Pothri thiru agaval(Tamil)
Pothri thiru agaval(Tamil)
By
Manikka Vasagar
Translated By
P.R.Ramachander
(Manikka Vasagar was a great saint of the saivite Bhakthi movement of Thamizh Nadu. His greatest contribution was a book called Thiruvasagam.(Divine writing) . It has been told that “thiru vasagathukku urugar , yevvachagathukkum urugar” meaning, “ The mind of one whose mind does not melt for Thiruvasagam , will not melt for any other book. “ There is a very famous translation of Thiruvasagam by Rev G.U.Pope who was called as Pope iyer by the people of Tamil nadu. This is available in
http://www.shaivam.org/siddhanta/thivapop.htm . But I found it very difficult to understand.
Pothiru Thiru agaval is a poem of salutations to the God using the Agval ("Agaval” is a form of blank verse, close to speech.) style. After giving an introduction the, author goes on to salute the Lord using several of his attributes and residences. I felt that it is a remarkable prayer. I have used the tamil translation of Thiruvachagam by Dr.Sadhu .S.Srinivas published by Indhu publications , Madras to understand the verses of Pothri Thiru Agaval)
Nanmugan mudhala vanavar thozhudhu ezha,
Veeradiyaale moovalagu alandhu,
Nattisai munivarum iympulan malara ,
Pothri cheykathir mudithuru nedumalan,
Radi mudiyariyu madhara vadanir.
When the four faced Brahma and other devas were saluting him,
Lord Vishnu measured the entire world with his two steps,
And this made the sages in all four directions enthralled ,
And worship Him with a shining crown,
But he himself tried to find out the feet and head of Lord Shiva.
Kadu muranena magi mun kalan,
Thezhthalamuruva vidanthu pinnei .
Thoozhi mudhalva chaya chaya vendru,
Vazhuthiyum kanaa malaradiyinaigal
Appearing as a wild boar and digging the seven nether worlds,
Lord Vishnu got tired and praised “Victory to the foremost of the world”,
As he was not in a position to find your flower like feet.
Vazhuthutharkku elithai vaar kadal ulaginil,
Yanai mudhalaa verum peeraaya,
OOna mili yoniyul vinai pizhaithu,
Manuda pirappinun mathavu thara,
Theenamil kirumi cheruvinir pizhaithum.
For easily seeing those feet , in this world,
Which is surrounded by a wide broad sea,
The many beings entered the wombs,
Of animals from ant to elephant and after exhausting the Karma,
Took finally the birth as man and in their stay,
In the womb , they fought for survival with many other insects,
Oru mathithandri yinirumayir pizhaithu ,
Mirumathi vilaivain orumayir pizhaithum,
At the end of one month they got a separate form,
At the end of two months they survived and became more strong
Mummathi thannula madham pizhaithu,
Meeriru thingalir per irul pizhaithu,
Manju thingalin munchudhal pizhaithu,
Maru thingali oorular pizhaithum,
In the third month they did not get drowned in the womb fluid,
In the fourth month they spent their time in darkness,
In the fifth month they survived by not getting aborted,
In the sixth month their body grew further and they survived
Ezhu thingalir thazh puvi pizhaithu,
Mettu thingalir kattamum pizhaithu,
Monpathil varu thuru thunbamum pizhaithum
After surviving the lowering in the seventh month
After surviving several problems in the eighth month,
After surviving the sorrow of the parting with the womb,
Thakka dasamathi thayodu than padum ,
Dukha sagara thuyaridai pizhaithum,
And when ten months are to be over , they ,
Along with their mother get drowned,
In the sea of sorrow but survived.
Andugadoru msdaintha vakkaalai,
Meendiyum miruthiyum menai pala pizhaithum,
Year after year they further grow up ,
And by staying and rising they further survived,
Kalai malamodu kadum pagar pasi nisi,
Velai nithirai yathirai pizhaithum,
They further survived by answering natural calls ,
Struggle with the great hunger of the day ,
And sleep during the time of the night ,
Karum kuzhar chevai vennagai karmayi,
LOrungiiya chayanerungi yun madarthu,
Kachara nimirnthu kadirthu mun panai,
Theythidai varutha vezhundhu pudai pran,
Theerkidai pogaa vila mulai madar than,
Koortha nayana kollayir pizhaithum,
After further surviving from theft tried by the sharp eyes,
Of women with jet black hair , reddish lips, pretty smile,
Who were Well made up , painted , walking straight ,
With the well endowed breasts which were held ,
Aloft and pushed in front and gave pain to the middle part ,
Pitha ulagar perum thurai parappinun ,
Matha kalirenu mavaa vidai pizhaithm,
After further surviving from the exuberant elephant,
Of desire , which came because of living among people,
Who are mad after the pleasures of life on earth,
Kalvi yenum pal kadar pizhaithum.
Chelvam menum mallalir pizhaithum,
After surviving from the pride of several oceans of learning,
After surviving from the sorrow caused by botheration caused by the wealth,
Nal kuravennum tholvidam pizhaithum,
Pul varambaaya pal thurai pizhithum,
After surviving from the horror of poverty,
After surviving several bad conducts and character
Deivam yenbadhor chitha mundagi ,
Munivilathathor porulathu karudhalum,
Maaru koru maya shakthigal,
Veru veru tham mayai kat odungina
They understood that there is something called God,
And that it is without any hatred,
But several thoughts sent by illusion,
Did not allow this thought to rise.
Aathamaanaar ayalavar koodi,
Nathigam pesi nathazhambu yerinar
The dear neighbors joined together ,
And talked that god is not there,
Till their toungue had a scar.
Chuthamennum thol pasu kuzhaangal,
Pathi yazhaithu padarinar perugavum,
Those who called themselves as their relations,
And were like a group of ordinary beings,
Called and dragged them and told them not to go after God
Virathame paramaga vedhiyarum,
Chathagamagave Chathiram kattinar
Even the Brahmins who observe penance,
Showed shastras to dissuade us
Samaya vadhika datha mathangale,
Vamaithvathaga varathi malainthanar
Even people of various religious beliefs,
Were unnecessarily proud of their beliefs
Mindiya mayaa vadha mennum,
Chanda marutham chuzhithadi thaa arthu
The words of people supporting concept of illusion,
Would make your thoughts confused like a storm.
Ulagayutham yenum ondirar pambin,
Kalabedatha kadu vida meythi
Those who support worldly needs ,
Are like a shining poisonous snakes,
And their teachings are like poison.
Athir peru mayayena pala chjoozhavum,
They confuse you all and does not allow all of you,
To understand what is right or wrong
Thappame thaambi pidithathu chaliyaa,
Thazhalathu kanda mezhukadhu pola,
Thozhuthula murugi yazhuthudal kambithu
The one who catches the proper path and travels ,
Is like wax brought near a burning ember,
His mind melts and he salutes the God and becomes speechless
Aadiyum alariyum padiyum paraviyum,
Kodirum pedahayum kondathu vidathenum,’
Padiyeyagi nallidayaraa vanbin,
Dancing , shouting , singing , following ,
like a pliers and like ignorant men,
Does not change at any moment from the chosen path
Pasumarathani arainthar pola,
Kasivathu perugi kadalena marugi
Like a nail driven in a living tree,
Their mind melts and like a sea it roars
Agam kuzhaindhu anukoolamai mey vidhirthu,
Sakambe yendru thammai chirippu
Their inside melts and their body shivers in support,
And the world laughs at them like a ghost
Naanathu ozhindhu naadavar pazhithurai,
Poonathuvaga konuthalindri
They loose sense of shame and take criticisms ,
As ornaments and their minds are not worried
Chathuri zhantharimal kondu charum,
Gathiyahu paramavadhisayamaga
You should increase knowledge and decrease pride,
For there is nothing as great as salvation,
And it is only right to wonder about it.
Kathaa manamena kadariyum padariyum,
Mathor deivam kanavilum ninayathu
Like a calf towards its mother cow,
They shout as well as become nervous,
And no other God comes to them even in their dreams
Aruparam thoru vana vaniyil vanthu,
Guruparanaagi yaruliya perumayai
My fame is because of the God,
Who came from a place far above the world,
And became my teacher and blessed me,
Chirumai yendru igazhaadhe , thiruvadi yinayai,
Piri vinai yariya nizhalathu pola,
Do not blame that god’s behavior as ordinary,
For like the shadow is never separated from the body,
The devotees should always follow the feet of God
Mun pinnagi muniyatha disai,
Yenbu naindhurige therku nekkengi,
Yanbenumaru karaivathu purala,
Nal pulan ondri nada vendrathi
The devotee’s thoughts do not go back or front,
And they are Without hatred, with melting mind, shivering voice
With love flooding and ebbing out of the banks,
And With concentrated mind and always murmuring “Oh Lord”
Urai thadumariyum romam chilirppa,
Kara malar motti thiruthaya malara,
Kankali koora nunduli yarumbha,
Karamalar mottithu , kai koopi
Due to devotion, their voice stutters,
Hair stands erect, Hands fold in salutation,
The flower of their heart is overjoyed
And the eye is full of tears of joy
Chaya vanbinai nadoruthu azhaippavar,
Thaayeyagi valarthanai pothi
Salutation to the God , who brought up,
Like a mother ,those whose devotion ,
Never reduced and was always growing
Mey tharu vediyanagi vinai keda ,
Kai thara valla kadavul pothi
Oh God who came as a Brahmin,
Giving the truth and then removed,
The accumulated Karmas of previous births(vinai)
Aadaka Madurai arase Pothi
Kooda vilalngu Gurumani pothi
Salutations to the God who chose Madurai as his arena to play
Salutations to the great teacher who was with me
Thendrillai mandrinuladi pothi
Yindrena karaamudhanai pothi
Salutations to him who danced in the southern city(Chidambaram)
Salutations to the God who became like nectar to me
Moovaa naanmurai mudhalva pothi
Chevaar vel kodi sivane Pothi
Salutations to the permanent lord of four Vedas,
Salutations to Lord Shiva with a flag of bull
Minnar uruva vikirthaa pothi,
Kannar uritha kaniye pothi
Salutations to The god who took several shining forms,
Salutations to the fruit who took threads from stone
Kaavai kanaga kunre pothi,
Yava venru yenakkarulvai pothi
Salutations to the Golden mountain who protects us,
Salutations to him who showers his grace on me who calls him
Padaippai Kaappai Thudaippai pothi,
Vidarai kalayum yenthai pothi
Salutations to him who creates , protects and destroys,
Salutations to my father who removes all my problems
Eesa pothi, iraiva pothi,
Desa palinginrale pothi
Salutations to the God, Salutations to the Lord,
Salutations to the shining , pretty heap of the soul
Araise pothi , amuthe pothi,
Virai cher charana vikirtha pothi
Salutations to the king., Salutations to the nectar,
Salutations to him with sweet smelling feet and took different forms
Vedhi pothi, Vimala Pothi,
Yadhi pothi , yarive pothi
Salutations to seer of knowledge , salutations to the pure one,
Salutations to the primeval god, Salutations to knowledge
Gathiye pothi , kaniye pothi,
Nadhi cher chenchadai namba pothi
Salutations to one giving salvation , Salutations to the fruit of knowledge,
Salutations to him who accepted a river on his head
Udayai pothi , unarve pothi,
Kadayen adimai kanday pothi
Salutations to him who has everything , Salutations to him who is the divine feeling,
Salutations to him who made this very lowly slave as his
Iya pothi, anuve pothi,
Saiva pothi , thalaiva pothi
Salutations to the Lord, Salutations to him who is in every as atom,
Salutations to the peaceful one, Salutations to the leader
Kuriye pothi, guname pothi,
Neriye pothi , ninaive pothi
Salutations to aim of life , salutations to best qualities,
Salutations to great conduct , salutations to him who remains as a feeling
Vanorkku ariya marunthe pothi,
Yenorkku yeliya iraiva pothi,
Salutations to the rare nectar like medicine to devas,
Salutations to him who is easily available to others
Moovezh chutha muranooru naragidai,
Yazhame arul arase pothi
Salutations to the merciful God who saves,
Twenty one generations of devotees from hell
Thozha pothi, thuniva pothi,
Vazhve pothi , yen vaippe pothi
Salutations to the friend , salutations to him who is with us,
Salutations to the root of my life , salutations to my place of protection
Mutha pothi, Mudalva pothi,
Athaa pothi , arane pothi
Salutations to him who is above salvation , Salutations to him who is primeval,
Salutations to him who is father of all, Salutations to him who destroys dirt of the soul
Urai unar virantha voruva pothi,
Viri kadal ulagim vilaive pothi
Salutations to him who is beyond words and mind,
Salutations to him who is the great luck of people of this broad world
Arumayil yeliya azhake pothi,
Karu mukhilakiya kanne pothi
Salutations to the pretty one who is rare,
Salutations to the very dear one who is like the black cloud
Manniya thiruvarun malaye pothi,
Yennayum oruvanaaki yirunkazhar,
Cheniyil vaitha sevaga pothi
Salutations to the very stable purple mountain(meru),
Salutations to the him who recognized me and kept ,
His feet on my head and made me his slave
Thozhugai thunbam thudaippai pothi,
Azhivilaa Ananda vari pothi
Salutations to him who removes sorrow of those who salute him.
Salutations to him who is the destruction less sea of joy
Azhivathum aavathum kadanthai pothi,
Muzhuvadhumirantha mudhalva pothi
Salutations to him who is beyond birth and death,
Salutations to him who is primeval and would remain after everything dies
Maaner nokki manala pothi,
Vanakathu amarar thaye pothi
Salutations to the husband of Parvathi who has deer like eyes,
Salutations to him who looks after devas like their mother
Paridai yaiynthai paranthai pothi,
Neeridai nangai nigazhndhai pothi
Salutations to him who has spread like earth , fifth among five elements(Kanchipuram)
Salutations to him who has become water the fourth element(Thiruvanaikkaval)
Thee yidai moondrai thigazhndhai pothi
Valiyidai irandai magizhndhai pothi,
Veliyidai yondari vilainthai pothi,
Yalibhavar ulla thamudhe pothi
Salutations to him who has become fire, the third element (Thiruvannamalai)
Salutations to him who became happy as wind , the second element,(Kalahasthi)
Salutations to him who has become Ether(Akasa) , the first element (Chidambaram)
Salutations to him who is the mind of the giver
Kanavilum devarkkariyai pothi
Nanavilum mayerkkarulinai pothi
Salutations to him who is rare even in dreams to devas,
Salutations to him who came in a form that can be seen to me who is even worse than a dog
Idai maruthurayum yenthai pothi,
Chadayidai gangai tharithai pothi,
AAroor amarntha arase pothi,
Cheeraar thiruvai aaraa pothi
Salutations to my father who is in Thiruvidaimaruthur
Salutations to him who wore ganges on his head
Salutations to him who sat in Thiruvarur
Salutations to him who is in the great Thiruvayaru
Annamala yemmanna pothi,
Kannaramudha kadale pothi
Salutations to the brother who is in Thiruvannamalai,
Salutations to him who is the dear ocean of nectar
Yekam pathurai yenthai potrhi,
Pagam pennuru vanai pothi
Salutations to my father who is in Thiruvekambam,
Salutations to him who became partly a lady
Paraithurai meviya parane pothi
Chirappalli meviya sivane pothi
Salutations to the dear one who is in Thiruparaithurai,
Salutations to the true Lord of Thiruchirapalli
Mathor pathi ingu ariyen pothi,
Kuthala then koththa pothi
Salutations to him who is the only one known to me,
Salutations to the dancer of Thirukuttalam
Kogazhi meviya kove pothi,
Yeengi malai yem maintha pothi,
Paangaar pazhanathazhaga pothi
Salutations to the king who is in Thiruvavaduthurai,
Salutations to the father who is in Thiruveengoi mountain,
Salutations to the pretty one who is in Thiruppazhanam
Kadamboor meviya Vidanga pothi,
Adainthavarkku arulum appa pothi
Salutations to the pretty one of Thirukadambur,
Salutations to him who showers his grace on those coming to him
Ithi thannin keezh iru moovar ,
Kahikku aruliya varase pothi
Salutations to him , who gave his blessings,,
To the six people and the elephant below an ithi tree(Kallala tree)
Thennadudaya sivane pothi,
Yennattavarkkum iraiva pothi
Salutations to Siva who has south of India,
Salutations to him who is God of the entire world,
Yenakkurulai karuliniai pothi Om,
Maana kayilai malayai pothi Om
Salutations to who fed milk to the baby pigs, Om,
Salutations to him who lives on the Kailasa mountain, Om
Arul ida vendum mammaan pothi,
Yirul keda varulum iraiva pothi.
Salutations with a request , please shower your grace uncle,
Salutations to that God who removes darkness from life
Thalanthen adiyenramiyen pothi,
Kalam kola karuthavarulai pothi
Salutations Oh God, I have become bored of being alone,
Salutations to him with a request to him to be my permanent friend
Anjel yendru ingu arulvai pothi,
Nanje yamudha nayanthai pothi
Salutation with a request to tell “Do not fear” and then shower your grace,
Salutations to him who made nectar out of the poison
Atha pothi, Ayya pothi,
Nitha pothi , nimala pothi,
Patha pothi pavane pothi
Salutations to him who is the father , the Lord,
Salutations to the perennially pure one,
Salutations to the basis and life of the entire world
Periyai pothi , pirane pothi,
Ariyai pothi , amala pothi
Salutations to the one who is greater than all,
Salutations to him who protects lives,
Salutations to the God who is rare .
Salutations to the God who is pure
Marayor kola neriye pothi,
Murayo tharien mudhalva pothi
Salutations to him who came as a Brahmin,
Salutations to the primeval one, to whom I say “I cannot bear this”
Urave pothi, Uyire pothi,
Chirave pothi, sivame pothi
Salutation to Siva who is my relation , and to him who is my soul,
Salutations to him who is all that is good and he who is peace.
Manjaa pothi, manaalaa pothi,
Panjeradiyaal pangaa pothi
Salutation to him who is pretty and to him who is consort of all souls ,
Salutations to the consort of her who has cotton soft feet
Alan thenaaye nadiyen pothi,
Yilangu chudarem eesaa pothi
Salutations from the devotee who has wandered,
Salutations to him who has natural light
Suvaithalai meviya kanne pothi,
Kuvai pathi malintha kove pothi
Salutations to the darling of Suvai thalai,
Salutations to the king who is in kuvaipathi
Malai nadutaya manne pothi,
Kalayai ari kesariyai pothi
Salutations to the king of mountain country,
Salutations to him who is the lion of arts(Art of town Arikesari)
Thirukazhu kundril chelvaa pothi,
Poruppamar poovanathane pothi
Salutations to the lad of Thirukazhukundram,
Salutations to the Lord of Thiruppovanam surrounded by hills
Aruvamuruvamum aanaai pothi,
Maruviya karunai malaye pothi
Salutations to him who has a form as well as no form,
Salutations to the mountain of mercy
Thuriyamum irantha chudare pothi,
Therivarithagiya thelive pothi
Salutations to him who is the light above the Thuriya state,
Salutations to him who is the wisdom that can be rarely got
Thola mutha chudare pothi,
Yalavanavar kku anba pothi
Salutations to him who is the light of uncut pearl,
Salutations to the friend of those who salute him
AAravamuthe arule pothi,
Perayiramudai pemman pothi
Salutations to the nectar like grace that never exhausts,
Salutations to the God who has one thousand names
Thali arunkin raaraai pothi,
Neel oliyagiya nirutha pothi
Salutations to the god who wears grass(Arugam pul) and leaf (Bilwa leaf) garland
Salutations to the dancer who is the great long flame
Chanthana chanthin Sundara pothi,
Chinthanai kkariya sivame pothi
Salutations to the pretty one who is decorated by sandal paste,
Salutations to the God of peace who is beyond thought processes
Manthira mamalai meyaai pothi,
Yenthamai yuyya kolvai pothi
Salutations to the God who wanders in Mahendra mountains,
Salutations to the God who is there to save us
Puli moolai pulvai churilinai pothi,
Alaikadal meemisai nadanthai pothi
Salutations to the God who made a tiger mother feed milk to a sheep cub,
Salutations to the God who walked on the ocean full of waves
Karum kuruvikku andru arulinai pothi,
Irum pulan pulara visainthanai pothi
Salutations to the God who showered his grace on a black bird in olden times,
Salutations to the God who made the five parts of the body not work
Padiyura payindra paavaga pothi,
Adiyodu nadu veeraanaai pothi
Salutations to the God who was divinely pure even in earth,
Salutations to the God who became the beginning middle and end
Narakodu suvarga nanilam pugamar,
Para gathi pandiyar kkarulinai pothi
Salutations to the God who gave ,
Pandya kings salvation preventing ,
Them from going to hell, heaven and earth
Ozhivara miraintha voruva pothi,
Chezhu malar siva purathu arase pothi
Salutations to the God who has filled himself everywhere without a gap,
Salutations to the God who is the king of Sivapura full of flowers
Kazhuneer malai kadavul pothi,
Thozhuvar maiyarunippai pothi
Salutations to the God who wears garland of Kalhara(Chenkazhneer) flowers,
Salutations to the God who removes darkness of ignorance from those saluting him
Pizhaippu vaay ponru ariyaa naayen,
Kuzhaitha chona malai kondarul pothi
Salutations to the God with a request to please accept this garland of words,
Made by a man baser than a dog and not knowing the rights and wrongs
Purambala veritha puraanaa pothi,
Param param jothi parane pothi
Salutations to the ancient God who burnt several cities,
Salutations to the God who exists as divine light beyond the universe
Pothi ,pothi puyanga peruman,
Pothi ,pothi Purana karana,
Pothi, pothi chaya chaya pothi
Salutations and salutations to the God who wears a snake,
Salutations and salutations to the God who is the primeval cause
Salutations, salutations, victory, victory , salutations