(serutthunai nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am a servitor of the servitors of Serutthunai 
        The Chief of Thanjavoor." 
                 
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai. 
 
1.     Thanjavoor of Marukal Naadu is of the Cauvery realm 
    Where the lucid waves push into every sluice 
    Sale and kayal fishes and bright gems; 
    It is an opulent and lofty town rich in hoary clans 
    Which were established in the traditional 
    And righteous way of their clans, never swerving 
    Inwardly or outwardly, from their integrated life.        (4120) 
 
2.     He was the chief of the Velaala clan which for ever 
    Would correct the erring men and which flourished 
    Gloriously in that famous town; he was a Saivite 
    Who was truly devoted to the Lord’s feet 
    Bedecked with melliferous flowers; he was called 
    Serutthunaiyaar who fostered the way of servitorship 
    To the river-crested Lord of ruddy matted hair 
    And the Holy Ash, the Lord who kicked Death in his chest.     (4121) 
 
3.     This loving devotee rendered his service in the divine 
    And goodly court of the shrine at Tiruvaaroor of the Lord 
    Of the Great Car with immense wheels, where wise munis 
    And Devas thronged for ever, and adored the Lord 
    At the ordained hours; poised in the srvitorship of the Lord 
    That wears the young and curved crescent 
    On His crown, he flourished well.                (4122) 
 

                                                  
 
 
4.     The great queen-consort of the ruler of the world, 
    The Pallava king Kazhal Singkar, was seen inhaling the fragrance 
    Of a fresh flower that lay beside the bright 
    Flower-mantapam; he, a devotee, that came 
    In the traditional line of servitors to Lord Hara, unable 
    To endure her act, took out a sharp and shiny instrument, 
    Rushed amain and came near her.                    (4123) 
 
5.     Fast he came towards her, dragged her by her dark 
    And soft koontal, cast her on the ground 
    And caught hold of her beauteous nose; saying, 
    “I will punish the nose that smelt the flower 
    Removed from the divine flower-mantapam, the flower 
    That is to have decked the Lord’s ruddy matted hair,” 
    The peerless servitor-chief cut it off.                (4124) 
 
6.     He, the puissant lion among servitors, who made known 
    The glory of servitorship the world over, caused 
    Servitorship to Siva-- the Wearer of a Konrai chaplet 
    In his crown--, to flourish in this sea-girt earth; thus 
    He caused the lives on earth gain deliverance; 
    Then he reached the umbrage cast by the feet 
    Of the Lord-Dancer of Ambalam, there to revel in deathless bliss.(4125) 
 
7.     Adoring the holy feet of Serutthunaiyaar 
    Who sliced away the lovely and beautiful nose 
    Of the great queen-consort that inhaled the fragrance 
    Of the flower that had fallen in the divine court 
    Of the Lord whose mount is the red-eyed Bull, 
    We proceed to narrate the privileged servitorship 
    Of Pukazhtthunaiyaar of ubiquitous fame.            (4126) 
 
---------------- 
 
NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
 
   1.    Thanjavoor of Marukal Naadu: This is known as Keezhai-th-Thanjaavoor. 
 
   4.    unable to endure her act: This is characteristic of every true Naayanaar.  
    A Naayanaar can never be a witness to a blasphemous act. 
 
   6.    Our Naayanaar is hailed as a puissant lion among servitors by St. Sekkizhaar. 
 
 
            Here ends the Puranam of Serutthunai 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. cheruththuNai nAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. செருத்துணை நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais