Is it because the poison that you drank started taking effect or you wanted to shout out for the entire universe your intimate relationship with Goddess Parvathi, your consort?

Charanam

Is it because you were matched in your fight with Narahari when you took the form as Sarabeswara?

Is it because of your own lame boon to demon Bhasmasura when he chased you everywhere and your pathetic run to avoid him?

Is it because of the fatigue due to driving the chariot that lost its axle?

Is it because of your appearance as a flame that you took to show to Brahma and Vishnu that you are in fact superior and in the process suffered heat exhaustion when both gods in their ignorance went up and down to look at your whole form?

Author’s Note

This song is based on the sthalapuranam of Sri Pallikondeeswara Swamy temple in Suratapalli located in Chittoor District, AP. Lord Siva after drinking the halaa hala poison felt a little dizzy and dozed off on the lap of Goddess Parvathi. All demigods and devas and saints heard about this news and rushed to the place. When he woke up, he was astonished at the assembly and to please them all danced at the pradosha kalam. This is a very sacred Siva temple. See below links for details:.

Siva reclines on Parvathi's lap

surattapalli temple sthalapuranam

The charanam of this song describes four possible reasons that Siva could be exhausted and needed rest.

For the mythologies and legends, see

Line 1 of Charanam:

Shiva as Sarabeswarar calms Narasimha

Kampaheswarar Temple sthalapuranam

Line 2 of Charanam:

Story of Shiva, Bhasmasura and Mohini

Line 3 of Charanam:

In his haste to fight the tripurasuras, Siva forgot to pray to Ganesha and drove away his chariot. The axle came off and he tried hard to move forward but did not work. Finally, he gave up and prayed to Ganesha.

Shiva prays Ganesha

Atcheeswarar Temple Sthalapuranam

Arunagirinathar who gave Thiruppugazh to the world would pray in விநாயகர் துதி as follows:

முப்புர மெரிசெய்த அச்சிவ நுறைரதம்

அச்சது பொடிசெய்த அதிதீரா

Providing the meaning of these words, Kirupanandha Wariar wrote:

தன்னை நினையாத காரணத்தால் சிவபெருமானேறிய தேரின் அச்சை இற்றுப் போமாறு செய்த மகா தீரர். இங்கனம் அச்சு இற்ற இடம் அச்சிறு பாக்கம் என வழங்கும். இத்தலம் தேவாரம் பெற்றது.

பக்கம் 14, திருப்புகழ் விரிவுரை, திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார், வானதி பதிப்பகம், 13 தீனதயாளு தெரு, தி.நகர், சென்னை 17, நான்காம் பதிப்பு 1996.

Line 4 of Charanam:

For an adlolescent version of the story of the appearance of Jyotirlingam see:

Shiva as Jyotirlingam

thiruvAnmiyUr thigazh

திருவான்மியூர் திகழ்

Pallavi

திருவான்மியூர் திகழ் திரிபுர சுந்தரி மகிழ்

thiruvAnmiyUr thigazh thiripura sundhari magizh

மருந்தீசா வருந்துவோர் வினை களையும் வள்ளலே

marundhIsA varundhuvOr vinai kaLaiyum vaLLalE

Anupallavi

விஷமருந்தி வையத்துயர் துடைத்து நெஞ்சில்

vishamarundhi vaiyatthuyar thudaitthu nenjil

கறை கொண்ட இறையே காருண்ய ப்ரபோ

kaRai konda iRaiyE kAruNya prabhO

Charanam

தளர்ந்த வயதினிலே தனிமரமாய் தத்தளிப்போர்க்கும்

thaLarndha vayadhinilE thanimaramAy thatthaLippOrkkum

குழந்தைகள் போக்கினிலே குமுறி அழுபவர்க்கும்

kuzhandhaigaL pOkkinilE kumuRi azhubavarkkum

தீராத நோயுற்றார் என்றே தீர்மானம் ஆனவர்க்கும்

thIrAdha nOyutRAr endRe thIrmAnam Anavarkkum

தனி மருந்தான தயாபரனே தன்னேரிலா தவக்கொழுந்தே

thani marundhAna dhayAparanE thannErilA thavakkozhundhE

Translation

Pallavi

Lord Marundheeswara, one who pleases the goddess Thripurasundhari residing in Thiruvanmiyur, thou art merciful, eliminating the suffering of all troubled souls.

Anupallavi

You are the compassionate one who drank poison to alleviate the miseries of the universe, and in the process obtained a permanent stain on your throat owing to the toxicity of the poison.

Charanam

You are the singular medicament to aged, desolate people; people who incessantly cry due to the conduct of their children; people who have been declared as untreatable with terminal diseases. Perhaps you were birthed from our penance. You are the savior and the compassionate companion of the distraught.

Author’s Note

This song is in praise of Marundeeswarar/ Palvannanathar of Thiruvanmiyur Temple with Thripurasundari as Lord’s consort. Lord Siva who consumed the Haala Hala poison to save the universe from the potent toxin became blue throated Lord or Neelakantan when Devi used her hand to chock his throat and arrest the poison from entering his body. He is addressed here as provider of unique medicines. It is in this sthalam Siva taught sage Agasthiya uniqueness of various herbs and their therapeutic applications. Hence the name Marundeeswarar for the presiding deity in this shrine.

Marundeeswarar temple sthalapuranam

sadhAsiva padham

சதாசிவ பதம்

Pallavi

சதாசிவ பதம் நினைக்கவே தானாய்

sadhAsiva padham ninaikkavE thAnAy

உதார குணமும் நிதானமும் கைகூடும்

udhAra guNamum nidhAnamum kaikUdum

Anupallavi

தக்ஷிணா மூர்த்தியாம் சாந்த ஸ்வரூபி தன்

dhakshiNA mUrtthiyAm sAntha swarUpi than

பக்ஷபாரமில்லா பரமானந்த பாவனனின்

pakshapAramillA paramAnandha pAvananin

Charanam

வெட்டி மடிந்தனவே என்று விட்டு விடாது கூடு

vetti madindhanavE endRu vittu vidAdhu kUdu

கட்டிய சிலம்பிக்கும் துதித்த ஆனைக்கும் அருளி

kattiya silambikkum thudhittha Anaikkum aruLi

மெட்டி போல் அணைத்த பாலனை காக்க எமனை

metti pOl aNaittha bAlanai kAkka emanai

எட்டியே உதைத்த ஏகாம்பர வள்ளலின்

ettiyE udhaittha EkAmbara vaLLalin

Translation

Pallavi

If you just think of the lotus feet of Lord Sadhasiva, generosity and calmness will come naturally.

Anupallavi

In the form of Dakshinamurthy, He is the personification of tranquility and equanimity, and is devoid of bias and bestows eternal bliss and controls all natural forces.

Charanam

He is too kind to let two creatures fight and kill each other, he intervened rather than simply continuing on with his activities. When the web weaving spider and the devoted elephant got into a fight and ended each other's lives, he offered salvation to both. In a similar way, he protected the young lad who hugged his divine form of linga as tight as a toe ring, he kicked the Lord of Death, Yama, and drove him away. Therefore, if you just think of the compassionate and merciful acts of Lord Ekambara, generosity and calmness will come naturally.

Author’s Note

The charanam of this song has references to the sthalapuranams of Jambugeswarar temple in Thiruvanaikkaa (Lines 1 and 2) and Thirukkadaiyur (Lines 3 and 4).

The fight between a spider and an elephant resulted in their deaths, but the merciful Siva granted them mukthi or liberation. Refer to the History Section of the following link:

Jambukeswar temple history

Lines 3 and 4 of the Charanam describe the compassionate act of Siva to save young Markandeya. This incident of Shiva conquering Yama to protect Markandeya is believed to have happened at Triprangode, Mallapuram district, Kerala, where Shiva is worshipped as Kalasamhara Murthy.

Siva kicks Yama

This is also said to have taken place at Thirukkadaiyur in Tamilnadu (near Karaikal). In Tamil Nadu, Lord Siva is worshipped as Amritaghateswarar, and his consort is known as Abhirami.

Thirukkadaiyur Temple Legend

sivA endRazhaitthAlE

சிவா என்றழைத்தாலே

Pallavi

சிவா என்றழைத்தாலே தேனூறும்

sivA endRazhaitthAlE thEnURum

அவாவுடன் ஹ்ருதய பூர்வமாய் சதா

avAvudan hrudhaya pUrvamAy sadhA

Anupallavi

மனம் குழைந்து ஸ்வர ஞானம் தன்னோடு

manam kuzhaindhu swara nyAnam thannOdu

தினம் இழைந்து அந்த மயிலை வாசனை

dhinam izhaindhu andha mayilai vAsanai

Charanam

பால் நீறணிந்த பரமன் பங்கஜ பாதன்

pAl nIRaNindha paraman pangkaja pAdhan

பாலனை காக்க காலனை உதைத்த ஜாலன்

bAlanai kAkka kAlanai udhaittha jAlan

பஞ்சாமிர்தம் கெஞ்சாமலே கிடைத்ததுபோல்

panjchAmirdham kenjAmalE kidaitthadhupOl

அஞ்செழுத்து மந்திரத்தை நெஞ்சில் வைத்து

anjezhutthu mandhiratthai nenjil vaitthu

Translation

Pallavi

If one with a heartfelt desire calls out the name of Lord Siva, it is certain that nectar will start gushing into one's mouth.

Anupallavi

If with a melted heart and mind and with perfect unison and melody, one addresses the Lord who resides in Mylapore as Siva, nectar will start gushing into one's mouth.

Charanam

He is the God adorning pure white sacred ash and with tender lotus feet. He is a trickster who kicked even the God of death, Yama, to protect a child, Markandeya. When one starts chanting the five letters in the name of the Lord Namasivaya with a deep love in one's heart, the feeling is utterly unbelievable. It is as if the delicate mix of plantain, honey, sugar, ghee, and grapes was offered to you on your tongue without asking for it.

Author’s Note

Second line in the charanam refers to the legend of Siva kicking the God of death, Yama, in Thirukkadaiyur to save the young Markandeya.

Siva kicks Yama

sarva vyApikE

சர்வ வியாபிகே

Pallavi

சர்வ வியாபிகே சதாசிவ சம்போ

sarva vyApikE sadhAsiva sambO

பர்வதமுறை பரமா பதம் பணிந்தேன்

parvadhamuRai paramA padham paNindhEn

Anupallavi

உலர்ந்த சருகும் நீ அன்றலர்ந்த மலரும் நீ

ularndha sarugum nI andRalarndha malarum nI

ஒலியின் வடிவம் நீ எதிரொலியின் இசையும் நீ

oliyin vadivam nI edhiroliyin isaiyum nI

Charanam

ஓடை நீரும் நீ பாலைவனத்தே கானல் நீ

Odai nIrum nI pAlaivanatthE kAnal nI

கோடை வெயில் நீ குளிர் மர நிழலும் நீ

kOdai veyil nI kuLir mara nizhalum nI

பயிரில் பசுமை நீ உயிரில் ஆத்மன் நீ

payiril pasumai nI uyiril Athman nI

தோடு அணியும் சிவமே தோடி ராகப்ரியனே

thOdu aNiyum sivamE thOdi ragapriyanE

Translation

Pallavi

Oh, Omnipresent Lord Sadhasiva, self-originated deity, and one who dwells in Mount Kailash, I worship your lotus feet.

Anupallavi

Thou art the dried leaf; thou art the blossomed flower.

Thou art the shape of sound; thou art the music of an echo.

Charanam

Thou art the clear water of a brook; Thou art the mirage in a desert.

Thou art the warmth of summer; Thou art the cool shade of a tree.

Thou art the greenness of vegetation; Thou art the soul of living things.

You are the Supreme, adorning an ear stud and fascinated by the melody of Thodi ragam.

Author's Note

The anupallavi and charanam of this song are based on Siva's traits of all pervading aspects of the Lord laid in the Namakam.

ஶ்ரீ ருத்ரம், உரையாசிரியர் "அண்ணா", ஶ்ரீ ராமகிருஷ்ண மடம், மயிலாப்பூர், சென்னை 600004, பக்கம் 9-83.

kAraNamEdhO kayilai vAsA

காரணமேதோ கயிலை வாசா

Pallavi

காரணமேதோ கயிலை வாசா அவனியில்

kAraNamEdhO kayilai vAsA avaniyil

ஆரணப் பொருளே கபாலீசனாய் வந்ததின்

AraNap poruLE kapAlIsanAy vandhadhin

Anupallavi

சாது ஜனம் காணவோ மயிலாய் வந்த

sAdhu janam kANavO mayilAy vandha

மாது ஒருத்தியின் பாதுகாவலாகவோ

mAdhu orutthiyin pAdhukAvalAgavO

Charanam

பவரோகம் போக்கவோ அவல நிலை அகற்றவோ

bhavarOgam pOkkavO avala nilai agatRavO

பாவச்சுமை ஏற்கவோ பக்தர் அருகிருக்கவோ

pAvacchumai ERkavO bhakthar arugirukkavO

நூறு பாமாலை நின்னில் மேல் புனைந்து நிற்கும்

nURu pAmAlai ninnil mEl punaindhu niRkum

நேயன் ராதாகிருஷ்ணனை நேரில் வந்தாளவோ

nEyan rAdhakrishNanai nEril vandhALavO

Translation

Pallavi

Lord of the Mount Kailash, who is the soul of the scriptures, what is the actual reason for your visit to this world as Kapaalisa?

Anupallavi

Did you come to see the innocent citizens of this earth, or did you come here as a security guard for the damsel who has come here in a peacock form?

Charanam

Is this because you wanted to rid the birth cycles of people or to eliminate the sad state of the world, the torture and the sins of people, or is it because you wanted to stay in close proximity to your devotees? Or did you come in person to take this Radhakrishnan into your sovereign empire, the poet who has authored over one hundred melodic songs about your family?

Author’s Note

The central theme of this song is based on the Thyagaraja kriti beginning with “Elavataram …” in Ragam Mukhari where the saint questions why his beloved Lord Rama took Ramavataram and came to earth. The poet questions Lord Siva in this song for his reasons for coming to Mylapore, and taking residence as Kapaleeswarar. Possible reasons for the Lord’s visit to this shrine are listed as questions in the Anupallavi and charanam.

The Anupallavi of this song is based on Mylapore temple (Sri Kapaleeshwarar temple) sthalapuranam where the puranam states that Parvathi appeared as a peacock to do penance and join Siva. As the legend goes, once Devi wanted to know the meaning of Panchakshari, Na, ma, si, va, ya. She was distracted by a peacock during Siva’s teaching and an annoyed Siva cursed her to become a peacock herself. Ultimately, she got the curse revoked after a severe penance as a peacock in the Mylapore temple, and the Lord married her as Karpagambal. The poet wonders with mild sarcasm if Siva came to Mylapore to guard the peacock and make sure that she did not get into any more troubles.

Kapaleeswarar Temple History

Greatness of Kapaleeswarar Temple

mandRAdi nindRE

மன்றாடி நின்றே

Pallavi

மன்றாடி நின்றே வழக்கமான உன்னிடம்

mandRAdi nindRE vazhakkamAna unnidam

மன்றாடி கேட்டால் தான் கருணை புரிவாயோ

mandRadi kEttAl dhAn karuNai purivAyO

Anupallavi

கபாலீ என்றே கூக்குரலிட்டு கதறினாலும்

kapAlI endRE kUkkuralittu kadhaRinAlum

கயிலை மகிமையைக் காசினிக்கு உரைத்தாலும்

kayilai magimaiyaik kAsinikku uraitthAlum

Charanam

உற்ற துணையாய் தருணத்தே வந்து நின்று

utRa thuNaiyAy tharuNatthE vandhu nindRu

பெற்ற தாயாய் பரிந்துதவிய பரமனே

petRa thAyAy parindhudhaviya paramanE

குற்றங் குறைகளை முற்றுமாய் மன்னித்துவிடென்று

kutRang kuRaigaLai mutRumAy mannitthuvidendRu

நற்றமிழ் பாவால் நாவார இசைத்தாலும்

natRamizh pAvAl nAvAra isaitthAlum

Translation

Pallavi

Lord Siva, since you are constantly dancing in the golden hall of Chidambaram, will you grace us only if we beg and plead?

Anupallavi

If we yell “Kapaaleesa!” and we pronounce the greatness of your residence (Mount Kailash) to the whole universe, then would you grace us…..

Charanam

Oh Lord, you compassionately arrived at the opportune moment in the form of a biological mother and helped the poor damsel during her delivery. I will beg you in pure Tamil poetry to totally forgive all my mistakes of the past. Will you then grace me with your presence?

Author’s Note

The pallavi of the song has an intended pun with the use of the word “mandRAdi”. One meaning for the word is “dancing in a famous Hall”, and the other meaning is “cry and plead or beg”. While singing the anupallavi for the second time, kayilai magimaiyai can be changed to mayilai magimaiyai as KaPAli is the presiding deity of Mylapore. The first two lines in the charanam tell a story of Lord Siva’s compassion. A young pregnant woman, Rathnavathy, was alone without support due to a severe flood in Kaveri River. Because Rathnavathy’s mother could not come to assist her with her delivery due to the flood, the Lord disguised himself as her mother and helped with the delivery in an infinite act of mercy. See below for the Thaumanaswamy temple legends published in Dinamalar listing. Hence the name of the presiding deity Thayumanavar in Tiruchi malaikottai temple. This is a pAdal petRra sthalam praised by 7th century nayanmars in thEvaram.

Thayumanavar Swamy Temple Sthalapuranam

namasivAya endRu

நமசிவாய என்று

Pallavi

நமசிவாய என்று நித்தமும் சொல்லு

namasivAya endRu nitthamum sollu

நமனையும் வென்று களித்து நில்லு

namanaiyum vendRu kaLitthu nillu

Anupallavi

நம்முடைய பழவினைகளை வேருடனே கொல்லு

nammudaiya pazhavinaigaLai vErudanE kollu

நமகம் சமகமென்று ஓதிடவே (முனைந்து) செல்லு

namakam chamakamendRu OdhidavE (munaindhu) sellu

Charanam

நம்பி ஆரூரனைத் தடுத்தாண்ட ஈசன்

nambi ArUranaith thadutthANda Isan

நம்பி வந்தோரை கை விடா மகேசன்

nambi vandhOrai kai vidA magEsan

நங்கையை ஓர்பாகம் அணிந்த ஆண்டவன்

nangaiyai OrbAgam aNindha ANdavan

நங்கூரம் ஆவான் சம்சார சாகரத்தே

nangUram AvAn samsAra sAgaratthE

Translation

Pallavi

Chant every day the divine name of Namasivaya. Stand in fulfillment and joy defeating even the god of death, Yama.

Anupallavi

Overturn all our past sins by the root. Move forward chanting namakam and chamakam.

Charanam

The Lord who took Sundaramurthy Nayanar into his fold, preventing him from entering family life, is quite dependable. He is the Lord who wears a beautiful damsel in one part of his body. He certainly will become the anchor during this turbulent sea of lifecycle.

Author’s Note

The second line of Pallavi has oblique reference to Siva kicking the Lord of Death, Yama and saving the sixteen year old Markhandeya.

The second line of the Anupallavi lists namakam and chamakam as ways to worship Siva. The Namakam enumerates the various epithets and names of Rudra. The Chamakam asks for fulfilment of wishes that encompass all the requirements of all beings in all walks of life. In this list is also included Moksha or salvation, which is subtly shown to be the ultimate requirement over all other things which are merely ephemeral. For details of Namakam and Chamakam, see:

Line 1 of the charanam refers to the story of Lord Siva coming to earth disguised as an old man to stop the wedding of his dear friend and devotee Sundaramurthy Nayanar and save him from family life detailed in Peria Puranam.

பெரியபுராணம், 64-வது நாயனார் தெய்வத்திரு திருமுருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார் சுவாமிகள், வெளியீடு குகஶ்ரீ வாரியார் பதிப்பகம்,107 சிங்கண்ண தெரு, சிந்தாதிரிப்பேட்டை, சென்னை 600002, தொலைபேசி 8535666, முதல் பதிப்பு செப்டம்பர் 2000, பக்கம் 38 – 43.

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