Arunachala Navamanimalai

Achalane yai-num ach-chavai tan-nil
Achalai-yam ammai-yedi radum—achala
Uni-vil ach-chakti odun-gida von-gum
Aruna chala-men drari 1

1. Although (Siva) is motionless he dances before the Mother (Sakti) who stands still in the court (of Chidambaram). But know that that Sakti is withdrawn into His unmoving Self and He stands in His grandeur as the towering Arunachala.


Sattiya chit-sumam andrip para-vuyir sarayik-kam
Atta-va tattva masi-arunap porulam achalattu
Artan gana-madu vagun-sev vadaka aroli-yam
Mukti ninaikka arul-Aruna chala munni-dave 2

2. When one enquires into the meaning of Arunachala, which is lustrous like red gold and bestows Liberation, one finds that the word 'Aruna' means Sat, Chit and Ananda (Existence, Consciousness and bliss), the identity of the individual self and the Supreme Self (according to the Mahavakya. [1] 'That thou art') and that the word 'Achala' means perfection.


Aruna chalat-tiluru karuna karap-paraman
arunara vinda padame
Poru-nadu sutra-modu varu-nadi patiri-yula
maru-nada lattru nidamun
Teruna dulat-tininal arul-nadi nirku-mavar
iru-nasa muttru puvimel
Taruna runak-kadirin arulnal muttru-suka
varu-nala yatti lizhivar 3

3. Persons with minds free from attachment to riches, lands, relatives, caste and the like [2] and, having become pure, seek benign grace at the red lotus feet of the Lord of Compassion presiding over Arunachala (or, abiding as Arunachala), rid themselves of their ignorance and, attaining the grace which shines like the rays of the rising sun, always abide in this world happy, sunk in the Ocean of Bliss.


Anna malai-yunai ennan ena-enai annan dengida ennade
Manna mala-vuda lenna vaha-mena manna main-dida vonnade
Tannar aliseri kanna doru-kiri panna denniru kannala
Pennan ali-yuru nanna oli-yuru vanna lennaga nannaye 4

4. Annamalai [3] ! Delight of my Eyes! Lord who art Consciousness Itself, beyond differences of male, female and neuter! Do not think of letting me pine away in despair as one unmindful of Thee (for Thou art ever in my mind [4] . Is it not unbecoming Thy Grace that I should be reduced to dust mistaking the vile body for the Self? Do not therefore deceive me in any manner but turn Thy full and refreshing glance upon me. Abide in my heart.


Sirana sona-giri sirakka vazhum
chirso-rupa nam-iraiye siriya nen-dran
Perana pizhai-yellam poruttu kattu
pinnu-mivan pazhi danil vizha vannam
Karana karunai-vishi koduppa yindrel
kadum-bhavatti nindru-karai year matten
Nerana dundo-tai sisuvu kattru
niga-rattra nala-nukku nigazhttu vaye 5

5. Lord! Who art Consciousness Itself, reigning over the famous Sonagiri [5] . forgive all the grievous faults of this poor self and by Thy merciful glance, benignant as the rain cloud, save me from being lost once more in the dreary waste, or else I cannot cross the terrible ocean of births and deaths. What can match a mother's care for her child? Deal with me (like a mother).


Kamari yendruni anbaral endrume gadit-tidan padu-gindrai
Amame unak-kidu vamaven drai-yurum aruna chale-swarane
Amayin enga-nan dirane surane yayi-num valla-nangan
Kamari yagumun kalaran saran-pugu karut-tinut puga-valane 6

6. 'Killer of Kama' [6] Thou art always called by Thy votaries. Yes, that is true. But, Lord of Arunachala, I doubt whether this (name) fits Thee. If it is fitting, how can the Invisible One (Kama), the mighty, dare, brave and valiant though he be, to creep into a mind sheltering under Thy Feet Who art his killer?


Anna malai-yai adi-yenai anda vandre avi-yudal
Kondai enakkor kurai-yundo kuraiyun guna-mum niyal-lal
Ennen ivat-trai yennu-yire ennam eduvo adu-seivai
Kanne undran kazhali-naiyil kadal perukke taru-vaye 7

7. Annamalai! As soon as Thou didst claim me, my body and soul were Thine. Can I then lack anything? (What else can I desire?). I can think only of Thee (hereafter), not of merit and demerit, O my Life. Do as Thou wilt, then, my Beloved, but grant me only ever increasing love for Thy (dear) Feet!


Puvik-kut pongi-dum puvi-chor punga-van
purik-kut punni-yan suzhik-kut sundaran
Tavarku sundaram sadik-kur panna-nan
talat-tir pun-pulan chazhak-kir tun-burun
Tavik-ku tunji-dum padik-ku tan-nulam
tazhaik-ka tan-padam enak-ku tanda-nan
Sivak-ka chin-mayam chezhik-ka tan-mayam
jegat-tir tunnu-chem porup-pu chemmale 8

8. I was born at holy Tiruchuzhi, the seat of Bhoominatheswara, renowned in the world, to the virtuous Sundara and his faithful wife Sundari. In order that Siva, the Absolute Consciousness, might shine forth and the Self flourish and that I might be rescued from the misery of the world and the snares of the despicable senses, the Lord of the Red Hill (Arunachala) raised me to His state.


Amma-yum appa-num ayenai bumi-yil akki-yalittu
Ammahi mayai-yen azhkadal vizhndu-yan azhndidu-mun
Enmana manni yizhut-tun padat-til irutti-naiyal
Chinmaya nam-Aru nachala ninnarut chitra-menne 9

9. Bearing and tending me in the world in the shape of my father and mother Thou didst enter my heart and before I fell into the deep sea called Mahamaya [7] and was drowned, Thou didst draw me to Thee and keep me at They Feet. How shall I describe Thy wonderful Grace, O Arunachala who art Consciousness Itself?



[1] A vakya is a Vedic utterance; four great utterances (mahavakyas) are especially distinguished, of which this (Tattvamasi) is one.

[2] 'The like' are the four stages of life (asramas).

[3] Another name for Arunachala.

[4] The parenthesis incorporates an alternative sense.

[5] Arunachala.

[6] Kama is Cupid; his temptation of Siva while engaged in tapas, ended in his conflagration by a wrathful glance from Siva's third eye. Out of pity for his disconsolate wife, Sati, Siva subsequently granted him continued existence in a subtle body.

[7] Universal Illusion.