Chapter 4
Thirucherai - (கண் சோர)
திருச்சேறை
At Thiruchcherai, the presiding deity is Saaranatha Perumal. This is one of the Pancha Sara Kshetrams. The āzhvār sings here, declaring that those who worship and praise Saaranatha Perumal are indeed the most blessed.
திருச்சேறையில் கோயில் கொண்டெழுந்தருளியிருப்பவர் சாரநாதப் பெருமாள். இது பஞ்சசார ÷க்ஷத்திரம். சாரநாதப் பெருமாளைத் தொழுது ஏத்துவார்களே மிகச் சிறந்தவர்கள் என்று இங்கே பாடுகிறார் ஆழ்வார்.
Verses: 1578 to 1587
Grammar: Aṟuchīrk Kaḻinediladi Āsiriya Viruththam / அறுசீர்க் கழிநெடிலடி ஆசிரிய விருத்தம்
- Verse 1:
1578. Your devotees praise you saying, “O king of the gods! When you were a baby you drank poisonous milk from the breasts of Putanā with fire-like red hair, and her blood flowed out swiftly, her eyes became tired and she fell to the ground. You are a strong child, and you are the king of the gods in the sky. ” You are the god of rich Thiruthancherai surrounded with diamond-studded palaces that touch the crescent moon in the sky. See, folding my hands on my head, I worship those devotees who worship the feet of you, our god. - Verse 2:
1579. On his chest he keeps Lakshmi with long and sharp eyes like arrows. He is the dancer who threw the Asuran when he came as a calf at the Asuran who had taken the form of a vilām fruit and killed them both. If the devotees worship the feet of my divine god, in the temple of Thiruthancherai surrounded with cool groves where bees swarm, they will stay in my heart always. - Verse 3:
1580. In Thiruthancherai where bees stir the pollen of the flowers and sing, devotees worship the god saying, “When Surpanakha with sharp bright teeth came like a lightning bolt before you, you cut off her nose and ears with your divine hands. ” I worship the feet of those virtuous devotees who sprinkle water and flowers on the god’s feet and shine brighter than the gods in the sky. - Verse 4:
1581. The god in Thiruthancherai, ruler of the gods in the sky, has a mountain-like chest adorned with garlands. I will never leave the devotees who praise his names saying, “You shot arrows from your strong bow in the cruel war and killed the king of Lankā in the south who drove many chariots and carried a shining sword. ” - Verse 5:
1582. I will not worship the Jains with their dirty bodies or the Buddhists with their incessant arguing, I will only worship those who praise the god who took the form of a man-lion, fought with Hiranyan and killed him. My heart will be sweet always as if honey poured from it, when it thinks of the devotees of the lord, who worship the feet of our god of Thiruthancherai, surrounded with fragrant blooming groves. - Verse 6:
1583. I praise him saying, “You are an excellent god. In ancient times as a boar you dug up the earth, brought the earth goddess up and saved her. ” I am his servant and have no help but him who stays in Thiruthancherai surrounded with blooming groves swarming with bees. When I see his devotees, my heart and my eyes feel joy. - Verse 7:
1584. I worship and praise him saying, “You, the Māyavan are virtuous and rest on the deep ocean on Adisesha the snake like a bright hill. . ” He saved me from the pleasures of my senses. I am his slave and I love the devotees who worship the divine feet of the dear lord of Thiruthancherai surrounded by fields where bees swarm around beautiful neelam flowers. - Verse 8:
1585. The gods in the sky and the people of the earth come and praise him whose feet are soft as tender shoots. He stays in Thiruthancherai surrounded by flourishing groves where bees swarm and sing. If devotees see him with their eyes, melting in their hearts and worshiping him folding their hands, cruel Yama will not hurt them and the results of bad karmā will not come to them. - Verse 9:
1586. My heart melts for the devotees who keep his feet in their hearts and worship the lord of Thiruthancherai where, as the farmers weed in the paddy fields, they crush karuneelam flowers with their feet and the fragrance of the flowers spreads as their honey flows. - Verse 10:
1587. The poet Kaliyan, Yama to his enemies, who drives swift chariots yoked with horses, composed ten musical pāsurams on the god resting on Adisesha on the water in cool Thiruthancherai where swans beneath the shadows of a mango trees are with their mates that walk like women wearing flowers in their dark hair. O devotees! Fold your hands together and worship his pure golden feet.