📖 About
Sivapuranam opens the Thiruvasagam by Manikkavasagar (9th century CE). Written after his direct experience of Lord Shiva at Thiruvaadavur where Shiva appeared as a Guru, it is a confession of divine grace received without merit. The Tamil proverb says: "One who does not melt at Thiruvasagam will not melt at any verse in the world."
🌸 Tamil
நமச்சிவாய வாழ்க நாதன் தாள் வாழ்க
இமைப்பொழுதும் என் நெஞ்சில் நீங்காதான் தாள் வாழ்க
கோகழி ஆண்ட குருமணி தன் தாள் வாழ்க
ஆகமம் ஆகி நின்ற அண்ணல் தாள் வாழ்க
ஏகன் அனேகன் இறைவன் அடி வாழ்க
🔤 Transliteration
Namachchivaaya vaazka naadhan thaal vaazka
Imaippozhidum en nenjil neengaadhan thaal vaazka
Kogazhi aanda gurumani than thaal vaazka
Aagamam aagi nindra annal thaal vaazka
Egan anegan iraivan adi vaazka
🌐 English
Praise to Namah Shivaya! Praise to the Lord's feet!
Praise to the feet of Him who never leaves my heart for an eyeblink!
Praise to the feet of the Gem of Gurus who ruled Kokazhi!
Praise to the feet of the Lord who became the Agamas (sacred texts) themselves!
Praise to the feet of the One — who is also the Many — the Lord!
💡 Meaning
The opening five praise-lines (vaazhthu) establish the complete theology of Thiruvasagam. Shiva is: the Lord (Naadan), the constant heart-presence, the Guru, the scriptures embodied, and the One-who-is-Many. The final non-dual statement "One who is also Many" — the Lord who appears as a single divine presence is simultaneously present in all multiplicity. This is the highest Shaiva Siddhanta teaching in five words.
🌸 Tamil
வேயுறு தோளிபங்கன் விடமுண்ட கண்டன்
மாயிருள் சோதி மலர்ந்த மலர்க்கண்ணன்
ஏயர்கோன் கேட விளையாடல் உடையான்
ஆயர்கோன் ஆனான் அடிவாணன் ஆவேன்
🔤 Transliteration
Veyuru tholiibangan vidamunda kandan
Maayirul jodi malarnda malarkkaannan
Eyarkon keda vilaiyaadal udaiyaan
Aayarkon aanaan adi vaannan aaven
🌐 English
He who shares his side with Her of bamboo-like shoulders (Parvati) — the blue-throated poison-swallower!
The Lord of dark mystery with blossom-bright eyes!
He who plays the divine game so Iyar's king (Kannappa Nayanar) would understand!
He who became the cowherd lord — I will become the servant of his feet.
💡 Meaning
Manikkavasagar combines Shaiva and Vaishnava imagery — Shiva with Parvati, the blue throat from drinking cosmic poison, lotus-bright eyes. The reference to Kannappa Nayanar: the hunter-devotee who offered his own eyes for Shiva — Shiva "played" to test and reveal this extraordinary devotion. "He who became the cowherd" refers to Shiva appearing as a cowherd at Thiruvaadavur to pay Manikkavasagar's debt. The final personal vow: "I will become his servant."
🌸 Tamil
பிறப்பிறப்பு இல்லா பெருமை அளிப்பவா
கறப்பு இல்லாக் காவியாடை கட்டிய கள்ளனே
மறப்பிலேன் ஆகிலும் மன்னியாய் என் மனத்தினில்
சிறப்பில் ஆக்கி யருள்க சிவா போற்றி போற்றி
🔤 Transliteration
Pirappu irappilaa perumai alipavaa
Karappu illaak kaavi aadai kattiya kallane
Marappilae aakilum manniyaai en manadhinil
SirapilAAkki arulha sivaa portri portri
🌐 English
O you who give the greatness beyond birth and death!
O cunning thief who wears the unstained saffron robe!
Even though I do not forget you — please remain settled in my heart —
Make me excellent and bless me — O Shiva! Praise! Praise!
💡 Meaning
Manikkavasagar calls Shiva a "thief" — the most intimate term in Tamil bhakti. A thief takes without asking; Shiva stole his heart without permission. This is the paradox of divine love — you didn't choose it, it chose you. The prayer "remain settled in my heart" acknowledges that spiritual states can fade — asking for permanence of the divine presence. Portri Portri (Praise Praise) is the double-refrain expressing overflowing gratitude.
🌸 Tamil
ஒரு நামம் ஒரு சிவம் ஒரு ஞானமுமாய்
ஒரு ஆவி ஒரு குருவாகி உலகெல்லாம்
ஒரு வீதி ஒரு கோட்டம் ஒரு ஐவரோடு
ஒருவனாய் நிற்பவன் ஒருவன் ஆமே
🔤 Transliteration
Oru naamam oru sivam oru gnaanamum aay
Oru aavi oru guruvaaagi ulagellam
Oru veedhi oru gottam oru aivarodhu
Oruvanaaai nirpavan oruvan ame
🌐 English
One name, One Shiva, One Knowledge —
One soul, One Guru — being thus to the entire world —
One path, One direction, One five-fold (manifestation) —
He who stands as the One alone — he alone is the One.
💡 Meaning
A profound meditation on divine unity. Shiva is One across all apparent multiplicities: one name (though known by thousands of names), one consciousness, one knowledge, one guru (though appearing as many teachers), one path (though appearing as many religions), one five-fold (the Pancha Tatva — five elements), ultimately One. This is the Shaiva non-dual teaching: all multiplicity is the One appearing as many.
🌸 Tamil
மண்ணுதல் ஆகி மலர்ந்தேன் நானே
கண்ணுதல் ஆகிக் கலந்திட வைத்தான்
ஒண்ணுதல் ஆகியே ஒன்றாக வைத்த
வண்ணம் எலாம் வந்து மகிழ்ந்திட வாழ்வே
🔤 Transliteration
Mannudhal aagi malarndhean naane
Kannudhal aagi kalandhida vaithan
Onnudhal aagiye ondraaga vaiththa
Vannam elaam vandhu magizhndida vaazhve
🌐 English
Becoming the ground — I blossomed — I myself!
He made me become the eye on the forehead (ajna) and merged into me!
Becoming the bright forehead — making me One —
All the beauty came and life rejoiced!
💡 Meaning
This verse describes Manikkavasagar's direct mystical experience. "Became the ground and blossomed" — the paradox: becoming the foundation (absolute consciousness) while simultaneously blooming like a flower (dynamic joy of existence). "Became the eye on the forehead" — the third eye opening, or becoming Shiva himself. "All beauty came" — when the individual merges with the universal, the entire beauty of creation is experienced directly. "Life rejoiced" — liberation is not absence but joy.