prayers of guru bhakti

[Guest guest]

"We have tried to translate a garland of 10 verses known as Kanninun

Siruthambhu. These 10 verses have been composed by Sri Madhurakavi alwar in

praise of his spiritual master Sri Nammalwar. This alwar, Madhurakavi alwar

has only composed these 10 verses and nothing else."

 

(N.B. the alwars were great devotees who preceded Sripad Ramanujacarya in

the Sri sampradaya)

 

1. Kanninun Siruthaambinaal kattu unnaip-

panniya perumaayan, yen appanil *

nainnitth- then kurugoor, nambii yendrakkaal

annikkum amudhuurum ennaavukke.

 

Translation: Mother Yashoda bound Krishna, the master of all mystics with a

rope which had plenty of knots. Leaving that wonderful Krishna who is my

eternal father, if i would go and seek shelter of Nammalwar, who is the

resident of Then kurugoor, and if i glorify his names, then there would be

honey like nectar produced in my fallen and useless tongue.

 

2. Naavinaal navitru inbam yeidhinen,

Mevinen avan ponnadi meimayyee *

Thevu matru ariyen kurugoor nambii,

paavin innisai paadi thirivane.

 

Translation: By glorifying Nammalwar so many times with wonderful names, I

derived eternal and unlimited bliss. I did the right thing by taking shelter

at his lotus feet. I do not know any other God other than Nammalwar, my dear

spiritual master. I would sing the songs composed by my great Guru Maharaj

at all places.

 

3. Thirithandhu aagilum Theva bhiraan uddaikk-

kariya kola thiruvurukk- kaanban naan *

periya van kurugoor nagar nambikku aal

uriya naan adiyen petra nanmaye

 

Translation: If by any misfortune, I happen to be separated from the service

of my spiritual master, I would only see in my heart the beautiful form of

Krishna as Shyamasundara because that would only please my spiritual master

most since he has already experienced and reished this transcendental form.

I surrendered at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, who is most

munificent and compassionate and this gave me the same wonderful effect of

attaining Krishna.

 

4. nan mayaal mikka naan marai aalargal

punmai aagha karudhuvar * aadhalin

annaiyaai atthhanai yennai aandidum

thanmayaan sadagopan yen nambiye.

 

Translation: The great and the pious brahmanas who've mastered the Four

Vedas neglected me considering me to be a low class person. But that great

Nammalwar who is also called Sadagopan, and who has got unlimitedly great

qualities was so kind enough to allow me to accept him as my spritual

master. He is my eternal father and mother.

 

5. nambinen pirar nan porul thannayum

nambinen madavaarayum munnelaam *

sempon maadatth- thirukurugoor nambikku-

anbannai adiyen sadarthen indre

 

Translation: All these days, I have been wretched with desires to obtain

material opulence and I also had faith in many beautiful women. But now,

after becoming a disciple of Nammalwar, who is the spiritual master of the

most gorgeous city of Thirukurugoor, I have obtained transcendental

knowledge and become free from all sorts of material hankerings.

 

6. Indru thottum yezhumayum yembiraan

Nindru than pugazh yetta arulinaan *

kundramaada thirukurugoor nambii

yendrum yennai igazhvu ilan kaanmine

 

Translation: Henceforth, for all the births to take, Nammalwaar would remain

my eternal spiritual master. By his mercy I got great devotion to serve his

lotus feet and he also showered causeless mercy to sing his glories. He

would always remain my refuge and would never shun me away.

 

7. Kandukondu yennai kaari maara piraan

pandai valvinai paatri arulinaan *

yendisaiyum ariya iyam bugen

ovan tamizh sadagopan arulaye.

 

Translation: By accepting me as his disciple, the son of the great Kaari

Maaran, Nammalwaar, who has composed many beautiful verses glorifying Lord

Krishna, has bestoed in me his love and washed away all my past sinful

reactions and thus i have become eliglible to speak of his glories in all

the eight directions.

 

8. Arulkondaadum adiyavar inbura

arulinaan av arumarayin porul *

arul kondu aayiram in tamizh paadinaan

arul kandiir iv ulaginil mikkadhe

 

Translation: My spiritual master Nammalwar composed the 100 most beautiful

verses called 'Thiruvaaymozhi' . These verses are the essence of the Vedas.

These verses pleases the dearest devotees of the Lord. These are the

greatest treasure in this world.

 

9. Mikka Vedhiyar vedhathin ut porul

nirka paadi yen nenjul niruthinaan *

thakkaseer sadagopan yen nambikku

aat pukka kaadhal adimay ppayanandre

 

Translation: Nammazhwaar composed the Thiruvaaymozhi that is the core and

the central message of the great Vedas and mercifully placed it eternally in

the inner chambers of my heart. This gave me the desire to serve his lotus

feet and the most auspicious result of this desire was the opportunity i got

to perform devotional service unto him.

 

10. Payan andru aagilum paangalar aagilum

seyyal nandraaga tthirutthi- ppani kolvaan

kuyil nindru aar pozhil soozh kurugoor nambi *

muyal gindren unthan moy kazharkku anbaye

 

Translation: My great spiritual master never thought what benefit he would

get by giving away the knowledge of Krishna. By his great devotional

service, mercy, and by being a great example (by being an acharya) he

bestowed in the hearts of the fallen souls love for Krishna. My dear

Nammalwar, who appeared in the garden city of Kurugoor filled with cuckoos,

I am trying my best to serve your lotus feet.

 

11. Anban thannai adaindhavargatku yellaam

anban thenkurugoor nagar nambikku

anbanaai madhurakavi sonna sol

nambuvar padhi vaikuntam kaanmine

 

Translation: The Lord gives special mercy to all those who have surrendered

unto Him. Nammalwar became dear to the Lord by serving his dear devotees.

Madhurakavialwar took shelter of this great personality who served with

great devotion both Bhagavaan and the Bhaagavataas. And all those who

sincerely recite these verses composed by theis great Madhurakavi alwar

would attain the mercy of their spiritual master and hence would be

transferred to the Spiritual realm known as Sri Vaikuntha.

 

(Translated from Tamil by Satyabhama dd and Shyamasevika dd.)