The intent is to go to the Chetty koyil, but it’s not open at 6am, nothing is happening at Kannika, so we wind up at Vedapuriswara. We’re wandering the Nandavanam with the gardener when the sounds call us back to the temple. Quite the process. It’s Friday but the Ambal figure stays in the Palliyarai unlike in the Chetty temple (She comes out on Mondays at this temple). All done by the two younger priests, who seem to do a lot of grunt work and speak very little to anyone. There’s a group of about 15 who sing regularly, a man to play the damaru and sound the conch, someone to play the murasu for siva and another for Ambal (though he is less adept).
The song set appears to be standard offerings from Manikkavasagar Thirupalliyezhucchi, Pancha Puranam, plus some smatterings from Abhirami Anthathi, Thiruppugazh (including Kaithala niraikani) and so on. Abhirami stotram sung by the inimitable Lalitamma whose voice and projection are like gold. An older man leads the “Om nama sivaya sivaya nama om”.
Lalitamma sings two songs composed by Abhirami Bhattar (the first one Arasoo Swami sings beautifully also, but more on that later):
- First Abirami Ammai Padhigam of three such sets, this is the most well-known.
கலையாத கல்வியும் குறையாத வயதும் ஓர் கபடு வாராத நட்பும்
கன்றாத வளமையும் குன்றாத இளமையும் கழுபிணியிலாத உடலும்
சலியாத மனமும் அன்பகலாத மனைவியும் தவறாத சந்தானமும்
தாழாத கீர்த்தியும் மாறாத வார்த்தையும் தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும்
தொலையாத நிதியமும் கோணாத கோலும் ஒரு துன்பமில்லாத வாழ்வும்
துய்ய நின் பாதத்தில் அன்பும் உதவி பெரிய தொண்டரொடு கூட்டு கண்டாய்!
அலையாழி அறிதுயிலும் மாயனது தங்கையே! ஆதிகடவூரின் வாழ்வே!
அமுதீசர் ஒருபாகம் அகலாத சுகபாணி! அருள்வாமி! அபிராமியே!
kalaiyada kalviyum kuraiyada vayadum or kapadu varada natpumkanrada valamaiyum kunrada ilamaiyum kazhu piniyilada udalumcaliyada manamum anbu agalada manaiviyum tavarada santanamumtalada kirttiyum marada varttaiyum tadaigal varada kodaiyumtolaiyada nidhiyamum konada kolum oru tunpam illada valvumtuyya nin padattinil anbum udavi periya tondarodu kuttu kanday!alaiyali arituyilum mayanadu tangaiye! adikadavurin valve!amudisar orupagam agalada sugapani! arulvami! abiramiye!
Knowledge that you do not forget, age that does not diminish,
A friendship that does not diminish, A wealth that does not deteriorate ,
A youth that does not diminish, a body that is free from all diseases,
A mind that does not get bored, a wife whose love never diminishes,
A progeny that is regular, a fame that never diminishes,
The promises that are never broken, the charity that never has a road block,
A treasure that is never is lost, a government which is always just,
And a life which never has any sorrow and love towards your very pure divine feet,
And if you also bless me with the company of your great devotees,
Oh sister who sleeps on a leaf floating in the sea, Oh life of ancient Kadavur,
Oh Goddess who does not move away from one side of Lord Siva,
Oh Goddess who holds a parrot, Please grant me all these Abhirami
[Translation by P.R. Ramachander)]
- அபிராமி அந்தாதி - பூத்தவளே
பூத்தவளே புவனம் பதினான்கையும் பூத்தவண்ணம்
காத்தவளே பின் கரந்தவளே கறைகண்டனுக்கு
மூத்தவளே என்றும் மூவா முகுந்தற்கு இளையவளே
மாத்தவளே உன்னை அன்றி மற்றோர் தெய்வம் வந்திப்பதே
O You who brought into being all the fourteen worlds and brought them into bloom!
O You who preserved, then withdrew and concealed them;
O Eternal Mother–
elder to Him whose neck is stained blue,
younger to the ever-youthful Mukunda,
O Peerless Mother–
embodiment of supreme penance!
Other than You, whom else could I worship?
This is the 13th verse of the Abhirami Anthathi, a collection of 100 devotional Tamil hymns dedicated to Goddess Abhirami at the Amirthakadeswarar Temple in Thirukkadaiyur. Composed by the saint Abhirami Bhattar.