(kalikkampa nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

        "I am a servitor of the servitors of Kalikkampan.
        The wielder of the well-strung bow, who cut away
        The hand (of his wife)."
        
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai.

1.     The hoary and world-renowed city of Pennaakatam
    Which is in the west, is girt not only with flower-gardens
    On whose tops the sailing clouds rest, but also
    Fertile fields; here thrived families of great
    And ancient clans rooted in their ordained conduct
    In increasing domestic felicity.                 (4012)

2.     He came to be born in the mercantile clan that thrived
    In that city; love and devotion for the ankleted feet
    Of the Lord filled his thought; thus he grew up;
    Daily he rendered service to the hallowed feet
    Of the Lord who willingly abides in Toongkaanai Maatam;
    He was Kalikkampar who was otherwise desireless.        (4013)

3.     This devotee would treat the servitors of Lord Hara
    To a nectarean and flawless feast of rice,
    Toothsome curry varieties, ghee, milk boiled sweet,
    Fruits sweeter than honey, lumps of sugar and the like;
    He would also give them money and all that they sought.        (4014)

4.     As he plied himself in such servitorship, one day,
    When the devotees had assembled in his ever-during
    House to get fed, in accordance with the holy
    And hoary practice, he requested them to permit him
    To wash their sacred feet before he would feed them all
    Sumptuously; he desired to perform this preliminary ritual.    (4015)

 

                                                     

 

5.     His wife had already washed the house bright
    And cooked rice and dishes of toothsome curry;
    She had secured pure water for drinking, besides making
    All excellent arrangements in connection
    With the feeding of the devotees; as the poured
    Water from a pot, her husband, the loving servitor,
    Washed the feet of the great men of tapas.            (4016)

6.     When this sacred washing was going on, a former
    Servant of Kalikkampar who had in wrath abandoned
    His service, came there; he had become a servitor
    Of the Lord who wears as jewels bones and snakes;
    He came there in the habit of a devotee with others;
    When he came before the magnanimous host,
    He was about to wash his feet (also).                (4017)

7.     When Kalikkampar held his feet, his wife thought thus:
    “This was the man who refused to serve (us).”
    As she delayed to pour the water from the pot full
    Of fragrant and blooming flowers, Kalikkampar,
    The first among servitors, looked at his wife
    Of dark koontal and mused thus:                    (4018)

8.     “He is indeed a servitor of the Lord who wears
    Fragrant konrai flowers; thinking of his past status,
    And feeling abashed, she would not pour water.”
    Thus convinced, he would not look at her again;
    He unsheathed his sword, seized the pot from her
    And cut away her hand; he himself poured
    The water from the pot and washed his feet.            (4019)

9.     Having washed his feet, he himself did all the acts
    Needed for feeding, and with an unflinching mind
    He fed the devotees; he of endless glory, poised in his
    Chosen way of servitorship, flourished;
    Thus, even thus, he reached the divine shade
    Of the feet of the blue-throated Lord, thither
    To abide aeviternally in the company of devotees.        (4020)

10.     Adoring the flower-feet of Kalikkampar who cut away
    The hand of his wife who could not con the habit
    Of the devotee of the Lord that ate the poison
    Churned out of the roaring waters of the main,
    We proceed to hymn the glory of Kali Nitiyaar
    Who divinely served the Lord of the Bhootas
    And whose splendorous servitorship shines
    In all the worlds.                        (4021)

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NOTES

Verse No.

   8.    The life of a devotee is fundamentally different from the lives of others.  He no longer lives to 
    his own will.  He bothers not about the spirit of the world.  He considers God in everything 
    and he serves God in everything.  Every act of his is a visible exercise and demonstration 
    of his love of God and His devotees. Sometimes his act partakes of violence.  However, it 
    is good to remember that his act is prompted by Grace.  “Ek kiramatthinaalum Irai ceyal arule 
    endrum” (Viewed from any angle the act of God is informed by Grace) are the words of St. Arull 
    Nandi.

 

        “Just are the ways of God,
        And justifiable to men;
        Unless there be who think not God at all,
        If any be, they walk obscure,
        For of such doctrine never was there school,
        But the heart of the fool,
        And no man therein doctor but himself.”        - John Milton.

    We say that just are the ways of God’s servitors and justifiable to men.

            Here ends the Puranam of Kalikkampa 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. kalikkamba nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. கலிக்கம்ப நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais