The Puranam of Serutthunai Nayanar

(serutthunai nAyanAr purANam - Periyapuranam as English poetry)


		"I am a servitor of the servitors of Serutthunai
		The Chief of Thanjavoor."
				
						- The Tiru-th-Tonda-th-Tokai.

1. 	Thanjavoor of Marukal Naadu is of the Cauvery realm
	Where the lucid waves push into every sluice
	Sale and kayal fishes and bright gems;
	It is an opulent and lofty town rich in hoary clans
	Which were established in the traditional
	And righteous way of their clans, never swerving
	Inwardly or outwardly, from their integrated life.		(4120)

2. 	He was the chief of the Velaala clan which for ever
	Would correct the erring men and which flourished
	Gloriously in that famous town; he was a Saivite
	Who was truly devoted to the Lord’s feet
	Bedecked with melliferous flowers; he was called
	Serutthunaiyaar who fostered the way of servitorship
	To the river-crested Lord of ruddy matted hair
	And the Holy Ash, the Lord who kicked Death in his chest. 	(4121)

3. 	This loving devotee rendered his service in the divine
	And goodly court of the shrine at Tiruvaaroor of the Lord
	Of the Great Car with immense wheels, where wise munis
	And Devas thronged for ever, and adored the Lord
	At the ordained hours; poised in the srvitorship of the Lord
	That wears the young and curved crescent
	On His crown, he flourished well.				(4122)

4. The great queen-consort of the ruler of the world, The Pallava king Kazhal Singkar, was seen inhaling the fragrance Of a fresh flower that lay beside the bright Flower-mantapam; he, a devotee, that came In the traditional line of servitors to Lord Hara, unable To endure her act, took out a sharp and shiny instrument, Rushed amain and came near her. (4123) 5. Fast he came towards her, dragged her by her dark And soft koontal, cast her on the ground And caught hold of her beauteous nose; saying, “I will punish the nose that smelt the flower Removed from the divine flower-mantapam, the flower That is to have decked the Lord’s ruddy matted hair,” The peerless servitor-chief cut it off. (4124) 6. He, the puissant lion among servitors, who made known The glory of servitorship the world over, caused Servitorship to Siva-- the Wearer of a Konrai chaplet In his crown--, to flourish in this sea-girt earth; thus He caused the lives on earth gain deliverance; Then he reached the umbrage cast by the feet Of the Lord-Dancer of Ambalam, there to revel in deathless bliss.(4125) 7. Adoring the holy feet of Serutthunaiyaar Who sliced away the lovely and beautiful nose Of the great queen-consort that inhaled the fragrance Of the flower that had fallen in the divine court Of the Lord whose mount is the red-eyed Bull, We proceed to narrate the privileged servitorship Of Pukazhtthunaiyaar of ubiquitous fame. (4126) ---------------- NOTES Verse No.

1. Thanjavoor of Marukal Naadu: This is known as Keezhai-th-Thanjaavoor. 4. unable to endure her act: This is characteristic of every true Naayanaar. A Naayanaar can never be a witness to a blasphemous act. 6. Our Naayanaar is hailed as a puissant lion among servitors by St. Sekkizhaar. Here ends the Puranam of Serutthunai Naayanaar

Sincere thanks to Sri. T N Ramachandran of thanjavur, for permitting his English rendering of the holy text periyapurANam be published here.

See Also:
1. cheruththuNai nAyanAr purANam in English prose
2. செருத்துணை நாயனார் புராணம் (தமிழ் மூலம்)
3. thiruththoNDar purANam main page
4. 12 shaivite thirumuRais

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