Nataraja pathu
By
Muniswamy Mudaliar
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
(this great prayer addressed to Lord Nataraja (the king of dancers) of Chidambaram was written about 30 years ago by Sri.Chirumanavoor Muniswamy mudaliar. It is an appeal to Lord Shiva and a great prayer. The beauty of the original cannot be brought in a translation fully but I hope devotees would find this translation useful. The Tamil original is given in http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=157143524344242)
1.Maandhi bhoothamodu , vinnadhi andam nee ,
Marai nagin adimudiyum nee,
Mathiyum nee, Raviyum nee, Punalum nee , analum nee ,
Mandalamirandezhum nee,
Penum nee, aanum nee , pallyuirkku uyirum nee ,
Piravum nee , Oruvum neeye,
Bhedhadhi bhedham nee , padhadhi kesam nee,
Petha thai thandhai neeye,
Ponnum nee, porulum nee , irulum nee , oliyum nee ,
Pothikka vandha guruvum nee,
Pugazh onaa grahangal onpathuvum nee, indha bhuvangal pethavanum nee,
Ennariya jeeva kodigal eendra appane,
Yen kuraigal yarkku uraippen,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
You are that which is spread from the beings of the earth to the planet in the universe,
You are the top to bottom of the four Vedas,
You are the moon, you are the Sun , you are the stream, you are the fire,
You are the two sets of the seven worlds,
You are woman, you are man, you are the soul of several beings,
You are everything else, you are also the one,
You are the differences and similarities, you are from foot to head,
You are the mother and father who gave birth to me,
You are the gold, you are the assets , you are darkness, you are light,
You are the Guru who came to teach,
You are the famous nine planets, you are the creator of these worlds,
Oh father who gave birth to innumerable beings,
To whom shall I tell my problems,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
2.Maan aada , mathi aada, punal aada, mangai Shivakamiyaada,
Maal aada , nool aada marayaada , thirayaada , marai thandha piramman aada,
Konaada , vanulaga kootamellam aada , kunjara mugathaan aada,
Kundalam irandu aada , thandai puli yudai aada, kuzhandhai murugesan aada ,
Jana sambandarodu indira pathinettu muni ashta palagarum aada,
Narai thumbai arugaada , nandi vaganam aada , nattiya pengalada,
Vinai oda , yunai paada , yenai nadi yithu velai virunthodu aadi varuvaai.
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Deer dancing, moon dancing , streams dancing , Goddess Parvathi dancing,
Lord Vishnu dancing , books dancing , Vedas dancing , waves dancing , Brahma who gave Vedas dancing,
King dancing , all the crowd in heaven dancing , the god with elephant face dancing,
The two ear globes dancing , armlets and the tiger cloth dancing , the baby Subrahmanya dancing,
Along with Jnana Sambandar , Indra, the eighteen sages and eight direction guards dancing,
The sparse thumbai flowers dancing , the Nandi the vehicle of Shiva dancing , dancing girls dancing,
And with fate the time is running, when I sing about you, please come to me with a feast.
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
3. Kadal yendra puvi meethil , alai yendra uru kondu , kanavendra vaazhvai nambi,
Kaathendra moovasai marutha chuzhalile, kattundu nitham nitham,
Udal yendra kumbhikku unavendra uyirai thedi oyaamal iravu pagalum,
Undu undu uranguvathai kandatheyallathu, oru payan adainthilene,
Thadam yendra idai karayil bandha pasangal yenum thabaram pinnalittu,
Thayendru , cheyendru , neeyendru , naanendru , thamiyenai ivvannamai,
Idayendru, kadayendru , yen yendru kelathiruppathu than azhagagumo?
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
On this earth which is like the sea , taking the form of tides , believing in the dream called life,
Daily , daily getting completely tied up, in the whirl wind of the three type of desires
Without rest searching day and night for the food called life to this pot called body,
And spending all the time in eating and sleeping and nothing else, I did not achieve anything.
In the track called the shore of life , getting me tied up completely with affection and love,
With the concepts called mothers, children , myself , you made me the baser or little better type,
And Was it right on your part right not to question me why I was like this?
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
4.Pambu sooniyamalla , vaippalla , maaranam thambanam vasiyam alla,
Patala vanchanam, para kaya pravesam alla , madhuvalla, jalam alla,
Ambu gundugal vilaga mozhiyum mandiramalla , aagaya guligayalla,
Anbodu cheygindra vadha modigal alla , ariya mohanavun alla,
Kumba mani , macha muni , chatta muni , brahma rishi , konganar puli paaniyum,
Gorakkar , valluvar , bhoga muni ivar yellam kooridum vaithiyamalla,Yen manthu un adi vittu neengathu nilai nirkka yethu ulathu pugala varuvai.
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
It is not snake nor black magic , it is not some evil thing kept , It is not some wish for my death,
It is not something to make me immobile , It is not something to attract me ,
It is not the cheating of hell , it is not making one soul enter another body,
It is not alcoholic drink, it is not a trick, it is not a chant to avoid arrows and bombs,
It is not a tablet from the sky , it is not black magic being done with affection,
It is not the rare pretty form to attract , it is not the medical treatment prescribed by,
Agasthya , Macha sage , Chatta sage , Brahmin sage , the Kongana sage ,
Sage Gorakka , sage Valluvar, sage Bhoga but please tell me ,
What should I do, so that my mind never goes away from your feet.
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
5.Nondu vandhen yenru aayiram cholliyum , cheviyenna mandhamundo,
Nutpa neri yariyatha pillayai petha pin nokkatha thanthai undo,
Santhathavum thanjam yendru adiyai piditha pin thalaratha nenjamundo,
Danthi mugan aaru mugan , iru pillai yillayo, thanthai nee maladu thaano,
Vindhayum jalavum unnidamirukkuthe , vinai ondrum marigilene,
Vedamum sasthiramum unnaye pugazhuthe , vedikkai ithu vallavo,
Indha ulageerezhu men alithai chollu , ini unnai viduvathillai,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Though I have told you thousand times that I have come with pain , are you not able to hear it?
Are there any fathers who do not look after , their own son whose understanding is poor?
Is there any heart that does not melt ,though I have always been holding your feet seeking protection ?
Do you not have two sons called the elephant faced one and the six faced one, are you a barren father?
Though you have tricks and odd nature with you , I am not able to see any action from you?
Is it not funny , that Vedas and shastras sing your praise?
Please tell me , why did you create these two times seven worlds, I am not going to leave you,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
6.Vazhi kandu unnadiyai thuthiyatha pothilum , vanchai illatha pothilum,
Vaalayamai koyil chuthatha pothilum , Vanjakame cheytha podhilum,
Mozhiyadanai moganai yillamale padinum , moorkane mugadagilum,
Mosame cheyyinum , desame kavarinum, muzhu kamiye aayinum,
Pazhi yenakkallave , thay thanthai kkallavo,, parthavargal cholvargalo,
Parariya manaivikku pathi udal yeentha , nee balanai kakka onatho,
Ezhil periya andanga adukkai yamaitha nee , yen kuraigal theerthal peritho,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Though I did not find the way and did not pray your feet, though I did not have affection towards you,
Though as a habit I did not go round temples, though I was only doing deceit,
Though I sang the language without ornamentation, though I am top level boorish,
Though I deceive , though I steal even the nation and though I am completely passionate ,
The blame does not come to me but doesnot the blame go to my father and mother, would not the people who see this tell,
Oh God who publicly gave half your body to your wife , can you not protect this boy,
And you who have stacked the big globes so nicely , can you not solve my problems,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
7.Annai thanthai yennai eendratharkku azhuvano, arivilathatharkku azhuvano,
Allamal nan mugan thannaye novano , aasai moondrukku azhuvano,
Mun pirappu yen vinai cheythan endrazhvano, Yen mooda varavikku azhuvano,
Munnilen vinai vandhu moolumendru azhvano, Mukthi varum yendru unarvano,
Thannai nondazhuvano, unnai nondazhuvano , thava menna vendrazhuvano,
Thayalarkku azhuvano, mey valarkku azhuvano, tharithira thasaikku azhuvano,
Innum yenna piravi varumo vendrazhuvano, yellam uraikka varuvai,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Would I cry , for my father and mother for having given birth to me?
Would I cry for being not intelligent or would I find fault with the four headed Brahma?
Would I cry for the three desires, would I cry about problems created by my previous birth?
Would I cry for my foolish knowledge , Would I cry thinking that I would be covered by result of my past sins?
Would I realize that I would get salvation? Would I blame myself and cry? Would I blame
you and cry?
Would I cry thinking why this penance ,
would I cry for the ladies, would I cry
for increasing the truth?
Would I cry for my poverty , would I cry as to what would be my next birth, please come to tell all this,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
8.Kayamun mara meethu pinju aruthano, Kanniyargal pazhi kondeno,
Kadan yendru porul parithu vayiru erintheno, kilai vazhiyil mullu itteno,
Thayarudan piravikku yenna vinai cheytheno. Thantha porul illai yendreno,
Than endru kervithu kolai kalavu cheytheno, Thavasigalai yesineno,
Vaayaara poy cholii veen porul parittano, vanavarai pazhithittano,
Vadivu pola pirarai cherkkathu adithno , vandha pin yen cheythano,
Eeyatha lobhi yendre peyar yeduthano, yellam porutharulvay,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Did I pluck the fruit before it got matured, Did I get blame from virgin ladies,
Did I rob someone in the name of loan and make any one suffer,
Did I put thorns in the branch short cut path, Did I do any harm to my mother at birth,
Did I deny the receipt of money by me, Did I became egoistic and rob or murder someone,
Did I berate sages , did I tell great lies and steal wealth, did I find fault with gods,
Did I like the ones with form , did not allow others to join and beat them , What I did , I do afterwards ,
Did I take a bad name as a miser who never gives, please pardon me for all these,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
9.Thaayaar irundhenna , Thandahayum irundhenna, than piravu yuravu kodi,
Dhana malai kuvithenna , gana peayar yeduthenna, dharaniyai aandu menna,
Cheyargal irundhenna, Guruvai irundhenna Cheedargal irundhu menna,
Chithu pala kathenna, nithamum virathangal cheythenna, nadhigal yellam,
Oyaathu moozhginum yenna balan, yeman olai ondrai kandu thadukka,
Udavumo, ithu velaam chanthayura vendru than , unniru patham pidithen,
Yaar meethu un mana mirunthalum un kadai kkan parvai yathu pothume,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
What if mother is there , what if father is there , what if you are born in a noble family,
And made mountains of money, What if I got great fame , what if I ruled the earth,
What if I have children, What if I am a teacher, what if I have students,
What if I learn several tricks , what if I observe penance daily ,
What if I continuously dip myself in sacred river waters, , Will all these,
Help me to stop the call from the god of death, and so thinking that these are only temporary friends,
I caught hold of your feet and so wherever you kept your mind , I would be satisfied by a mere look,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
10.Innamum chollavo , un manam kallo , irumbo , perum parayo,
Iru cheviyum mandhamo , kelathu anthamo , ithu unakku azhagu thano,
Yennai mokamo ithu venna kopamo , ithuvum un cheygai thaano,
Iru pillai thapamo , yaar meethu kopamo , aanaalum naan viduveno,
Unnai vittu yengu chendraalum vizhal aaveno, naan unnai aduthum keduveno,
Oho , idhu un kuttham , men kuttham ondrum illai, yutthu paar petthavayo ,
Yen kutthamaayinum , un kutthamaayinum , ini arul alikka varuvai,
Eesane , sivakami nesane , yenai eendra , thillai vaazh natarajane.
Shall I tell further, is your mind stone or steel or big boulder,
Are both your ears not working properly and are you acting as if you did not hear,
Is this proper for you , do you like me, what type of anger is this, is this also your action,
Are you sad because of only two kids , whom are you angry with , but in spite of it , will I leave you,
Wherever I go leaving you, will I not become useless, Would I suffer in spite of being near to you,
Oh, this is not either my fault nor yours , see care carefully , are these born to you,
Even if it is my fault or that of yours , please come to shower your grace on me,
Oh God , Oh darling of Parvathi , Oh Nataraja of Chidambaram who gave birth to me.
11. Sani, Rahu, Kethu, Budhan, Shukran , Chevvai, Guru . Chandiran suryan ivarai,
Chathu enakullakki , rasi panirandayum , samamai niruthiyudane,
Paniyotha nakshtrangal irupathi ezhum pakkuva paduthi pinnal,
Pagargindra kiranangal pathinondrayum vetti palarayum adhatti yen mun,
Kani polave pesi kedu ninaivu ninaikindra kasadargalayum kasakki ,
Katha nin thondaraam thondarkku thondarkal thozhutha naaki,
Iniyavala maruvu chiru vanavai muni chami yenai aalvathini yun kadan kaan.
Making Saturn, Rahu, Kethu, Mercury , Venus , Mars , Jupiter , moon and sun inside me,
Making all the twelve rasis stand equally , after processing the snow like twenty seven stars ,
And cutting the eleven rays that shine behind and after shouting at many,
And after talking before me like fruit and after pulverizing the bad ones wishing bad things,
You saved the volunteer of your volunteers and made him saluted by your volunteers,
And so it is your job to rule over Vanavai Munichamy who has a sweet disposition.