Degree Kaapi

Thiruvempavai Pathigam 1 - Aadhiyum Antamum Rāgam : Bowli Tālam : Adi Transliteration: ādiyum antamum illā arumperuñ jotiyai yāmpāḍak- keṭṭeyum vāzhtaṭaṅkaṇ māte val̤arutiyo vaṉseviyo niṉsevithāṉ mādevaṉ vārkazhalgal̤ vāzhttiya vāzhttolipoy vidivāy keṭṭalume vimmivimmi meymmaṟanthu podār amal̤iyiṉmel niṉṟum puraṇdiṅṅgaṉ eteṉum āgāl̤ kidanthāl̤ eṉṉe eṉṉe īde emtozhi pariselor empāvāy Gist : In the...

Thai Pusam is celebrated by Tamils around the world, in places as far apart as India, Sri Lanka, Fiji & Indonesia. With different kavadis & chariot processions, the festival is a spectacular mix of colours, music & dance. Enjoy this video on the celebration & customs of Thai Pusam. This is the second podcast in the two-part series on the festival of Thai Pusam. Check out the first...

Pasuram 30 : Vanga Kadal Kadainthu Ragam : Surutti Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram The Lord who churned The Ocean of Milk, O Madhava, O Kesava! To you, the moon-faced And bejewelled gopis Reached & prayed There (in Gokulam) the grand story Of receiving the boon of moksha, She who hails from beautiful Pudhuvai (Srivilliputhur) Wearing fresh lotus garlands,...

Pasuram 29 : Sitram Siru Kale Ragam : Madhyamavati Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram In the early hours of the morning, We came to serve You O hear why we praise Your golden lotus feet O Lord! Born in the cowherd’s clan That lives by grazing cattle Do not naysay Our loving service O Govinda, look! We do not want moksha Only for today But for all eternity Seven...

Pasuram 28 : Karavaigal Pin Chendru Ragam : Kambhoji Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram We follow our cattle And eat together in the forest Simple cowherds that we are Blessed are we That You were born In our clan O flawless Govinda! None can break our bond with you , Ignorant girls that we are Born of love We called you by trivial names Do not be angry! O Lord,...

Pasuram 27 : Koodarai Vellum Ragam : Poorvi Kalyani Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram O Govinda who vanquishes his enemies, Of you We shall sing & attain moksha, And further, these rewards we shall obtain Acclaim from all the land, Armlets, shoulder ornaments, ear studs & earrings Anklets, & several such adornments shall we don We shall wear robes A...

Pasuram 26 : Male Manivanna Ragam : Kunthala Varali Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram O Lord who is love incarnate With a blue sapphire hue In order to observe the ritual vow in Margazhi In the way of our ancestors Hear what is needed The universe trembles at the sound Of Your milk-white conch, the Panchajanya, Such conches do we need And hymn-singers to sing Y...

Pasuram 25 : Oruthi Maganai Ragam : Behaag Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram Born of a woman One turbulent night And raised in hiding By another thereafter That intolerant tyrant Who wanted to harm You All his efforts made futile And in Kamsa’s belly, Like a raging fire,You stood O Supreme Lord, to You We have come begging For the boon of moksha (salvation) fro...

Andal, Kodhai, Goda Devi or Nachiyar as she was variously known, was the only female poet-saint (Alvar) in the Tamil Bhakti tradition. She lived in 7th or 8th century CE & composed many songs in beautiful classical Thamizh which are very popular even today. Known as Thiruppavai. This set of thirty songs are sung on the thirty days of Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January). Her 143 verse poem,...

Pasuram 24 : Andru Ivvulagam Ragam : Sindhu Bhairavi Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram Praise unto the Lord who measured the world with His divine feet Praise unto the One who vanquished the King of Lanka in the south Long live Your valour in breaking the asura in the guise of a cart (Sakatasura) Long live Your lotus feet that stretched to fling the calf (Vatsa...

Pasuram 23 : Maari Malai Muzhainjil Ragam : Bilahari Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram In the rains, inside a hill cave Lies asleep the great lion, with his mate With fiery eyes then Awakens the majestic lion Shaking his mane in all directions And straightening himself with a roar He steps out Just as the mighty lion, O Blue-hued One, Do come out from Your temp...

Pasuram 22 : Angan Maa Gnyalathu Ragam : Yamuna Kalyani Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram As the kings of this beautiful world Having shed their ego, surrender to You And assemble near the foot of Your bed Thus have we gathered and come to You Like a half-bloomed lotus flower with a small mouth like a bell Will your lotus-red eyes Deign to glance at me? Like th...

Pasuram 21 : Etra Kalangal Ragam : Nadanamakriya Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram Even as the vessels fill & overflow With abundant milk from the generous cows O Son of he (Nandagopala) Who possesses these cows, Arise! O Supreme Lord, the Greatest of all, For this world You appeared as the blazing light, Arise! As Your defeated foes Come to Your doorstep A...

Pasuram 20 : Mupathu Muvar Ragam : Senchurutti Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram One who hastens to help The thirty-three crore devas And removes fear from their hearts, O Powerful Lord, arise! Forthright & powerful To your foes You do give hardships, O Immaculate One, arise! With a soft bosom like golden pots, Red lips & a narrow waist O beautiful Napp...

Pasuram 19 : Kuthu Vilakkeriya Ragam : Sahana Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram In the glow of the lamps On the bed with ivory legs On a mattress of soft cotton Lay Nappinnai with her fragrant tresses adorned with flowers On Her bosom do you rest comfortably O One with the broad chest Open your mouth and speak! O Nappinnai, with big kohl-lined eyes Won’t you wa...

Pasuram 18 : Undhu Madha Ragam : Saveri Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram One who is mighty Like an elephant in musth O! Nappinai, daughter-in-law Of that valiant Nandagopalan She of the fragrant tresses, Please open the door! Look! All around do the roosters crow And the koels sing Atop the madhavi flower-bowers O playful damsel! (holding a ball to play with L...

Pasuram 17 : Ambarame Thaneere Ragam : Kalyani Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of pasuram O! One who gives clothes, water & food Our King Nandagopala, arise! O gentlest of women A guiding light for all Our Queen Yashodha Wake up! O! One who pierced the sky with your form And measured the worlds in three strides O King of the Skies Do not sleep yet, wake up now! O! One w...

Pasuram 16 : Nayaganai Ninra Ragam : Mohanam Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Meaning of the pasuram O! One who stands like a leader, At the palace of Nandagopan As its guardian, As also of the flag At the decorated entrance, Open the gem-studded door for us The young gopikas For our ritual, the drum was promised By the Blue-hued Enchanter Yesterday itself And so we have come, pure...

Pasuram 15 : Elle Ilamkiliye Ragam : Begada Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir The fifteenth pasuram is like a dialogue between a clever gopika, & Andal, who persuades her to let go of her lassitude & join the devotees. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Andal as she is popularly known. The pasuram i...

Pasuram 14 : Ungal Puzhakkadai Ragam : Anandabhairavi Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Andal, in this fourteenth Pasuram, tells the waiting Gopi to hasten, as the sages and other devotees have already reached the temple. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Andal as she is popularly known. The pasuram is a p...

Pasuram 13 : Pullin Vaai Keendanai Ragam : Atana Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir In this thirteenth pasuram, Andal coaxes the reluctant maiden to sacrifice her sleep and join the other devotees as they take a ritual bath & pray to Lord Ranganatha. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Andal as she is pop...

Pasuram 12 : Kanaithillam Kattru Ragam : Kedaragowlam Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir In the twelfth pasuram, Andal encourages the cowherd’s sister to awaken, as every household in Gokulam is now busy in worshipping the Lord except for her. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Aandal as she is popularly kno...

Pasuram 11 : Katru Karavai Ragam : Huseni Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir Andal, in the eleventh pasuram, beseeches the maiden form the cowherd’s clan to join her relatives & friends in praying to Lord Krishna. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Aandal as she is popularly known. The pasuram is a part...

Pasuram 10 : Notru Swargam Ragam : Todi Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir In the tenth pasuram, Andal exhorts a sleepy village maiden not to be over-confident in her self-professed devotion but join the other girls & follow the rituals. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Aandal as she is popularly known...

Pasuram 9 : Thoomani Madathu Ragam : Hameer Kalyani Singer : Madhu Iyer Venue : Brahma Vidya Mandir In this ninth Pasuram, Andal coaxes the parents of the sleeping maidens to wake their daughters up & join in the worship of the Lord. This song was composed in chaste Tamil over 1200 years ago by the only female Vaishnavite saint Kodhai Alwar, or Aandal as she is popularly known. The pasuram is...