Prayer of the Day

Prayer from Thirunavukkarasar Thevaram

 

திருநாவுக்கரசர் அருளிய தேவாரம் 
தலம்    :    பொது (மறுமாற்றத் திருத்தாண்டகம்)
ஆறாம் திருமுறை 

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

வாராண்ட கொங்கையர் சேர் மனையிற் சேரோம்
    மாதேவா மாதேவா என்று வாழ்த்தி 
நீராண்ட புரோதாயம் ஆடப்பெற்றோம்
    நீறணியும் கோலமே நிகழப்பெற்றோம்
காராண்ட மழைபோலக் கண்ணீர் சோரக் 
    கல் மனமே நன்மனமாக் கரையப் பெற்றோம்
பாராண்டு பகடேறி வருவார் சொல்லும் 
    பணிகேட்கக் கடவோமோ பற்றற்றோமே.

திருச்சிற்றம்பலம்

Song as Romanized text

 

Thirunavukkarasar Thevaram
Thalam    :    pothu (Marumarrath Thiruthandakam)
Sixth Thirumurai

thiruchiRRambalam

vArANda kongkaiyar sEr manaiyiR sErOm
    mAthEvA mAthEvA enRu vAzththi 
n-IrANda purOthAyam AdappeRROm
    n-IRaNiyum kOlamE n-ikazappeRROm
kArANda mazaipOlak kaNNIr sOrak 
    kal manamE n-anmanamAk karaiyap peRROm
pArANdu pakadERi varuvAr sollum 
    paNikEdkak kadavOmO paRRaRROmE.

thiruchiRRambalam

Meaning of the Prayer Song:

 We would not reside in the house of women having breasts covered in cloth.
We got to bathe before the sunrise hailing "Oh Supreme Divine! Supreme Divine!!"
We got to melt the stone like heart into a good one showering tears like rain from the clouds.
Would we, free from attachments, listen to the commandments of those 
    who rule the world and come on the elephant?!

 Notes: 

1.  vArANda kongkaiyar sEr manaiyiR sErOm 
It is not appropriate for a renounced (sanyasin) to stay in a house 
that has only women. Our saint Appar who makes clear the oath 
of renouncement pronounces that unambiguously.
It should be recalled in the Siruthonda nayanar puranam 
Sekkizar highlights this as the Bairava sanyasin refuses to
enter the house of Siruthondar when only ladies where present in it.

2. n-IrANda purOthAyam AdappeRROm
Our saint was an adherent of the Jainism before. 
Jains do not bathe before the sunrise. 
However, taking bath before the sunrise is highly
auspicious, which the saint realizes and declares in the
oath his conviction on the vedic dharma practice of 
pre-dawn bath!

3.  pakadERi 
Appar has nicely used the word "pagadu"
This could mean two things - elephant or largeness.
In the first sense, it would mean the emperor who 
comes on the elephant.
In the second sense, it would mean the blindness
of the king that is caused by the kings bloated image of greatness.
The blind of material pride caused the Pallava king to
underestimate the greatness of the true renounced
devotee - Sri Appar. Why would our saint heed to the
command of a mortal king?!