Hari Hara Sarvam

 It was time to leave for Ayodhyā. Four palanquins were arranged to carry the Brides while the Bridegrooms had to travel with their Father in a chariot. The citizens of Mithilā shed tears of joy and sorrow as their beloved Princesses were leaving their city. Sītā, Ūrmilā, Māndavī and Shrutakīrtī were happy to go to their Husbands' city but at the same time shed tears of sorrow as they were leaving their beloved parents. King Janaka and Queen Sunainā hugged Sītā and Her Sisters. Memories flashed before Sītā's eyes when She looked at Her Parents. The memory of Her Mother feeding and rocking Her to sleep, Her Father holding her hand and teaching Her to read and write, the discussions She often had with Her Father made tears well up in Her eyes. Sītā remembered the light moments She shared with Her parents and Sisters. She remembered hiding behind Her Mother while playing a game of hide-and-seek with Her Sisters. She saw Herself as a young child frolicking in the palace corridors a...

ஒண்ணித் திலநகையாய் இன்னம் புலர்ந்தின்றோ வண்ணக் கிளிமொழியார் எல்லோரும் வந்தாரோ எண்ணிக்கொடுள்ளவா சொல்லுகோம் அவ்வளவும் கண்ணைத் துயின்று அவமே காலத்தைப் போக்காதே விண்ணுக்கு ஒருமருந்தை வேத விழுப்பொருளைக் கண்ணுக்கு இனியானைப் பாடிக் கசிந்துள்ளம் உள் நெக்கு நின்றுருக யாம் மாட்டோம் நீயே வந்து எண்ணிக் குறையில் துயிலேலோர் எம்பாவாய் oṇṇi tilanakaiāi innam pularndinro vaṇṇa kilimoliyār ellorum vandāro eṇṇikkodullavā collugom avvalavum kaṇṇai tuyinravame kālattai pokkāde viṇṇukku orumaruntai veda viluporul̤ai kaṇṇukku iniyānai pādi kasindullam ul nekku ninruruga yām māṭṭom nīye vandu eṇṇik kuraiyil tuyilelor empāvāi. The friends: “Oh lady with sparkling smile! Has not the new day begun?” The girl on bed: “Have all the ladies with parrot-like voice come?” The friends: “We are telling you after counting. Don’t spend your time sleeping. Sing of Him who is the sole medication for the celestials, of Him who is the essence of Vedas, of Him who is apple of our eyes, sing of Him with melting heart and outpou...

The wedding between the noble Princes of Ayodhyā and the virtuous Princesses of Mithilā was arranged with great splendour. The altar was filled with vibrancy and auspiciousness. The sacred fire was placed in the centre and the chanting of Mantrās echoed everywhere. The wedding marked the new beginning of a relationship between the two illustrious families and an alliance between the two great Kingdoms of Ayodhyā and Mithilā. The wedding pavilion was a treat to behold! The bamboo sticks were made of emeralds and the creepers were artistically fashioned in gold. Lotuses were made of rubies, pearls, diamonds and turquoises. Mango leaves were made of sapphire with leaves of gold glistening on silken cords. Excellent festoons which resembled the nooses made by Cupid made the pavilion charming. Many auspicious vases, lamps, banners and curtains which made the pavilion marvellous were also put up. All the fourteen worlds appeared to be trivial in front of Mithilā! Srī Rāma entered the Mandapa...

முத்தன்ன வெண்நகையாய் முன்வந்தெதிரெழுந்தென் அத்தன் ஆனந்தன் அமுதன் என்று அள்ளூறித் தித்திக்கப் பேசுவாய் வந்துன் கடைதிறவாய் பத்துடையீர் ஈசன் பழ அடியீர் பாங்குடையீர் புத்தடியோம் புன்மைதீர்த்து ஆட்கொண்டாற் பொல்லாதோ எத்தோ நின் அன்புடைமை எல்லோம் அறியோமோ சித்தம் அழகியார் பாடாரோ நம் சிவனை இத்தனையும் வேண்டும் எமக்கேலோர் எம்பாவாய். muttanna veṇnakaiyāi munvandedirelunden attan ānandan amudan enru allūrit tittikka pecuvāy vandun kadaitiravāi pattudaiyīr īcan palavadiyīr pāṅgudaiyīr puttadiyom punmaitīrttu āṭkoṇdār pollādo etto nin anbudaimai ellom ariyomo cittam alakiyār pāṭāro nam civanai ittanaiyum veṇdum emakkelor empāvāi. The friends: "Oh young lady, whose teeth is identical to pearls!! You would wake up before us and talk nectar like sweet words with the heart filled with love that "He is our father, He is the source of our happiness, and  he is nectar in person!" But now you are not even getting up. Come and open the doors!" The girl on the bed: "My ...

Devī Sunainā was very joyful! She told Sītā to garland Rāma as a gesture of Her acceptance. Vaidehī, who was accompanied by Her Sisters and companions, nodded shyly and picked up a beautiful, colourful and fragrant garland to adorn Raghunāyaka. Sītā was beauty personified as She slowly walked towards Lord Rāma. Her endless anticipation was transformed into a feeling of extreme joy the moment Srī Rāma had snapped the bow of Lord Śiva into two. Jānakī's delight could only be compared to that of a female Cātaka bird on receiving a rain drop when the Sun is in the same longitude as the Constellation Swātī. She held in Her lotus hands the fair wreath of victory, resplendent with the glory of triumph over the universe. Maithilī's heart was full of love and rapture. Her elation couldn't be fathomed by others. As Princess Sītā drew nearer and beheld Srī Rāma's beauty, She stood motionless like a portrait. Her Companions, perceiving Her condition began singing melodiously. “Oh ...

பாசம் பரஞ்சோதிக்கு என்பாய் இராப்பகல் நாம் பேசும்போது எப்போ(தும்) இப்போதார் அமளிக்கே நேசமும் வைத்தனையோ நேரிழையாய் நேரிழையீர் சீசி இவையுஞ் சிலவோ விளையாடி ஏசுமிடம் ஈதோ விண்ணோர்கள் ஏத்துதற்குக் கூசும் மலர்ப்பாதம் தந்தருள வந்தருளும் தேசன் சிவலோகன் தில்லைச் சிற்றம்பலத்துள் ஈசனார்க்கு அன்பார் யாம் ஆரேலோர் எம்பாவாய். pāsam parañcotikku enbāi irāppagal nām pesumpodu eppodu ippotār amalikke nesamum vaittanaiyo nerilaiyāi nerilaiyīr cīci ivaiyuñ silavo vilaiyādi yesum idam īdo viṇṇorgal ettudarku kūsum malarppādam tandarula vandarulum desan śivalokan t h illai citṟambalattul īsanārkku anbār yām ārelor empāvāi. The friends: “Oh pretty lady, You used to tell us day and night that your love is only to the Lord, who is the supreme light. However, was all your affection for this flower-decked soft bed of yours?” The sleeping young lady: “Oh my well-dressed friends, Is it time to make fun and play?” Everyone together: “That lotus feet which is not even attainable by the great devas of p...

It was a beautiful dawn. The sun illuminated the sky. Every element of nature was filled with enthusiasm. It seemed like the entire universe was awaiting to behold the Swayamvara of Sītā. Rāma, whose brilliance outshone that of the sun, made Himself ready for the Swayamvara. He and Lakshmana followed Sage Vishwāmitra and entered the grand hall where the Bow of Lord Shiva was kept. The two Jewels of Raghukula shone like the sun and the moon in their lion-like gait. Everybody in the assembly was charmed by the divinity radiating from the Princes. Rāma's dark complexion, delicate lotus-like limbs and majestic looks captivated everyone. They looked at the Lord's form according to the conception each had about Him. Those who were staunch in battle gazed on His form as though He was the heroic sentiment personified. The wicked kings trembled at the sight of the Lord as if He had the most terrible form. The demons, who were cunningly disguised as princes, beheld the Lord as Death in v...

ஆதியும் அந்தமும் இல்லா அரும்பெருஞ்  சோதியை யாம்பாடக் கேட்டேயும் வாள்தடங்கண்  மாதே வளருதியோ வன்செவியோ நின்செவிதான்  மாதேவன் வார்கழல்கள் வாழ்த்திய வாழ்த்தொலிபோய்  வீதிவாய்க் கேட்டலுமே விம்மிவிம்மி மெய்ம்மறந்து  போதார் அமளியின்மேல் நின்றும் புரண்டு இங்ஙன்  ஏதேனும் ஆகாள் கிடந்தாள் என்னே என்னே  ஈதே எந்தோழி பரிசேலோர் எம்பாவாய்.  ādiyum antamum illā arumperuñ  cotiyai yāmpāda keṭṭeyum vāltaṭaṅkaṇ  mādhe valarudiyo vanceviyo nincevidān mādevan vārkalalkal vālttiya vālttolipoi vīdhivāi keṭṭalume vimmi vimmi meimmarandu  potār amaliyinmel ninrum puraṇṭu iṅṅan etenum ākāl kiṭantāl enne enne  īte entoli paricelor empāvāi "O young lady with sword-like sharp beautiful eyes! Have you not heard us sing about our Lord Śiva who is the boundless great light without a start and end? Are you deaf? On hearing us singing the wonders of the majestic feet of Mahādeva, one among the devotees in the street forgot her...

From tomorrow begins the auspicious month Mārghazhi (Mārgaśirṣa). The month when Śiva manifested himself as Jvālāliṅga, the month when the dancer who dances in the golden hall, Lord Natarāja comes out of his shrine to visit his devotees who cannot visit his temple. The wedding day of Pārvatī-Parameśvara and Sītā-Rāma makes this month even more auspicious and unique.  When we hear "Mārghazhi" the first thing which comes to our mind is "Thirupāvai" by Āndāl Nāciyār and "Thiruvempāvai " and "Thirupalliezhuchi " by Mānikkavāsagar. I'll be posting each song of "Thiruvempāvai" and "Thirupalliezhuchi" every day for a month. Mārgaśīrṣa starts from today (15/12) in Karnataka, Maharashtra etc, in the north a fortnight of the month is finished. However, how about we follow the Tamil calendar this time? Let's recite it and worship Śaṅkara by his grace, as stated by Mānikkavāsagar "avan arulāle avan thāl vanangi." Which...

Rāma heard the melodious tinkling of bangles and anklets. Turning to Lakshmana, He exclaimed, "It seems like Cupid has sounded his kettledrum with the intent of conquering the universe!" He turned towards the direction of the beautiful chiming of ornaments and Lo! His eyes fell on Jānakī who was searching for none but Raghunātha! Rāma's heart was filled with rapture and His eyes became motionless. They feasted on Sītā just like the Chakora gazes towards the moon. He drank the beauty of Sītā just like the bee sucks nectar from the lotus. He felt as if Brahma had presented the beauty of the three worlds in the form of Sītā before Him. "She lends charm to charm itself!! To what shall I liken the Daughter of Janaka, for all the similes have been used by the poets?!" Rāma said to Himself. Sītā's Sakhīs showed Her the direction where Rāma was standing. When the fawn-eyed Sītā beheld Rāma, She rejoiced as if She had discovered a long-lost treasure. She was enamoure...