(pUsalAr nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am a servitor of Poosal of Ninravoor, whose lips 
        Ever articulate the eternally glorious Vedas."  
         
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai. 
 
1.     We now narrate the memorable history of Poosalaar 
    Of Ninravoor who desired to build a temple for the Lord 
    That burnt the triple hostile citadels; he was however 
    Without the requisite wherewithal so he resolved thus: “It would 
    Be great to build a temple out of pure consciousness.” 
    Lo, he built a goodly temple in his mind.            (4171) 
 
2.     In Tondai Naadu of this world, for ever glorious 
    And lofty in righteousness, is a hoary town, the abode 
    Of the four Vedas which confer weal and well-being; 
    It is Tiruninravoor abounding in the ever-during 
    Wealth of piety in which are poised the righteous 
    And perfect Brahmins of lofty lineage.                (4172) 
 
3.     He came to be born in that town for the flourishing 
    Of the rare Vedic tradition; all his thoughts 
    Bred by chinta, were dedicated to the Lord’s feet; 
    He swerved not from the path of devotion; 
    He grew fostered by that waxing devotion 
    And shone with exceedingly conscientious splendour-- 
    Generative of the import of Truth.                (4173) 
 
4.    He resolved thus: “Rendering service to the Lord 
    And His serviteurs alone befits me.” 
    So coming by wealth through proper and possible means 
    He gave it away to the devotees; then he resolved 
    To build a temple for the joyous enshrining of the Lord 
    In whose matted hair, Ganga of deep waters, flows; 
    He did not at all think of his lack.                 (4174) 
 
5.     He mentally went over the places where he could 
    Get abundant wealth; he painstakingly sought after it; 
    He could not however come by even al little; so he 
    Sorely languished thinking: “What am I to do?” 
    Then he resolved to build it in his mind; he gathered 
    The needed wherewithal bit by small bit. 
    And stored them all in his mind.                (4175) 

 

 

6.     The materials apart, he mentally searched for 
    And commandeered the masons and the sculptors; 
    He fixed the auspicious day and the hour too 
    For commencing the work of building the temple; 
    He laid the foundation-stone in comformity 
    With the Aagamic rules; in love and devotion 
    He proceeded with the building of the temple 
    Even during night, without sleep.                (4176) 
 
7.     He completely planned in his mind the base line, 
    The base and the basement and also the basal 
    Construction of the gopura; so too he devised 
    The many picturesque tiers, one upon the other; 
    He also fixed the top of the vimaana in unison 
    With the prescribed cubit-measurement; thus, 
    Even thus, for many many days on end, 
    He plied himself in the work of completing 
    The temple in his mind.                        (4177) 
 
8.     He fixed the stupa; he did the plastering and made 
    The picturesque decorations, he had a well dug out; 
    He built the great walls within and without the temple; 
    He excavated a tank; he reared all else, needed 
    For the temple; the auspicious and fitting day 
    For consecrating the shrine drew near.                (4178) 
 
9.     While so, the Kaatavar king had in Kacchi built 
    A temple of granite, making extensive and rich 
    Endowments therefore; on the day preceding the day fixed 
    By him for consecrating the shrine of the deity who is unknown 
    To Vishnu, the Lord who wears petalled konrai flowers, 
    Appeared in his dream during night, and said:            (4179) 
 
10.     “On the morrow We move into the great and goodly 
    Temple built by the devotee--Poosal; lo! 
    He planned it and built it over many many days; 
    So you have the consecration-ceremony done 
    On any day after tomorrow.” This said, 
    The Lord who wears in His matted hair konrai flowers 
    Departed from his to move into the devotee’s temple.        (4180) 
 
11.     When the Holy One who (ever) proclaims the glory 
    Of His servitor, graced him thus, he woke up; 
    The puissant king then resolved thus: “I must 
    Behold him and pay obeisance to him who has 
    Rendered such holy service.” With spiraling love 
    He proceeded to Ninravoor girt with gardens.            (4181) 
 
12.     Reaching the town he enquired of the people who came 
    To him, thus: “Where indeed is the temple built 
    By the devotee--Poosal?” To this they answered: 
    “Here is no temple built by Poosal.” 
    Thereupon the king spake thus: “May all Brahmins 
    Poised in truth be pleased to come hither.”            (4182) 
 
13.     When the earthly celestials called on the king, 
    He asked them: “Who many this flawless Poosalaar be?” 
    Then all the Brahmins replied thus: “He is  
    A blemishless Brahmin of this town.” Then the king, 
    The wielder of a fearsome spear would not tell 
    Them to call him thither; he himself proceeded 
    To the presence of the Lord’s devotee.                (4183) 
 
14.     The king who came and beheld the serviteur, adored him 
    And said: “Where is the temple you have built 
    To be hailed by the dwellers in all 
    The eight directions? Coming to know, by the grace  
    Of the Lord who sports an eye in His forehead, 
    That this day is the day of the consecration of the shrine 
    Of the deity who is the Lord of the celestials, I have 
    Come here, to behold you and adore your feet.”            (4184) 
 
15.     When he listened to the king, the servitor looked at 
    The king in bewilderment, and said: “Ha! The Lord 
    Had deemed even me as worthy and graced me. 
    For lack of the wherewithal, I but built a temple 
    Here in my mind.” Then he explained to the king 
    How he planned and built the temple in his mind.        (4185) 
 
16.     Hearkening to his words, the king was struck with wonder; 
    Thus he exclaimed: “Behold the glory of the servitor 
    Endowed with a flawless chinta!” Even thus he hailed him 
    And with his fragrant garland touching the ground 
    He fell down prostrate and adored him. This done, the king 
    With his army that marched to the beat of drums 
    Repaired back to his hoary town.                (4186) 
 
17.     The servitor consecrated Lord Hara’s idol 
    In his mind’s temple at the ordained auspicious hour; 
    Thereafter he performed all the poojas gloriously 
    And willingly for the Lord for many many days, 
    And thus flourished; then he reached the golden feet 
    Of the Lord-Dancer of Ponnambalam.                (4187) 
 
18.     Hailing the golden feet of Poosalaar who was 
    Constantly devoted to the Lord of long and ruddy 
    Matted hair for whom he built a temple 
    In his mind, I proceed to hail the feet 
    Of the spiritually rich Paandi Maa Deviyaar-- 
    The daughter of the heroic Chola--, 
    Born to confer deliverance on the world.            (4188) 
 
---------------- 
 
NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
 
   1.    Pure consciousness is indeed the shrine of Siva. 
 
   2.    Our Naayanaar was not a Sivaachaarya as the term is now understood.  However he  
    indeed was the Prince of Sivaachaaryas.  Aagamic knowledge was his forte. 
 
   3.    This Naayanaar was devotion on two legs.  He was sustained by waxing devotion.  
    He was Truth-incarnate. 
 
   4.    This verse speaks of his motto: “Rendering service to Siva and His servitors alone  
    befits me.”  Whatever he came by, he gave to Siva’s servitors.  St. Sekkizhaar says:  
    “He did not at all think of his lack.”  Virtuous poverty constituted his spiritual  
    opulence. 
 
 5-8.    If one reads these verses with care and devotion, one can witness the rising of a  
    shrine before one’s mental eye. 
 
  10.    More often than not, Siva prefers a pauper to a prince. 
 
  15.    Siva always publishes the secret devotion of his servitors to the world at large.   
    Thus is bhakti authenticated. 
 
  16.    Chinta: Here too the word stands for soul. 
 
  17.    Poosalaar himself is a mobile shrine.  His is truly a private temple reared for the  
    public weal. 
 
 
            Here ends the Puranam of Poosalaar 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. pUchalAr nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. பூசலார் நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais