Kaapu (Invocation)
Transliteration
adal-arunai – thiru-gōpurathë, antha-vāyilukku,
vada-varugil-senru, kandu-kondën, varuvār-thalai-yil,
thada-pada-ena, padu–kut-tudan, sarkkarai-mokkiya-kai,
kada-thada-kumpa, kalitruk(u)-ilaiya, kali-trinaiyë.
English Meaning
Recently I went near the entrance of the northern tower of the strong and magnificent Thiruvannamalai temple and saw worshippers noisily tapping the sides of their foreheads before the elephant faced God (Ganapathi). With his long trunk and big forehead from the sides of which musky fluid was oozing, he was gulping sugar (offered by the devotees). Next to him I did see his younger brother (Murukan).
Nool (The Poem)
Verse 1
Transliteration
pëtrrai thavam, satrrum-illātha ennai, prapancham-ennum,
sëtrrai, kaliya-vali-vitta-vā, senchadā-ada-vi-mël,
ātrrai, paniyai, itha-liyai, thumpai-yai, ambuli-yin—
keetrrai-punain-tha-perumān, kumāran, krupā-karanë. 1*
English Meaning
Oh gracious son of Siva, who has adorned the river Ganges, the serpent, the crescent moon and the flowers of konrai (laburnum) and thumbai (leucas) on his bushy, red matted hair! Amazing is your grace that you have blessed me and showed me the way to cross the worldly muddle. Absolutely I do not have the good luck (for this blessing) nor have I done any meditation or penance (to deserve this).
Verse 2
Transliteration
alith-thu–pirakka-vottā, ayil-vëlan-kaviyai, anbāl,
eluth-thu-pilai-yara-kar-kinri-leer, eri-mūn-da-thenna,
vilith-thu-pugai-yela, pong-gu-veng-kūtran, vidum-kayitrāl,
kaluth-thil, suru-kittu-iluk-kum-anrō, kavi-kar-kin-radhë.
English Meaning
Oh Men, Expunging all your internal and external desires, why can't you devotedly recite the hymns daily without grammatical errors in praise of Velan who carries the sharp spear capable of helping you avoid future births. If you are not going to do it now, when are you thinking of doing it? Are you going to wait till the last day when Yama, with fire in his eyes, comes around to drag you away by throwing his rope around your neck?
[Yama = God of death]
Verse 3
Transliteration
thërani yittup purameriththhān magan sengkaiyil vër
kuurani yittanuvāgik kiraunjsang kulai-ndhu arakkar
nërani yittu valai-ndha kadaka neli-ndhadhu suurp
përani kettadhu dhëvë-ndhira lōkam pilaiththadhuvë.
English Meaning
Kumaran, the son of Lord Siva, the destroyer of the three wicked cities, arranged the celestial warriors in the form of a chariot, crushed the illusive Kravunja mountain to pieces with the sharp spear held in his reddish hand, routed the on coming Asura battalions one by one and ultimately destroyed Suran's arrogance. Because of his bravery, the celestial world survived.
[Kravunja is the mountain where Suran and asuras (the demon king and his followers) reside; celestial world is where Indiran and his cohorts (king and residents of the celestial world respectively) reside.]
Verse 4
Transliteration
ōravottār onrai yunna vottār malarittu unathāl
sëravottār aivar seyvadhen yān senru dhëvar uyyas
sōra nittuuranais suuranaik kārudal sōrikkak
kuura kattāri ittu ōr imaip pōdhinil konravanë.
English Meaning
(Oh Lord) In order that the celestials may survive, you thrust your spear into the cunning Suran's black body and made him bleed to death in a few seconds. By wandering in all directions, my five senses stand in the way of my experiencing the bliss of your holy feet, meditate on you or even worship you with flowers. What am I to do? Please advise me.
Verse 5
Transliteration
thiru-ndhap puvananggal iinra porpāvai thirumulaippāl
aru-ndhis saravanap puu-nthottil ëri aruvar konggai
virumbik kadalalak kunralas suurala vimmiyalung
kuru-ndhaik kurinjsik kilavan enrōdhum kuvalayamë.
English Meaning
Not satisfied with the milk you drank from your mother, the beautiful Parvathi, the creator of all universe, you also drank milk with great joy from the bosoms of the six Karthikai maidens; you grew up in the flower beds of the Saravana pond and sobbed like any other child. The oceans, the illusive Kravunja mountain and the Suran also wept being scared of you, a tender child. Is it strange, then, that the whole world is hailing you with the title "Lord of the Kurinji land"?
[kurinji refers to the mountainous landscape according to ancient land classification]
Verse 6
Transliteration
perumpaim punath-thinul, sitrënal kāk-kinra, pëthai kongai,
virumpum kumaranai, meyyin-bināl, mella mella vulla,
arumbum thani-param-ānantham, thith-thith-thu arin-tha-anrë,
karumbum thuvar-thu, chen thënum pulithu, arakkai-thathuvë.
English Meaning
If you meditate devotedly on Kumaran, the Lord, who fondly caresses the breasts of the hunter girl, Valli waiting in the lush green millet fields, gradually you will find that the divine experience would be so pleasant and sweet that sugar cane and honey would taste bitter and sour later on.
Verse 7
Transliteration
salaththil pinipattu asattu kriyaingkuttu avikkumenrë
ulaththil piramaththai thavirppāy unavar uraththu uthirak
kulaththil kudhiththuk kuliththhuk kudiththu vetrik
kalaththil serukkik kaludhāda vëlthotta kāvalanë.
English Meaning
Would you please expunge my ignorance whereby I am always bound by cunningness and falsehood and indulge in foolish activities? You are the King who killed the Asuras bravely with your spear in the battle field where the goblins and ghosts are triumphantly dancing, drinking the blood oozing from the chests of fallen soldiers. Therefore remove my ignorance of doing foolish activities.
Verse 8
Transliteration
ōliyil vilaintha, vuyar-nyāna-būtha-rath-thu, uch-chiyin-mël,
aliyil villain-tha-thōr, ānan-thath-thënai, anā-thi-yilë,
veli-yil-vilain-tha, verum-pālai, petrra-verum-thani-yai—
theliya, vilam-biyā, mukam-ārudai, thësi-kanë. 8*
English Meaning
Is it not amazing that the great six headed spiritual preceptor (Murukan), has graciously taught me the supreme bliss of Siva Knowledge that is as sweet as the mountain-grown honey and pointed out to me the uniqueness of the Primal Being remaining alone in the wilderness?
Verse 9
Transliteration
thën-enru, pāk-enru, uva-mik-konā-mōli, theyva-valli—
kōn, anr-enakku-upa-thë-sith-thathu, on-rundu, kūra-vatrrō?
vān-anru-kāl-anru, thee-yanru-neer-anru, mannu-manru,
thān-anru, nān-anru, asa-reeri-yanru, sa-reeri-yanrë. 9*
English Meaning
Sugar and honey are no comparison to the sweetness of words spoken by the divine Valli. There is 'one thing' that her illustrious husband taught me first. It is not possible for me to describe what it is or what its qualities are. All that I can say is it is neither you nor me. It is not the sky, the wind, fire, water or earth. It is not a being with a body or without a body. It is neither formless nor does it have a form.