TIRUVIRUTTAM 20

சின்மொழி நோயோ கழிபெரும் தெய்வம்

இந்நோயினதென்று

இன்மொழி கேட்கும் இளம் தெய்வம் அன்று இது வேல,

நில் நீ

என்மொழிகேண்மின் என் அம்மனைமீர்

உலகேழுமுண்டான்

சொன்மொழி மாலை அந்தண்ணந்

துழாய் கொண்டு சூட்டுமினே

Chinmozhi noyo kazhiperum deivam

Innoyinadendru

Inmozhi ketkum ilam deivam andru idu vela,

Nil nee

Enmozhikenhmin en ammanaimeer

Ulagezhumunhdaan

Chonmozhi maalai andanhnhan

Tuzhaai kondu chootumine

(Thiruviruttam: 20)

Kattuvichi is a woman whose advice is sought on the supposition that the heroine is possessed. The Kattuvichi diagnoses that the heroine’s condition is caused by her suffering on separation from her lover. The heroine speaks only a few words. Here is her condition. Her disease has been caused by the love for the supreme God Thirumal (Vishnu). It is not due to junior gods who are easily pleased by being praised. Please recite the name of the Lord of the Immortals who kept all the universe in his stomach during the great deluge; and garland her with His tulasi (Holy Basil) garland. This is the only remedy for her illness. The inner meaning of this poem is that the Alvar indulges himself in the excellent attributes of the Lord and eagerly waits for Him. The time for the Lord’s grace for the Alvar has neared. The poem is addressed as one by the seers pitying the Alvar’s miseries.

There is a poem of similar purport in Aganaanooru, an ancient Tamil composition.   

THIRUVIRUTTAM 68

மலர்ந்தே ஒழிந்தில மாலையும்

மாலைப்பொன் வாசிகையும்

புலந்தோய் தழைப்பந்தர்

தண்டுற நாற்றி, பெருங்கடல்சூழ்

நிலந்தாவிய எம் பெருமான் தனது

வைகுந்தமன்னாய்!

கலந்தார் வரவு எதிர்கொண்டு,

வன்கொன்றைகள் கார்தனவே

Malarnte ozhintila maalaiyum

Maalaiponvaacikaiyum

Pularnte tazhaippantar

Tanturha naarhrhi, perunkadalcoozh

Nilantaaviya emperumaan tanatu

Vaikuntamannai!

Kalandaar varavedirkondu,

Vankonrhaikal kaarththanave

(Thiruviruttam: 68)

They haven’t flowered yet,

The fat konrai trees,

Nor hung out their garlands

And golden circlets

In their sensual canopy of leaves

Along the branches

Dear girl,

Dear as the paradise of our lord

Who measured the earth

Girdled by the restless sea,

They are waiting

With buds

For the return of your lover

Once twined in your arm

(Translation: A.K. Ramanujan)

The maid/friend addresses the woman-in-love in this poem. The buds of the konrai (cassia fistula) trees have opened into flowers. The woman is sad that the lover has not returned at the rainy season as promised. The flowers are opening up in expectation of the lover’s return. The friend’s declaration is made to console the woman. This is a time-illusion. The poem is interpreted as the colleagues consoling the Alvar to relieve his distress on the delay in enjoying the grace of the Lord and the company of his devotees.

Similar poem occurs in kuruntokai of ancient Tamil era.

THIRUVIRUTTAM 96

வணங்கும் துறைகள் பலபலவாக்கி மதிவிகற்பால்

பிணங்கும் சமயம் பலபலவாக்கி அவைஅவைதோறும்

அணங்கும் பலபலவாக்கி நின்மூர்த்தி பரப்பி வைத்தாய்

இணங்கும் நின்னோரையில்லாய் நின்கண் வேட்கை எழுவிப்பனே

Vanangum turaigalh palapalavaakki mathivikarpal

Pinangum chamayam palapalavaakki avaiavaithorum

Anangum palapalavaakki ninmoorthi parappi vaithai

Inangum ninnoraiyillai ninkan vetkai ezhuvippane

(Nammalvar: Thiruvirutttam 96)

You have created many forms of worship. You have likewise created many religions which sometimes differ sharply from each other with their contradictory doctrines. Thus You have created many gods as Your own forms. There is none equal to You. I long deeply for You.

Here Nammalvar speaks of all the religions and all forms of worship as His creation and all the gods as His forms. The Gita also refers in Chapter VII to many other deities to whom devotees offer worship.

This is one of the few poems at the end of Thiruviruttam, where Nammalvar discards symbolism.