Tiruppavai

Tiruppavai is a collection of 30 devotional hymns composed by Andal, one of the twelve Alvars (saints) of South India. These hymns are dedicated to Lord Vishnu and are an integral part of Tamil Vaishnavism. Tiruppavai is widely recited during the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January), as it is believed that singing these hymns brings divine blessings.

Authorship and Significance

Andal, also known as Kodhai Nachiyar, was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu and the only female Alvar. She composed Tiruppavai and Nachiyar Tirumozhi, both of which reflect her deep love and devotion to the Lord. Tiruppavai is considered a spiritual path to attaining moksha (liberation) and is often regarded as the essence of the Vedas.

Theme and Structure

Tiruppavai consists of 30 Pasurams (verses), each written in Tamil poetry, glorifying Lord Krishna and describing austerities (Vratham) observed by devotees to attain His grace. The hymns depict the gopis (cowherd girls) of Vrindavan performing a month-long vrat (vow) to seek Krishna’s love and blessings. Andal imagines herself as one among these gopis and urges others to join her in this spiritual journey.

The central themes of Tiruppavai include:

• Bhakti (devotion) towards Lord Vishnu.
• Surrender (Prapatti) as the ultimate path to salvation.
• Equality—all devotees, regardless of their background, can attain Vishnu’s grace.
• Disciplined living through spiritual practices.

Philosophical and Cultural Impact

Tiruppavai is a cornerstone of Sri Vaishnavism, embodying Vedic principles in a simple poetic form. The hymn is widely revered not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. It is often referred to as the Dravidian Veda because it conveys the essence of Upanishadic teachings in a language accessible to common people.

The verses emphasize surrendering to God with pure devotion and renouncing material desires. Many saints and scholars, including Ramanujacharya, have written commentaries on Tiruppavai, highlighting its philosophical depth.

Tiruppavai In English

dhyānam
nīḻā tuṅga stanagiritaṭī suptamudbōdhya kṛṣṇaṃ
pārārthyaṃ svaṃ śrutiśataśiraḥ siddhamadhyāpayantī ।
svōchChiṣṭāyāṃ sraji nigaḻitaṃ yā balātkṛtya bhuṅktē
gōdā tasyai nama idamidaṃ bhūya ēvāstu bhūyaḥ ॥

anna vayal puduvai yāṇḍāḻ araṅgarku
pannu tiruppāvai ppal padiyam, inniśaiyāl
pāḍikkoḍuttāḻ naRpāmālai,
pūmālai śūḍikkoḍuttāḻai chchollu,
śūḍikkoḍutta śuḍarkoḍiyē tolpāvai,
pāḍiyaruḻavalla palvaḻaiyāy, nāḍi nī
vēṅgaḍavaRkennai vidi yenRa immāṭram,
nān kaḍavā vaṇṇamē nal‍ku.

1. pāśuram
mārgaḻi’t tiṅgaḻ madiniRainda nannāḻāl ,
nīrāḍa ppōduvīr pōduminō nēriḻai’yīr ,
śīr mal‍gumāy‍pāḍi śelvachchiṛmīrgāḻ ,
kūr vēl koḍundoḻi’lan nandagōpan kumaran ,
ērār‍nda kaṇṇi yaśōdai yiḻaṃ śiṅgaṃ ,
kār‍mēni chcheṅgaṇ kadir matiyambōl mugattān,
nārāyaṇanē namakkē paRai taruvān ,
pārōr pugaḻa’ ppaḍindēlōrembāvāy ॥ 1 ॥

2. pāśuram
vaiyattu vāḻ’vīr‍gāḻ nāmuṃ naṃ pāvaikku,
śeyyuṃ kiriśaigaḻ kēḻīrō, pāRkaḍaluḻ
paiya ttuyinRa parama naḍipāḍi,
neyyuṇṇōṃ pāluṇṇōṃ nāṭkālē nīrāḍi,
maiyiṭṭeḻu’tōṃ malariṭṭu nāṃ muḍiyōm,
śeyyādana śeyyōṃ tīkkuRaḻai chenRōdōm,
aiyamuṃ pichchaiyumāndanaiyuṃ kaikāṭṭi,
uyyumāReṇṇi ugandēlōrembāvāy ॥ 2 ॥

3. pāśuram
ōṅgi yulagaḻanda uttaman pēr pāḍi,
nāṅgaḻ naṃ pāvaikkuchchāṭri nīrāḍināl,
tīṅginRi nāḍellāṃ tiṅgaḻ mummāri pey‍du,
ōṅgu peruṃ śennelūḍu kayalugaḻa,
pūṅguvaḻaippōdil ppoRivaṇḍu kaṇpaḍuppa,
tēṅgādē pukkirundu śīrta mulaipaṭri vāṅga,
kkuḍaṃ niRaikkuṃ vaḻḻal peruṃ paśukkaḻ,
nīṅgāda śelvaṃ niRaindēlōrembāvāy ॥ 3 ॥

4. pāśuram
āḻi’maḻai’ kkaṇṇā onṛ nī kaikaravēl,
āḻi’yuḻ pukku mugandu koḍārtēRi,
ūḻi’ mudalvanuruvambōl mey kaṛttu,
pāḻi’yandōḻuḍai ppaRbanāban kaiyil,
āḻi’pōl minni valamburipōl ninRatir‍ndu,
tāḻā’dē śār‍ṅgamudaitta śaramaḻai’ pōl,
vāḻa’ vulakinil pey‍diḍāy, nāṅgaḻuṃ
mārkaḻi’ nīrāḍa magiḻ’ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 4 ॥

5. pāśuram
māyanai mannu vaḍamadurai maindanai,
tūya perunīr yamunai ttuRaivanai,
āyar kulattinil tōnṛṃ aṇi viḻakkai,
tāyai kkuḍal viḻakkaṃ śey‍da dāmōdaranai,
tūyōmāy vandu nāṃ tūmalar tūvittoḻu’du,
vāyināl pāḍi manattināl śindikka,
pōya piḻai’yuṃ pugudaruvā ninRanavum,
tīyinil tūśāguṃ śeppēlōrembāvāy ॥ 5 ॥

6. pāśuram
puḻḻuṃ śilambina kāṇ puḻḻaraiyan kōyilil,
veḻḻai viḻiśaṅgin pēraravaṃ kēṭṭilaiyō ?
piḻḻāy eḻu’ndirāy pēy mulai nañjuṇḍu,
kaḻḻachchagaḍaṃ kalakkaḻi’ya kkālōchchi,
veḻḻattaravil tuyilamar‍nda vittinai,
uḻḻattukkoṇḍu munivar‍gaḻuṃ yōgigaḻum,
meḻḻaveḻu’ndu ariyenRa pēraravam,
uḻḻaṃ pugundu kuḻir‍ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 6 ॥

7. pāśuram
kīśu kīśenReṅguṃ ānaichchāttan,
kalandu pēśina pēchcharavaṃ kēṭṭilaiyō pēy ppeṇṇē,
kāśuṃ piRappuṃ kalakalappa kaipērtu,
vāśa naṛṅkuḻa’lāyichchiyar, mattināl
ōśai ppaḍutta ttayiraravaṃ kēṭṭilaiyō,
nāyaga ppeṇpiḻḻāy nārāyaṇan mūrti,
kēśavanai ppāḍavuṃ nī kēṭṭē kiḍattiyō,
dēśamuḍaiyāy tiRavēlōrembāvāy ॥ 7 ॥

8. pāśuram
kīḻ’vānaṃ veḻḻenṛ erumai śiṛvīḍu,
mēy‍vān parandana kāṇ mikkuḻḻa piḻḻaigaḻum,
pōvān pōginRārai ppōgāmal kāttu,
unnaikkūvuvān vandu ninRōm, kōdugalamuḍaiya
pāvāy eḻu’ndirāy pāḍippaRai koṇḍu,
māvāy piḻandānai mallarai māṭṭiya,
dēvādidēvanai śenṛ nāṃ śēvittāl,
āvāvenRārāy‍ndaruḻēlōrembāvāy ॥ 8 ॥

9. pāśuram
tūmaṇimāḍattu chchuṭruṃ viḻakkeriya,
tūpaṃ kamaḻa’ ttuyilaṇai mēl kaṇvaḻarum,
māmān magaḻē maṇikkadavaṃ tāḻ tiRavāy,
māmīr avaḻai eḻuppīrō, un magaḻ tān
ūmaiyō ? anRi chcheviḍō, anandalō ?,
ēma pperunduyil mandirappaṭṭāḻō ?,
māmāyan mādavan vaikundan enRenṛ,
nāmaṃ palavuṃ navinRēlōrembāvāy ॥ 9 ॥

10. pāśuram
nōṭru chchuvar‍kkaṃ puguginRa ammanāy,
māṭramuṃ tārārō vāśal tiRavādār,
nāṭra ttuḻā’y muḍi nārāyaṇan, nammāl
pōṭra ppaRai taruṃ puṇṇiyanāl,
paṇḍorunāḻ kūṭrattin vāy vīḻ’nda kumbakaraṇanum,
tōṭrumunakkē perunduyil tān tandānō ?,
āṭra vanandaluḍaiyāy aruṅgalamē,
tēṭramāy vandu tiRavēlōrembāvāy ॥ 10 ॥

11. pāśuram
kaṭrukkaRavai kkaṇaṅgaḻ palakaRandu,
śeṭrār tiRalaḻi’ya chchenṛ śeruchcheyyum,
kuṭramonRillāda kōvalar taṃ poRkoḍiyē,
puṭraraval‍gul punamayilē pōdarāy,
śuṭrattu tōḻi’mārellāruṃ vandu, nin
muṭraṃ pugundu mugil vaṇṇan pēr pāḍa,
śiṭrādē pēśādē śelva ppeṇḍāṭṭi,
nī eṭrukkuRaṅguṃ poruḻēlōrembāvāy ॥ 11 ॥

12. pāśuram
kanaittiḻaṃ kaṭrerumai kanṛkkiRaṅgi,
ninaittu mulai vaḻi’yē ninṛ pāl śōra,
nanaittillaṃ śēRākkuṃ naRchelvan taṅgāy,
panittalai vīḻa’ nin vāśaR kaḍai paṭri,
śinattināl tennilaṅgai kkōmānai chcheṭra,
manattukkiniyānai ppāḍavuṃ nī vāy tiRavāy,
inittāneḻu’ndirāy īdenna pēruRakkam,
anaittillattāru maRindēlōrembāvāy ॥ 12 ॥

13. pāśuram
puḻḻin vāy kīṇḍānai ppollā varakkanai
kkiḻḻi kkaḻaindānai kkīrtimai pāḍippōy,
piḻḻaigaḻellāruṃ pāvaikkaḻambukkār,
veḻḻi yeḻu’ndu viyāḻa’muRaṅgiṭru,
puḻḻuṃ śilambina kāṇ! pōdarikkaṇṇināy,
kuḻḻakkuḻira kkuḍaindu nīrāḍādē,
paḻḻikkiḍattiyō pāvāy! nī nannāḻāl,
kaḻḻaṃ tavir‍ndu kalandēlōrembāvāy ॥ 13 ॥

14. pāśuram
uṅgaḻ puḻai’kkaḍai ttōṭṭattu vāviyuḻ,
śeṅgaḻu’ nīr vāy negiḻ’ndu ambal vāy kūmbina kāṇ,
śeṅgal poḍi kkūRai veṇbal tavattavar,
taṅgaḻ tirukkōyil śaṅgiḍuvān pōginRār,
eṅgaḻai munnaṃ eḻu’ppuvān vāy pēśum,
naṅgāy eḻu’ndirāy nāṇādāy nāvuḍaiyāy,
śaṅgoḍu śakkaramēnduṃ taḍakkaiyan,
paṅgayakkaṇṇānai ppāḍēlōrembāvāy ॥ 14 ॥

15. pāśuram
ellē! iḻaṅkiḻiyē innamuRaṅgudiyō,
śillenRaḻai’yēnmin naṅgaimīr pōdaruginRēn,
vallai un kaṭṭuraigaḻ paṇḍē yun vāyaRidum,
vallīr‍gaḻ nīṅgaḻē nānēdānāyiḍuga,
ollai nī pōdāy unakkenna vēṛḍaiyai,
ellāruṃ pōndārō? pōndār pōndeṇṇikkoḻ,
vallānai konRānai māṭrārai māṭraḻi’kka
vallānai, māyānai pāḍēlōrembāvāy ॥ 15 ॥

16. pāśuram
nāyaganāy ninRa nandagōpanuḍaiya
kōyil kāppānē, koḍittōnṛṃ tōraṇa
vāyil kāppānē, maṇikkadavaṃ tāḻ tiRavāy,
āyar śiṛmiyarōmukku, aRaipaRai
māyan maṇivaṇṇan nennalē vāy nēr‍ndān,
tūyōmāy vandōṃ tuyileḻa’ppāḍuvān,
vāyāl munnamunnaṃ māṭrādē ammā, nī
nēya nilaikkadavaṃ nīkkēlōrembāvāy ॥ 16 ॥

17. pāśuram
ambaramē taṇṇīrē śōRē aRaṃ śeyyum,
emberumān nandagōpālā eḻu’ndirāy,
kombanār‍kkellāṃ koḻundē kula viḻakkē,
emberumāṭṭi yaśōdāy aRivuRāy,
ambaramūḍaṛttu ōṅgi ulagaḻanda,
umbar kōmānē! uRaṅgādeḻu’ndirāy,
śeṃ poRkaḻa’laḍi chchelvā baladēvā,
umbiyuṃ nīyumuRaṅgēlōrembāvāy ॥ 17 ॥

18. pāśuram
undu mada gaḻiṭranōḍāda tōḻvaliyan,
nandagōpālan marumagaḻē! nappinnāy!,
gandaṃ kamaḻu’ṃ kuḻa’lī kaḍaitiRavāy,
vandu eṅguṃ kōḻi’ yaḻai’ttana kāṇ, mādavi
pandal mēl pal‍kāl kuyilinaṅgaḻ kūvina kāṇ,
pandār virali un maittunan pēr pāḍa,
śendāmarai kkaiyāl śīrār vaḻaiyoḻippa,
vandu tiRavāy magiḻ’ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 18 ॥

19. pāśuram
kuttu viḻakkeriya kkōṭṭukkāl kaṭṭil mēl,
mettenRa pañchaśayanattin mēlēRi,
kottalar pūṅguḻa’l nappinnai koṅgaimēl,
vaittu kkiḍanda malar mār pā vāy tiRavāy,
maittaḍaṃ kaṇṇināy nīyun maṇāḻanai,
ettanai pōduṃ tuyileḻa’voṭṭāy kāṇ,
ettanaiyēluṃ pirivāṭra gillaiyāl,
tattuvamanṛ tagavēlōrembāvāy ॥ 19 ॥

20. pāśuram
muppattu mūvaramararku mun śenṛ,
kappaṃ tavirkuṃ kaliyē tuyileḻā’y,
śeppamuḍaiyāy tiRaluḍaiyāy, śeṭrārku
veppaṃ koḍukkuṃ vimalā tuyileḻā’y,
śeppanna menmulai śevvāyi śiṛmaruṅgul,
nappinnai naṅgāy tiruvē tuyileḻā’y,
ukkamuṃ taṭṭoḻiyuṃ tandun maṇāḻanai,
ippōdē yemmai nīrāṭṭēlōrembāvāy ॥ 20 ॥

21. pāśuram
ēṭra kalaṅgaḻ edir‍poṅgi mīdaḻippa,
māṭrādē pāl śoriyuṃ vaḻḻal peruṃ paśukkaḻ,
āṭrappaḍaittān maganē aRivuRāy,
ūṭramuḍaiyāy periyāy, ulaginil
tōṭramāy ninRa śuḍarē tuyileḻā’y,
māṭrārunakku valitolaindu un vāśaRkaṇ,
āṭrādu vandu unnaḍi paṇiyumāpōlē,
pōṭriyāṃ vandōṃ pugaḻ’ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 21 ॥

22. pāśuram
aṅgaṇ mā ñālattaraśar, abhimāna
baṅgamāy vandu nin paḻḻikkaṭṭiRkīḻē’,
śaṅgamiruppār pōl vandu talaippey‍dōm,
kiṅkiṇi vāy‍chchey‍da tāmarai ppūppōlē,
śeṅgaṇ śiṛchchiRidē yemmēl viḻi’yāvō,
tiṅgaḻumādittiyanu meḻu’ndāRpōl,
aṅgaṇiraṇḍuṅkoṇḍu eṅgaḻ mēl nōkkudiyēl,
eṅgaḻ mēl śāpamiḻi’ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 22 ॥

23. pāśuram
mārimalai muḻai’ñjil manni kkiḍanduRaṅgum,
śīriya śiṅgamaRivuṭru ttīviḻi’ttu,
vēri mayir‍ppoṅga veppāḍuṃ pēr‍ndūdaRi,
mūri nimir‍ndu muḻa’ṅgi ppuRappaṭṭu,
pōdarumā pōlē nī pūvaippūvaṇṇā, un
kōyil ninṛ iṅganē pōndaruḻi, kōppuḍaiya
śīriya śiṅgāśanattirundu, yāṃ vanda
kāriyamārāy‍ndaruḻēlōrembāvāy ॥ 23 ॥

24. pāśuram
anṛ ivvulagamaḻandāy aḍipōṭri,
śenRaṅgut tennilaṅgai śeṭrāy tiRal pōṭri,
ponRa chchagaḍamudaittāy pugaḻ’ pōṭri,
kanṛ kuṇilā veRindāy kaḻa’l pōṭri,
kunṛ kuḍaiyāy eḍuttāy guṇaṃ pōṭri,
venṛ pagai keḍukkuṃ nin‍kaiyil vēl pōṭri,
enRenṛn śēvagamē yētti ppaRai koḻvān,
inṛ yāṃ vandōṃ irandēlōrembāvāy ॥ 24 ॥

25. pāśuram
orutti maganāy ppiRandu, ōriravil
orutti maganāy oḻittu vaḻara,
tarikkilānāgittān tīṅgu ninainda,
karuttai ppiḻai’ppittu kkañjan vayiṭril,
neruppenna ninRa neḍumālē, unnai
aruttittu vandōṃ paRai tarudiyāgil,
tiruttakka śelvamuṃ śēvagamuṃ yāmpāḍi,
varuttamuṃ tīr‍ndu magiḻ’ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 25 ॥

26. pāśuram
mālē ! maṇivaṇṇā ! mārgaḻi’ nīrāḍuvān,
mēlaiyār śey‍vanagaḻ vēṇḍuvana kēṭṭiyēl,
ñālattaiyellāṃ naḍuṅga muralvana,
pālanna vaṇṇattu un pāñchajanniyamē,
pōlvana śaṅgaṅgaḻ pōy‍ppāḍuḍaiyanavē,
śālapperuṃ paRaiyē pallāṇḍiśaippārē,
kōla viḻakkē koḍiyē vitānamē,
ālinilaiyāy aruḻēlōrembāvāy ॥ 26 ॥

27. pāśuram
kūḍārai velluṃ śīr gōvindā, un tannai
pāḍi paRai koṇḍu yāṃ peṛ śammānam,
nāḍu pugaḻuṃ pariśināl nanRāga,
śūḍagamē tōḻ vaḻaiyē tōḍē śevippūvē,
pāḍagamē enRanaiya pal‍galanuṃ yāmaṇivōm,
āḍai yuḍuppōṃ adan pinnē pāR‍śōṛ,
mūḍa ney pey‍du muḻa’ṅgai vaḻi’vāra,
kūḍiyirundu kuḻir‍ndēlōrembāvāy ॥ 27 ॥

28. pāśuram
kaRavaigaḻ pin śenṛ kānaṃ śēr‍nduṇbōm,
aRivonṛ millāda vāy‍kkulattu, untannai
piRavi perundanai ppuṇṇiyuṃ yāmuḍaiyōm,
kuRai onṛmillāda gōvindā, un tannōḍu
uRavēl namakku iṅgoḻi’kka oḻi’yādu,
aRiyāda piḻḻaigaḻōṃ anbināl, un tannai
śiṛpēraḻai’ttanavuṃ śīRi yaruḻādē,
iRaivā! nī tārāy paRai yēlōrembāvāy ॥ 28 ॥

29.pāśuraṃ
śiṭraṃ śiṛ kālē vandunnai śēvittu, un
pōṭrāmarai aḍiyē pōṭruṃ poruḻ kēḻāy,
peṭraṃ mēy‍ttuṇṇuṃ kulattil piRandu, nī
kuṭrēval eṅgaḻai koḻḻāmal pōgādu,
iṭrai paRai koḻvānanṛ kāṇ gōvindā,
eṭraikkuṃ ēḻ’ ēḻ’ piRavikkum, un tannōḍu
uṭrōmē yāvōṃ unakkē nāṃ āṭchey‍vōm,
maṭrai naṃ kāmaṅgaḻ māṭrēlōrembāvāy ॥ 29 ॥

30. pāśuram
vaṅgakkaḍal kaḍainda mādavanai kēśavanai,
tiṅgaḻ tirumugattu chcheyiḻai’yār śenRiRaiñji,
aṅgappaRai koṇḍavāṭrai, aṇipuduvai
paiṅgamalat taṇ‍teriyal paṭṭar pirān kōdai śonna,
śaṅga ttamiḻ’ mālai muppaduṃ tappāmē,
iṅgu ippariśuRaippār īriraṇḍu mālvaraittōḻ,
śeṅgan tirumugattu chchelva ttirumālāl,
eṅguṃ tiruvaruḻ peṭru inbuṛvarembāvāy ॥ 30 ॥

śrī āṇḍāḻ tiruvaḍigaḻē śaraṇam ॥