nacciyar thirumozhi eleven

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DAY ELEVEN - NACCIYAR THIRUMOZHI

 

FOURTH THIRUMOZHI

 

The Fourth Thirumozhi is known as the Kutalilaikkum Pathikam. A proper

appreciation of the Fourth Thirumozhi requires a piece of information. When

separated from the lover, the lady love tries augury to see if union with him

will become possible or not. The augury takes the form of drawing a big circle

first on sand and then drawing a chain of linked circles within the bigger one.

If the chain ends in an even number, the union becomes possible. If the chain

ends in an odd number the union will become either impossible or be delayed.

Therefore there is a tradition in Tamil poetry of addrssing the circles and

praying to end in an even number. The ten songs of the Fourth Thirumoli belong

to that tradition. Thirumalisai Alwar in Nanmukan Thiruvanthathi would say,

 

"Call will I the Lord at Thiruvenkatam!

Draw Circles will I to join the Lord!"

 

When the traditions of Love Poetry were brought to devotional literature, this

particular tradition was also brought in.

 

Andal has made the Fourth Thirumozhi apparently a very simple piece of

composition. She has spoken in terms of the aspects of God and the deeds of His

Avataras.

 

The clear-headed in their devotion

Worship Him with folded hands.

He is the Lord of Lords

Apt to be worshipped in praise

By Brahma and the dwellers in heaven!

 

Vamana who dwells graciously

In the forests of Venkata

In the city of Kannapura!

 

He dwelss nowhere but in hearts

Enthusiastically in love with Him.

 

He is the illustrious son of Devaki. He is the noble son of Vasudeva. He once

danced on the spread hood of Kalinga to annihilate him. He broke the marutha

trees. He killed Kamsa. He is the Lord of Madura. He annihilated Sisupala. He

routed the Seven Bulls. He killed Pakasura. He is the Guardian of Dwaraka. He is

the shepherd tending the cattle. He measured the worlds in three strides as

Vamana. Thus the Fourth Thirumoli speaks mostly of the Krishna Avatar.

 

She wants to knead his legs comfortingly. He should run to her and hug her with

Him. He should reach her street in search of her house. These are the prayers of

Nacciyar.

 

The second and the fourth songs assume special significance.

 

Vamana who dwells graciously

In the forests of Venkata

In the city of Kannapura!

Augur well circles

For Him to hurry to me

To hold me by my hand

To take me in an embrace.

 

She wants that God comes running to her and holding her by her hand to embrace

her tight. She also wishes that He came to her street in search of her house.

 

What is there to be obtained when the parts of the ten songs are matched with

each other>

 

He is the one gracious enough to be worshipped by the dwellers in the heaven

and Brahma. He is so mighty that he vanquished and annihilated the monsters in

different forms. Such a God should become humble enough to seek her! Look at the

pride in these prayers. This wish on the one hand and the celebrated glory of

God on the other hand render a beauty of contradictions complimenting each other

in the Fourth Thirumoli.