElor) the mrgazhi nonbu (mrgazhi nrda).

myanai mannu vada madhurai maindhanai(th)

thooya peru nr yamunai(th) thuRaivanai
yar kulaththinil thOnRum aNi viLakkai(th)
thyai(k) kudal viLakkam seydha dhmOdharanai(th)
thooyOmy vandhu nm thoomalar thoovi(th) thozhudhu
vyinl pdi manaththinl sindhikka(p)
pOya pizhaiyum pugudharuvn ninRanavum
thyinil thoosgum cheppElOr embvy.
Let us (nm) come (vandhu) with a clean (thooya) body and mind,
spraying
(thoovi) clean flowers (thoo malar), and worship (thozhudhu) the Lord
Damodara
(dhmOdharan); who is a magician (myan); who is the son
(maindhan) of the
northern (vada) madhurai; who is the hermit (thuRaivan) on the pure
(thooya)
and great (peru) river (nr) Yamuna (yamunai); who appeared
(thOnRum) in the
cowherd (yar) community (kulam) as a sacred (aNi) light (viLakku);
who
brought maternal honour (kudal vilakkam sey) to his mother (thy). Let
us
sing (pdi) orally (vyinl) and think (sindhikka) mentally
(manaththinl)
about the Lord. Our past (pOya) sins (pizhai) and the the future
unintentional
sins (pugutharuvn ninRanavum), will become (gum) like sawdust
(thoosu) on
a flame (th). Let us say (cheppu) his names.

puLLum silambina kN puLLaraiyan kOyilil

veLLai viLi sangin pEraravam kEttilaiyO
piLLy ezhundhiry pEy mulai nanchundu
kaLLa(ch) chakatam kalakkazhiya(k) klOchchi
veLLaththaravil thuyilamarndha viththinai
uLLaththu(k) kondu munivargaLum yOgigaLum
meLLa ezhundhu ari enRa pEraravam
uLLam pugundhu kuLirndhElOr embvy

Hey children (piLLy)! S (kN) the birds (puL) are chirping (silambina).
Don't you hear (kEttilaiyO), the loud (pEr) sound (aravam) of the white
(veLLai) conch (sangu), used for callings (viLi) the people, at the
temple
(kOyil) of the king (araiyan) of the birds (puL); The yogis (yOgi) and the
saints (munivar) who are slowly (meLLa) waking (ezhundhu) with
(kondu) the
thought of Lord in their minds (uLLam) and uttering the name of the
Lord. The
Lord who ate (uNdu) the poison (nachchu) from the breast (mulai) of
the
rkshasi Bhutan (pEy); who kicked (klOchchi) and destroyed
(kalakkazhiya)
the asura Sakatasura, who came as a fake (kaLLa) whl (chakatam);
the source
of all life (viththu), who is in yogic slp (thuyil amarndha) over the
snake
(aravu) on the ocean (veLLaththu) of milk. The big (pEr) sound
(aravam) of the
name of the Lord (ari) has entered (pugundhu) our hearts (uLLam) and
made it
calm (kuLirndhElOr).

ksu ksu enRu engum nai(ch) chththn kalandhu

pEsina pEchcharavam kEttilaiyO pEy(p) peNNE
ksum piRappum kalakalappa(k) kai pErththu
vsa naRum kuzhal ychchiyar maththinl
Osai paduththa thayiraravam kEttilaiyO
nyaga(p) peN piLLy nryaNan moorththi
kEsavanai(p) pdavum n kEtta kidaththiyO
dhEsamudaiyy thiRavElOr embvy

You dumb girl (pEy peNNE!), the 'nai chththan' birds are humming
(ksu)
together (kalandhu), everywhere (engum). Don't you hear (kEttilaiyO)
the sound
(aravam) of these birds talking (pEchchu)? The cow girls (ychchiyar)
with
fragrance (naRum) spreading (vsa) from their hair (kuzhal), wearing
garlands
of gold coins (ksum piRappum), are skimming the yogurt (thayir)
using a
skimming gadget (maththu), with their ornaments making (paduththa)
a jingling
(kala kala) sound (Osai), tiring (pErththu) their hands (kai). Don't you
hear
(kEttilaiyO) the sound (aravam)? Hey leader (nyaga) of the girls (peN
piLLy)! while we are singing (pdavum) the praise of the Lord
Narayana
Murthy and Kesavan, you are still slping (kidaththiyO) while listening
(kEttE). Glamourous (dhEsam) as you are (udaiyy), open (thiRa) the
door.

kzh vnam veLLenRu erumai siRu vdu

mEyvn parandhana kN mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum
pOvn pOginRrai(p) pOgmal kththu unnai(k)
koovuvn vandhu ninROm kOdhugalam udaiya
pvy ezhundhiry pdi(p) paRai kondu
mvy piLandhnai mallarai mttiya
dhEvdhi dhEvanai(ch) chenRu nm sEviththl
vvenRu ryndhu aruLElOr embyy
The eastern (kzh) sky (vnam) is whitening (vEL). The water buffaloes
(eRumai), which started grazing (mEyvn), just a little (siRu) while
(vdu) ago, have spread all over (parandhana) the place. Look! (kN).
The
children (piLLai), who are serious (mikkuLLa) about 'mrgazhi nonbu',
are
going (pOvn). We have stopped (pOgmal) those people who are
going
(pOginRrai) and have come (vandhu) standing (ninROm) and are
waiting
(kththu) and calling (koovuvn) you (unnai). You happy (kOdhugalam
udaiya) girl (pvy), wake up (ezhundhiry) If we (nm) sing (pdi),
observe the 'pvai nOnbu' (paRai kondu) and go (chenRu) and worship
(sEvi)
the Lord of the devas (dhEvdhi dhEva), who split (piLandhn) the
Asura
who came as a horse (mvy), who conquered (mttiya) the wreslers
(mallar), he will examine (ryndhu) our requirements, and bless (aruL)
us
with plenty ( enRu).

thoomaNi mdaththu sutrum viLakkeriya(th)

thoopam kamazha(th) thuyilaNaimEl kaN vaLarum
mmn magaLE maNi(k) kadhavam thzh thiRavy
mmr avaLai ezhupprO un magaL thn
oomaiyO anRi sevidO ananthalO
Ema(p) perunN thuyil mandhira(p) pattLO
mmyan mdhavan vaikundhan enRenRu
nman palavum navinRElOr enbvy

Hey, daughter (magaL) of my uncle (mamman), you who are slping

(kaN vaLarum)
on (mEl) a mattress (thuyil aNai) in a palace (mdam) with flawless
jewels
(thoo maNi), with lamps (viLakku) burning (eriya) all around (sutrum)
and
surrounded (kamazha) by incense (dhoopam), open (thiRavy) the
latch (thzh)
of the jewelled (maNi) door (kadhavam). Hey auntie (mmr), will you
wake
(ezhupprO) her (avaLai) up. Is your (un) daughter (magaL) indd
(thn)
dumb (oomaiyO), or (anRi) deaf (sevidO), or lazy (ananthalO), or is she
cursed
(mandhira) and captivated (Ema pattLo) into a coma (perun thuyil).
(Hurry
up). We must benefit (navindhu) by repeating (enRenRu) the many
(pala) names
(nmam) of the great Mayan (m myan) Madhavan, Vaikuntan.

nOtru(ch) chuvarkkam puguginRa ammany!

mtramum thrrO vsal thiRavdhr
ntra(th) thuzhy mudi nryaNan namml
pOtra(p) paRai tharum puNNiyanl pandu oru nL
kootraththin vy vzhndha kumba karaNanum
thOtrum unakkE perunthuyil thn thandhnO
tra anandhal udaiyy arungalamE
thEtramy vandhu thiRavElOr embvy.

Oh lady (amman), who is entering (puguginRa) the heaven

(suvarkkam) through
penance (nOtru)! those not opening (thiRavdhr) the doors (vsal)!
Won't
you at least give (th) a reply (mtram)? Kumbakarnan (kumba
karaNan), who
one (oru) day (nL) long ago (pandu) fell (vzhndha) prey to death
(kootraththin vy) due to benevolent (puNNiyan) Lord Narayanan
(naryaNan),
who wears (mudi) the fragrant (ntram) garland of 'thulsi' (thuzhy),
who is
praised (pOtra) by us (namml), who blesses (paRai tharum) us; Did he
(kumbakaraNa) appear (thOtru) in your dreams and give (thandhn)
you (unakku)
his grand (perum) slp (thuyil). You utterly (tra) lazy (anandhal) girl!,
yet a rare (arum) jewel (kalam), wake up and come (vandhu) without
loosing
balance (thEtram), and open (thiRa) the door.

katru(k) kaRavai(k) kaNangaL pala kaRandhu

setrr thiRalazhiya(ch) chenRu seru(ch) cheyyum
kutram onRildha kOvalartham poRkodiyE
putru aravu alkul punamayilE pOdhary
sutraththu thOzhimr ellrum vandhu nin
mutram pugundhu mugil vaNNan pEr pda
sitrdhE pEsdhE selva peNdtti n
etrukku uRangum poruLElOr embvy

You prosperous (selva) girl (pEN)!, You are beautiful like a golden (pOn)
crper (kodi), among the flawless (kutram onRilldha) caretakers of
cows
(kOvalar), who are capable of destroying (azhiya) the strength (thiRal)
of the
enemies (setrr) by going (senRu) to war (cheru cheyyum), who in
their
childhood have milked (kaRandhu) many (pala) youthful (katru) herds
(kaNangaL)
of cows (kaRavai)! You who has a waist (alkul) like that of a cobra
(aravu) in
his nest (putru)! You who are fr like a forest (puna) peacock (mayil)!
Come
out (pOdhary)!. while we, all (ellrum) your relatives (sutram) and
friends
(thOzhi) have come (vandhu), entered (pugundhu) your (nin) living
room
(mutram) and are singing (pda) the names (pEr) of the Lord, who is
dark like
the color (vaNNan) of clouds (mugil); you are slping (uRangu) without
even
moving a bit (sitrdhE), ignoring (pEsdhE) us. For what (etrukku =
edhukku)
purpose (poruL) are you slping (uRangu) so?

kanaiththu iLam katrerumai kanRukku irangi

ninaiththu mulai vazhiyE ninRu pl sOra
nanaiththu illam sERkkum naR chelvan thangy
panith thalai vzha nin vsaR kadai patri(ch)
chinaththinl then ilangai(k) kOmnai(ch) chetra
manaththukku iniynai(p) pdavum n vy thiRavy
iniththn ezhundhiry dhenna pEr uRakkam
anaiththu illaththrum aRindhElOr embvy

You, the sister (thangy) of the good (nal) prosperous (chelvan)

cowherd,
whose buffaloes (erumai) are yielding (sOra) so much milk (pl),
through
(vazhiyE) their breasts (mulai). They are standing (ninRu) and
bellowing
(kanaththu), out of passion (iRangi) to their crying (katru) young (iLam)
calves (kanRu), that the house (illam) has become (gi) wet (nanai)
and
swampy (sER) with milk! While the cold mist (pani) is falling (vzha) on
our
heads (thalai), we are holding on (patri) to your (nin) front door (vsal
kadai); we are singing (pda) about the one who gives us swt (iniyn)
thoughts (manam), the one who destroyed (chetra) the ruler (kOmn)
of
southern lanka (then ilangai) in his anger (sinam). You (n) are not
opening
(thiRavy) your mouth (vy). At least (thn) wake up (ezhundhiry)
now
(ini). What (enna) is this (dhu) big (pEr) slp (uRakkam), after all
(anaiththu) others in the house (illaththr) are aware of (aRindhu) all
this?

puLLin vy kndnai(p) poll arakkanai(k)

kiLLi(k) kaLaindhnai(k) krththi mai pdi(p) pOy(p)
piLLaigaL ellrum pvai(k) kaLambukkr
veLLi ezhundhu viyzham uRangitru
puLLum silambina kN pOdhari(k) kaNNiny
kuLLa(k) kuLira(k) kudaindhu nrddhE
paLLi(k) kidaththiyO! pvy! n nan nLl
kaLLam thavirndhu kalandhElOr embvy.

All (ellm) the girls (piLLai) have reached (pukkr) the place (kaLam)
for
'pvai nOnbu', singing (pdi) the praise (krththi) of the Lord , while
going (pOy). The Lord, who split (kndn) the mouth (vy) of the bird
(puL) shaped asura; who sniped (kiLLu) and disposed off (kaLaindhu)
the heads
of the naughty (polla) rakshasa (arakkan). Venus (veLLi) has risen
(ezhundhu).
Jupiter (viyzhan) has gone to slp (uRangu). Birds (puL) are chirping
(silambina), S (kN)!. You have eyes (kaNNiny) like the honey b (ari)
on a flower (pOdhu)! You (n) are lying (kidaththiyO) in bed and slping
(paLLi), without dipping in (kudaindhu) and bathing (nrddhE) in the
harsh (kuLLa) cold (kuLira) water. Oh girl (pvy)! On this good (nan)
day
(nL), leave (thavirndhu) your tricks (kaLLam) behind and join us
(kalandhu).

ungaL puzhakkadai(th) thOttaththu vviyuL

sengazhunr vy negizhndhu mbal vy koombina kN
sengaR podi(k) koorai veNbal thavaththavar
thangaL thirukkOyil sangiduvn pOdhanRr
engaLai munnam ezhuppuvn vypEsum
nangy ezhundhiry nNdhy nvudaiyy
sangOdu chakkaram Endhum thadakkaiyan
pangaya(k) kaNNnai(p) pdElOr embvy.

Look (kN)!, Red (sen) lilies (kazhunr) have opened (negizhndhu) their
petals (vy), and waterlilies (mbal) have closed (koombina) their
petals
(vy), on the pond (vvi) in the garden (thOttam) in your (ungaL) back
yard
(puzhakkadai). The ascetics (thavaththavar), wearing ashes (veNbal)
and safron
(sengaR podi) robes (koorai) are going to (pOdhanRr) their (thangaL)
sacred
(thiru) temple (kOyil) to blow the conch (sangiduvn). Hey girl
(nangy),
you who boasted (vy pEsum) that you would wake us (engaLai) up
(ezhuppu)
first (munnam)! now wake up (ezhundhiry). shameless girl
(nNdhy),
talkative girl (nvu udaiyy)! We are going to sing (pdEl) about the
Lord,
who bears (Endhum) the conch (sangu) and the whl (chakkaram) in
his hands,
who has wide (thadam) arms (kai), and lotus (pangayam) shaped eyes
(kaN).

ellE! iLam kiLiyE innam uRangudhiyO

chil enRu azhaiyEn min nangaiyr pOdharuginREn
vallai un katturaigaL paNdE un vy aRidhum
vallrgaL nngaLE nnE thn yiduga
ollai n pOdhy unakkenna vERudaiyai
ellrum pOndhrO pOndhr pOndhu eNNikkoL
val nai konRnai mtrrai mtrazhikka
vallnai myanai(p) pdElOr embvy

What surprise (ellE)!, You beautiful parrot (kiLiyE)! you are still (innam)
slping (uRangu)! The girl replies, "Hey girls (nangaiyr)!, Don't call
(azhaiyEn) me with such mind (min) chilling (chil) words. I am coming
(aruginREn) in a little while (pOdhu)." We have known about (aRidhum)
your
(un) smart (vallai) tales (katturaigaL) for a long time (pandE) from your
(un)
own mouth (vy). The girl says, "Ok, you (nngaL) are the smart
(vallrgaL)
ones, Let me (nnE) be the loser (thn yiduga)". You (n) start
(pOdhy)
quickly (ollai) then. What (enna) other (vERu) job (udaiyai) do you
(unakku)
have? Come out (pOndhu) and count yourself (eNNi koL); all (ellrum)
who are
coming (pOndhr), have come (pOndhu). Let us sing (pdEl) the praise
of the
Lord (myan), who destroyed (azhikka) the enemies (mtrr) in a war
(mtru), and who killed (konRn) the powerful (val) elephant (nai).
[the
word 'pOndhu' is derived from 'pO' in the same manner as 'vandhu' is
derived
from 'v']

nyagany ninRa nandhagOpan udaiya

kOyil kppnE! kodi thOnRum thOraNa
vyil kppnE! maNi(k) kadhavam thL thiRavy
yar siRumiyarOmukku aRai paRai
myan maNi vaNNan nennalE vy nErndhn
thooyOmy vandhOm thuyil ezha(p) pduvn
vyl munnam munnam mtrdhE amm! n
nEya nilai(k) kadhavam nkkElOr embvy

You, the guard (kppn) of the temple (kOyil) of the Lord who stood
(ninRa)
as our savior (nyagan)! the guard (kppn) of the arched ornamented
(thOraNa) door (vyil) decorated (thOnrum) by garlands (kodi). Please
open
(thiRavy) the latch (thL) of the jewelled (maNi) door (kadhavam).
The
mystic (myan) Lord (maNi vaNNan) has given his word (vy
nErndhn),
yesterday (nenne) itself, to the children (siRumi) of yarpdi (yar),
that he would give them, the drum (paRai) used for beating (aRai)
during the
period of 'pvai nOnbu'. We have come (vandhOm) fresh and clean
(thooya) to
sing (pduvn) in order to wake him (thuyil ezha). Ah (amma)! First of
all
(munnam munnam), you (n) remove (open nkku), the barrier (nilai
kadhavam)
without any denying (mtrdhE) or discussing (vyl).

ambaramE thaNNrE sORE aRam seyyum

emberumn nandhagOpl ezhundhiry
kombanrkku ellm kozhundhE kula viLakkE
emberumtti yasOdhy aRivuRy
ambaram ooda aRuththu Ongi ulagu aLandha
umbar kOmnE uRangdhu ezhundhiry
sem poR kazhaladi(ch) chelv baladhEv
umbiyum nyun uRangElOr embvy.
Hey, our leader (em perumn) Nandagopa! you, who gave to charity
(aRam
seyyum), clothes (ambaram), cool water (thaNNr) and food (sORu),
wake up
(ezhundhiry). Hey our lady (em perumtti) Yasoda!, the leader
(kozhundhu)
of all (ellm) the women folk (kombanr), the light (viLakku) of the
family
(kulam), come to your senses (aRivuRy). Oh Lord, you who split open
(oodu
aRuththu) the sky (ambaram), became a giant (Ongi) and scaled
(aLandha) the
world (ulagu); king (kOmn) of the devas (umbar), stop slping
(uRangdhu)
and wake up (ezhundhiry). Properous (chelva) Balarama (baladhEv)!,
who
wears pure (sem) gold (pon) anklets (kazhal) on his ft (adi), you (n)
and
your younger brother (umbi) wake up (uRangEl)!

undhu madha kaLitran Oddha thOL valiyan

nandhagOpan marumagaLE nappinny
kandham kamazhum kuzhali kadai thiRavy
vandhu engum kOzhi azhaiththana kN mdhavi(p)
pandhal mEl pal kl kuyilinangaL koovina kN
pandhu r virali un maiththunan pEr pda(ch)
chendhmarai(k) kaiyl srr vaLai olippa
vandhu thiRavy magizhndhElOr embvy.

Hey lady, the daughter in law (marumagaL) of Nandagopan

(nandhagOpan), who
does not retreat (Oddha), even against an elephant (kaLitran)
showing off
(undhu) his excitement (madham); who has powerful (valiyan)
shoulders (thOl),
You, who has a fragrant (kandham) smelling (kamazhum) head of hair
(kuzhali),
open (thiRavy) the door (kadai). Look (kN)! The hens (kOzhi) are up
(vandhu) and are calling (azhaiththana) everywhere (engum). Many
sorts
(inangaL) of cukkoo birds (kuyil) are singing (koovina) several (pal)
times
(kl), on top of (mEl) the trellis (pandhal) of the 'kurukkaththi crper'
(mdhavi). Look! (kN). Will you please come (vandhu) chrfully
(magizhndhu) and open (thiRavy) the door, with your red (sen) lotus
(thmarai) hands (kai), and jingling (olippa) of beautiful (sr) bangles
(vaLai), so that we may sing (pda) the praise (pEr) of your (un)
husband
(maiththunan), who is holding a ball (pandhu) in his fingers (viral).

kuththu viLakkeriya kOttu(k) kl kattil mEl

meththenRa pancha sayanaththin mEl ERi(k)
koththalar poonguzhal nappinai kongai mEl
vaiththu(k) kidandha malar mrb vy thiRavy
mai(th) thadam kaNNiny n un maNLanai
eththanai pOdhum thuyilezha otty kN
eththanaiyElum pirivu tragillyl
thaththuvam anRu thagavElOr embvy

Oh Lord whose chest (mrb) is adorned by flowers (malar)! You who

are
slping (kida) on a soft (meththenRa) cotton (panchu) mattress
(sayanam),
on (mEl) a bed (kattil) with legs (kl) made of ivory (kOttu), kping
(vaiththu) your forehead near the chest (kongai) of your consort
(nappinnai), who is wearing bunches (koththu) of flowers (alar) on her
head
(kuzhal), with 'kuththu vilakku' lamps lighted (eriya) all around; please
open (thiRavy) your mouth (vy). Oh! you consort, your eyes
(kaNNiny)
decorated (thadam) with 'mai', you (n) do not sm to let us (otty)
wake
up (thuyil ezha) your (un) husband (maNLan), for such a (eththanai)
long
time (pOdhum). Look (kN)! You do not want (illyl) to be separated
(pirivu tra) even for little while (eththanaiyElum). This is not (anRu)
good nature (thathuvam), nor is it fair (thagavEl).

muppaththu moovar amararkku mun senRu

kappam thavirkkum kaliyE thuyil ezhy
seppam udaiyy thiRal udaiyy setrrkku
veppam kodukkum vimal thuyil ezhy
seppenna men mulai(ch) chevvy(ch) chiRu marungul
nappinnai nangy thiruvE thuyil ezhy
ukkamum thattoLiyum thandhu un maNLanai
ippOdhE emmai nrttElOr embvy

Oh the heroic one (kaliyE), who goes to (mun senRu) the thirty
(muppaththu)
thr (moover) devas (amarar) and removes (thavirkkum) their fears
(kappam),
please wake (thuyil) up (ezhy)! Oh perfect (seppam) one (udaiyy)!
Oh
omni-potent (thiRal) one (udaiyy)! Oh, the Lord (vimal) who burns up
(veppam
kodukkum) the enemies (setrr)! Please wake (thuyil) up (ezhy)! Oh
beautiful (thiruvE) consort (nappinai) lady (nangy), with red (chev)
lips
(vy) and slender (siRu) waist (marungul) with soft (men) breasts
(mulai)
like a perfect vessal (seppenna), please wake (thuyil) up (ezhy)!
Please
bring (thandhu) a fan (ukkam) and a mirror (thattoLi) and wake your
(un)
husband (maNLan) up right now (ippOdhE), so that he can cleanse
(nrta)
us (emmai).

Etra kalangaL edhir pongi mdhaLippa

mtrdhE pl soriyum vaLLal perum pasukkaL
tra(p) padaiththn maganE aRivuRy
ootram udaiyy periyy ulaginil
thOtramy ninRa sudarE thuyil ezhy
mtrr unakku vali tholaindhu un vsaR kaN
trdhu vandhu un adi paNiyum pOlE
pOtriym vandhOm pugazhndhElOr embvy

Oh the son (magan) of Nandagopan, who has lots of (tra padaiththn)

great
(perum) generous (vaLLal) cows (pasu), which yield (soriyum) milk
(pl)
without fail (matrdhE), in such large quantities that the containers
(kalangaL) to hold (Etra) the milk overflow (edhir pongi) on top
(mdhaLippa). Please come to your senses (aRivury)!. Oh you, the
one with
(udaiyy) a lot of power (ootram)!. Oh, the great one (periyy)!. Oh,
the
light (sudarE) that stood (ninRa) visible (thOtramy) to our eyes, in this
world (ulaginil)!. Please wake (thuyil) up (ezhy)!. Just like (pOl) the
enemies (mtrr) who surrendered (vandhu paNi) to your (un) ft (adi)
and
yielded (tholaindhu) their strength (vali) to you (unakku), at your (un)
door
(vsal) step (kaN) without controlling themselves (trdhu), we have
come
(vandhOm) to worship (pOtri) and praise (pugazh) you.
am kaN m NYlaththu arasar abimna
pangamy vandhu nin paLLi(k) kattiR kzhE
sangam iruppr pOl vandhu thalaippeydhOm
kingiNi vy(ch) cheydha thmarai(p) poo(p) pOlE
sengaN chiRu(ch) chiRidhE emmEl vizhiyvO
thingaLum dhiththanum ezhundhR pOl
am kaN irandum kondu engaL mEl nOkkudhiyEl
engaL mEl sbam izhindhElOr embvy

Just like (pOl) the kings (arasar) of this (kaN) beautiful (am) big (m)
world (NYlam), who came (vandhu) and gathered (sangam iruppr)
under
(kzhE) your (nin) slping (paLLi) bed (kattil), after relinquising
(pangam)
their prestige (abimnan), we have come (vandhu) and approached
(eythOm) near
you (thalaippu). Please open your swt sounding (kingiNi) mouth (vy
cheydha)
like (pOlE) the lotus (thmarai) flower (poo). Will you please look
(vizhiyvO) at us (emmEl) through those beautiful (sen) eyes (kaN) a
little
(siRidhE) bit (siRu). If you look (nOkku) at us with (kondu) those (am)
two
(irandum) eyes (kaN), which are like (pOl) the moon (thingaL) and the
sun
(dhiththan) rising (ezhundhl), you will releive (izhindhu) us (engaL
mEl)
from death (s, sbam).

mri malai muzhainchil manni(k) kidandhu uRangum

sriya singam aRivutru(th) th vizhiththu
vEri mayir ponga eppdum pErndhu udhaRi
moori nimirndhu muzhangi(p) puRappattu(p)
pOdharum pOlE n poovaippoo vaNN un
kOyil ninRu iNGNGanE pOndharuLi(k) kOppudaiya
sriya singsanaththu irundhu ym vandha
kriyam ryndhu aruLElOr embvy

Just like (pOlE) a brave (sriya) lion (singam) lying (manni kidandhu)
and
slping (uRangu) inside a mountain (malai) cave (muzhainchu) comes
to his
senses (aRivutru): starts (puRapttu) to comes out (pOdharum) during
rainy
(mri) season, opening his eyes (vizhi) like fire (th), shaking (ponga)
his
mane (vEri mayir), bending (pErndhu) his body on all sides (eppdum),
shaking
(udhaRi) and stretching the body to get it into shape (moori), standing
erect
(nimirndhu), and roaring (muzhangi), You (n) please come out
(pOndhu). You,
who are the color (vaNN) of the bilberry (poovai) flower (poo), will you
please sit (irundhu) on top of the great (sriya) throne (singsanam)
and
examine (ryndhu) the purpose (kriyam) of our (ym) coming
(vandha) to
your (un) decorated (kOppudaiya) temple (kOyil), and having come
(pOndhu), our
standing (ninRu) this way (iNGNGanE), and bless us (aruLElOr).

anRu iv ulagam aLandhy adi pOtri

senRangu(th) then ilangai setry thiRal pOtri
ponRa(ch) chakatam udhaiththy pugazh pOtri
kanRu kuNil veRindhy kazhal pOtri
kunRu kudaiyy eduththy guNam pOtri
venRu pagai kedukkum nin kaiyil vEl pOtri
enRenRum un sEvagamE Eththi(p) paRai koLvn
inRu ym vandhOm irangElOr embvy

We worship (pOtri) your ft (adi) with which you scaled (aLandhy) this
(iv) world (ulagam) once (anRu). (vmanvathram). We worship
(pOtri)
your valour (thiRal) with which you conquered (setry) southern (then)
Lanka (ilangai) after going (senRu) there (angu). (rmvathram). We
worship (pOtri) your fame (pugazh) that you obtained by kicking
(udhaiththy) and destroying (ponRu) the whl (chakatam) shaped
asura. We
worship (pOtri) your ft (kazhal) with which you threw (eRindhy) the
calf
(kanRu) shaped asura 'vatssuran', at the ebony tr () shaped asura
'kapithsuran', like a sling (kuNil). We worship (pOtri) your good nature
(guNam) for having lifted (eduththay) the hillock (kunRu) like an
umbrella
(kudai), to protect people against the great rain. (krishNvathram).
We
worship (pOtri) the spear (vEl) on your (nin) hand (kai), with which you
win
(venRu) and destroy (kedukkum) the enemies (pagai). Today (inRu) we
(ym)
have come (vandhOm) just for your (un) service (sEvakamE) and praise
(Eththu) in all these ways (enRenRum), so that we may be
emancipatated
(paRai kOlvn). Please show us your mercy (irangEl).

oruththi magany(p) piRandhu Or iravil

oruththi magany oLiththu vaLara(th)
tharikkiln gi(th) thn thngu ninaindha
karuththai(p) pizhaippiththu(k) kanchan vayitril
neruppenna ninRa nedumlE!, unnai
aruththiththu vandhOm paRai tharudhiygil
thiruththakka selvamum sEvagamum ym pdi
varuththamum thrndhu magizhndhElOr embvy

Oh Lord (neduml), who was born (piRandhu) one (Or) night (iravu) as
a son
(magan) of one lady (oruththi) and grew up (vaLara) hiding (oLiththu)
as
the son (magan) of one other lady (oruththi); You made the idea
(karuththu)
of Kamsa (kanchan), who could not withstand (tharikkiln gi) you and
thought of (ninaindha) harming (thngu) you (thm), useless
(pizhaipiththu) and stood (ninRa) like a fire (neruppenna) in his belly
(vayitril). We have come (vandhOm) with a vital desire (aruththi,
arundhu =
drink, absorb) towards you (unnai). If you emancipate us (paRai
tharudhiygil), we will be fr of (thrndhu) our sorrows (varuththam)
and we (ym) will happily (magizhndhu) sing (pdi) about your service
(sEvagam) and about the beauty (selvam) of your suitable (thakka)
match
Lakshmi (thiru).

mlE! maNivaNN! mrgazhi nrduvn

mElaiyr seyvanagaL vEnduvana kEttiyEl
NYlaththai ellm nadunga muralvana
pl anna vaNNaththu un pncha sanniyamE
pOlvana sankangaL pOy(p) pdudaiyanavE
sla(p) perum paRaiyE pallndu isaipprE
kOla viLakkE kodiyE vidhnamE
lin ilaiyy aruLElOr embvy

Oh Lord (mle! maNi vaNN! lin ilaiyy! ) If you ask us (kEttiyEl) what
we want (vEnduvana); Bless us (aruLElOr) to endure the penance
(nrduvn) as done (seyvanagaL) by elders (mElaiyr) in the month of
december/january (margazhi); We nd conchs (sankangal) like
(pOlvana) your
(un) own milky white (planna vaNNaththu) pncha sanyam, the sound
(muralvana) of which makes the whole (ellm) universe (Nylam)
tremble
(nadunga); powerful (pOy pdudaiyana) very (chla) big (perum)
drums
(paRai); those who sing (isaippr) the 'Tamil psurams'(pallndu). (The
zhvr psuram recitals start with the recital of pallndu); decorative
(kOla) lamps (viLakku); flags (kodi) and other decorations (vidhnamE).

koodrai vellum sr gOvindh undhannai(p)

pdi(p) paRai kondu ym peRum sammnam
ndu pugazhum parisinl nanRga(ch)
choodagamE thOL vaLaiyE thOdE sevip poovE
pdagamE enRanaiya palagalanum ym aNivOm
dai uduppOm adhan pinnE pR chORu
mooda ney peydhu muzhangai vazhi vra(k)
koodi irundhu kuLirndhElOr embvy

Great (sr from siRandha) Govinda (gOvindh) who wins (vellum)

against the
enemies (koodrai)! If you ask us what gift (sammnam) we (ym)
want to
obtain (peRum) for singing (pdi) about you (undhanai) and chanting
your
names in public (paRai kondu); We (ym) will wear (aNivOm) jewels
worthy
(parisinl) of being praised (pugazhum) by the whole country (ndu),
bracelet (choodagam), shoulder (thOL) oranaments (vaLai), earrings
(thOdu),
ear 'mttal' (sevip poo), anklets (pdagam), and many (pala) other
(anaiya) ornaments (kalan) like (enRu) those. We will dress up
(uduppOm)
with beautiful clothes (dai). There (adhan) afterwards (pinnE) all of us
together (koodi irundhu) will enjoy (kuLirndhElOr) the milk (pl) and
rice
(chORu) covered (mooda) and dripping (peydhu) in Gh (ney) flowing
(vazhivra) down to our elbows (muzhangai). (This refers to
kaNNamudhu
or pyasam).

kaRavaigaL pin senRu knam sErndhu uNbOm

aRivu onRum illdha y(k) kulaththu undhannai(p)
piRavi peRundhanai(p) puNNiyam ym udaiyOm
kuRai onRum illdha gOvindh undhannOdu
uRavEl namakku ingu ozhikka ozhiydhu
aRiydha piLLaigaLOm anbinl undhannai
siRu pEr azhaiththanamum sRi aruLdhE
iRaiv n thry paRaiyElOr embvy

Following (pin senRu) the cows (kaRavai), after reaching (sErndhu) the
forest
(knam or knagam), we will eat (uNbOm). We, of the cowherd
community (y kulam)
without (illdha) any (onRum) enlightenment (aRivu); what good dds
(puNNiyam) do we (ym) claim to our credit (udaiyOm) for having
(peRundhanai)
you (undhannai) born (piRavi) in our community? If we have no relation
to you
(uRavEl), we (namakku) will not be able (ozhiydhu) to bear (ozhikka) it
here
(ingu). We, the innocent (aRiydha) children (piLLai) call (azhai) you
(unnai) using your short (siRu) names (pEr) out of affection (anbinl).
Please do not be angry (sRi aruLdhE). Oh Lord (iRaiv)! Please give
us
(thry) your word (paRai).

sitram siRu klE vandhu unnai sEviththu un

potrmarai adiyE pOtrum poruL kELy
petram mEyththu uNNum kulaththil piRandhu n
kutru Eval engaLai(k) koLLmal pOgdhu
itrai(p) paRai koLvn anRu kN gOvindh
etraikkum Ezh Ezh piRavikkum un thannOdu
utrOmE vOm unakkE nm tcheyvOm
matrai nam kmangaL mtrElOr embvy

Govindha!, Listen (kELy) to the reason (poruL) for our coming

(vandhu) and
worshipping (sEviththu) you and praising (pOtrum) your golden lotus
(pon
thmarai) ft (adi) at such an early hour (sitram siRu klE). You (n),
who were born (piRandhu) in the community of people (kulaththil), who
eat
(uNNum) by rearing (mEyththu) cattle (petram), should not go away
(pOgdhu)
refusing our (engaLai) offerings (kutru Eval). Look (kN), we are not
(anRu)
desiring your grace (paRai koLvn) just for today (itrai). Forever
(etraikkum), for sevens (Ezh Ezh) of births (piRavikkum), we will be
(vOm)
in peace (utrOmE) with you (un thannOdu). We (nm) will let ourselves
be
ruled (tcheyvOm) by you (unakkE). Please remove (mtru) our (nam)
other
(matrai) desires (kmangaL).

vanga(k) kadal kadaindha mdhavanai kEsavanai

thingaL thirumugaththu sEy izhaiyr senRu iRainchi
anga(p) paRai konda trai aNi pudhuvai(p)
painkamala(th) thaN theriyal battar pirn kOdhai-
sanga(th) thamizh mlai muppadhum thappmE [-sonna
ingu ipparisuraippr rirandu ml varai thOL
sengaN thirumugaththu(ch) chelva(th) thirumll
engum thiruvaruL petru inbuRuvar embvy.

Just like the gopikas (sEy izhaiyr), with moon (thingaL) like beauty
(thirumugaththu), obtained salvation, by surrendering (senRu iRainchi)
to the
Lord, who churned (kadaindha) the ocean (vangak kadal) of milk, Sri
Andal
(kodhai) wearing fresh (pai) lotus flowers (kamalam), who was born in
beautiful (aNi) Sri Villiputhoor (pudhuvai), as the daughter of the
Brahmin
priest (bhattar pirn) Peria zhwr, presents this. Those who recite
(ingu
ipparisuraippar) these thirty (muppadhum) literary (sangath) Tamil
(thamizh)
garlands (mlai), daily without fail (thappmE), will obtain the grace
(thiruvaruL) and derive pleasures (inbuRuvar) from God (thiruml), who
has
beautiful (sen) eyes (kaN) and shoulders (thOL) which can stretch
(varai)
betwn two pairs (rirandu) of mountains (ml), who is accompanied
by the
beautiful (thirumugaththu) Laxmi (chelva).

vzhi thiru nmam

kOdhai piRandha oor kOvindhan vzhumoor
sOdhi maNi mdam thOnRum oor
ndhiyl nalla paththar vzhum oor nnmaRaigaL Odhumoor
villipuththoor vEdhak kOnoor
pdhagangaL thrkkum paraman adi kttum
vEdham anaiththukkum viththgum kOdhai thamizh
aiyaindhum aindhum aRiydha mnidarai
vaiyam sumappadhu vambu.

thiruvdip pooraththu segaththudhiththL vzhiyE

thiruppvai muppadhum cheppinL vzhiyE
periyzhvr petreduththa peN piLLai vzhiyE
perumpudhoor mmunikkup pinnnL vzhiyE
oru nootru nRpaththu moonRuraiththL vzhiyE
uyararangaRkE kaNNiyugandharuLithL vzhiyE
maruvrum thirumalli vaLa ndi vzhiyE
vaNpudhuvai nagark kOdhai malarp padhangaL vzhiyE

Sri Andal is the only lady zhvar (Vaishnava Saints). One of her
compositions is the 'Tiruppavai' a set of 30 verses. These are very
popular in
the month of mrgazhi, Dec 15/Jan 15.

The first part deals with her inviting other girls of the village. The
second
part deals with entering the temple and the third with the actual
worship.

As the story goes, she used to wear the flowers which were to be
offerred to
god. When this was found out, her father sought the mercy of God to
pardon his
daughter for her mistake. But instead, god refused fresh flowers and
kept
insisting on getting flowers worn by Andal. This figuratively signifies,
that
good intentions will override the flaws in the rigour of rituals.

Her decided preference for worship in the Tamil language of the

natives,
instead of just in Sanskrit, as is traditional, is clear in many verses.

Also she prays from a viewpoint of a rich and contented society, and
not
from one of misery asking for relief from hardships in this life on earth.