Sri Lakshmi Temple
Andal's Thiruppavai Sotharam


Sri Andal is the only lady Aazhvar (Vaishnava Saints). One of her compositions is the 'Tiruppavai' a set of 30 verses. These are very popular in the month of Dec15/Jan 15.

The first part deals with her inviting other girls of the village. The second part deals with entering the temple and third with the actual worship.

She questioned the traditional worship in several ways.

As the story goes, she used to wear the flowers before being offerred to god. When this was found out, her father sought the mercy of god to pardon his daughter for her mistake. But instead, god refused fresh flowers and kept insisting on getting flowers worn by Andal. This figurativly signifies, that good intentions will override the minor flaws in the rigour of rituals.

Herself being daughter of the Brahmin priest, she does not confine her praying by herself or to the company of Brahmins. She invites her cousin, a Brahmin, her rich friends, her friend in a mud hut, beautiful friend etc.
Her decided preference for worship in the Tamil language of the natives, instead of just in Sanskrit, as is traditional, is clear in many verses.

Also she prays from a viewpoint of a rich and contented society, and not from one of misery asking for relief from hardships.

This sloka contribution & above observation are from Mr. Srinivasan K at Toronto. He is sure there are other observations. Please contact for further questions at: govinda@mailexcite.com



Om

anna vayaRpudhuvai aandaal arangaRku (p)
pannu thiruppaaavai (p) palpadhiyam
innisaiyaal paadikkoduththaal naRpaamaalai
poomaalai soodi (k) koduththaaLai (ch) chollu

soodi (k) koduththaaL sudar (k) kodiyE tholpaavai
paadi aruLavalla palvaLaiyaay
naadi nee vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi onRa immaatram
naangadavaa vaNNamE nalgu.




1. raagam: BoopaaLam

maargazhi (th) thingal madhi niRaindha nannaaLaal
neeraada pOdhuveer pOdhuminO nErizhaiyeer
seer malgum aayppaadi (ch) chelva (ch) chiRumeergaaL
koorvEl kodundhozhilan nandhagOpan kumaran
Eraandha kaNNi yasodhai iLam singam
kaar mEni cengaN kadhir madhiyam pOl mugaththaan
naaraayaNanE namakkE paRai tharuvaan
paarOr pugazha (p) padindhElor empaavaay

oh bejewelled girls (nEr izhaiyeer ) ! Prosperous (chelva) young girls (chirRumeer) of the rich city (seer malgum) of Tiruvoypadi (aaypaadi)! This is the month (thingaL) of December/January (margazhi), an auspicious day (nan naaL) with brilliant moon (madhi niRaindha). Those who want to go (pOdhumeenO). The Lord (naaraayaNan), who was the son (kumaran) of NandagOpan, who could give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp spear give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp spear (koor vEl); who was the little lion (iLam singam) of the beautiful (Eraandha) eyed (kaNNi) YasOda; who is dark (kaar) skinned (mEni); who has beautiful (sen) eyes (kaN); shines like the sun (kadhir); who has a face (mugaththaan) like (pOl) the moon (madhiyam); will give (tharuvaan) us (namakkE) his blessings (paRai). Hey (El)! Let us immerse in water (padindhu) do the penance of 'paavai nOnbu' (Or embaavaai), a practice praised (pugazha) by the people of the world (paarOr).

[The 'paavai nOnbu' is a penance practiced since very ancient times by young girls in the month of December/January, to pray for rain and prosperity for the country. The girls bathe before sunrise in the river and worship a girl idol made out of wet sand. There is no basis for this in the Vedas. However, it has a basis in Tamil sangam literature as well as Sanskrit Puranas.]




2. raagam: sahaanaa

vaiayththu vaazhveergaaL naamum nampaavaikku (ch)
cheyyum kirisaigaL kELeero paaRkadaluL
paiya (th) thuyinRa paramanadi paadi
neyyuNNOm paaluNNOm naatkaalE neeraadi
maiyittu ezhudhOm malarittu naam mudiyOm
seyaadhana seyyOm theekkuRaLai (ch) chenROdhOm
aiyamum pichchaiyum aandhanaiyum kai kaatti
uyyumaaR eNNi ugandhElor empaavaay.

oh! you people born to live (vaazhveer gaaL) in this world (vaiyam), won't you listen (kELeero) to the deeds (kirisai) we do (chey) to us (naam) and to our (nam) idol (paavai)!. We sing (paadi) in praise of the feet (adi) of the Lord (paraman) who is in meditative sleep (paiyath thuyil) on the ocean of milk (paal kadal). We do not eat (uNNOm) ghee (ney). We do not drink (uNNOm) milk (paal). We bathe (neeraadi) early morning (naat kaalE). We do not use (ezhudhOm) eye make up (mai). We (naam) do not hairstyle (mudiyom) with flowers (malar). We do not do (seyyOm) prohibited things (seyyaadhana). We do not go and recite (chenRu OdhOm) bad (theeya) demons (kuRaL) works. We donate (kai kaattu) to poor people (pichchai), to deserving people (aiyam), to ascetic people (aandhanai). We think (eNNi) about our salvation (uyya) and feel happy (ugandhu).




3. raagam: poorvi kalyaaNi

Ongi ulagaLandha uththaman pEr paadi
naangaL nam paavaikku (ch) chaatri neeraadinaal
theenginRi naadellaam thngaL mum maari peydhu
Ongu peRum senN nel oodu kayalugaLa (p)
poonguvaLai(p) pOdhil poRi vandu kaN paduppa (th)
thEngaadhE pukkirundhu seerththa mulai patri
vaanga kudam niRaikkum vaLLal perum pasukkaL
neengaadha selvam niRaindhElOr embaavaay

If we (naangaL) bathe (neeraadinaal) and perform our (nam) 'paavai nOnbu' (paavaikku chaatri), chanting (paadi) the name (pEr) of the best Lord (uththaman), who measured (aLandha) all there (Ongi) worlds (ulagu); whole (ellaam) of the country (naadu) will be free of (inRi) evil (theengu); it will rain (peydhu) three rainfalls (mum maari) every month (thingaL); little fish (kayal) will play (ugaLa) amidst (oodu) overgrown (Ongu) big (perum) rice fields (sen nel); bright (poRi) beas (vandu) lieing drowsily over (kaN paduppa) the flower bushes (poonguvaLai); Cows standing (pukkirundhu) motionless IthEngaadhE), cowherds milking (seerththa mulai patri vaanga), the generous (vaLLal) and big (perum) cows (pasu) fill up (niRaikkum) the containers (kudam); the land will be filled with (niRaindhu) long lasting (neengaadha) prosperity (chelvam).




4. raagam: yadhu kula kaambOdhi

aazhi mazhai (k) kaNNaa onRu nee kai karavEl
aazhi uL pukku mugandhu kodu aarthu ERi
oozhi mudhalvan uruvam pOl mey kaRuththu (p)
paazhiy am thoLudai (p) paRpanaaban kaiyil
aazhi pOl minni valamburi pOl ninRu adhirndhu
thaazhaadhE saarnga mudhaiththa sara mazhai pOl
vaazha ulaginil peydhidaay naangaLum
maargazhi neeraada magizhndhElOr embaavaay

oh Lord (KaNNaa) of rain (mazhai) and oceans (aazhi), please do not discontinue (kai karavEl), any thing (OnRu). Diving (pukku) into (uL) the ocean (aazhi); fetching the water (mugandhu kodu), causing thunder (aarthu); going up to the sky (ERi); darkening (kaRuththu) your body (mey) like (pOl) the form (uruvam) (uruvam) of the prime Lord (mudhalvan) of the universe (oozhi); standing (ninRu) and roaring (adhirndhu) like (pOl) the shining (minni) conch (valamburi) and the chakram (aazhi) of Lord Padhmanabha (paRpanaabhan) with broad (paazhi) and beautiful (am) shoulders (thOl); please do cause it rain (peydhidaay), like a torential rain (sara mazhai) like (pOl) shooting (udhaiththa) with the divine bow (saarngam), without delay (thaazhaadhE); so that we (naangal) may live (vaazhndhida). Let us enjoy (magizhndhElor) the maargazhi nonbu (maargazhi neeraada).




5. raagam: dhanyaasi

maayanai mannu vada madhurai maindhanai (th)
thooya peru neer yamunai (th) thuRaivanai
aayar kulaththinil thOnRum aNi viLakkai (th)
thaayai (k) kudal viLakkam seydha dhaamOdharanai (th)
thooyOmaay vandhu naam thoomalar thoovi (th) thozhudhu
vaayinaal paadi manaththinaal sindhikka (p)
pOya pizhaiyum pugudharuvaan ninRanavum
theeyinil thoosaagum cheppElOr embaavaay.

Let us (naam) come (vandhu) with a clean (thooya) body and mind, spraying (thoovi) clean flowers (thoo malar), and worship (thozhudhu) the Lord Damodara (dhaamOdharan); who is a magician (maayan); who is the son (maindhan) of the northern (vada) madhurai; who is the hermit (thuRaivan) on on the pure (thooya) great (peru) river (neer) Yamuna (Yamunai); who appeared (thOnRum) in the cowherd (aayar) community (kulam) as a sacred (aNi) light (viLakku); who brought maternal honour (kudal vilakkam sey) to his mother (thaay). Let us sing (paadi) orally (vaayinaal) and think (sindhikka) mentally (manaththinaal) about the Lord. Our past (pOya) sins (pizhai) and the future unintentional sins (pugutharuvaan ninRanavum), will become (aagum) like saw dust (thoosu) on a flame (thee). Let us say (cheppu) his names.




6. raagam: mOhanam

puLLum silambina kaaN puLLaraiyan kOyilil
veLLai viLi sangin pEraravam kEttilaiyO
piLLaay ezhundhiraay pEy mulai nanchundu
kaLLa(ch) chakatam kalakkazhiya(k) kaalOchchi
veLLaththaravil thuyilamarndha viththinai
uLLaththu(k) kondu munivargaLum yOgigaLum
meLLa ezhundu ari enRa pEraravam
uLLam pugundu kuLindhElOr embaavaay

Hey children (piLLaay)! see (kaaN) the birds (puL) are chirping (silambina). Don't you hear (kEttilaiyO), the loud (pEr) sound (aravam) of the white (veLLai) conch (sangu), used for callings (viLi) the people, at the temple (kOyil) of the king (araiyan) of the birds (puL)? The yogis (yOgi) and the saints (munivar) who are slowly (meLLa) waking (ezhundhu) with (kondu) the thought of Lord in their minds (uLLam) and uttering the name of the Lord. The Lord who ate (uNdu) the poison (nachchu) from the breast (mulai) of the raakshasi Bhutan (pEy); who kicked (kaalOchchi) and destroyed (kalakkazhiya) the asura Sakatasura, who came as a fake (kaLLa) wheel (chakatam); the source of all life (viththu), who is in yogic sleep (thuyil amarndha) over the snake (aravu) on the ocean of milk (veLLaththu). The big (pEr) sound (aravam) of name of the Lord (ari) has entered (pugundhu) our hearts (uLLam) and made it calm (kuLirndhElOr).




7. raagam: sankaraabaraNam

keesu keesu enRu aanai(ch) chaaththaan kalandhu
pEsina pEchcharavam kEttilaiyO pEy(p) peNNE
kaasum piRappum kalakalappa(k) kai pErththu
vaasa naRum kuxhal aaychchiyar maththinaal
Osai paduththa thayiraravam kEttilaiyO
naayaga(p) peN piLLaay naaraayaNan moorththi
kEsavanai(p) paadavum nee kEtta kidaththiyO
dhEsamudaiyaay thiRavElOr embaavaay

You dumb girl (pEy peNNE!), the 'aanai chaaththan' birds are humming (keesu) together (kalandhu), everywhere (engum). Don't your hear (kEttilaiyO) the sound (aravam) of these birds talking (pEchchu)? The cow girls (aaychchiyar) with fragrance (naRum) spreading (vaasa) from their hair (kuzhal), wearing garlands with gold coins (kaasum piRappum), are skimming the yogurt (thayir) using a skimming gadget (maththu), with their ornaments making (paduththa) a jingling (kala kala) sound (Osai), tiring (pErththu) their hands (kai). Don't you hear (kEttilaiyO) the sound (aravam)? Hey you leader (naayaga) of the girls (peN piLLaay)! while we are singing (paadavum) the praise of the Lord Narayana Murthy and Kesavan, you are still lying (kidaththiyO) while listening (kEtta). You who is (udaiyaay) glamourous (dhEsam), open (thiRa) the door.




8. raagam: saamaa

keezh vaanam veLLenRu erumai siRu veedu
mEyvaan parandhana kaaN mikkuLLa piLLaigaLum
pOvaan pOginRaarai(p) pOgaamal kaaththu unnai(k)
koovuvaan vandhu ninRom kOdhugalam udaiya
paavaay ezhundhiraay paadi(p) paRai kondu
maavaay piLandhaanai mallarai maattiya
dhEvaadhi dhEvanai(ch) chenRu naam sEviththaal
aavaavenRu aaraayndhu aruLElOr embaayaay

The eastern (keezh) sky (vaanam) is whitening (vEL). The water buffaloes (eRumai), which started grazing (mEyvaan), just a little (siRu) while (veedu) ago, have spread all over (parandhana) the place. Look! (kaaN). The children (piLLai), who are serious (mikkuLLa) about 'maargazhi nonbu', are going (pOvaan). We have stopped (pOgaamal) those people who are going (pOginRaarai) and have come (vandhu) standing (ninROm) and are waiting (kaaththu) and calling (koovuvaan) you (unnai). You happy (kOdhugalam udaiya) girl (paavaay), wake up (ezhundhiraay) If we (naam) sing (paadi), observe the 'paavai nOnbu' (paRai kondu) and go (chenRu) and workship (sEvi) the Lord of the devas (dhEvaadhi dhEva), who split (piLandhaan) the Asura who came as a horse (maavaay), who conquered (maattiya) the wreslers (mallar), he will examine (aaraayndhu) our requirements, and bless (aruL) us with plenty (aa aa enRu).




9. raagam: sindhu Bairavi

thoomaNi maadaththu sutrum viLakkeriya(th)
thoopam kamazha(th) thuyilaNaimEl kaN vaLarum
maamaan magaLE maNi(k) kadhavam thaazh thiRavaay
maameer avaLai ezhuppeerO un magaL thaan
oomaiyO anRi sevidO ananthalO
Ema(p) perunN thuyil mandhira(p) pattaaLO
maamaayan maadhavan vaikundhan enRenRu
naaman palavum navinRElOr enbaavaay

Hey, daughter (magaL) of my uncle (mamman), you who is sleeping (kaN vaLarum) on (mEl) a mattress (thuyil aNai) in a palace (maadam) with flawless jewels (thoo maNi), with lamps (viLakku) burning (eriya) all around (sutrum) and surrounded (kamazha) by incense (dhoopam), open (thiRavaay) the latch (thaazh) of the jewelled (maNi) door (kadhavam). Hey auntie (maameer), will you wake (ezhuppeerO) her (avaLai) up. Is indeed (thaan) your (un) daughter (magaL) dumb (oomaiyO), or else (anRi) deaf (sevidO), or lazy (ananthalO), or is she cursed (mandhira) and captivated (Ema pattaaLo) into a coma (perun thuyil). Hurry up. We have to benefit (navindhu) by repeating (enRenRu) the many (pala) names (naamam) of the great Mayan (maa maayan) Madhavan, Vaikuntan.




10. raagam: aSaavEri

nOtru(ch) chuvarkkam puguginRa ammanaay!
maatramum thaaraarO vaasal thiRavaadhaar
naatra(th) thuzhaay mudi naaraayaNan nammaal
pOtra(p) paRai tharum puNNiyanaal pandu oru naaL
kootraththin vaay veezhndha kumba karNanum
thOtrum unakkE perunthuyil thaan thandhaanO
aatra anandhal udaiyaay arungalamE
thEtramaay vandhu thiRavElOr embaavaay.

oh lady (amman), who is entering (puguginRa) the heaven (suvarkkam) though penance (nOtru)! those not opening (thiRavaadhaar) the doors (vaasal)! don't you at least give (thaa) a reply (maatram)? Kumbakarnan (kumba karNan), who one (oru) day (naaL) long ago (pandu) fell (veezhndha) prey to death (kootraththin vaay) due to benovalent (puNNiyan) Lord Narayanan (naraayaNan), who wears (mudi) the fragrant (naatram) garland of 'thulsi' (thuzhaay), who is praised (pOtra) by us (nammaal), who blesses (paRai tharum) us; Did he appear (thOtru) in your dream and give (thandhaan) you (unakku) his grand (perum) sleep (thuyil). You utterly (aatra) lazy (anandhal) girl!, yet a rare (arum) jewel (kalam), wake up and come (vandhu) without loosing balance (thEtram), and open (thiRa) the door.




11. raagam: maayaa maaLava gowLai

katru(k) kaRavai(k) kaNangaL pala kaRandhu
setraar thiRalazhiya(ch) chenRu seru(ch) cheyyum
kutram onRilaadha kOvalartham pORkodiyE
putru aravu alkul punamayilE pOdharaay
sutraththu thOzhimaar ellOrum vandhu nin
mutram pugundhu mugil vaNNan pEr paada
sitraadhE pEsaadhE selva peNdaatti nee
Etrukku uRangum poruLElOr embaayaay

you prosperous (selva) girl (pEN)!, who is beautiful like a golden (pOn) creeper (kodi), among the flawless (kutram onRilaadha) caretakers of cows (kOvalar), who are capable of destroying (azhiya) the strength (thiRal) of the enemies (setraar) by going (senRu) to war (cheru cheyyum), who in their childhood have milked (kaRandhu) many (pala) youthful (katru) herds (kaNangaL) of cows (kaRavai)! you who has a waist (alkul) like that of a cobra (aravu) in his nest (putru)! you who is free like a forest (puna) peacock (mayil)! Come out (pOdharaay)!. while we, all (ellOrum) your relatives (sutrum) and friends (thOzhi) have come (vandhu), entered (pugundhu) your (nin) living room (mutram) and are singing (paada) the names (pEr) or the Lord, who is dark like the color (vaNNan) of clouds (mugil); you are sleeping (uRangu) without moving a bit (sitraadhE), ignoring (pEsaadhE) us. For what (Etrukku) purpose (poruL) are you sleeping (uRangu)?




12. raagam: kaanadaa

kanaiththu iLam katrerumai kanRukku irangi
ninaiththu mulai vazhiyE ninRu paal sOra
nanaiththu illam sERaakkum naR chelvan thangaay
panith thalai veezha nin vaasaR kadai patri(ch)
chinaththinaal then ilangai(k) kOmaanai(ch) chetra
manaththukku iniyaanai(p) paadavum nee vaay thiRavaay
iniththaan ezhundhiraay eedhenna pEr uRakkam
anaiththu illaththaarum aRindhElOr embaavaay

You, the sister (thangaay) of the good (nal) prosperous (chelvan) cowherd, whose bufaloes (erumai) are yielding (sOra) so much milk (paal), through (vazhiyE) their breasts (mulai) while standing (ninRu) and bellowing (kanaththu), out of passion (iRangi) towards their crying (katru) young (iLam) calfs (kanRu), that the house (illam) has become (aagi) wet (nanai) and swampy (sER)! While the cold mist (pani) is falling (veezha) on our heads (thalai), we are holding on (patri) to your (nin) entrance (vaasal kadai); we are singing (paada) about the one who gives us sweet (iniyaan) thoughts (manam), the one who destroyed (chetra) the ruler (kOmaan) of southern lanka (then ilangai) in his anger (sinam). You (nee) are not opening (thiRavaay) your mouth (vaay). At least (thaan) wake up (ezhundiraay) now (ini). What (enna) is this (eedhu) big (pEr) sleep (uRakkam), after all (anaiththu) the house people (illaththaar) are aware of this (aRindhu)?




13. raagam: hindhOLam

puLLin vaay keendaanai(p) pollaa arakkanai(k)
kiLLi(k) kaLaindhaanai(k) keerththi mai paadi(p) pOy(p)
piLLaigaL ellaarum paavai(k) kaLambukkaar
veLLi ezhundhu viyaazham uRangitru
puLLam silambina kaaN pOdhari(k) kaNNinaay
kuLLa(k) kuLira(k) kudaindhu neeraadaadhE
paLLi(k) kidaththiyO! paavaay! nee nan naaLaal
kaLLam thavirndhu kalandhElOr embaavaay.

All (ellaam) the girls (piLLai) have reached (pukkaar) the place (kaLam) for 'paavai nOnbu', singing (paadi) the praise (keerththi) of Lord, while going (pOy). The Lord, who split (keendaan) the mouth (vaay) of the bird (puL) shaped asura; who sniped (kiLLu) and disposed off (kaLaindhu) the heads of the naughty (polla) rakshasa (arakkan). Venus (veLLi) has risen (ezhundhu). Jupiter (viyaazhan) has slept (uRangu). Birds (puL) are chirping (silambina), See (kaaN)!. You who have eyes (kaNNinaay) like the honey bee (ari) on a flower (pOdhu)! You (nee) are lying on bed (kidaththiyO) and sleeping (paLLi), without dipping in (kudaindhu) and bathing (neeraadaadhE) in the harsh (kuLLa) cold (kuLira) water. Oh girl (paavaay)! On this good (nan) day (naaL), leave (thavirndhu) your tricks (kaLLam) and join us (kalandhu).



14. raagam: saarangaa

ungaL puzhakkadai(th) thOttaththu vaaviyuL
sengazhuneer vaay negizhndhu aambal vaay koombina kaaN
sengaR podi(k) koorai veNbal thavaththavar
thangaL thirukkOyil sangiduvaan pOginRaar
engaLai munnam ezhuppuvaan vaaypEsum
nangaay ezhundhiraay naaNaadhaay naavudaiyaay
sangOdu chakkaram Endhum thadakkaiyan
pangaya(k) kaNNaanai(p) paadElOr embaavaay.

Look (kaaN)!, Red (sen) lilies (kazhuneer) have opened (negizhndu) their petals (vaay), and waterlilies (aambal) have closed (koombina) their petals (vaay), on the pond (vaavi) in the garden (thOttam) in your (ungaL) back yard (puzhakkadai). The asceities (thavaththavar), wearing ashes (veNbal) and safron (sengaR podi) robes (koorai) are going to (pOginRaar) their (thangaL) sacred (thiru) temple (kOyil) to blow the conch (sangiduvaan). Hey girl (nangaay), you who boasted (vaay pEsum) that you will wake us (engaLai) up (ezhuppu) first (munnam)! now wake up (ezhundhiraay). shameless girl (naaNaadhaay), talkative girl (naavu udaiyaay)! We are going to sing (paadEl) about the Lord, who bears (Endhum) the conch (sangu) with the wheel (chakkaram), who has wide (thadam) arms (kai), and lotus (pangayam) shaped eyes (kaN).




15. raagam: Sowraashtiram

ellE! iLam kiLiyE innam uRangudhiyO
chil enRu azhaiyEn min nangaiyeer pOdharuginREn
vallai un katturaigaL paNdE un vaay aRidhum
valleergaL neengalE naanE thaan aayiduga
ollai nee pOdhaay unakkenna vERudaiyai
ellaarum pOndhaarO pOndhaar pOndhu eNNikkoL
val aanai konRaanai maatraarai maatrazhikka
vallaanai maayanai(p) paadElOr embaavaay

What surprise (ellE)!, you beautiful parrot (kiLiyE)! you are still (innam) sleeping (uRangu)! The girl replies, "Hey girls (nangaiyeer)!, Don't call (azhaiyEn) me with such mind (min) chilling (chil) words. I am coming (aruginREn) in a little while (pOdhu)." We know about (aRidhum) your (un) smart (vallai) stories (katturaigaL) since a long time (pandE) from your (un) own mouth (vaay). The girl says, "Ok, you (neengaL) are the smart (valleergaL) ones, Let me (naanE) be the looser (thaan aayiduga)". You (nee) start (pOdhaay) quickly (ollai). What (enna) other (vERu) job (udaiyai) do you (unakku) have? Come out (pOndhu) and count yourself (eNNi koL), if all (ellaarum) who are coming (pOndhaar), have come (pOndhu). Let us sing (paadEl) the praise of the Lord (maayan), who destroyed (azhikka) the enemies (maatraar) in a war (maatru), who killed (konRaan) the powerful (val) elephant (aanai). [the word 'pOndhu' is derived from 'pO' in the same manner as 'vandhu' is derived from 'vaa']

Tiuppavai continuation: Next 15 slokas



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