Nayika Bhavam in Periya Thirumozhi - Part 1

 Thirumangai azhwar's Periya Thirumozhi  consists of 10 decads, with each decad containing 10 sections (padhigam). Each padhigam contains 10 paasurams. Out of all the divya desams that Thirumangai azhwar has sung about,  Periya Thirumozhi holds a special place for Thirukkannapuram. The entire 8th decad comprising 100 paasurams is dedicated to Thirukannapuram, from describing the journey towards Thirukannapuram in the first 5 padhigams, to admiring the beauty of thirukkannapuram and Sowriraja Perumal and finally surrendering himself (sharanaagati) to Perumal. 

An interesting feature of the first few padhigams is that Thirumangai azhwar assumes the role of parakaala naayaki. In the role of a young girl who is anguished from the separation from her lord in Thirukannapuram. Such is her suffering that she is unable to even speak, and her mother is put in great distress as well. In the first 2 padhigams, the mother speaks on behalf of the daughter (parakaala naayaki) as follows:

Padhigam 1:

My daughter’s breasts have become pale. She is in love with the ocean-colored god and she says, “A bow, a shining golden discus, a strong sword called Nandaham and a white conch!” She says, “Look, unlike his enemies, he has four arms strong as mountains. ” Did she see the god of Kannapuram where good Vediyars live reciting the beautiful Vedās?

My daughter says, “Carrying a bow in his hands, he fought with his enemies and conquered them. ” She says, “In one hand he carries the golden discus that destroyed his enemies when they came fight him. ” She says, “There is no one equal to you, and you are my dear god. ” Did she see the dear dark mountain-like god of Kannapuram?

 My daughter says, “He wears a thulasi garland on his crown studded with precious diamonds. ” She says, “He wears beautiful shining emerald earrings on his ears, and a golden chain studded with precious diamonds shines on his chest. ” The dear god stays in Kannapuram surrounded with mighty walls. Did she see him there?”

 My daughter says, “On his chest he wears a cool thulasi garland where bees swarm. My dear god who rides on an eagle broke the tusks of the elephant Kuvalayābeedam. See, he has a beautiful mouth red as coral. ” Did she see the god of Kannapuram where dark clouds in the sky roar?

 My daughter says, “He has beautiful lotus hands and feet. ” She says, “The beauty of his precious crown and his golden ornaments doesn’t go away from my mind. ” She says, “He has the long lovely-eyed Lakshmi on his mountain-like chest. ” Did she see the dear god of Kannapuram where fragrant lotus flowers bloom dripping honey?

My daughter says, “He has a thousand names. He is generous, he is generous!” She says, “His ears are decorated with beautiful emerald earrings and he has eight arms. ” She says, “He has the color of a dark cloud that pours rain. He is like a tall mountain. ” Did she see the dear god of Kannapuram surrounded with flourishing fields?

My daughter says, “He is wearing a red garment tied with a belt. ” She says, “His two fair beautiful feet and lovely hands are like lotuses. ” She says, “He has a dark sapphire-colored body. Is it emerald or is it a dark cloud?” Did she see the dear god of Kannapuram, where Vediyars live lighting sacrificial fires?

My daughter says, “He comes riding on a victorious eagle in the middle of a mandram in the village. ” She says, “For Indra himself who conquers all in battles, he is Indra. ” She says, “Couldn’t we born as women have the fortune of embracing his chest?” Did she see the dear god of Kannapuram where Vediyars, scholars of the Vedās, live?

 My daughter says, “His shining crown is adorned with fragrant garlands swarming with bees. ” She says, “ I love him so much that I will not be separated from him even a moment. ” She says, “Where did I see him before?” repeating the same question again and again. Did she see the dear god of Kannapuram that attracts everyone’s mind?

 Kaliyan the poet composed a beautiful garland of ten Tamil pāsurams on the god of Thirukkannapuram surrounded by a fragrant forest with good trees describing how a mother is worried that her daughter with soft doe-like eyes has fallen in love with the god and wonders whether she has seen him. If devotees learn and recite these pāsurams they will go to the golden world where the Karpaga tree blooms and stay there as famous kings.


Padhigam 2:

 Her mother says, O faultless god of the gods with the lovely color of a precious jewel who know everything, my daughter worships Kannapuram surrounded with crashing water. Is she a thief like you? Is it right for you to make her bangles grow loose?

 “My daughter stands in the courtyard where the bright moon shines and looks around and points to Kannapuram and says, ‘See that!’ She loves that Pananār so dearly and she is not ashamed to express her love for him. Surely she wants to go to Thirunaraiyur. ”

“My daughter prattles as Thiruneermalai and says, ‘Thiruvenkatam is a mountain filled with divine waterfalls that flow with abundant water, ’ and she asks, “Where is Thirumeyyam?” and says, ‘Kannapuram has excellent fame. ’ Her heart melts with his love and she grows weak. What is this?”

“My daughter doesn’t eat all day. She doesn’t sleep. She is innocent and young, not old enough to fall in love yet. He is worshiped by all in Kannapuram. How could she fall in love with the dark ocean-colored Kannan? Why does she do this?”

“My lovely daughter worships Kannapuram where Kannan stays. When she says, ‘I am a girl and I love the god, ’ she is telling the truth. Perhaps if she hears someone tell her how he stole and ate butter and how Yashodā tied him to a mortar, the pallid color of her body will change back to normal. ”

“My daughter says, ‘I came to Thirukannapuram from Thirumālai in the north to be with the lord. ’ My beautiful daughter is innocent. Does she owe him anything? She cannot sleep at all. ”

 “If my daughter hears the sound of the rolling waves of the ocean or sees the cool moon that shines bright she feels distress. She has been suffering like this for many days. She always says her only wish is to go to ancient Srirangam (on Kannapuram) where the god stays who split open the mouth of the Asuran when he came as a horse. ”

“All devotees go to Thirukkannapuram to worship your feet and you protect them. My daughter sees that and wants to go there and worship you. The jewel-like body of my innocent daughter with hair that swarms with bees has grown pale. Do you think it is right to make her suffer like this?”

“My daughter does not have all her teeth yet. Her hair has not yet grown thick and you can’t say that she understands things. What can I do? She wants to see the god in Thirukkannapuram filled with groves blooming with flowers that drip honey. How can I think this child is really innocent?”

Kaliyan, Yama to his enemies, praised by all the people of the world, the king of Thirumangai filled with clouds in the sky composed ten wonderful divine pāsurams on Thirukannapuram. If devotees learn and recite these pāsurams they will live long with fame on this earth surrounded with oceans.