Thiruppalli Yezhuchi

Thiruppalliyezhuchi
By Thondar Adi Podi Azhwar
Translated by Ramachander

[Songs for waking up the Lord was not a common tradition in Hinduism. The famous exhortation of Sage Viswamithra to Lord Rama in Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana viz., Kousalya Supraja Rama, Poorva Sandhya pravarthathe, Uthishta Nara Sardula, Karthavyam daivamahnikam - which requested him to wake up and do his ritualistic duties to God, is perhaps the only such waking up poem of the Puranas. This is strange since the system of sending Lord to sleep and waking up is prevalent in most of the famous temples of Tamil Nadu. This great Suprabatham (called Thiru palli ezhuchi) to wake up Lord Ranganatha which belongs to the Vaishavite literature or the one by Manikkavasagar to wake up lord Thiruperum thurai near Trichinopoly which belongs to the Shaivite literature www.hindupedia.com/en/Thirupalliyezhuchi(Tamil)) must be one of the first Suprabathams ever written. Sri Venkatesa Suprabatham which is used to wake up Lord Venkateswara of Thirupathi which was written about a hundred years back must be the most popular one. Detailed commenttry of this Thirupalliyezhuchi is at www.acharya.org/vyakyanam/tpezhu/tpezhu01.html and
www.sundarasimham.org/ebooks/Thirupalliyezhichchi.pdf]

Thaniyan**

Tameva matva paravasudeva Rangeshayam rajavadarhaniyam,
Prabodhikim yokrita suktimalam bhaktanghrirenum bhagavantamide.

He observed Ranganatha as divine Narayana,
Resting in Srirangam like a king,
And wrote this garland of verses to awaken him,
Is the dust of the feet of devotees and I extol him.

** A verse praising the work and author.

1. Kadiravan guna disai sikaram vandhu anainthan,
Kanavirul agandrathu, kalayam pozhudai,
Madhu virundozhgina maamalar yellam,
Vanavar arasargal vandhu vandheendi,
Yedhir disai niraindanar, ivarodum puguntha,
Iru kalitheettamum , pidiyodu murasum,
Adhirdhalil alai kadal pondru uladhu yengum,
Arangathamma*, palli ezhundharulvaye.

The sun has embraced the top of the mountain on the eastern side,
The darkness of dreams have faded and in the early morning,
All great flowers have arranged for the feast, by the honey ebbing out of them,
The kings and the devas have arrived and arrived,
And have crowded on the opposite side and the he and the she elephant,
Which have come along with them joined the drums,
And are making an ocean like noise all around,
And so Lord(mother) of Srirangam*, please do wake up.
* Lord Ranganatha is addressed as mother of Srirangam.

2. Kozhumkodi mullayin kozhumala ranavi,
Koornthathu guna disai marutham idhuvo,
Ezhundana malaranai palli kol annam,
Eenpani nanainthathum iru chiragudhari,
Vizhungiya mudalayin pilamburai pezh vay,
Vellyir uruvuthan vidathinmukkanungi,
Azhungiya aanayin arum thuyar kedutha,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

The breeze from the east blows bringing with it,
The sweet incense of jasmine flowers by caressing it,
The swans which caress the lotus flowers have woken up,
By slowly shaking their wings making the dew drops fall down,
Oh Lord (mother) of Srirangam who cured the sorrow of the elephant,
Caused by its body being caught in the box like mouth,
Of the crocodile which was trying to swallow it,
I request you, Please do wake up.

3. Chudar oli parandhana choozh disai ellam,
Thunniya tharagai minnoli churungip,
Padaroli pasuthanan, pani mathi ivano,
Paayirul agandrathu, paim pozhir kamugin,
Madalidai keeri van palaigal nara,
Vaigarai koornthathu marutham ithuvo,
Adaloli thigazh tharu thigiram thadakkai,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

On all directions the light of the Sun has spread,
The light of the shining stars have diminished,
The very bright moon has become very pale,
The darkness that pervaded had disappeared,
The gentle breeze blew all over the gardens,
And has opened the sheaths covering the flowers,
Of Arecanut and its sweet fragrance has spread,
And Oh Ranganatha (mother of Sri Rangam) who holds the greatly lustrous,
Holy discus, please do wake up.

4. Mettu ila methigal thalai vidum aayargal,
Vey kuzhal osayum vidai mani kuralum,
Eetiya visai disai paranthana vayulul,
Irinthina karumbinam ilanangayar kulathai,
Vattiya varisilai vanavarere,
Mamuni velviyai kathava, piratham,
Aatiya aduthiral ayothiyemmarase,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

The sound of cowherds releasing the young buffalos,
The sound of the pretty flute that those cowherds play,
And the jingling sound created by bells tied round the neck of cows,
Have spread all around in all the fields,
And the honey bee in search of honey have left their hives,
And oh king of all devas who tormented the Rakshasas of Lanka,
Who took the penance of protecting the Yaga of the great sage,
Oh King of Ayodhya who wielded his bow well,
Oh Ranganatha (mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up.

5. Pulambina putkalum poom pozhil kalin vaay,
Poyithu kangul pugundathu pulari,
Kalandathu guna disai kanai kadal aravam,
Kai vandu mizhathiya, kalambakam punaintha,
Alangala thodayal kondu adiyinai panivaan,
Amarargal pugundhanar aadalin amma,
Ilangayal kon vazhipadu chey koil,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

The birds are chattering and the flowers have opened,
The darkness has gone and the morning light has come,
The sound of the sea of the east is filling up the environment,
The devas have entered to worship you carrying along with them,
A garland made of scented flowers which are attracting honey bees,
And so Oh lord of the temple worshipped by Vibheeshana, the king of Lanka,
Oh Ranganatha(mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up.

6. Iraviyar mani nedum therodum ivaro?
Iraiavar pathinoru vidayarum ivaro?
Maruviya mayilinan arumukhan ivano?
Marudharum Vasukkalum Vandhu vandheendi,
Puraviyodadalum padalum therum,
Kumara dandam pugundheendiya vellam,
Aruvaraianaya nin koil mun ivaro?
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

Are they not twelve Suns along with their great chariots?
Are they not the eleven rudras riding on their bulls?
Is he not the six faced God riding on his peacock?
Are they not the Maruths And Vasus who have come,
On their horses who are seen as singing and Dancing?
Are they not being followed by their Chariots,
And horses who are following all of them?
Oh Ranganatha(mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up?

7. Andarathu amarargal kootangal ivayo?
Arunthava munivarum marutharum ivaro?
Indirananayum thanum vandhivano?
Em peruman, un koilin vasaal,
Sundarar nerukkavi sadarar nooka,
Iyakkarum mayakkinar thiruvadi thozhuvan,
Andharam paridam illai mathithuvo,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

Are they the crowd of the devas from the celestial world?
Are they very great sages and the maruths?
Have Indra and his elephant have come here?
The Gandharwas are crowding and Vidhyadharas are pressing,
And the yakshas have fainted in their effort to salute your feet,
And there is crowding in the sky as well as earth,
And so Oh Ranganatha (mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up.

8. Vambavizh vanavar vayurai vazhanga,
Manidhi kapilayon kannadi mudalaa,
Yemperuman padimai kalam kaandarkku,
Yerpanavayina kondu nan munivar,
Thumburu Naradar pugundanar ivaro,
Thondrinan iraviyum thulangoli parappi,
Ambara thathi nindru agalukindrathu irul poy,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

With the devas bringing great treasures to you,
As well as the arugam grass also to you,
Great sages are arranging cow, mirror and other things,
Including container of collyrium to be seen by the Lord,
The great sage singers Thumburu and Narada have come,
The great sun God has come out spreading great light,
All over the sky and the darkness is fading away,
And so Oh Ranganatha(mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up.

9. Yethamil than ummai yekkam ma thaliye,
Yazh kuzhal muzhava mod isai disai kezhmi,
Geethangal padinar kinnarar gerudargal,
Kandharuvar avar kanguluhamellam,
Mathavar vanavar charanar iyakkar,
Chitharum mayanginar thiruvadi thozhuvan,
Aathalil avarkku nalokka marula,
Arangathamma, palli ezhundharulvaye.

Without any interruption along with,
Accompaniment of Veena, flute and drums,
The Kinnaras, Garudas, Gandharwas
And all their world, along with great saints,
Sing about you filling all directions with that sound,
And the Charanas, Yakshas and Sidhas,
Are fainting due to this devotional music,
And are waiting to see your holy feet,
And to give all of them your holy sight,
Oh Ranganatha (mother of Sri Rangam), please do wake up.

10. Kadi malar kamalangal malarndhana ivayo,
Kadhiravan kanai kadal mulaithanan ivano.
Thudi idayaar churi kuzhal pizhindu udhari,
THugil udutherinar choozh punalaranga,
Thodai otha thulavamum koodayum polindhu,
Thondriya thol THondar adipodi yennum,
Adiyanai aliyananendru aruli unnadiyaarkku,
aadpaduthaay, palliyezhundaralaye.

Are these the new lotuses that have opened?
Is this not the Sun who has risen above the tumultuous sea?
Oh Ranga, the pretty damsels with thin middle,
After bathing in the river, have climbed to the shore,
And have shaken the water from their tresses and tied them,
I with a big garland of Thulasi running up to the thighs,
And is the dust of the feet of your devotees and,
I may please be introduced to your devotees as your own,
Oh Lord (mother) Ranganatha, please wake up.