(gananAtha nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am a serviteur of the servitors of 
        Gananaathan of sea-girt Kaazhi." 
         
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Toka. 
 
1.     Gananaathar was the chief of the divine clan 
    Of Vedic Brahmins of the great city of Kaazhi, 
    The aeviternal source of creation that would float 
    Even during the boundless oceanic deluge at the end 
    Of the yuga; it is invested with the splendour 
    Of the avatar of divine Gnaanasambandhar 
    Who was blessed to drink of the hallowed and nectarean 
    Breast-milk of the Mother of the sea-girt world.        (3923) 
 
2.     This servitor in all love rendered daily 
    Goodly service to the Lord of the sacred Ark enshrined 
    In the beautifully walled city of Sanbai; 
    Poised in such divine servitorship, he trained 
    The devotees that came to him willingly and in love, 
    In each branch of the holy manual service of Charya 
    Which befitted them.                        (3924) 
 
3.     The rearing and fostering of flower gardens, the gathering 
    Of fragrant flowers from bunches, the weaving 
    Of manifold garlands, the securing of holy water 
    For the ablutions, the coating with cow-dung after  
    Sweeping the holy premises during day and night, 
    The lighting of innumerable lamps, the inditing 
    And reciting of the Tirumurai:                    (3925) 
 

                                                     
 
 
4.     In such and such like multifoliate and holy acts 
    Of service, he flawlessly trained the devotees 
    That came to him willingly, as became their skill, 
    And caused their servitorship to thrive in splendour; 
    By fostering the growth of such skill in servitorship 
    The devotees increased in number. Poised in loving and true 
    Domestic life, he flourished exemplarily, gladdening 
    The way of adoration of the devotees.                (3926) 
 
5.     The serviteur blessed with this great glory, by reason 
    Of his devotion to the feet of the Partaker of gnosis 
    Of truthful and great divinity, who hailed from Kaazhi 
    Of ever-growing glory, performed daily, unswervingly 
    During the three great divisions of the day, pooja 
    In love-impelling devotion, and thus thrived in joy.        (3927) 
 
6.     The great serviteur who was thus established 
    In such serviteurship, gaining in this vast world, 
    The fruit of the daily pooja rendered to the lotus-feet 
    Of the Partaker of the nectarean gnosis, reached 
    The immense and radiant Kailaas of the Lord 
    Who wears on His crown konrai blossoms of pure fragrance 
    And was blessed to become the chief of the great 
    And goodly Host of Siva; thus was he graced 
    With this inheritance of aeviternal beatitude.            (3928) 
 
7.     Established in the true and deliverance-conferring 
    Consciousness of servitorship to the Lord, who ate 
    The poison for the worlds to flourish, Gananaathar 
    Of vast and glorious Pukali, conferred such knowledge 
    On innumerable servitors as befitted their individual skill 
    And caused their service to thrive 
    In the world; hailing his feet, we proceed to narrate 
    The principled greatness of Kootruvanaar 
    Firmly poised in the piety of the holy ash.            (3929) 
 
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NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
2. Gananaathar began with the beginning. He took care of Charya -- the foundation of the edifice of Saivism. Charya is holy manual service. Our Naayanaar of Seekaazhi followed the advice of St. Sambandhar of Seekaazhi. “Kai vinai cey(thu)” is the command of the boy-saint.

3. In this verses are enumerated the acts that constitute Charya. The inditing and reciting of Tirumurai: This constitutes Pati-punya.

4. Our Naayanaar is an eminent trainer of devotees. His is a proper judge of men and things. He can draw out the skill that lies recondite in a man. That his methods were persuasive is seen from the fact that devotees flocked to him willingly.

5. Our Naayanaar is a performer of Siva-pooja which is informed by devotion.

6. Gana Naathar is our Naayanaar’s holy name. He eventually becomes a Gana Naathar -- the Chief of Siva’s Host.

It should be remembered that Charya is the foundation of Saivism. It paves the way to Kriya and Yoga and through these Gnaanam is gained. So, it is that Saivism defines tapas as the pursuit of Charya, Kriya, Yoga and Gnaanam. This is the affirmation of the Saiva Aagamas.

     
            Here ends the Puranam of Gananaatha Naayanaar 
 
Sincere thanks to Sri. T N Ramachandran of thanjavur, for permitting his English rendering of the holy text periyapurANam be published here.

See Also: 
1. gaNanAtha nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. கணநாத நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais