NAMMALVAR: TIRUVOIMOZHI: A SELECTION: 9-6-4, 5 & 10

அறிகிலேன் தன்னுள் அனைத்துலகும் நிற்க,

நெறிமையால் தானும் அவற்றுள் நிற்கும் பிரான்

வெறி கமழ்சோலைத் தென்காட்கரை என் அப்பன்

சிறிய என் ஆரூயிர் உண்ட திருவருளே

(9-6-4)

Arigilen thannullh anaitthulagum nirkka,

Nerimayaal thaanum avatrulh nirkum piraan

Veri kamazhcholait thenkaattkarai en appan

Siriya en aaruyir unda tiruvaruleh

திருவருள் செய்பவன் போல என்னுள் புகுந்து

உருவமும் ஆருயிரும் உடனே உண்டான்

திருவளர்சோலைத் தென்காட்கரை என் அப்பன்

கருவளர் மேனி என் கண்ணன் கள்வங்களே

(9-6-5)

"வாரிக்கொண்டு உன்னை விழிங்குவான் காணில்"

என்று ஆர்வுற்ற என்னை ஒழிய என்னில் முன்னம்

பாரித்து, தான் என்னை முற்றப் பருகினான்,

கார் ஓக்கும் காட்கரை என் அப்பன் - கடியனே

(9-6-10)

The temple at Thirukkaatkarai in Kerala is devoted to Vishnu in his avataara (incarnation) as vaamana or trivikrama. This is derived from the Malayalam name, Tirukkaakkaraa or Tirukkaalkarai in Tamil. It means the place or bund that was graced by the touch of the holy foot of God. In his Thirukkaatkarai paasuram, Nammalvar gives a graphic description of the green gardens and the scent-giving flowers of this place. It is also the reputed birthplace of Kerala’s special variety of Nendiram bananas.    

The Alvar gives the special title of Deyvavaari to the moola vigraha in the sanctum sanctorum of this temple, meaning leader or creator of all gods, one who is unlimited.  He also expresses the view that God is capable of containing and swallowing all the universe within Himself. 

I don’t understand why,

      While all the worlds

          Live within him

      And he lives within them

         By birthright.

Our lord of Kaatkarai,

       Of gardens blowing with fragrance,

Should assault and devour this poor little

                       Soul of mine with his grace.

(9-6-4) (Translation: A K Ramanujan)

He entered into me as if to bless me with his grace. But instead he devoured my body and my soul. This is indeed the leela (play) of that black coloured Kannan. (9-6-5).

While I was waiting eagerly for him

Saying to myself, “If I see you anywhere

I”ll gather you and eat you up,”

He beat me to it and devoured me entire,

My lord dark as raincloud

My lord self-seeking and unfair.

(9-6-10) (Translation: A K Ramanujan)

The deep, inner meaning of these verses eludes us and astonishes us. The Alvar says that it is indeed very difficult to describe God. However, courageously, he attempts it.

This series explores the mutual cannibalism of God and devotee: these ten poems are considered by commentators as “the very life of the great Thousand Verses” of Nammalvar.