Lakshmi

kongu malar amarndhAL

கொங்கு மலர் அமர்ந்தாள்

Pallavi

கொங்கு மலர் அமர்ந்தாள் எங்க லட்சுமி

kongu malar amarndhAL enga latchumi

பொங்கு வளம் தந்திடுவாள் மஹாலட்சுமி

pongu vaLam thandhiduvAL mahAlatchumi

Anupallavi

சங்கு கொண்ட சாரங்கன் இடம் அமர்ந்தா

sangu koNda sArangan idam amarndhA

இங்கு அங்கு என்று இல்லாம தான் நிறைந்தா

ingu angu endRu illAma thAn niRaindhA

Charanam

ஓங்கு புகழ் தந்திடுவா வெங்கலட்சுமி

Ongu pugazh thandhiduvA venkalatchumi

வீங்கு நிதியம் வழங்கிடுவா தனலட்சுமி

VIngu nidhiyam vazhangiduvA dhanalatchumi

பாங்கு பண்பெலாம் பரிந்திடுவா பாக்யலட்சுமி

pAngu paNbelAm parindhiduvA bhAgyalatchumi

தாங்கும் சந்ததியும் ஈந்திடுவா சந்தானலட்சுமி

thAngum sandhadhiyum IndhiduvA santhAnalatchumi

Translation

Pallavi

Goddess Lakshmi is seated on a fragrant lotus flower. This Mahalakshmi will offer abundant prosperity.

Anupallavi

She is seated on the left side of Lord Vishnu who holds a conch in his hand. She is everywhere without a preference for here or there.

Charanam

Venkalakshmi will offer fame. Dhanalakshmi will offer unlimited treasures. Bhagyalakshmi will provide good manners and character. Santhanalakshmi will bestow supportive descendants. 

Author's Note

The poet deliberately used variations of  லட்சுமி (latchumi) to portray a villager extolling the Goddess Lakshmi in different forms. 

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nARkaviyum pOtRum

நாற்கவியும் போற்றும்

Pallavi

நாற்கவியும் போற்றும் நாரணன் மனோகரியே

nARkaviyum pOtRum nAraNan manOgariyE

பாற்கடல் துயில் கொள்ளும் பரந்தாமன் பத்தினியே

pArkadal thuyil koLLum parandhAman patthiniyE

Anupallavi

கார்முகில் வண்ணன் மார்பிடை அமர்ந்தாய்

kArmugil vaNNan mArbidai amarndhAy

பார்மிசை அடியார் நெஞ்செல்லாம் நிறைந்தாய்

pArmisai adiyAr nenjellAm niRaindhAy

Charanam

கையில் கபாலம் ஏந்தி அலைந்த அரனும்

kaiyil kapAlam Endhi alaindha aranum

தையல் உன்னால் விமோசனம் அடைந்தாரன்றோ

thaiyal unnAl vimOchanam adaindhArandRO

வையம் உய்யவே வளமெலாம் பெருகிடவே

vaiyam uyyavE vaLamelAm perugidavE

பையவே வருவாய் பசுமை உருவே நற்திருவே

paiyavE varuvAy pasumai uruvE naRthiruvE

Translation

Pallavi

Four types of Tamil poetry glorify Lord Narayana’s wife, Goddess Lakshmi. She is the consort of the Lord who sleeps in the milky ocean.

Anupallavi

Devi, you are seated in the chest of the god who matches the hue of dark clouds. You are domiciled in the hearts of your devotees.

Charanam

Is it not true that Siva wandered the earth with the skull of Brahma in his hand, and that you finally released him from this curse? Your grace is responsible for fertile farms and inestimable treasures. Please come with your gentle steps and offer peace and abundant prosperity to this world.

Author’s Note

In the Tamil language, songs are classified into three major divisions labeled as Thaazhisai, ThuRai, and Viruththam. Of these, Thaazhisai has the least number of lines or verses, and yet is melodic. Thaazhisai has four subtypes called VeN, Aasiriyam, Kali and Vanji. This is what is referenced in the Pallavi.

The charanam refers to Lord Siva’s plight after his wrathful act with the Lord of creation. Siva inherited Brahmahathi dosham because he plucked the fifth head of Lord Brahma. He developed an insatiable hunger. The skull of Brahma got stuck in his arms and Siva was wandering the earth begging for food. The skull – which he was using as a bowl – would not fill up until he reached the Bikshandar Koil and begged for alms from Poornavalli Thayar (Goddess Lakshmi). Once Lakshmi offered him alms, the bowl was full and his hunger was relieved. 

Uthamar Temple Sthalapuranam 

Siva went to Thirukandiyur and prayed to Lord Vishnu and got the kapalam or skull removed from his arm, and thus was completely absolved of his sins. Here, Vishnu is known as Hara Saaba Vimochanar in Thirukandiyur.

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