From: srin@cs.cornell.edu (Aravind Srinivasan)
Subject: Thiruppaavai Verse 1
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Cornell Univ., Ithaca NY
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1992 05:00:23 GMT


I am posting this on behalf of 
Dr. K. Srinivasan (srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca).

Regards,
Aravind.

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\(TAMIL20) sri aandaaL aruLich cheydha
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thiruppaavai

\(ROMAN) with English translation

by

\(TAMIL) mudumbai kirushNaSvaami srinivaaSan

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\(ROMAN) English Translation Copyright \(TAMIL)\char=155 1992 mudumbai kirushNaSvaami srinivaaSan
 
\(TAMIL20) Om
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anna vayaRpudhuvai aandaaL arangaRku(p)
pannu thiruppaavai(p) palpadhiyam
innisaiyaal paadikkoduththaaL naRpaamaalai
poomaalai soodi(k) koduththaaLai(ch) chollu

soodi(k) koduththa sudar(k) kodiyE tholpaavai
paadi aruLavalla palvaLaiyaay
naadi nee vEngadavaRku ennai vidhi onRa immaatram
naangadavaa vaNNamE nalgu.
------ \I uyyakkondaan\i --------
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\c \J [ The 'paavai nOnbu' is a penance practiced since very ancient times by young
girls in the month of December/January, to pray for rain and prosperity for
the country. The girls bathe before sunrise in the river and worship a girl
idol made out of wet sand. There is no basis for this in the Vedas. However,
it has a basis in the Tamil Sangam literature as well as Sanskrit Puranas.]

[ The Raagams mentioned are as sung by Mrs. G. P. Kamala. Some differ from
those of Ariyakkudi, MLV and Bombay Sisters.] 

[This is an attempt to provide a thiruppaavai translation helpful to those
choreographing the verses for Bharata Natyam, and to those who would simply
like to know the literal meaning while singing.]
\j
 
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\(TAMIL20) 1. raagam: BoopaaLam
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maargazhi(th) thingaL madhi niRaindha nannaaLaal
neeraada pOdhuveer pOdhuminO nErizhaiyeer
seer malgum aayppaadi(ch) chelva(ch) chiRumeergaaL
koorvEl kodundhozhilan nandhagOpan kumaran
Eraandha kaNNi yasOdhai iLam singam
kaar mEni cengaN kadhir madhiyam pOl mugaththaan
naaraayaNanE namakkE paRai tharuvaan
paarOr pugazha(p) padindhElOr empaavaay
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\c \J
Oh bejewelled girls (nEr izhaiyeer)! Prosperous (chelva) young girls
(chiRumeer) of the rich city (seer malgum) of Tiruvoypadi (aaypaadi)! This is
the month (thingaL) of December/January (margazhi), an auspicious day (nan
naaL) with brilliant moon (madhi niRaindha). Those of us who want to go
(pOdhuveer) to perform the penance of 'paavai nOnbu' (neeraada), let us go
(pOdhumeenO). The Lord (naaraayaNan), who was the son (kumaran) of NandagOpan,
who could give a lot of trouble (kodun thozhilan) to enemies using his sharp
spear (koor vEl); who was the little lion (iLam singam) of the beautiful
(Eraandha) eyed (kaNNi) YasOda; who is dark (kaar) skinned (mEni); who has
beautiful (sen) eyes (kaN); and shines like the sun (kadhir); who has a face
(mugaththaan) like (pOl) the moon (madhiyam); will give (tharuvaan) us
(namakkE) his blessings (paRai). Hey (El)! Let us immerse in water (padindhu)
and do the penance of 'paavai nOnbu' (Or embaavaai), a practice praised
(pugazha) by the people of the world (paarOr).
\j
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