SIVAPURAANAM - Part 2.1

Blessings to the Lord

Text: (lines 1 to 5)
namasivaaya vaazhga naadhan thaaL vaazhga
imaippozhuthum en nenjil neengaathaan thaaL vaazhga
kOkazhi aaNda gurumaNi than thaaL vaazhga
aagamam aagi nindru aNNippaan thaaL vaazhga
yEkan anEkan iraivan adi vaazhga

நமசிவாய வாழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணி தன் தாள் வாழ்க
ஆகமம் ஆகி நின்று அண்ணிப்பான் தாள் வாழ்க
ஏகன் அனேகன் இறைவன் அடி வாழ்க.

Namasivaaya vaazhga: நமசிவாய வாழ்க -
Sri Manickavasagar starts this puraanam with the panchaakshara naamam - na ma si vaa ya. He blesses the naama first.

The greatness of Namasivaaya naamam need not be explained. It is already explained by several blessed souls. As a sample, let me give the example of namasivaaya thiruppathigam of Appar and Gnanasambandhar.

Appar peruman, when he was tied to a stone and thrown in the sea, he chanted the naama - namasivaaya. The stone floated on the sea and was safely on shore. The place where Appar was safe on the shore, after singing namasivaaya pathigam is tiruppathirippuliyur or the present day cuddalore. He sings, Kattrunai pootti Orkadalil paaichinum, natrunai aavathu namasivaayave. That is, even if one ties us to a stone pillar and throw us in the sea, namasivaaya naamam will come to our rescue.

Sri Sambandhar, Sings vedam naanginum meipporul aavathu, naadhan naamam namasivaayave. That is namasivaaya, the name of lord shiva, is the truth behind the 4 vedas.

Next comes, Naadhan thaaL vaazhga - நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க - Thiruvaadhavooraar was transformed to Manickavasagar by the Lord, by showing His feet. So the poet sings, naadhan thaaL vaazhga, that is let the feet of my lord be blessed. Manickavasagar mostly sings about the lotus feet of the lord in most of his works. Even here, in siva puraanam, the lord's feet will be given maximum attention.

To be continued....