எனக்கு தமிழ் பேசத் தெரியாது. ஆனால் திருமுருகப்பெருமானின்அருளால் அருணகிரிநாதர் சுவாமியின் அற்புதமான திருப்புகழைப் பாட முடியும்.
It is unusual for me to speak or write anything about myself. I have tried to maintain a daily reminder that “i am nothing and Muruga is Everything”. But after some time, I have also realized that Muruga is not just Everything, He is also the Nothing with which I have labelled myself. I am left to surrender myself to Him and just live out my days existing or not existing as per His Divine Will. For the sake of this article on our beloved Arunagirinathar Swamigal’s divine Thiruppugazh, I felt it necessary to open with the above statement in Tamil and declare: I cannot speak Tamil, but by the divine Grace of Thirumurugapperumaan, I am able to sing Arunagirnathar Swamigal’s Glorious Thiruppugazh.
It is impossible to be comprehensive when addressing the subject of Thiruppugazh. I have witnessed scholars speak for hours on a single line and on other occasions observed them elaborating on the same line in a multitude of different ways. The meaning contained in-between the lines just seem to expand simultaneously with our spiritual evolution. Yes, it is an impossible task to elaborate on Thiruppugazh comprehensively, however, even the smallest effort that aims to inspire anyone to seek even just a single line from the Thiruppugazh, is truly worth our existence in this world.
I have often contemplated in the past that if Arunagirinathar Swamigal is known as ‘the Devotee of Lord Muruga’ how then can we think of ourselves as devotees too? I used to think, at best, we could only ever think of ourselves as ‘aspiring devotees.’
But, Thiruppugazh in its very essence teaches us different and for this we owe our infinite gratitude to Arunagirinathar Swamigal. His challenging life and his ultimate surrender that drew the Lord’s Grace is well known to the learned devotees of Lord Muruga. The Thiruppugazh that followed thereafter, which was taken up by the instruction of Lord Muruga, serves as a constant reminder that liberation from the seemingly endless cycles of rebirth is indeed our birth-rite and it can be easily attained through our Lord’s Divine Grace.
The magnificent Thiruppugazh is known to hold all the solutions to life’s constant challenges. Through regular recitation, the devotee will advance closer to the Lotus Feet of our benevolent Lord Muruga. Thiruppugazh shows us that Lord Muruga is the in-dweller in all, the sum and substance of existence, the animate and the inanimate, He is both the absolute and the perceived, He is the Giver, the Receiver and also That which is given and received. He is the All and the Nothing at the same time, and He is beyond this too. Without His grace, nothing is possible.
Let’s explore some verses and commence from the very Thiruppugazh that contains Lord Muruga’s instruction to Arunagirinathar:
பக்கரைவி சித்ரமணி பொற்கலணையிட்டநடைபட்சியெனு முக்ரதுர கமுநீபப்பக்குவம லர்த்தொடையும் அக்குவடு பட்டொழிய பட்டுருவவிட்டருள்கை வடிவேலும்திக்கதும திக்கவரு குக்குடமும்ரட்சைதரு சிற்றடியு முற்றியப னிருதோளும்செய்ப்பதியும் வைத்துயர்தி ருப்புகழ்வி ருப்பமொடுசெப்பெனஎ னக்கருள்கை மறவேனே
pakkaraivi chithramaNi poRkalaNai ittanadai pakshiyenum ugrathura gamuneeba pakkuvama larththodaiyum akkuvadu pattozhiya patturuva vittaruLkai vadivElum dhikkadhuma dhikkavaru kukkudamum rakshaitharuchitradiyu mutRiyapan niruthOlum seyppadhiyum vaiththuyarthi ruppugazhvi ruppamoduseppenae nakkaruLgai maRavEnE
“Wearing a jewel of the type of a horse-shoe (angavadi), a rare combination of gems, and a golden reign, and with a fast pace, this peacock is nothing but a fierce horse; the kadamba garland made from just blossomed flowers; the sharp spear in the hand, which was thrown to shatter the Krouncha Mountain into pieces; the rooster which comes flying as the staff amidst the praise of all from the eight directions; the petite feet which protect all devotees and remain as the only solace; the robust shoulders numbering twelve; and the holy place VayalUr - these should be the theme of Your songs constituting the great Thiruppugazh (Song of Glory) which you must sing with relish.” These were the words with which You commanded me; how can I forget this Grace?..
From the instruction in this song, the glorious Thiruppugazh sprouted its roots and blossomed forth from the heart of Arunagirinathar to become a wish-yielding tree to all the devotees. It guides the devotee on how to pray to Lord Muruga, how to talk to & listen to him, how to serve Him & adore Him and ultimately surrender unto Him. We learn that there is nothing more sacred than enshrining His lotus feet in our hearts. Murugabhakthi begins to saturate the heart, Gnyanam blossoms in the intellect and Liberation offers itself to the soul that is immersed in Thiruppugazh. At this juncture, the nature of Murugabhakthi must be considered further. It is a constant request in Thiruppugazh:
எதிரி லாத பத்தி தனைமேவி ...இனிய தாள்நி னைப்பை யிருபோதும்இதய வாரி திக்கு ளுறவாகி ...எனது ளேசிறக்க அருள்வாயே ...
edhirilAdha baththi thanai mEvi
iniya thAL ninaippai iru pOdhum
idhaya vAridhikkuL uRavAgi
enadhuLE siRakka aruLvAyE…
My devotion to You should be unparalleled; day and night, I must meditate only on Your two lotus feet; that thought should dissolve in the ocean of my heart; and it should prosper within myself by Your grace!... (Kadhirgama Thiruppugazh)
A great revelation exists in this Thiruppugazh. By asking Lord Muruga to grant this Bhakthi, it becomes clear that Bhakthi comes from none other than Lord Muruga himself. Bhakti is bestowed by Him. Therefore, its nature reflects Him. It is infinite. It cannot be measured. It does not matter whether you are an educated scholar or completely ignorant, a king or a beggar, young or old, male or female; it does not matter which nationality, caste or race you identify with - Bhakti simply cannot be measured. Given by the Lord, it manifests in the heart and acts as the bond between the Lord and His devotee. Slowly it eliminates all other worldly bondages that hold us in the world preventing our union with him.
From this point on, the ever-compassionate Lord Muruga plays in the hearts of His devotees. To the devotee who is limited by his own perception, the Lord who is otherwise Absolute and Infinite, appears as He is perceived- finite and in the form that He is called upon to answer the devotee’s prayer. This unbounded compassion is often observed during festivals that celebrate Murugabhakthi where millions of devotees will perceive Him in a multitude of different ways. With unrelenting compassion for his devotees, the Lord who is formless, with form, and both with and without form, appears in a multitude of perceived forms to play in the hearts of His devotees.
மருவுமடி யார்கள் மனதில்விளை யாடு மரகதம யூரப் பெருமாள்காண்
maruvumadi yArgaL manadhil viLaiyAdu
marakatha mayUrap ...... perumALkAN
You play in the hearts of Your devotees worshipping You You mount the emerald-green peacock, it’s Yours, Great One!.... (Kadhirgama Thiruppugazh)
And when the compassionate Lord plays in the heart of the devotee, the devotee may ask for the ultimate eternal bliss through Thiruppugazh
உயர்கருணை புரியு மின்பக் கடல்மூழ்கி ...உனையெனது ளறியு மன்பைத் தருவாயே ...
uyarkarunai puriyum inbak kadalmuzhgi
unaiyenadhul ariyum anbaith tharuvaye…
I would like to immerse myself in the ocean of eternal bliss attained as a result of Your great compassion and to realise You within my heart; that requisite love can only be given by You. (Thirucendur Thiruppugazh)
… and then in this life itself, the Lord becomes the Master, He becomes the Guru, and the devotee gets to enjoy not only liberation but also all four Purusharthas for a magnificent life - namely Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha
இறவாமற் பிறவாமல் எனையாள்சற் குருவாகிப்பிறவாகித் திரமான பெருவாழ்வைத் தருவாயேகுறமாதைப் புணர்வோனே குகனேசொற் குமரேசாஅறநாலைப் புகல்வோனே அவிநாசிப் பெருமாளே.
iRavAmal piRavAmal enaiyAL saR guruvAgip piRavAgi thiramAna peruvAzhvaith tharuvAyE kuRamAdhaip puNarvOnE guhanE soR kumarEsA aRanAlaip pugalvOnE avinAsip perumALE.
I pray that You give me a boon not to die and not to be born again. You must become my Master who rules over me and is every other support to me. You must grant me eternal liberation and blissful life. You married VaLLi, the damsel of the KuRavAs. Oh GuhA KumaresA! who is praised by all! You preach to me the four PurushArthAs. You have Your abode at AvinAsi, Oh Great One! (Avinashi Thiruppugazh)
Indeed, the heart of the devotee who recites Thiruppugazh becomes a magnet for the Lord’s Grace. A perfect temple to enshrine the Lord’s Lotus Feet.
It is important to note that Arunagrinathar Swamigal has delivered most Thiruppugazh from the ‘First Person Point of View.’ The impact is that anyone who recites it thereafter becomes the ‘First Person’. In other words, when you recite these hymns they become your expression of devotion, your prayer, your wish, and indeed a powerful way to draw the Lords Grace to yourself. What a wonder! Truly, what a wonder!
In the current state of Sanathana Dharma, humanity has inherited various paths to reach the divine. While we collectively refer to our modes of worship as Hinduism, we all have grown to worship from our own exposure and perspective. Thiruppugazh categorizes six major religious modes of worship or ‘Aru Samayamum’, namely: Saivism,Vaishnavism, Shaktam, Ganapathyam, Showram and Kaumaram. Kaumaram, the mode of religion of Lord Muruga, embraces the other five within itself. Thiruppugazh reflects this collective in significant ways.
If you practice Saivism, you can find rare gems of Saivism contained in Thiruppugazh.If you relate to the Divine Mother, you can also find Her glorified in ultimate reverence many Thiruppugazh. Similarly, a Vaishnava could find an entire Ramayana contained in a Thiruppugazh. Extracts from Mahabharatha and the Dasavathaaram of Maha Vishnu decorate Thiruppugazh like divine gems. Such is the greatness of Arunagirinathar Swamigal’s work.
The devotee who embarks on the path of Thiruppugazh acquires the blessings of all divinities in the Hindu pantheon because of His devotion to Thirumurugapperumaan. The crores of Devas bestow their Grace when the God of Gods, Lord Muruga is enshrined in his heart:
தேவ தேவ தேவாதி தேவப் பெருமாளே ...
dhEva dhEva dhEvAdhi dhEvap. perumALEYou are the God of all Gods! You are the Super Lord, Oh Great One! (Common Thiruppugazh)
The devotee slowly becomes more appreciative of Thiruppugazh as he immerses himself deeper in the works of Arunagirinathar. He becomes aware of the glory contained within it and he asks the Lord to grant him the ability to sing them regularly:
நினைத்தது மளிக்கும் மனத்தையு முருக்கும்நிசிக்கரு வறுக்கும் ...... பிறவாமல்நெருப்பையு மெரிக்கும் பொருப்பையு மிடிக்கும் நிறைப்புக ழுரைக்குஞ் ...... செயல்தாராய்
ninaiththadhumaLikkum manaththaiyum urukkumnisikkaru aRukkum ...... piRavAmalneruppaiyum erikkum poruppaiyum idikkumniRaippugazh uraikkum seyal ...... thArAy
These songs grant Your devotees all their wishes; they melt the minds of the singers and the listeners;they terminate any future births and confinement in dark wombs; they are capable of burning even the fire itself; and they can even demolish mountains into bits and pieces! You have to grant us the ability to sing such songs which are full of Your praise and glory. (Thiruthanigai Thiruppugazh)
With Thiruppugazh now established as his vehicle, the devotee’s understanding of Lord Muruga expands to immeasurable extents. He begins to realise the unbounded nature of the Lord
அகரமு மாகி யதிபனு மாகி யதிகமு மாகி ...... அகமாகிஅயனென வாகி அரியென வாகி அரனென வாகி ...... அவர்மேலாய்இகரமு மாகி யெவைகளு மாகி யினிமையு மாகி ...... வருவோனேஇருநில மீதி லெளியனும் வாழ எனதுமு னோடி ...... வரவேணும்மகபதி யாகி மருவும் வலாரி மகிழ்களி கூறும் ...... வடிவோனேவனமுறை வேட னருளிய பூஜை மகிழ்கதிர் காம ...... முடையோனேசெககண சேகு தகுதிமி தோதி திமியென ஆடு ...... மயிலோனேதிருமலி வான பழமுதிர் சோலை மலைமிசை மேவு ...... பெருமாளே.
agaramum Agi adhipanum Agi adhikamum Agi ...... agamAgi
ayanena vAgi ariyena vAgi aranena vAgi ...... avarmElAy
igaramum Agi evaigaLum Agi inimaiyum Agi ...... varuvOnE
irunila meedhil eLiyanum vAzha enathumun Odi ...... varavEnum
magapathi Agi maruvum valAri magizh kaLi kUrum ...... vadivOnE
vanamuRai vEdan aruLiya pUjai magizh kadhir kAmam ...... udaiyOnE
jegagaNa jEgu thagu dhimi thOdhi dhimi ena Adu ...... mayilOnE
thirumali vAna pazhamuthir sOlai malai misai mEvu ...... perumALE.
Being the foremost as “a” is the foremost letter in all languages. Being the Leader of all. Being the Greatest of all. Being the Inner Self of all Being BrahmA the Creator, Being Vishnu the Protector,Being SivA the Destroyer, Being Someone transcending the above Trinity. Being all the things in this World Being whatever things are in whichever world. Being the embodiment of sweetness
The One who comes to me. In this vast world, in order that this humble self may survive, You must come running towards me. The Deity presiding over all sacrificial rites, being IndrA alias ValAri (enemy of ValAsura) becomes immensely pleased, to look at Your lovely figure.
The hunter (AnthimAn) who lived in the forest, offered worship which You gladly accepted at KadhirgAmam, Your favourite place. jegagaNa jEgu thagu dhimi thOdhi dhimi: (very same sound)
On these beats does Your Peacock dance! Pazhamudhir chOlai, where wealth is plentiful,the mountain there is Your favourite, You Great One! (Pazhamudhircholai Thiruppugazh)
By this stage the Devotee wishes for nothing more than to surrender completely to Lord Muruga. But his heart, that is bursting with divine love for the Lord, already understands that even surrender itself is granted only by Lord Muruga. He can only declare: “My Lord, you have already conquered me; I am yours”.
சுரர்பூபதியே கருணா லயனே ...சுகிர்தா வடியார் ...... பெருவாழ்வே ...எழுதா மறைமா முடிவே வடிவே ...லிறைவா எனையா ...... ளுடையோனே ...இறைவா எதுதா வதுதா தனையே ...இணைநா கையில்வாழ் ...... பெருமாளே.
surar bUpathiyE karuNA layanEsukirthA vadiyAr ...... peru vAzhvEezhudhA maRai mA mudivE vadivEIiRaivA enaiyAL ...... udaiyOnEiRaivA edhuthA adhuthA thanaiyEiNainA gaiyil vAzh ...... perumALE.
You are the King of all DEvAs and the Seat of Compassion!You are the Blessed One and Bestower of great life to Your devotees!You are at the Zenith of unwritten VEdAs!Oh God with the Spear, You have already conquered me!My God, grant me whatever You deem fit to grant me!You reside at unique NAgappattinam, Oh Great One! (Nagapattinam Thiruppugazh)
We are indeed blessed in this age of technology to be able to acquire any information we need almost instantaneously. We offer our gratitude to the servants of Lord Muruga who work hard to make information on the Thirupugazh readily available. We can simply read them, listen to them and sing them at will. Thiruppugazh is celebrated equally by devotees who recite them at home and at the temples, as well as by Othuvars and seasoned Carnatic musicians who majestically deliver them in recitals and concerts around the world. Arunagirinathar has set them in genius rhythmic patterns that are detailed at the beginning of each song. The song lyrics are best delivered in accordance with these patterns but can be sung in any befitting Raga (melodic sequences) as the Lord wills. In addition, learned scholars and some of the most respected and loved devotees of Lord Muruga have left behind lifetimes of work in the service of understanding the Thiruppugazh. Still there is room for contribution. There is work to be done to take It to both Tamil speaking and non-Tamil speaking devotees around the world.
Through singing Thiruppugazh and making the songs available on my YouTube channel, I have been blessed to make acquaintance with so many such devotees around the world whose comments and requests for more Thiruppugazh serve as great inspiration for me. Through them, I have learned that the Arulalar Arunagirinathar Manimantapa Trust was formed and engaged in the divine task of building the Arunagirinathar monument in Thiruvannamalai which inspired the contribution of this article for the commemoration souvenir.
It is my wish that you derive eternal bliss in reciting Arunagirinathar Swamigal’s Glorious Thiruppugazh and earn the divine grace of Lord Muruga. I conclude this article with Ezhukarainadu Thiruppugazh. May the divine grace of Lord Muruga light up your path and may the divine Thiruppugazh serve as your vehicle to reach His lotus feet.
விரகற நோக்கியு முருகியும் வாழ்த்தியும்விழிபுனல் தேக்கிட அன்புமேன்மேல்மிகவுமி ராப்பகல் பிறிதுப ராக்கறவிழைவுகு ராப்புனை யுங்குமாரமுருகஷ டாக்ஷர சரவண கார்த்திகைமுலைநுகர் பார்த்திப என்றுபாடிமொழிகுழ றாத்தொழு தழுதழு தாட்படமுழுதும லாப்பொருள் தந்திடாயோபரகதி காட்டிய விரகசி லோச்சயபரமப ராக்ரம சம்பராரிபடவிழி யாற்பொரு பசுபதி போற்றியபகவதி பார்ப்பதி தந்தவாழ்வேஇரைகடல் தீப்பட நிசிசரர் கூப்பிடஎழுகிரி யார்ப்பெழ வென்றவேலாஇமையவர் நாட்டினில் நிறைகுடி யேற்றியஎழுகரை நாட்டவர் தம்பிரானே.
viragaRa nOkkiyum urugiyum vAzhththiyumvizhipunal thEkkida… anbumEnmEl
migavum irAppagal piRidhu parAkkaRavizhaivu kurAppunai ...... yunkumAramurugasha tAkshara saravaNa kArththigaimulainugar pArththiba ...... endrupAdimozhi kuzhaRAth thozhu thazhuthazhu thAtpadamuzhudhuma lApporuL ...... thandhidAyOparagathi kAttiya viragasi 1Occhayaparama parAkrama ...... sambarAripadavizhi yARporu pasupathi pOtriyabagavathi pArppathi ...... thandhavAzhvEiraikadal theeppada nisicharar kUppidaezhugiri yArppezha ...... vendravEIAimaiyavar nAttinil niRaikudi yEtriyaezhukarai nAttavar ...... thambirAnE.
I would like to look right into Your eyes without any trickery; my mind should melt; I should be singing Your glory with my eyes filled with tears; my love for You should keep on swelling; and day and night, I should concentrate only on You and nothing else. Oh KumarA, You love to wear garlands of kurA flowers; Oh MurugA, ShatAksharA (six-lettered Lord), SaravaNabavA, Oh King, who as a child, was fed by the Karthigai maidens; I would like to sing as above! With my words fumbling, I should worship You crying repeatedly. I should belong to You completely; and thereupon, would You not give me the Eternal Knowledge that is beyond anything else in this world? You showed me the path to Eternal Bliss, Oh the Cleverest One! You are the King of all mountains! You are the greatest warrior! He burnt down Manmathan (Love God) by the glance of His fiery eye; and He is SivA who worshipped Bhagavathi, also known as PArvathi, who delivered You, our Treasure!
The sea with noisy waves caught fire; the demons (asuras) started yelling and screaming; and the seven hills of Mount Krouncha group shook violently, when You won Your victory, Oh Lord with the Spear! You redeemed DEvAs’ land and settled them there safely! You are praised by the people of EzhukarainAdu, Oh Great One!
