(kazhariRRu aRivAr nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am also a serviteur of Kazharitru Arivaar 
        Whose munificence excels that of the nimbus." 
                         
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai 
 
1.     In the hoary and aeviternal Malai-Naadu, glowing 
    With the greatness of the Goddess of Wealth, 
    Is a city of the Cera dynasty of manifold glory, 
    Flourishing with citizens poised in ancient 
    And traditional culture, and extolled by majestic 
    Tamil numbers; it is the great and ancient 
    Capital city called Kodungkoloor of the sceptred Cera kings, 
    Endowed with Tiruvanjaikkalam 
    Presided over by the Lord-Rider or the Bull.            (3748) 
 
2.     The chanting of the Vedas and the scriptures in the morn, 
    The trumpeting of elephant calves, the soft humming 
    Of bees in the gardens, the neighing of prideful steeds, 
    The strumming of Paalai and Vipanji yaazhs, the sound 
    Of drums during dancing accompanied by singing: 
    These drown the roar of the sea and rise up 
    In wondrous splendour.                        (3749) 
 
3.     In all opulent houses flourishes coveted domestic 
    Joy; at their sides in the streets, flourishes 
    Manifold dharma; in all matams of divine devotees, 
    Flourishes the Saivite faith; 
    In all places of foison, flourish overflowing wealth.        (3750) 
 
4.     There thrive the citizens of the four castes 
    Poised in the unswerving conduct of the Vedic way; 
    The bountiful city is girt with the gardens of mango 
    Vakula, sarala and other trees encircled by great 
    And lofty walls; in this world it goes by the glorious name 
    Makothai, the seat of Kothai kings.                (3751) 
 
5.     In that hoary city bounded by fragrant gardens 
    By reason of the great tapas ever wrought by the world 
    And the Cera dynasty endowed with wrathful 
    And musty elephantry, to quell Kali that weakens 
    And causes piety to waste away, and to cause 
    Righteous Saivism to flourish, Perumaakkothaiyaar 
    Came to be born by the grace of Siva.                (3752) 
 
6.     At his divine avatar, the citizens of that great city, 
    In exceeding delight performed ‘neiyaadal’; 
    The heavens rained ethereal flowers that mantled the sky; 
    Auspicious sounds soared aloft everywhere; 
    Each and every life in this immense world 
    Felt an ever-increasing rapture.                (3753) 
 
7.     He grew up for the thriving of the Saivite way 
    On earth; by reason of his tapas in his past lives, 
    He was endowed with love and devotion to serve 
    The ankleted feet of the Lord who sports an eye 
    In His forehead; his soul, all compact of love, would not 
    Pursue the privileges of a monarch; he but served 
    Tiruvanjaikkalam’s Lord in whose matted hair 
    Courses the pellucid Ganga.                    (3754) 
 
8.     He felt it in his consciousness that worldly life 
    And kingly life are impermanent; 
    He would wake up at dawn, bathe in the water 
    And the holy ash, do pious 
    And manifold and ever-during service in the sacred gardens, 
    And gather flowers and blooms for weaving  
    Garlands to deck the Lord therewith.                (3755) 
 
9.     He would secure holy water for the Lord’s ablutions, 
    Sweep the yards of the temple and coat them all, 
    In sweet love, with cow-dung; he would also perform 
    Gloriously many other acts of service and recite 
    Holy hymns in integrated consciousness. Thus he throve.        (3756) 
 

 
 
10.     While so, the garlanded king Sengkol Poraiyan 
    Who reigned under the shade of the cloud of his 
    Munificence beneath which was held aloft his white 
    Parasol, from the glorious and beauteous city 
    Girt with a sea-like moat and huge hill-like, 
    Lofty walls whence wafted aloft the royal banners, 
    Quitting his royal office, took to tapas.            (3757) 
 
11.     When the ruler of the hoary dynasty betook himself 
    To the forest for performing askesis, 
    The intellectually great ministers, well versed 
    In monarchic and dynastic works, studied the situation 
    For a few days with care and arrived at the clear conclusion 
    That according to the rules prescribed, the right to rule 
    Vested in the kingly serviteur of the Lord; 
    So they called on him at Tiruvanjaikkalam 
    Where abides the crescent-crested Lord.                (3758) 
 
12.     The truthful ministers who could quell falsity, 
    Came before his presence and paid obeisance to him; 
    Unto him they made their submission thus: 
    “According to the flawless tradition, the right  
    To get crowned and wield the righteous sceptre 
    Over the Malai Naadu rich in cool hillscapes, 
    Is yours.” When thus hailed by them,                (3759) 
 
13.     He mused thus: “What these ministers drive at, will be 
    An impediment to my servitorship, the source 
    Of ever-increasing joy; to know if I am to be 
    Blessed with the divine grace of reigning, 
    Without deviating from the way of devotion to Siva, 
    I will await the time to divine the will of the Lord 
    Whose jewels are bones and snakes.” 
    Thus resolved he moved into the temple and prayed; 
    Then by the grace of Grace,                    (3760) 
 
14.     He was blessed with the right to reign, 
    Poised in devotion and love to the worship of the Lord, 
    An ability to con all that is uttered by mankind 
    As well as the world of sub-human species, 
    Endless and peerless success in all undertakings, 
    Limitless munificence and all regal splendour 
    Such as army, cars and mounts needed for a king, 
    To rule the world.                        (3761) 
 
15.     He adored the Lord that blessed him thus and moved 
    Out; though wielding the sceptre was injurious 
    To divine servitorship, yet by reason of the grace 
    Granted by the Lord, he expressed his assent 
    To the ministers who requested him to wear the lofty crown; 
    Then the ministers fell at his feet, and proceeded 
    To arrange for the coronation.                    (3762) 
 
16.     On the appointed day, during the goodly hora, 
    All things needed for the coronation were splendorously 
    Arranged and all auspicious rites were duly 
    Performed; Kazharitru Arivaar who knew well 
    That piety which could cause all lives--animate  
    And inanimate--, thrive in happiness, wore that crown 
    Any which he could rule both earth and heaven.            (3763) 
 
17.     Then he circumambulated the Lord’s shrine, came 
    Before His presence, prostrated there, 
    Rose up and moved out; he mounted the royal tusker; 
    The trusted retinue held aloft the white parasol 
    And waved chamaras; as he thus came round 
    The city in procession he beheld a washerman 
    With a bundle of fuller’s earth on his shoulders, 
    Come before him.                        (3764) 
 
18.     As the fuller’s earth soaked by rain dripped 
    Down his person making it white, he thought it 
    To be the habit of a devotee of the Lord 
    Whose hand sports an antelope; he descended 
    Down from the neck of the decked royal tusker, 
    And in loving devotion and increasing ardour, 
    Folded his hands in all haste.                    (3765) 
 
19.      Adored by the Cera King, the bewildered washerman 
    Hailed the king and said: “My lord, who am I  
    That you should do so? I am your servant, 
    Your washerman.” Hearing this the king said: 
    “I am Cera, the serviteur; you reminded us 
    Of the lovable guise of the holy ash; 
    Well, you may proceed untouched by grief.”            (3766) 
 
20.     Beholding the manifested servitorship of the king, 
    All the intellectually great ministers hailed him 
    Folding their hands above their heads; the king 
    Once again mounted the huge and wrathful tusker, 
    Went round the streets of the hoary city rich in lustrous 
    And gemmy mansions whence wafted many a flag, 
    And entered the vestibule of the palace decked  
    With gold and gems and mantled in great auspiciousness.        (3767) 
 
21.     He descended from the bedecked elephant, moved  
    Through the hall inlaid with gems, and ascended 
    The lofty throne over which the lustrous and royal 
    Parasol cast a lovely shade; lily-eyed damsels 
    Waved chamaras; sprinkling flowers, princes hailed him; 
    Thus the Cera king sat enthroned in splendour.            (3768) 
 
22.     With the beautiful Chola guarding the world 
    And the Paandya privileged to rule, he formed 
    The great triune sovereignty and upheld niti 
    As propounded in the work of Manu; 
    Innumerable kings paid him tribute; 
    He quelled enmity, both external and internal; 
    Fostering the resplendence of the holy ash 
    And the Vedas, he fostered the earth.                (3769) 
 
23.     ‘The fruit of his great and privileged reign, 
    Perfect tapas, riches sought after and aid great 
    Are but the dancing feet of the Lord 
    Of Tillai’s Tirucchitrambalam:’ Thus informed 
    By his clarified and resolute intellect, the lord 
    Of the Cera dynasty took to the performing 
    Of the pooja to the divinely uplifted foot 
    Of the Lord’s in ever-increasing ardour.            (3770) 
 
24.     Bathing the Lord with holy and fragrant water, 
    Offering fresh-blown flowers, sandal-paste, 
    Goodly incense, the glow of radiant lamps and nectarean food, 
    He performed the pooja to the Lord as ordained; 
    So the Lord Dancer who willingly presided 
    Over his pooja, caused him to hear daily 
    The tinkling of his beauteous anklet(s).            (3771) 
 
25.     By reason of his devoted worship to the Lord’s feet 
    He derived every day immense delight; 
    To seekers of alms, the indigent and to all, 
    In sheer munificence, he showered cloud-like, 
    Ruddy gold, ad was established in unhindered 
    And victorious weal; hailed by the celestials he performed 
    For his Lord many a sacrifice.                    (3772) 
 
26.     As he thus ruled, the Lord of Aalavaai who willingly 
    Abides at ever-during Madurai in the beauteous 
    Paandya realm, desiring to confer goodly and great 
    Wealth on Bhaana Bathra, the devotional singer 
    That adored the Lord in love, with melodious hymns.        (3773) 
 
27.     Appeared in his dream during one night, and said: 
    “To grant you to your heart’s content fresh gold 
    Silken vestments, jewels coruscating with gems 
    And also other things you need, We’ll give you a letter 
    To be handed over to the Cera who, for ever, 
    Hails Us in love; proceed thither without delay.”        (3774) 
 
28.     Having (already) graced with glory the Cera King-- 
    The wearer of resounding anklets--, the Lord gave unto Bhathra 
    A radiant palm-leaf which directed the Cera King 
    To shower gifts of great riches befitting his peerless wealth; 
    The leaf that bore the (Lord’s) truthful words opened thus: 
    “Mathi mali purisai…”                        (3775) 
 
29.     Wearing the divine palm-leaf of the Lord--the Sankam Poet, 
    As it were on his crown, Bhaana Bhathrar 
    Left for Malani Naadu then and there; he reached 
    The walled Kodungkoloor and came to the cloud-capped 
    Palace and had his arrival announced to the king.        (3776) 
 
30.     Even as he heard of his arrival, the king folded 
    His hands above his head; love in him welled up; 
    Tears cascading from his eyes flowed down; up he rose 
    And trembled very much; with a melting mind 
    He moved out of his palace decked with lovely gold; 
    He fell at the feet of Bhaana Bhathrar, 
    The master of music, times without number.            (3777) 
 
31.     The king exclaimed: “Ha, deeming even me worthy, 
    You have come with the divine palm-leaf!” 
    When Bhaana Bhathra gave him the palm-leaf and paid 
    Obeisance to him, the king bore it on his crown, 
    And danced; his speech became incoherent; 
    Tears flooded down his chest smeared with the holy ahs; 
    He prostrated on the ground, many a time.            (3778) 
 
32.     He adored in love the divine palm-leaf again 
    And yet again; removing it from its container 
    Reverentially, he studied it; he hailed the glory 
    Of the Lord of the celestials; then he moved 
    Into the bright palace, and had his kin summoned promptly; 
    Then he addressed the fostering ministers thus:            (3779) 
 
33.     “Pack all the goodly heaps of manifold wealth 
    Which for ever grow and are kept stored in the various 
    Treasuries of this, our ancestral palace, 
    Into convenient packages that they may be 
    Carried by men, and bring them here; 
    Let there be nothing left the treasuries.”            (3780) 
 
34.     When thus told by the Cera king, the ministers 
    Of righteous intellect who were well-versed 
    In great works, had all the wealth of the beauteous 
    Palace that possessed great and glorious and endless riches, 
    Neatly packed in convenient bundles 
    And had them carried by men before the king; 
    Then they paid obeisance to him.                (3781) 
 
35.     The Cera king showed Bhaana Bhathra all the immense 
    And multifoliate wealth kept neatly packed, 
    And said: “Be pleased to accept these, together 
    With mighty elephants and other living wealth; 
    Also deign to accept all the realm ruled by me.”        (3782) 
 
36.    Bhaana Bhathra beheld all the riches shown to him 
    By the Cera, the wearer of a crown wrought 
    Of ever-fresh gold; struck with wonder 
    And delight he said: “Let me take what I need; 
    You must continue to rule with all the insignia; this is 
    Indeed the command of the Lord-Wearer of the pigngnakam.    (3782) 
 
37.     The puissant king consented to this as he durst not 
    Defy the behest of the Lord; the great Paanar 
    Took with him immense wealth under the weight of which 
    The earth writhed; of the musty tuskers and steeds he took 
    With him those he needed; then he fared forth riding 
    An elephant whose white tusks were like the crescent.        (3784) 
 
38.     Ceramaan Perumaan of ever-increasing piety, folding 
    His hands above his head, followed Bhaana Bhathra, 
    As his eyes rained tears of joy. 
    Taking leave of his great friend at the outskirts 
    Of the city, the master of perfect music, 
    Bhaana Bhathra proceeded onward, reached beauteous 
    Madurai girt with strong and gold-bedecked 
    Fortress, and entered the city.                    (3784) 
 
39.     The king by whom thrives the Cera dynasty, thinking 
    Again and again on the way of the Lord that wears  
    A curved crescent in His crest, in gracing 
    His devotees, hailed and adored Him many a time, 
    And plied himself in kingly duties in the lofty durbar.        (3786) 
 
40.     Conning all that was uttered by the beings 
    Of glorious and endless genesis in the world, 
    Kazharitru Arivaar did away with all their troubles, 
    Internal and external; he quelled larceny 
    Murder and the like; thus Kazharitru Arivaar abode 
    In perfect concord with the Chola king and the Pandya.        (3787) 
 
41.     He that performed daily the holy and pious pooja to the Lord 
    In whose crest the celestial Ganga flows, could not, 
    One day at the end of his glorious pooja hear the wonted 
    Anklet-sound of the Dancer Lord, the Wearer 
    Of melliferous Konrai-garlands; he was bewildered.        (3788) 
 
42.     He completed the pooja in all haste and mused 
    Thus in sorrow: “What may be the sin that I 
    Have committed?” He cried and resolved thus: 
    “What other joy is there to perceive with this body 
    Fostered in love by me?” Then as he unsheathed 
    His shining sword and fixed it on his chest 
    The Lord forthwith caused him to here the music 
    Of His anklet(s) in a great measure.                (3789) 
 
43.     As he heard the sound of the divine Anklet(s) 
    Of the dancing lord, he dropped his sword, folded 
    His hands above his head, fell prostrate on the ground 
    In adoration, rose up and said: “O Lord who is 
    Not to be comprehended by the tall Vishnu, 
    Brahma and the Vedas when they search for You! 
    Why have You not graced me earlier?”                (3790) 
 
44.     Thus beseeched, the Lord without manifesting 
    His presence before him, spake in His ethereal Voice 
    Thus: “At Tiruvambalam, Van-tondan adoring 
    Our Dance of Bliss in integrated consciousness 
    Hailed Us with a decad of love-incarnate hymns; 
    As we stood listening to it enraptured, we delayed 
    Our coming here.” Thus, even thus, the Lord 
    Made him think of Van-tondar.                    (3791) 
 
45.     “Oh the mercy of the Lord in dispensing grace 
    To His devotees!” He wondered and resolved thus: 
    “I will fare forth to adore Ponnambalam where dances 
    The Lord of golden matted hair; I will also behold 
    And hail peerless Van-tondar.” Borne by a passion, the Cera 
    Decided to leave for the Chola realm, rich in goodly waters.    (3792) 
 
46.     The Cera that wears a crown of gold, conveyed 
    His desire to the fostering ministers and bade them 
    Prepare for the great and fruitful anabasis 
    On an auspicious day; thereupon warriors of sharp 
    And shining spears and victorious heroes wielding bows 
    And the countrymen, thither gathered 
    In great strength at Vanji, the great city.            (3793) 
 
47.     On an auspicious day, during goodly hora 
    He circumambulated the Lord who wears 
    Fragrant and blooming konrai flowers and is  
    Enshrined in Tiruvanjaikkalam, and adored Him; 
    Then he mounted the royal elephant, fittingly 
    Bedecked, and sat on its back; the Cera king 
    Left the hoary city of Kodungkoloor the tops 
    Of whose mansions touch the moist moon.                (3794) 
 
48.     It looked as though that the very mountains in which 
    The glorious Malai Naadu abounds; moved onward. 
    When rows of elephants marched on the way; the marching 
    Of armed warriors looked as if the forests that bounded 
    The mountains marched along with them.                (3795) 
 
49.     The rows of horses were like unto waves that dashed 
    On the shore in their splendorous movement; 
    The noisy army was like unto the roaring sea 
    Where, wave after wave, moves on in quick succession; 
    They filled the way-- high and low--, and the immense army 
    Marched on while the earth writhed under their burden.        (3796) 
 
50.     As they came beyond the limits of that country 
    The king gave to the ministers to return; 
    The king decked with shining and beautiful jewels. 
    Took with him the needed retinue, crossed the Kongku 
    Country where dwelt Maravas that wielded  
    Dreadful and sharp spears, and arrived 
    At the Chola realm to which even Devas 
    Repaired to bathe in the Cauvery.                (3797) 
 
51.     Wherever he went, Siva’s serviteurs greeted the king; 
    He crossed hills and forests of Kurumpars 
    Who attended to all his needs; he moved on crossing Paalai 
    Abounding in small and sharp stones, jungle-rivers 
    And paths full of stones causing pain; on he  
    Proceeded adoring at the many shrines where the Lord 
    Whose mount is the victorious Bull, abides            (3798) 
 
52.     He reached the bank of the peerless and divine Ponni 
    And bathed in joy in its holy water; crossing 
    The river he reached its northern bank; the king 
    Who was poised in the boundless way of love, moved 
    With a melting mind to adore the Dance of Bliss 
    At redemptive Ponnambalam in Tiruppuliyoor.            (3799) 
 
53.     Reaching the boundary of hoary Tillai City 
    He adored it; in great delight when Tillai Brahmins 
    And devotees came forth to greet him, he paid 
    Obeisance to them, moved in, and adored 
    The divine street decked with fragrant flowers; 
    His flowery hands bloomed over his crown; 
    His mind rejoiced; even thus, he came before 
    The rising tower of the temple.                    (3800) 
 
54.     He prostrated on the ground before the rising tower 
    Of ever-during glory; his eyes were tear-bedewed 
    As he moved in; he circumambulated the beauteous court; 
    He adored the divine Perambalalm 
    Which invests the world with radiance, 
    And came before the Tirucchitrambalam where 
    The Lord-Protector of all the worlds enacts the Dance.        (3801) 
 
55.     When the Great Dancer who confers boundless bliss, 
    Revealed to him the foot lifted for dancing,  
    His heart and sense-instruments became oned 
    And melted alike; thus he prayed and was blessed 
    With deliverance; he praised the mercy of the Lord 
    Who while holding the poison in His throat 
    Gifted away the nectar to the Devas, 
    And the divinely nectarean Dance 
    Of His holy feet in Tiruvambalam, to the world.            (3802) 
 
56.     All insatiate, though borne by an excess of desire, 
    He plunged into the sea of bliss and abode there 
    Willingly; by the Lord’s grace Kazharitru Arivaar-- 
    Whose munificent hands showered gifts like unto the nimbi 
    That rained, without fail, during the season--, 
    Standing under the flight of steps 
    Called the Tirukkalitruppadiyaar, hymned  
    The PonVannatthiruvanthaati of rich splendour 
    That the world might hail it for ever in joy; 
    Thus he hailed and hymned and adored the Lord.            (3803) 
 
57.     When he stood before His Lord and pleased His ears 
    With his garland of anaphoretic Tamil verse, 
    As guerdon therefore the Lord who dances 
    That the Devas may flourish, caused him to hear 
    The sound of His divine Anklet which arose 
    For the flourishing of the world, from His 
    Uplifted and redemptive foot in the beauteous 
    Tiruvambalam wrought of ruddy gold.                (3804) 
 
58.     the Cera that was blessed to hear the sound  
    Of the Anklet, adored the Lord, established in the great 
    Beatitude of sheer bliss without bounds; 
    He stood worshipping the Lord for a long time 
    During all the hours of service, moved out,  
    Adored the divine street rich in beauteous mansions 
    And bode without that street.                    (3805) 
 
59.     The Cera who abode within the limits of Tillai 
    Which is hailed by all, in ever-growing love 
    For the Divine Dance of the Lord who dances 
    In the Tiruvambalam wrought of ever-fresh gold, 
    Whilst the flood and the serpent too dance in His crest, 
    Stationed himself below the divine flight 
    Of steps where the Vedas hail and adore the Lord, 
    And worshipped the Lord-Dancer 
    Day and night, and revelled in joy.                (3806) 
 
60.     Ever-abiding and great love reminded him of the Prince 
    Of Naavaloor hearing whose hymns the Lord-Dancer 
    Delayed the manifestation of the sound 
    Of His Anklet, and thus graciously caused him 
    To seek his friendship; so up he rose to leave 
    For Tiruvaaroor, blessed with the leave of the Lord 
    Whose feet are the object of Vishnu’s quest.            (3807) 
 
61.     He adored the bourne of divine Tillai which is 
    Truly the very limit of wisdom, and blessed 
    With a growing love for the sacred feet 
    Of the Lord ever established inseparably in his heart, 
    He proceeded to Pukali, the holy place 
    Of the avatar of him who was blessed with perfect wisdom, 
    And adored it; on he proceeded adoring joyously at the many 
    Shrines of the Lord who sports an antelope in His hand.        (3808) 
 
62.     Crossing the Ponni which with its waves, tosses pearls 
    Into the watery pathways, pits, fecund fields, 
    Tanks teaming in flowers and eddies of deep waters, 
    He reached the southern bank; he marched on, 
    Adoring on his way the shrines where  
    The brow-eyed Lord willingly abides, and came 
    To behold Tiruvaaror girt with fields, 
    The aeviternal city which would not be washed away 
    Even by the great deluge at the end of the yuga.        (3809) 
 
63.     Having hailed Naakai Kaaronam, Nambi Aaroorar 
    Had then returned to Tiruvaaroor, blessed with jewels 
    Wrought of gold and ninefold gems, 
    Fragrant pate, strong steeds, a tsurugi wrought of fine gold 
    And the like; thus he returned to Tiruvaaroor 
    Hailing the many shrines on his way.                (3810) 
 
64.     When the Cera king arrived at ever-during Tiruvaaroor, 
    Glad of the arrival of the Cera Lord, the lord 
    Of Brahmins, Nampi Aaroorar, fared forth to meet 
    And greet him; the Cera, in great longing, was 
    The first to adore Van-tondar of fragrant garland.        (3811) 
 
65.     He too adored the king that adored him falling 
    On the ground, and lifted him up; in swelling love 
    When he embraced the king, the king also hugged him 
    Close; they were like unto those immersed in a flood 
    Of bliss, and unable to reach the shore; 
    Their very bones melted and their two lives 
    Came to be fused with each other; it looked 
    As though that the two shared but a single body.        (3812) 
 
66.     When the sacred servitors witnessed their beatific 
    Friendship, they experienced unbounded happiness; 
    By reason of the divine mingling of the glorious friend-- 
    The Cera with Van-tondar in such friend-ship, 
    The Prince of Munaippaadi came to be sublimely hailed by the world 
    As “Ceramaan Thozhar” (the friend of the Cera).            (3813) 
 
67.     As they mingled each into the other, articulating 
    Joyous words, they happily mused thus: “How are we 
    To requite the grace of the Lord who showers such joy 
    When hailed? Ceramaan Thozhar holding the Cera’s 
    Roseate hand, like unto the munificent nimbus 
    During the season of rain, crossed the street 
    And moved into the temple to adore the Lord’s feet.        (3814) 
 
68.     Thus conducted, the king went in and first adored 
    Devaasiriyan, circumambulated the court and moved on 
    In integrated consciousness; while Nampi stood 
    Before him and adored the Lord, standing behind him 
    The Cera hailed the Lord; from his eyes tears rolled down 
    To the earth; he fell prostrate on the ground and adored 
    The feet of his Lord who is for ever sweet.            (3815) 
 
69.     Adoring the ankleted feet of Veethi Vitangkan 
    Hailed by the Devas and munis, the flawlessly 
    Glorious Cera King, in the presence of Naavaloorar 
    Hailed the Lord of the Trinity, in Tirumummanikkovai 
    And caused Him hear it for the well-being 
    Of the world; the Lord-God approvingly heard it.        (3816) 
 
70.     When he rose up blessed with the grace of the merciful One 
    Aaroorar moved out of the temple with him 
    And conducted him to the beauteous mansion of Nagkai 
    Paravaiyaar; with women holding bright-rayed lamps, 
    Pots filled with holy water and garlands 
    Paravaiyaar came out to the threshold to receive him.        (3817) 
 
71.     In the beauteous, lustrous and gem-inlaid mansion 
    Nampi Aaroorar caused him to be seated on a cot 
    The legs of which were wrought of fine gold; he too sat 
    With him; then Paravaiyaar of flawless virtue 
    Poised unswervingly in the way of niti 
    As ordained by the scriptures, duly performed 
    A perfect pooja to her husband and his friend.            (3818) 
 
72.     When the husband bade her who was like unto 
    A lustre-inducing lamp, prepare a feast for the lord 
    Of the Cera dynasty who was endowed with galloping steeds, 
    She in all celerity cooked manifold dishes  
    Of curry and rice of such flavour that would 
    Please the royal palate; she had the feast prepared 
    For all the guests that came with the king.            (3819) 
 
73.     The dishes prepared for the serviteurs excelled 
    Those that were cooked for the king; having so cooked 
    The toothsome dishes, Paravaiyaar who was like unto 
    The ocean-born Lakshmi, told her husband to invite 
    The Cera king endowed with elephants 
    To whose necks ropes were fastened, 
    To partake of the nectarean food with all that came with him.    (3820) 
 
74.     Van-tondar of established renown in this world, 
    Bade his wife thus: “O damsel whose locks are decked 
    With chaplets, by reason of the tapas wrought by us 
    In our past, we are blessed to feed the Cera lord 
    Who has arrived here; now delay not to serve him with food.” 
    Thus told, with her beauteous and sacred hands 
    She laid two seats in tow different places.            (3821) 
 
75.     When Nampi Aaroorar invited the Cera king to eat 
    In his company he shuddered, and adored him forthwith; 
    Thereupon holding his long and strong hands 
    When Nampi Aaroorar beseeched him, the king of Ceras 
    Consented to eat in his company.                (3822) 
 
76.     As they sat together for the feast, Paravaiyaar 
    Of lofty tapas fed them both in exceeding devotion; 
    The king’s retinue also ate the food of six-fold flavour 
    Joyously, with such helpings as they desired 
    To their hearts’ content; thus in great delight she did 
    The sacred duty of feasting the guests.                (3823) 
 
77.     Fragrant paste compounded of sandal wood and fragrant 
    Karpoora mixed with dew, was prepared 
    By the handmaidens; this they handed over 
    To Paravaiyaar hailing her, along with musk as well as fresh 
    Garlands; she held out to the king 
    The tambool and the pancha vaasam.                (3824) 
 
78.     Thus was performed gloriously the Maaheswara Pooja 
    Which the king accepted willingly; he received the holy ash, 
    Adored it and wore it on his crown; as in love 
    He could be companied with Nampi Aaroorar, the king 
    Fell at the feet decked with anklets wrought of ruddy gold 
    Of Nampi Aaroorar who was poised  
    In the beatitude of truly salvific servitorship.        (3825) 
 
79.     When the king of Malai-Naadu adored him, he reciprocated 
    The adoration, and embraced him; the husband 
    Or Paravaiyaar whose visage is like unto the moon 
    Compact of all its digits, hailed the grace of the Lord 
    Whose matted hair displays the Ganga and the waving chaplets 
    Of Konrai flowers, for having conferred on him the friendship 
    Of the Cera king whose victorious flag glows 
    With the signum of the bow, and abode with him in joy.        (3826) 
 
80.     Worshipping the feet of the Lord whose bow is 
    Mount Meru and who willingly abides at the Ant-Hill 
    In opulent Tiruvaaroor, and adoring Lord Veethi Vitangka 
    In His holy procession, in great delight they revelled 
    Every day and felt blessed; thus in resplendent devotion 
    They both -- the Adepts of language-- flourished.         (3827) 
 
81.     While they flourished thus, Van-Tondar who wears 
    Bright and beauteous adornments, prompted by grace, 
    Longed to adored the blue-throated Lord-Brahmin 
    In His shrines, and proceed to the great and divine city 
    Of Madurai girt with fields, and situate in KanniNaadu 
    And adore the Lord in such hoary cities.            (3828) 
 
82.     The Cera king unable to part from Nampi Aaroorar 
    Desired a continuum of his company; he was also blessed 
    With a divine intimation by reason of which he longed 
    In soaring love, to adore the Lord-Hero of Madurai Aalavaai 
    Who in the past graced him with the Tirumukham; 
    So he resolved to accompany him.                (3829) 
 
83.     when thus the two minds grew concordant, they fared forth 
    And adored the flower-feet of the One enshrined 
    In Tiruvaaroor; blessed with His leave, they moved out 
    And marched on; the great and privileged devotees 
    And the retinue accompanied them with boundless jewels. 
    Mounts, carriers and peerless wealth.                (3830) 
 
84.     Encircled by the hailing retinue, they adored the bourne 
    Of Tiruvaaroor and crossed its out-skirts abounding 
    In gardens, arrived at Keezh Velur and there adored 
    The Supreme One; on they moved and came 
    To Naakaippattinam rich in backwaters and sand-dunes 
    As well as gardens teeming in flowers, and adored at Kaaronam. (3831) 
 
85.     Aaroorar adorned the Lord with a garland of splendorous 
    Verse that would in love melt the minds of devotees, 
    And in that he addressed the Lord thus: 
    “You abide in Tirukkaaronam.” Aaroorar and the Cera king 
    Sojourned there and then marched on adoring the many shrines 
    Of the Lord of matted hair and arrived at Maraikkaadu 
    Of the Lord who is the Primal God abounding in grace.        (3832) 
 
86.     They adored the shrine of the Primal Lord of Maraikkaadu 
    Bounded by the main; they came to the divine threshold 
    Where stood Tirunaavukarasu of salvific and truthful 
    Beatitude, and Siva’s young one of Pukali, and commanded 
    The doors “to open straight” and “to close shut”. 
    With tears flooding from their eyes they invoked 
    The twin Naayanmaar and adored them.                (3833) 
 
87.     They adored the Lord, the rare Ruby of aeviternal 
    Maraikkaadu hailed by the holy Vedas, 
    Prostrated on the ground, rose up and adored again; 
    Nampi Aaroorar adorned the Lord with a divine garland 
    Of Tamil verse beinning with the words: 
    “Yaazhai-p-pazhitthu,” The grace abounding Cera 
    recited the glorious passages from his work, 
    Ponvannatthuanthaathi and revelled in joy.            (3834) 
 
88.     They rose up and moved out adoring the Lord; 
    Both the great serviteurs sojourned in that town 
    Rich in cool and fecund fields; even as they abode 
    There, they visited Akatthiyaanpalli 
    Situate in the south and adored its Lord whose throat 
    Holds the venom of the billowy ocean; then they came 
    To Kodikkoyil of the beauteous One who is crescent-crested.    (3834) 
 
89.     At or near about the shrine of Kodikkuzhakar he searched 
    For dwelling houses and found none; he entered the shrine 
    And adored the Lord’s feet; with a languishing heart 
    And flower-eyes pouring tears, Aaroorar hymned a decad which opened 
    Thus: “Katithaai-k-Katarkaatru.” In that decad he sang 
    Of the Lord’s abiding there with Vana Durga.            (3835) 
 
90.     They sojourned there, and blessed with the gracious leave 
    Of the Lord, they marched on adoring the shrines of Lord Hara 
    In His many shrines in the Chola realm; they reached 
    The Paandya country where they adored the crescent-crested 
    Lord at Tirupputthoor and moved on the reached 
    The hoary city of Madurai rich in cloud-capped mansions.    (3837) 
 
91.     When Ceramaan Thozhar and the Cera king arrived 
    At Madurai, to adore in love, at Aalavaai, the Lord whose 
    Garland is a serpent, the Paandya king, borne by great love, 
    Had the city decorated, came forth to receive them 
    And conducted them into it.                    (3838) 
 
92.     The Chola prince having married the daughter of the Pandya 
    Was already sojourning in the hoary city 
    Of Madurai; he joined them, and all of them came together 
    To the beauteous shrine of aeviternal Aalavaai.            (3839) 
 
93.     Van-tondar prostrated on the ground and made his sacred  
    Circuit of the shrine of the Lord of ruddy 
    Matted hair of Tiruaalavaai, hailed the Lord 
    Who blesses his devotees with traditional servitorship, 
    Prostrated on the ground, rose up, 
    Adorned Him with a garland of Tamil verse 
    Compact of beatific glory, and thus flourished.            (3840) 
 
94.     The Cera king whose renown spiraled up and up 
    In this world, prostrated before the Lord and mused thus: 
    “Can I ever reckon the greatness of Your mercy? 
    Deeming even me worthy, You deigned to send me 
    The Tirumukham!” Thus he adored the Lord; his speech 
    Became incoherent; standing before Him he hailed Him 
    And revelled in great delight.”                    (3841) 
 
95.     The Paandya adored the Lord with the Chola; 
    When Nampi Aaroorar moved out with the Cera, in great joy 
    The Paandya conducted them from the shrine 
    Of the Lord of gods to his gold-bedecked palace 
    And Attended to all their needs.                (3842) 
 
96.     During the days they abode there adoring the Lord 
    In heart-felt joy, the Paandya and the Chola king frequented 
    The blessed abode of Van-tondar resplendent 
    With bright-rayed jewels, who was companied 
    With Cera, and confabulated with them, 
    And in love revelled in that togetherness; 
    Madurai flourished in greater splendour.            (3843) 
 
97.     During that time, longing to adore the nearby shrines 
    Of Lord Hara and adorn him with garlands of Tamil verse, 
    With the three crowned kings whose chests were 
    Decked with chains of gold and gems, he of Tirumunaippadi-- 
    He, the Lord of words--, arrived at Tirupoovanam.        (3844) 
 
98.     When proceeding near unto the ever-during town 
    Of Tirupoovanam, the accompanying devotees 
    Pointed to the aeviternal town; then he burst into a decad 
    In praise of the Lord inaccessible to the Vedas; 
    The decad opened thus: “Tiruvadiyaar.” 
    Singing, “Is this Poovanam?” he hailed it, and reached it.    (3845) 
 
99.     Reaching Tiruppoovanam he came round the court 
    Of the shrine where is joyously enshrined the Lord 
    Of gods; he fell prostrate before the Lord, rose up,  
    And hailed and hymned Him standing; he moved out 
    With the three victorious kings that with him adored 
    The Lord, and with them all, sojourned there.            (3846) 
 
100.     Having sojourned there in joy, and adored the Lord, 
    Aaroorar along with the three great kings returned  
    To Madurai, the queen among cities; ever hailing 
    And adoring the fragrant feet of the Lord 
    Of Tiru Aalavaai, he adored there in delight great.        (3847) 
 
101.     He visited Tiruvaappaanoor and Tiruvetakam of the Lord 
    Of ruddy matted hair; he also adored the Lord 
    Whose throat holds the poison, in His many shrines, 
    In boundless love, and returned to Madurai girt 
    With cloud-capped fortress, and abode in joy.            (3848) 
 
102.     With the three kings he came to Tiru-p-Perungkunru 
    Of the Supreme One, and circumambulated the shrine of the Lord 
    Who burnt the hostile cities; he moved in and adored 
    The Lord; contemplating the formidability of servitorship 
    Under the sacred feet of the Lord of matted hair 
    Who wears a garland of skulls Aaroorar sang: “We are sacred.”    (3849) 
 
103.     He hailed the Lord with a flawless and musical decad 
    Which began thus: “Kotthittai.” In the presence 
    Of the three sovereigns, he melodised the bountiful decad 
    And adorned the Lord with a garland of verse 
    In Tiru-p-Parangkunram where Lord Sankara abides.        (3850) 
 

104.     The three great monarchs that ruled this vast earth 
    Hearing of the formidability attendant upon the servitorship 
    Of the Lord, grew scared; they adored Van-Tondar 
    Whose beauteous chest displayed the sacred thread worn in unison 
    With the rules of the Vedas; Aaroorar of perfect 
    Tapas further desired to adore the Lord-Dancer 
    In His many shrines.                        (3851) 
 
105.     When Nampi Aaroorar fared forth to adore the nearby shrines 
    With the goodly Cera of Malai Naadu, the two 
    Great kings resplendent with jewels wrought of bright gems, 
    Desired to return to Madurai; they ordered a retinue 
    To accompany them to render unto them all needed service 
    During their pilgrimage in the Paandya realm.            (3852) 
 
106.     When the two great kings returned to Madurai,  
    Van-tondar of peerless glory and the renowned Cera 
    Moved onward adoring at the many shrines of the Holy One 
    And arrived at the slopes of Kutraalam 
    Where bright gems glowed with sunny splendour.            (3853) 
 
107.     Adoring the resounding ankleted feet of the Lord-Dancer 
    Who willingly and joyously abides at Kutraalam, 
    He hymned a garland of verse and hailed Him; 
    He adored at Kurumpalaa; then he marched on 
    Worshipping at the shrines of the Lord who wears 
    A tender crescent on His crown, and arrived at opulent 
    And ever-during Tirunelveli where abides the Lord 
    Who, of yore, burnt the triple hostile cities.            (3854) 
 
108.     He adored Neetru Azhakar at Nelveli and hymned Him; 
    He moved on adoring at the many shrines and reached 
    Tiruviraamecchuram where abides the Lord, the Primordial 
    Lord of the Vedas, who in the guise of a bowman went 
    After a boar, of yore, afore victorious Arjuna.            (3855) 
 
109.     He adored the Great Ruby of aeviternal Rameswaram 
    And adored Him with a worshipful garland of Tamil verse 
    And sojourned in that town; invoking the Lord 
    Of Tiru-k-Kedeeccharam of Maa Thottam (in Sri Lanka) 
    Who wears as jewels in his crown the serpents, 
    He hailed Him in a garland of choice Tamil verse, 
    Adored Him standing as it were from this side 
    Of the shore, at a great distance, and sojourned there.        (3856) 
 
110.     Having adored in great longing the Lord 
    Of Tiruviraamecchuram, verily a glowing shoot 
    Of ruddy coral splendour, he moved and marched on 
    Adoring the Supreme One in His many shrines; 
    With the Cera King of Malai Naadu Van-tondar then came 
    To great Tirucchuzhiyal adored by the Devas 
    Who would arrive there in great aerial cars to hail the Lord.    (3857) 
 
111.     He prostrated before the Lord of Tirucchuzhi 
    Who wields a bow of the ruddy, auric mountain 
    And who forfends beings for falling further 
    Into the maelstrom of transmigration, 
    And adorned Him, the Wearer of round chaplets 
    Of konrai flowers and whose throat is stained 
    With the venom churned out of the ocean, with a garland 
    Of Tamil verse opening thus: “Oonaai uyir.”            (3858) 
 
112.     Unto Aaroorar who sojourned there adoring 
    The Merciful One, the Lord appeared in a dream 
    During night in the beauteous form of the Bull, 
    Wielding a cendu of gold in His hand; a suzhiyam 
    Adorned His beauteous head; His form divine, not to be 
    Seen anywhere else, melted his very bones.            (3859) 
 
113.     The Lord said: “We abide at Kaanapper.” 
    Then the Lord in whose crest the divine Ganga flows, 
    Disappeared. Aaroorar endowed with great and gracious 
    Gnosis, marveled at it and exclaimed: “This is indeed 
    The grace of the Lord who wears the snake 
    And the tusk of the great boar.”                (3860) 
 
114.     He disclosed to Kazharitru Arivaar the vision 
    With which he was blessed; then adoring the feet 
    Of the Holy One of Suzhiyal rich in tanks where 
    Lotuses flourished, Aaroorar proceeded to Tirukkaanapper 
    To adorn the Lord with the garland of verse 
    Opening thus: “Thondar Adi-th-thozhalum.”            (3861) 
 
115.     The lord of Munaippadi in whose miry fields 
    Vaalai fish leaped beside the otter that stood 
    Away from men afraid to behold them, 
    Singing: “Oh for the day when I will be blessed 
    To behold the Lord who is the Bull!” moved on  
    Toward the presence of the Lord that would vouchsafe 
    His sacred feet to the devotee for his daily hailing.         (3862) 
 
116.     He reached the aeviternal and bountiful city 
    Of Tirukkaanapper, circumambulated the splendorous temple 
    Of the crescent-crested Lord, adored its tower, moved in 
    Fell at the roseate feet of the Primal Lord and hailed 
    Him in a decad of spledorous and choice Tamil verse.        (3863) 
 
117.     Adoring the Lord in that shrine in love insatiate, 
    The glorious serviteurs sojourned there and then 
    Left Kaanapper rich in cloud-capped flower-gardens 
    And arrived at Tiruppunavaayil presided over by the Lord 
    Of the martial Bull and of Mount Kailaas.            (3864) 
 
118.     They moved into the shrine of Punavaayil where the Holy One 
    Willingly abides; possessed by a great desire 
    Aaroorar hymned a Tamil decad compact of interrogatives 
    And beginning with the words: 
    “Chittha nee ninai ennodu”; they fell down prostrate 
    On the ground, rose up and sojourned in that town 
    Hailing the sacred feet of the Lord who, of yore, 
    Peeled off the hide of the wrathful tusker.            (3865) 
 
119.     Adoring the many shrines of Lord Siva of Tiruppunavaayil 
    On their way, and blessed with the Lord’s leave 
    They crossed hills and jungles, came to the country 
    Enriched by the waters of the Ponni and arrived 
    At the great town of Paambani where the Lord who wields 
    The mountain as His long bow, abides.                (3866) 
 
120.     They adored at Paathaaleeccharam and moved on adoring 
    The feet o the Lord-Author of the Vedas in His 
    Many shrines, and in all celerity arrived at Tiruvaaroor 
    Where red aambals vanquished by the lips of beauteous belles 
    Endowed with breasts like unto mangoes, 
    Burgeon (only) during night.                    (3867) 
 
121.     The devotees of Tiruvaaroor came forth for greet 
    The Prince of Navaloor who returned thither 
    With the king of the Cera dynasty; they too paid 
    Obeisance to the greeting devotees in soaring love; 
    Then they moved into the shrine of the Lord, borne 
    By swelling ardour to come by the great beatitude 
    Of rendering willing worship to Him.                (3868) 
 
122.     Circumambulating the temple where the Lord who wears 
    Fragrant Konrai flowers, abides in love, they adored 
    In devotion before His presence; they hailed 
    The Lord during the long hours of pooja; Aaroorar 
    Hymned Him longingly with His grace; worshipping 
    The shrine of the Lord who snaps the bondage 
    Of the twyfold deed, they moved out of the shrine.        (3869) 
 
123.     The retinue reached in advance the divine mansion 
    Of Paravaiyaar who decorated it in rich and great 
    Splendour; she came before them, greeted them 
    And fell at their feet; Vantondar conducting 
    The king of Malai-Naadu, entered the golden mansion.        (3870) 
 
124.     As they stepped in, Paravaiyaar hailed and adored them; 
    Then she of melliferous words, the very pink of perfection, 
    Arranged for the cooking of nectarean rice and many 
    Varieties of curries; she set for them the tripods 
    Over which cloth was spread; lamps were lit and set 
    In due order; thus she fed the two and their retinues.        (3871) 
 
125.     The auspicious Maaheswara poojas were duly performed 
    By her; these they accepted in delight great; they abode 
    Thither in joy adoring the Lord during all 
    The splendorous hours of pooja and moved 
    Out of the temple; never forgetful of the Lord’s grace 
    They engaged themselves in goodly sport.            (3872) 
 
126.     The two played nilai-ch-chendu and pari-ch-chendu 
    In great delight; they witnessed joyously 
    The formidable alectryomachy in which cocks whose 
    Legs were armed with knives, fought for victory, 
    And also the various fights between 
    Wild and puissant fowls; witnessing these 
    They abode at Tiruvaaroor.                     (3873) 
 
127.     Many days rolled on in ever-increasing joy; 
    The king of Kerala whose munificence knows no deception, 
    Adored and beseeched night and day the husband 
    Of Paravaiyaar to accompany him to his Malai-Naadu 
    Bounded by the sea; Aaroorar agreed to go with him.        (3874) 
 
128.     Aaroorar was ready to proceed on the journey 
    As Nangkai Paravaiyaar willingly gave her consent; 
    He adored the crescent-crested Lord for the divine grace 
    Thus granted to him; Seramaan Perumaan duly performed 
    Pooja to all the servitors of that realm; 
    Then the great two moved into Poongkoyil to invoke 
    The Lord’s blessing for their great undertaking.        (3875) 
 
129.     Thus they adored the Lord and was graced by Him; 
    The servitors joined them; Nampi Aaroorar and Kazharitru 
    Arivaar, the king of the goodly Cera country 
    And the wearer of the crown wrought of fine gold, 
    Then rose up for their journey; adoring Tiruvaaroor 
    Girt with immense walls decked with gold, 
    They marched westward.                        (3876) 
 
130.     They proceeded along the southern bank of the Cauvery 
    Which flowed rolling down gold and scattering gems 
    In its vast waters; adoring on their way at the many 
    Shrines where Siva abides willingly, they arrived 
    At Tiru-k-Kandiyoor dear to the Merciful One 
    Of fulgurant and matted hair; with melting minds 
    They adored the Lord and moved out of the temple.        (3877) 
 
131.     When he beheld Tiruvaiyaaru on the northern bank, his life 
    And limb melted; he folded his flower-hands above his 
    Head; he longed to adore the Lord’s hallowed feet, 
    Linked to him in redemption, by crossing the flooding 
    Cauvery which was like unto a spreading sea.            (3878) 
 
132.     Ceramaan Perumaan from whom, the Goddess of Wealth 
    Never parts, beholding Tiruvaiyaaru adored it 
    And addressed Aaroorar thus: “To reach Tiruvaiyaru 
    And adore the Lord whose throat holds the venom, 
    My mind melts in yearning; let us cross this river 
    And proceed to adore the Lord.”                    (3879) 
 
133.     The river was in spate; its swelling water clashed 
    Against both the banks and rose up in the sky 
    Defying the plying of bark or boat; adoring the feet 
    Of the Lord-Dancer whose divine frame is besmeared 
    With the holy ash, Aaroorar who was privileged 
    To pass through any path, unable to contain himself, 
    Began to hymn the Lord.                        (3880) 
 
134.     His divine decad opened thus.” “Paravum parisu.” 
    At the  end of each verse, in great impassioned love 
    He addressed the Lord that wears the serpent, thus: 
    “Aiyaaru Udaiya Adikalo!” It was thus Van-tondar stood 
    There and adoringly melodised his divine decad 
    Of splendorous glory.                        (3881) 
 
135.     In hoary Tiruvaiyaaru, the Lord that dances pervasively 
    In the Ambalam, abides; invoking Him, Aaroorar cried: “Olam!” 
    The cry that emanated from his integrated consciousness,  
    The cry that was like unto the mother-cow’s which heard 
    The call of its calf that stood prevented from reaching it,  
    Was heard by all beings --- animate and inanimate--; 
    At this, the river parted and revealed a passage.        (3882) 
 
136.     The flooding river that swelled sky-high, stood firmly 
    Like a crystal hill on the west; on the east where 
    The water had drained, the parted and goodly way, 
    Made soft with the spread of cool sand, was revealed; 
    The serviteurs that beheld this, rained tears from their eyes; 
    The hair on their thrilled bodies stood erect; 
    Folding their hands above their heads they adored the Lord.    (3883) 
 
137.     Ceramaan Perumaan fell at the feet of Aaroorar, 
    And Navaloor, the wearer of golden sacred thread on his 
    Beauteous chest, reciprocating the obeisance, said: 
    “Behold the grace of the Lord vouchsafed to you!” 
    In joy they hailed the Lord and moved into the midst 
    Of the vast Cauvery.                        (3884) 
 
138.     The Prince Of Naavaloor--the wielder of redemptive words--, 
    And the Cera king, with the retinues attached to them, 
    Fared forth through the flawless sandy passage 
    Vouchsafed to them by their Lord, and crossed the river; 
    They came before the Lord of the five rivers 
    Fell prostrate before Him, rose up and hailed Him.        (3885) 
 
139.     They hailed the compassion of the Merciful One 
    In love insatiate; plunged as it were, in devotion, they 
    Adored Him; then they prostrated before their Lord 
    And blessed with His grace, moved out; they passed 
    Through the midst of the river as before, and when 
    They reached the other side, the water that stood 
    Like a great mountain, began to spread and rush amain.        (3886) 
 
140.     Marvelling much at the miracle, they hailed the grace 
    Of the Lord of Aiyaaru from the other bank of the river; 
    They prostrated on the ground in adoration, rose up 
    And moved westward adoring and hailing the lord 
    Who wears the white crescent in His matted hair 
    At His other shrines; thus Tiru Aaroorar reached 
    The splendorous country of the Kongku with the Cera king.    (3887) 
 
141.     When they crossed the Kongku country and came to the bourne 
    Of Malai-Naadu, the dwellers o that realm felt happy 
    As the friend of their king who was the Lord’s own companion 
    Was coming there along with their king; 
    They gathered in their strength, received them 
    And felt delighted.                        (3888) 
 
142.     Toranas were hung in all towns everywhere; at the sides 
    Of the towns stood flower-gardens; over the way shady pandals 
    Were erected; in all houses, the smoke of eagle wood 
    Rose up like clouds; rivers ran with heaps of flowers; 
    At their sides were shored up gold and gems in wealthy heaps; 
    Drums were sounded everywhere; 
    The earth was damasked thick with flowers; 
    Thus they bedecked all the places.                (3889) 
 
143.     Manifold glories filled all the directions; the ministers 
    Joined the king’s armies; maned steeds marched in rows; 
    Strong-necked tuskers stood in order; 
    The elephants beautifully bedecked were legion; 
    Heaps and heaps of food were stored everywhere 
    (For free feeding); beholding these, the two immersed 
    In joy, moved on and arrived at Kodungkoloor.            (3890) 
 
144.     The entrance to the fortress of Kodangkaloor was decked 
    With ornaments; the towers in the streets which rose up 
    To the stars, the mansions, the pavilions, the cool roads, 
    The great royal cities and the theatres were decorated 
    In variform ways; long chains closely knit to gems, 
    Areca bounces, dangling garlands and the like 
    In manifold ways bedecked the places in serried order.        (3891) 
 
145.     Thus, even thus, the dwellers of the city came forth 
    To receive them; in the innumerable theatres danseuses 
    Who wore fish-like ear-rings, sang and danced; thus were they 
    Received into the beauteous streets; without entering 
    The palace of lofty turrets, they moved on; the Cera king 
    Conducted the peerless serviteur to Tiruvanjaikkalam.        (3892) 
 
146.     Aaroorar circumambulated the beauteous court 
    Of the Lord’s temple, moved before his presence in full 
    And perfect devotion, prostrated before Him and rose up; 
    He duly hailed the Lord with a divine decad which 
    Opened thus: “Maduppathu Gangai”; thus he hailed 
    The crescent-crested Lord and adored Him in the company  
    Of Ceramaan Perumaan.                        (3893) 
 
147.     He adored the Lord and borne by that joy moved out; 
    On a she-elephant decorated for procession, the Cera, 
    To the hailing of all the world, had Aaroorar seated, 
    And he himself sat behind him whisking the flawless 
    And beauteous chamaras; as they proceeded towards 
    The beauteous palace decked with adornments of fine gold. 
    The citizens who stood on both sides of the street said:    (3894) 
 
148.     “Lo, for our king and lord, Nampi is a great friend! 
    What indeed is the aeviternal askesis we have 
    Wrought in the past to adore him! What else does 
    Our Malai Naadu need henceforth by way of wealth! 
    Behold the act of the king! It is truly ineffable!”        (3895) 
 
149.    They scattered profusely flowers, puffed rice, 
    And gold dust, and bowed before him; marveling they 
    Said: “The country of the Ponni from which he hails, is indeed 
    The tilaka of the world!” As such words 
    Of praise from all sides reached them, they moved 
    Into the beautiful vestibule of the palace where 
    Steeds and tuskers teemed, and got down.            (3896) 
 
150.     The holy Kazharitru Arivaar conducted him--the lord 
    Of scriptures whose shoulders were beauteous (and broad) 
    Like the drum--, into the festive palace, and had Aaroorar 
    Whose adornments irradiated in all directions, 
    Seated on the throne, and humbly stood before him.        (3897) 
 
151.     When the king’s devis were about to pour out fragrant 
    And holy water from pots wrought of ruddy gold and the Cera 
    Was preparing to wash the beauteous and auric 
    Feet of Aaroorar, he witdrew his feet and said: 
    “Oh, this is not proper.” Then the king fell down prostrate 
    On the floor and beseeched him thus: “Be pleased 
    To accept all our adorations befitting our love.”        (3898) 
 
152.     Thus entreated by the Cera King, he would not press 
    His refusal; Nampi Aaroorar who was great by reason 
    Of his abiding love merely witnessed all the acts of the lord 
    Of the Ceras, who was endowed with broad and victorious 
    Shoulders; after he duly performed all the great 
    And rare rituals of the pooja, Aaroorar partook 
    Of nectarean food with the Cera who ruled 
    Under a white parasol like unto the peerless full moon.        (3899) 
 
153.     After the feast, the Cera king flexing his hand, 
    Decked Aaroorar with pleasingly fragrant sandal-paste 
    Mixed with musk, vestments, adornments set with precious gems, 
    Cool and fragrant and soft flower-garlands and the like; 
    The leavings were treasured by the king 
    As (holy prasaad) for his use.                    (3900) 
 
154.     The Cera Perumaakkothaiyaar arranged for goodly 
    Musical concerts and dance-performances; 
    He had pleasing entertainments performed by the lasses 
    During all the hours; he took Aaroorar to the nearby 
    Flower-gardens thither to spend their time; thus the Cera 
    Gladdened the heart of the Prince of Munaippaadi.        (3901) 
 
155.     The Cera king caused Nampi Aaroorar to witness 
    The joyous game of cendu; he provided him with glorious 
    And manifold dishes; he made him behold water-sports 
    Performed in flowery tanks where chafers hummed, the fight 
    Between hill-like and strong-necked tuskers 
    Of triple ichor and wrathful wrestling too. 
    Thus, even thus, he gladly entertained Aaroorar.        (3902) 
 
156.     While so, one day, as the mind of the Prince of Navaloor 
    Dwelt on the hallowed feet of the Lord of the Devas 
    That rules Tiruvaaroor, he was struck with fear; 
    He hymned a divine decad in which he affirmed thus: 
    “Can I ever forget my Life, the Lord of Aaroor?”        (3903) 
 
157.     Thinking of Tiruvaaroor, he resolved thus: 
    “I will fare forth and adore the Lord thither.” 
    When with the loving serviteurs he rose up 
    For his journey, the great Cera king of inseparable 
    Friendliness, with his mind inly melting, 
    Folded his hands above his head in adoration, 
    And desired to follow him, unable to bear parting.        (3904) 
 
158.     He came before Van-tondar, suffering as it were 
    An emotional break-down, and said: “This day, 
    I canst not bear your parting; what am I to do?” 
    Then Aaroorar spake thus: “May you not grieve at all; 
    Abide in your city and reign from there quelling 
    All your foes in war.”                        (3905) 
 
159.     When Aaroorar spake thus, the Cera king who graciously 
    Listened to him, said: “Unto me the sovereignty 
    Of Heaven and earth is truly your flawer-feet; 
    Yet I dare not forfend your mind-borne love 
    Which impels you to proceed to Tiruvaaroor 
    In whose long and spacious streets, cars ply.”            (3906) 
 
160.     When the King so spake, Van-tondar replied thus: 
    “I, a cruel-hearted filcher, cannot abide here 
    In utter forgetfulness of the Lord of Aaroor who is 
    The dear Life of my life; by the sweet grace 
    Of the crescent-crested Lord, you stay here poised in kingship.”(3907) 
 
161.     He then bowed his assent to Aaroorar; he sent 
    For his ministers and commanded them thus: “Have all 
    The manifold wealth which has till today accumulated 
    In the great and goodly treasury of this beauteous 
    And hoary city packed in bundles and have them 
    Brought here, borne by many men.”                (3908) 
 
162.     Thus commanded, the ministers had all the heaps 
    Of riches, highly-priced gold, ninefold gems, jewels 
    Set with dazzling gems, varieties of vestments, 
    Rich aromatics and the like, collected till that day, 
    Packed in goodly and convenient bundles and had them 
    Brought through carries, and filled the place.            (3909) 
 
163.     Van-tondar had all the immense wealth carried 
    By his retinue and bade them proceed ahead of him; 
    The divine lord of Munaippaadi paid obeisance 
    To the Cera who had fallen at his golden feet, 
    Adoringly lifted him up, embraced close the garlanded 
    And hill-like shoulders of the king and gave him 
    Leave to abide there.                        (3910) 
 
164.     Having given him leave, Aaroorar left the city; 
    Crossing the cloud-capped Malai Naadu, numberless 
    Stony wildernesses, jungle-rivers flooding with water 
    And long stretches of forests, he arrived at the way 
    Leading to Tirumurukanpoondi of ever-abiding glory.        (3911) 
 
165.     “It is We who should give gold to Nampi; We will not 
    Suffer him accept it from any one else; so We will 
    Seize it and give it back to him in abounding grace.” 
    Did the Lord-Rider of the martial Bull think so? 
    We know not His intent. 
    When Aaroorar came near Tirumurukanpoondi.            (3912) 
 
166.     The Lord willed that His victorious Bootha-Hosts, 
    In the guise of bowmen, should seize the wealth brought 
    By Van-tondar; so by the grace of the Lord who burnt the triple 
    Hostile cities, the Bhootha Hosts lay in ambush on both sides 
    Of the way through which he was to com and wrathfully 
    Sprang up, as an army of bowmen.                (3913) 
 
167.     They bent their bows and fixed the sharp-headed darts 
    On the powerful strings and shouted: “Drop your bundles 
    And quit; otherwise we will slaughter you.” 
    This said, they rifled the earth with their arrows 
    And seized the limitless wealth; robbed of the wealth 
    The retinue ran helter-skelter and reached 
    Aaroorar in great distress.                    (3914) 
 
168.     The bowmen came not near Aaroorar; they moved away 
    By the grace of the Lord in whose ruddy matted hair 
    The Ganga flows, and reached Tirumurukanpoondi to which 
    Aaroorar (later) repaired; seeking the temple 
    Of the Lord of the young and martial Bull, 
    Aaroorar came to that town.                    (3915) 
 
169.     Folding his hands he adored the temple of the merciful 
    One, bowed before the cloud-capped, tall and divine tower, 
    Circumambulated the court in soaring love and came before 
    The divine presence of the crescent-crested Lord.        (3916) 
 
170.     Folding his hands above his head in melting love 
    Van-tondar fell down prostrate before the Lord concorporate 
    With Uma, and hymned a decad which opened thus: 
    “Koduku venjilai.” In this decad he questioned Him thus: 
    “Wherefore do You abide near a wild forest where  
    Fearsome and waylaying bowmen abound?”                (3917) 
 
171.     As he thus hymned and hailed the Lord, by His grace 
    Who is the Supreme Ens, the bowmen who had seized 
    All the precious things, heaped them sky-high 
    Before the tall and beauteous temple entrance; beholding this, 
    He adored the Lord in His divine presence; 
    Thus by the grace of the Lord-Dancer he took them all 
    (As the Lord’s own gift).                    (3918) 
 
172.     He bade the carriers to proceed ahead; then he 
    Adored the Lord whose throat holds the poison, 
    And blessed with His leave moved out; he crossed 
    The Kongku realm, and borne by truthful love 
    He hastened to and arrived at Tiruvaaroor 
    Girt with fertile fields of paddy and sugarcane.        (3919) 
 
173.     The Cera king who took leave of the lord of bards 
    For ever fixing his thought on aaroorar who was oned 
    With his life in sheer friendship, and abiding 
    At Makothai bounded by flowery gardens 
    Where chafers hummed in joy, wielded 
    His impartial sceptre over the Malai Naadu.            (3920) 
 
174.     The Cera King who reigned thus, later rode on his 
    Royal steed and reached aeviternal and divine Kailaas 
    Even before Aaroorar could arrive thither borne 
    By the musty hill-like tusker; this happened when 
    Our Lord Van-tondar left the Ponni counry 
    Of foison and came to Makothai; this divine act 
    Of the Cera, we will relate later.                (3921) 
 
175.     We adore the feet of the king of the divine realm 
    Full of mountains, the Cera king of the vast, sea-like 
    Army wielding the banner of the bow, and thus blessed, 
    We proceed to narrate the glory of Gananaathar 
    Of renowned Kaazhi in whose long and spacious 
    Streets rich in beauteous mansions, 
    The great Vedas and the allied scriptures are cultivated.    (3922) 
 
---------------- 
 
NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
    
   1.    Malai-Naadu: Kerala.  This region is Siva’s own.  “Malai Naadudaiya Manne  
    Potri!” (Hail the Lord of Malai-Naadu) are the words of St. Manickavaachakar. 
 
    Kodungkoloor: Also known as Mahotai.  It was the capital of the Cera kings  
    Tiruvanjaikkalam is its sacred shrine. 
 
   5.     Perumaakkothaiyaar: One of the names of our Naayanaar. 
 
  10.     The ruling king becomes a recluse.  A tapaswi is greater than any monarch. 
 
  13.    Our Naayanaar did not seek kingship as he thought that it would be an  
    impediment to his servitorship.  He would yet accept it if only Siva assured  
    him that kingship would not clash with servitorship. 
 
  14.    The assurance sought for, is now our Naayanaar’s  
 
17-18.    This forms the message of the twelfth sutra of the Sivagnaanabhodam. 
 
  19.    Well,..... by grief: This is a lesson in psychology.  A citizen should never give  
    room to anything that would mislead a man in power.  According  to phenomenal  
    reckoning, the Cera was misled.  However the king himself was happy as he  
    was provided with an opportunity to behold the lovable guise of the holy ash. 
  
  24.    Siva-pooja: All the five great elements contribute to the glory of Siva.  Flowers,  
    leaves, sandalwood-paste, food etc., are the products of earth; ablutions with  
    water, milk, coconut-water etc., are the products of water; camphor, lamp, (sheen  
    of) gold, gems etc., are symbolic of fife; holy fumigation, waving of chaamara  
    etc., are made possible by air; ringing of bells, playing of instruments and hailing  
    with hymn and song and solemn strain are made possible through space.  It is  
    thus the Lord is magnified by the five great elements. 
 
        As a guerdon of his perfect pooja, the king was blessed to hear daily,  
    sometime before the conclusion of his pooja, the anklet-sound of the dancing Lord.  
    The dancing Lord adored by our Naayanaar is installed in the shrine of  
    Tiruvanjaikkalam. Underneath the icon is inscribed in Tamil: “Tiruvanjaikkalam  
    Sabhapati”. 
 
    According to the Tiruvunityaar the way to Nataraja is paved through the sound of  
    His anklet. 
 
  28.    Two alone were blessed to become the bearers of cadjan leaves which bore the  
    calligraphy of Lord Siva.  One was Darumi that was attached to Aalavaai and the  
    other was Bhaana Bhatra, also attached to Aalavaai. 
 
42-43.    He is Naayanaar who is rather ready to die than survive, unapproved by Lord Siva. 
 
  44.    The reason for the Lord’s cunctation is itself constitutive of a Siva-lila.  Our  
    Naayanaar should be made to meet St. Sundarar who had already sung of him.  
    In his Tirutthonda-th-Thokai Vantondar had hailed him thus: “I am also a servitor  
    of Kazharitru Arivaar -- the one of nimbus - like munificence.”  Verses 27 to 38  
    speak of his munificence.  Vide also verses 161 - 163. 
 
  50.    Crossed the Kongku. . .  spears: See verses 166 - 167. 
 
  56.    The Pon Vannatthiruvantaati forms part of the Eleventh Tirumurai. 
 
  66.    Ceramaan Thozhar: Nambi Aaroorar who is Tambiran Thozhar is now become  
    Ceramaan Thozhar also.  It is a unique coincidence that a Cera king also bears the  
    name Tambiran. 
 
  67.    Vide Notes for verse 44. 
 
  69.    The Tirumummanikkovai is also part of the Eleventh Tirumurai. 
 
  75.    “Saathikall Neriyil thappaa” are the words of St. Sekkizhaar. 
 
 104.    The formidability attendant upon servitorship: 
 
        “Pal oozhikkaalam payindra Aranai archikkil 
        Nal oozh satre’ nakum.” 
 
    [Aeons spent in trained adoration of Hara just marks the commencement of  
    the Saivite way of life.] 
 
 113.    It is one of the several instances indicative of Siva’s supreme concern for  
    St. Sundarar. 
 
 125.    Women too were entitled to perform  Maaheswara Pooja. 
 
 126.    The two friends, one a king and the other brought up by a king, indulged in  
    kingly sport and pastime. 
 
    Pari-ch-chendu, it is guessed, is akin to polo. 
 
134-138.Miracles of this type are met with in the Holy Bible. 
 
 150.    had Aarooran.... On the throne: The highest honour that a king can accord  
    to one revered by him. 
 
151-152.The devotion of the king for St. Sundarar knows no bounds.  See also. 153. 
 
154-155.It is thus, even thus, the Prince of Naavaloor is entertained by the king  
    of Kerala. 
 
 165.    This verses is full of significance.  It is suffused with anthropomorphism which  
    heightens bhakti.  Vide verse 170. 
 
 171.    The receipt of gifts stands routed through the Deity. 
 
 174.    The Cera King: In a discussion with Dr. Karan Singh I learnt of his disposition.  
    The great Doctor is all admiration for the Naayanmaar.  He is particularly attached  
    to Ceramaan Perumaan Naayanar He asked me: “Is this because I happen to be  
    a Kshatriya?” I said: “Perhaps.” 
 
        The Periya Puranam has a way of winning devotees.  Suppose the fall of  
    a bucket into a well the bottom of which is miry.  How do we retrieve it.  We drop  
    into the well a grapnel-like instrument with many hooks.  As you move the instrument  
    in the bottom of the well, the bucket gets attached to one of its hooks, and then it  
    is lifted up.  The Periya Puranam is such an instrument.  It has as many as 63 hooks.  
    These get attached to the things (souls) lying in the miry bottom (worldly existence).  
    It is thus, even thus, souls get retrieved.  A Velaala devotee gets attached to a  
    Velaala Naayanaar; a Brahmin like me gets attached to a Brahmin Naayanaar who  
    swears by a Velaala Naayanaar; a Kshatriya devotee gets attached to a Kshatriya  
    Naayanaar and so on and so forth.  It is thus the Puranam play the role of a Saviour. 
 
            Here ends the Puranam of Kazharitru Arivaar 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. kazaRiRRaRivAr nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. கழறிற்றறிவார் நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais