NavaKariam .By Peria Azhwar.--Pasurums on Sowmya Narayana Perumal at Thirukoshtiyur and Meanings in English.

SowmyaNarayana perumal with Sri Devi and Bhu Devi at Sowmya Narayana temple at Thirukoshtiyoor

 Sowmya Narayana at Sowmya Naryana temple at

Thirukoshtiyur.

Sri Ramanujar 's sculpture on top of the temple.
 

 

                                             Thirukotiyur Sirappu.

                      

                                                    360-370 of Periaazhwar Thirumozhi

                                                        Navakariam---              

 

                              (Words which shouldnot be spoken)                                                                                                    

These 10 verses describe Thirukotiyur and its inhabitants and are in praise of the presiding deity Sowmiya Narayana enshrined  therein.

In these hymns he praises all those inhabitants who worship Perumal/Bhagwan with  wholehearted  devotion and chides those who do not.

Pasuram 1

.Navakariam solliladhavar naadorum virundhombuvar,

Devakariam seidhu vedam payindru vaazh thiru kotiyur,

Moovar kariamum thiruthum mudalvanai sindhiyadhu,

Appava kariangalai padaithavan  yenganaum padaithan kolo?

 

Meaning:

In Thirukottiyur the devout residents do not speak all those words which are not to be spoken.

Each and every day they  greet guests and serve them with hospitality, perform ritual worship of Bhagwan and recite Vedas,

Bhagwan who is enshrined in this temple performs all the duties of Brahma, Siva  ,  and Indra without any fault and is the supreme god .

Why did Brahma create all those sinners who do not think or meditate on this sacred Bhagwan?

Note : Navakarium means and includes speaking words that do not praise human beings , speaking lies and, speaking words that hurt others .It also includes speaking or chantingBhagwan's sacred names and qualities , visiting holy places favoured by Bhagwan and speaking about one's religious and spiritual teacher's(Acharya's) names and qualities

Nacakarium Soliladhavar means persons who speak words that are devoid of above faults .

Thirukotiyur is small temple town near Maduarai --Tamilnadu.

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In praising and honouring the devotees in Thirukotiyur  Periya azhwar reiterates an important tenet of Sri Vaishnavism --that the devotees of Narayana/Vishnu are equally if not even more important than Bhagwan himself!

Pasuram 2.

Kutramindri  gunnam perukki kurukallukku annukularai,

setra mondru miladhvan kaiyinaargal vazhthiru kottiyur,

thootriyezhala gundathoomani vannanthanai thozhadhavar,

petra thayar vayirrinai perunoi seivaan pirandhargale.

Guiless and faultless always engaged in improving their qualities by controlling their mind and all the five senses,

serving their acharyas [gurus]diligently, lacking in jealousy and generous in giving alms are the persons living in Thirukotiyur.

In such a place there are also persons living who do not worship the blue sapphire hued Bhagwan who in ancient times swallowed all the seven worlds to protect them .He is enshrined in the temple in this place.

All these persons who do not worship him are born only to cause great pain and misery to their mother's womb .

Pasuram 3.

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Vanna  nunmanium maraghadhamum azhuithee nizhalyezhum,

thinnai choozhthirukotiyur Thirumalavan thirunamungal yenna kanda viralgalal,

iraipozhudhum yennakiladhu poi unna kandadhum ,

oothai vaikku kavalam undhukindrargale!

Pyols studded with many hued gems and emeralds , flashing their lights abound and surround the temple of Thirukotiyur,where Tirumaal is enshrined ,to meditate upon whose sacred names is the purpose for which one is provided with fingers, [ to calculate the number.]                                                                                                       Instead these fingers are used by persons only to shove food into their foul smelling mouth.How very abhorrent!

Pasuram4.

Uraga melannaiyaan kaiyilurai sangam pol mada annangal,

nirai kanam parandherum sengkamala vayal Thirukotiyur,

Naragnasanai navir kondazhaiyadha manida jathiyar,

paruga neerum udukkum kooraiyum pavanj seidhana  thangkolo!

The fields  and ponds of red lotuses of Thirukotiyur  are full of white swans,

which are as white and pure as the conch held by  Bhagwan reclining on Adisesha

Perumal who is enshrined as 'Uragalmelannaiyan' in this temple is capable of dispelling devotees intolerable pain and sorrow.

Water, that are drunk by persons who do not chant his sacred names as well as the clothes worn by them have surely sinned in the past .

Pasuram 5.

 Aamaiyin mudhugathidaikkudhi  kondu thoomalar saadipoi,

Theemai seidhilavalaigal vilayadu neer Thirukotiyur,

nemiser thadangaiyinanai ninaipilla vali nenjudai,

bhoomi bharangallunnnuj sotrinai  vaangi pullai thinnimene'.

Beautiful fishes known as Vallai jump over turtles back dashing against dainty  flowers of water plants and splash around playfully ,chasing away smaller fish in the ponds and lakes of Thirukotiyur.

Those who do not meditate on the deity enshrined in this idyllic place which is blessed with plenty of water , are hard hearted and a burden on this earth.

Seize their food and stuff their mouths with grass.

Note: In all the above five Pasurams Peria aazhwar regrets that many a persons do not realise the importance of being born as a human being and chides them for not using this birth as a human being which is rarest of all births , by refusing to meditate or worship Bhagwan , thus forfeiting a golden oppurtunity to attain Moksham and reach Vaikuntum.

Pasuram 6.

In the following five Pasurams Peria aazhwar praises all such persons who worship Bhagwan and are devoted to him.

Bhoodhamaindhodu vellvi aindhu pulangalaindhu porigalal,

yedhamondrum illadhavan kaiyinargal vaazh Thirukotiyur,

nathanai Narsinganai navinrethu vargal uzhikkia ,

padha thuli padudhalal ivvulagam bhakkiyum seidhadhe.

The residents of Thirukotiyur have within their grasp five elements-[earth,water,fire, wind and sky ],

the five yagams[reciting Vedas, propitiating devas by Agni homam , remembering ancestors by performing Pitru tharpanam, dedicating a part of food and feeding guests and feeding crows, dogs and cats],

the five senses [taste, sight, touch, sound,and smell],the five medium of senses [mouth,eyes, nose , ears and mind].They are without any fault or blemish.

Narsimha the leader of all has risen here to bless all .

This entire world is blessed by the footsteps of those who worship Narsimha enshrined in here.

Thus Periaazhwar celeberates the attributes of a true Sri Vaishnavaite.

Pasuram 7.

Kuruntha montrosith thaanodum sendru koodoadi vizhaseidhu ,

thirundunaan maraiyor irapagal yethi vaazh Thirukotiyur,

karunthada mugil vannanai kadaikondu thozhum bhakthargal ,

irundhavooril irrukkum manidar yethavangal seidharkolo!

Brahmins who are well versed in Vedas read and recite the qualities of One who broke Kurundhu trees [Sri Krishna] and perform festivals and worship day and night  , firmly believing that such pious activities is the best way to spend the time., live in Thirukotiyur..

What penance did all other persons do to live in a place inhabited by devotees who are constantly worshipping  One who is as dark as the clouds?

Note: Periaazhwar declares that the purpose of taking birth as human being is to live in holy places inhabited by Sri Vaishnavaites.

Pasuram 8.

Nallirindha seelan nayasalanabhimanathunganai naadorum,

thelindha selvanai sevangkonda senganmal  Thirukotioyur,

kulirindhu uraikindra Govindan   kunum paduvarulla naatinul vilaindha ,

dhaniyamum irakatthar medhu kollakilaargale.

Pleasant and good natured ,never swerving from the path of justice and dharma having a clear mind at all times and is full of pride at his devotion to Bhagwan is Selva nambi , who has been enslaved by the red eyed Tirumaal  [Mahavishnu]who is enshrined at Thirukotiyur,

The residents of Thirukotiyur recite and sing the pleasant qualities of Govinda 

.Hence even Rakshasas lose their strength to rob and carry away the grains in this country.

Note:    Selva nambhi was a close friend of Periaazhwar.                                 Periazhwar observes that Rakshasas can steal grains kept for oneself and not the grains kept for bhagvatars--devotees.

Pasuram 9.

Kombhinar pozhil vaikuilinam Govindan kunum paaduseer,

semponnar madhilchooz sengkazhaniudaiya  Thirukotiyur,

nambhanai Narasinghan navinrethu vaargalai kandaakaal,

Embhirantrana sinnangal ivar ivarendru aasaigal theervane'.

The koels in the groves of Thirukotiyur sing the qualities of Govindan,

This place is reef with ponds reddened by lotuses flowering in profusion and is guarded on all sides by thick and strong compound walls.

When I see all those persons who worship Narasimha who is enshrined in here to bless us  all they appear as representatives  of Sriman Narayana himself and this sacred sight satisfies my life long quest .

Pasuram 10.

Kaasin vaikaram virkilum karavadhu matrili  sorrittu,

desa vaarthai padaikum vankainaargal vaazh thirukotiyur,

Kesava! Purutothama! Kilar jyothiyai! Kuralayendru!,

pesuvar adiyargal yenthamai virkavum peruvaargale.

When a fistful of grains are sold at exhorbitant prices as during famines ,

The residents of Thirukotiyur do not hide or hoard their grains but feed their guests.

They are lauded  for this generosity  by all those living in other countries.

To those residents of Thirukotiyur who praise Perumal enshrined there as Kesava! Purushothama! Jyothi! Vamana! ,

I am willing to sell and enslave myself and do their bidding

Pasuram11.

Seedhaneer pudaichoozh sengkazhani udai Thirukotiyur,

Aadhiyanadi yaaraiyum adimai indri thirivaraiyum ,

kodhil battar pirankulir pudhuvaiman  Vittuchithan sol ,

yedhumindri uraipavargal Irudikesanukku aalare!

Thirukotiyur is blessed genoursely with fresh water bodies and fertile field,

The foremost god Sriman Narayana has risen here to bless us all,

Vishnuchithar has written about persons who are devoted to Hrishikesa and also about those persons who are not devoted and are roaming around aimlessly.

Those who recite these  Pasurams faultlessly will be considered as true devotee of that Perumal .

                                   _______________________________

Aazhwar thiru adigale saranam 

Sreerar Toopul Sri Venakatamudaiyan thiru adigale saranam.

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Acknowlegement

Nallayira divya prabhandham  Moolamum vilakyuraiyum by Sri Kamala kannan

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