Chapter 4
Thiruvarangam 1 - (உந்திமேல் நான்முகனை)
திருவரங்கம் 1
Thiruvarangam is commonly known as Srirangam. It is often referred to as the earthly Vaikuntha. This temple is highly esteemed as 'Koyil' by Sri Vaishnavas. Located amidst the Kaveri River, this sacred place houses the deity Sri Ranganatha and the goddess Sri Ranganayaki. The lord is seen reclining on Adisesha, the divine serpent. Additionally, he holds the unique honor of being the deity glorified by the ten āzhvārs.
திருவரங்கத்தை ஸ்ரீரங்கம் என்று கூறுவது வழக்கம். பூலோக வைகுண்டம் என்று இதைக் கூறுவார்கள். ஸ்ரீவைஷ்ணவர்கள் கோயில் என்றே இதனைச் சிறப்பித்துச் சொல்வார்கள். காவிரி நதிக்கு இடையில் இத்தலம் இருக்கிறது. பெருமாள் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாதர். தாயார் ஸ்ரீரங்கநாச்சியார். பெருமாள் திருவனந்தாழ்வான் மீது சயனித்துக்கொண்டு இருக்கிறார். இவருக்குப் பதின்மர் பாடும் பெருமாள் என்றும் ஒரு பெருமை உண்டு.
Verses: 1378 to 1387
Grammar: Kalinilaiththuṟai / கலிநிலைத்துறை
Recital benefits: Will rule this world and then go to Vaikuṇṭam
- Verse 1:
1378. Our father, the father of the gods who created Nānmuhan on his navel and swallowed all the seven worlds stays in Thennarangam surrounded with fields flourishing with paddy that is golden like the bright evening where the Kaveri flows carrying abundant sandalwood and jewels. - Verse 2:
1379. Our Māyan who swallowed the whole world and slept on a banyan leaf and who rests on the ocean on the snake Adisesha that has diamonds on his thousand heads stays in Thennarangam surrounded by the Kaveri flowing with abundant water mixed with sandal paste that had been smeared on women’s large breasts and with flowers from the garlands that adorned their beautiful hair. - Verse 3:
1380. Our lord who went as a dwarf in ancient times, took water in his large hands from Mahabali and measured the world and sky stays in beautiful flourishing Thennarangam where the Kaveri flows with sweet honey-like water and bees sing and the fragrance of the groves rises to the sky. - Verse 4:
1381. Our god who as Rāma bent his bow and destroyed Lankā, the kingdom of the Rakshasā king Rāvana with a heroic sword and fought with him in a cruel battle stays in Thennarangam surrounded by the flourishing Kaveri and its abundant water that brings elephant tusks and akil and throws them onto its banks. - Verse 5:
1382. The handsome Rāma who grew angry, bent his bow, and fought and sent to the sky the Rakshasā Rāvana, the beloved husband of Mandodari whose hair swarmed with bees stays in Thennarangam surrounded by beautiful golden walls where Indra the king of the gods and people of all the seven worlds come to worship him. - Verse 6:
1383. Kannan who drank milk from the terrible devil Putanā and killed her after she had come wearing a lovely garment around her waist stays in Thennarangam surrounded by the Kaveri with its rolling waves that flows by banana groves filled with bunches of fruits. - Verse 7:
1384. Our god who conquered Kamsan and the cruel wrestlers with his shining discus and defeated Sakatāsuran when he came as a cart stays in Thennarangam where the fragrance of the smoke of the sacrifices performed by the Vediyar reciting mantras and the fragrant smoke of the incense from the palaces spreads everywhere among the clouds floating above them. - Verse 8:
1385. The matchless lord of the earth who took the form of a boar, fish, turtle, man-lion and a dwarf stays in Thennarangam where the people of the earth and the gods of the sky gather together, mixing like milk and honey, and worship him. - Verse 9:
1386. The god whom people praise saying, “He is the greatest god. He is far from our eyes, and he is forthright and impartial. No one knows his māya. ” stays in Thennarangam surrounded by precious golden walls where the Kaveri with its abundant water brings jewels and pearls from bamboo canes that have split open and leaves them on its banks. - Verse 10:
1387. Kaliyan, the chief of Thirumangai surrounded by walls stronger than mountains composed ten pāsurams on the god (Arangan) on whose chest Lakshmi stays on a beautiful lotus. If devotees learn and recite this garland of ten musical pāsurams, they will rule the world and go to the spiritual world and rule it.