(kulacchiRai nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

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        "I am a servitor of the servitors of Kulacchirai, 
        the Peru Nampi." 
                         
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai. 
 
1.     In hoary, goodly and glorious Pandyan country 
    Hailed by the great is a town of ever-abiding foison 
    Called Manamelkudi; it is rich in paddy-fields; 
    Sugarcanes thrive there; near them grow areca trees thick.    (1695) 
 
2.     The leader of the great town was he, hailed 
    By Van-Tondar as peerless Peru Nampi; he was 
    Kulacchiraiyar of ineffable glory; firm-poised 
    In pious servitorship, he would not swerve therefrom.        (1696) 
 
3.     As devotees are to Siva dear, he would fall 
    At their feet in inner love and feel happy; he would  
    Before them fold his hands in adoration, 
    And address them with words of coolth married to piety.        (1697) 
 
4.    Be they of four marked varnas or those  
    That swerved from their way; if they be endowed 
    With the knowledge of servitorship to Sankara 
    He would, with all his heart, adore and hail them.        (1698) 
 
5.     May the world hail them for their virtue or condemn them 
    For their endless evil; if they be the servitors 
    Of the Lord on whose matted crest the crescent doth rest, 
    He would fall prostrate on the ground and hail them.        (1699) 
 

 
 
6.     A whole throng of pious might visit him 
    Or just one of them, with intent to get fed; 
    He would receive them in spiralling love 
    And provide food in love and devotion true.            (1700) 
 
7.     He would daily hail the feet of those that wore the holy ash, 
    Kovanam and rudraksha and who humbly chanted 
    In tongue-worship the Panchakshara of the primal Lord; 
    This marked his culture of piety.                (1701) 
 
8.     Such was his righteousness; he was superior to all 
    The ministers of Nedu Maran, the Pandya king 
    Of endless glory; he was an annihilator of foes; 
    He was firm-poised in the way of deliverance.            (1702) 
 
9.     Thus he throve; he would, for ever, chant the glory 
    Of the divine feet of the Lord in whose crown the Ganga 
    Courses; unto the service of Pandi Maa Devi who 
    Spread the glory of the Lord, he was a servitor true.        (1703) 
 
10.     To averruncate the falsity of the Samanas of ill-repute 
    And cause the Pandya country hail the glory 
    Of the holy ash, he adored the auric feet of the godly child, 
    -- The patron Saint of ever-during Seerkazhi --, 
    With his head and was blessed with happiness true.        (1704) 
 
11.     Have I truly hailed him at all who, to rid evil, had  
    The Samanas vanquished in disputation and had them executed 
    On the firm-fibred kazhu? Well, I’ll now narrate the glory 
    Of Kurumpar’s feet of Mizhalai, abounding in Vedic piety.    (1705) 
 
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Stanza    Line 
 
        ‘Peru Nampi’ was a title in olden days.  The word ‘Nampi’ means: “A gentleman  
        par excellence.” 
 

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. kulachchiRai nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. குலச்சிறை நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais