(vAylAr nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)

 
 
        "I am a servitor of the servitors of Vaayilaar 
        Of hoary Mayilai where the shored-up, ruddy corals 
        Blaze darkness away." 
                     
                        - The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai 
 
1.     In glorious Tondai Naadu hailed by works of renown, 
    This beautiful town, established in truth, is situate; 
    Many a hoary clan here thrives from the hoary past 
    In traditional opulence; it is Tirumayilaappoor.        (4079) 
 
2.     The great sea in search of a treasury to store 
    Its wealth, deeming the ships as such, poured 
    Into them its riches; near the beauteous town 
    Abounding in mansions whence beauteous flags 
    Wafted aloft, the ships--verily the containers 
    Of the sea’s riches--, lavishly poured out the riches.        (4080) 
 
3.     In the whole stretch of the beach near which lucid 
    And resounding waves toss about, 
    Elephant-calves which were-brought in ships, 
    Clouds that sailed close to the ground after absorbing 
    The water of the sea which washes ashore pearls, 
    And buxom buffalo calves 
    Are found mixed up indistinguishably.                (4081) 
 
4.     Near the white mansions, the stainless moon that seemed 
    To pass through the interspaces of posts of fluttering 
    Flags, feeling vanquished by the visages 
    Of the coral-lipped lasses, move away, as if scared, 
    To hide itself in a secret place.                (4082) 
 
5.     All the streets are full of festal decorations; the chafers, 
    Verily the messengers of lads strong as young bulls, 
    Are found on the koontals of lasses; in all the mansions 
    Beauteously painted, great riches abound.            (4083) 
 

                                                  
 
 
6.     In this eternally glorious, beauteous and great city 
    Of Mayilai, he came to be born in the hoary Sudra caste 
    For its gaining the greatest weal and well-being; 
    He was a lofty tapaswi and he was called Vaayilaar.        (4084) 
 
7.     His great clan was the ancient Vaayilaar-clan; he was 
    The chief of this pure and traditionally great clan; 
    He was poised in the servitorship of the Lord, 
    And glowed in splendorous love and devotion.            (4085) 
 
8.     Rearing within a mental shrine of unforgetfulness, 
    He lit the lustrous lamp of godly consciousness; 
    Immortal bliss constituted his ablutions to the Lord; 
    He offered unto the Lord of Dharma, the nectarean food 
    Of his love; thus, even thus, he did his pooja.         (4086) 
 
9.     In abiding love, for many many days, he did, 
    Without let or hindrance, daily the Antariyaga Pooja 
    To the Merciful One, ceaselessly; thus he reached 
    The haven of the hallowed feet of Lord Siva, and there 
    The true and holy servitor adores and abides eternally.        (4087) 
 
10.     Having hailed the great one that gained 
    The everlasting company and servitorship 
    Of the devotees of the river-crested Lord 
    By enshrining and adoring, in insatiate love, 
    Siva in his immense, mental shrine, we now 
    Proceed to narrate the glory of munaiyatuvaar 
    Of glorious and divine Needoor.                    (4088) 
 
---------------- 
 
NOTES 
 
Verse No. 
 
    Vidya Dehijia’s reference to this Naayanaar as a dumb devotee is an error.  
    The life of this Naayanaar is similar to that St. Poosalaar’s. 
 
   8.    The pooja performed by this Naayanaar is of a very superior order.  His pooja  
    is known as the Antariyaaga Pooja, celebrated in the Saiva Aagamas. 
 
 
            Here ends the Puranam of Vaayilaar 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. vaayilArnAyanAr purANam in English prose 
2. வாயிலார் நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்) 
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais