Post by subi24 on Mar 24, 2013 8:24:54 GMT 5.5
Odhu in Tamil means 'to chant.' Odhuvar is a person who usually chants 'Thevaram' (தேவாரம்) in Temples. Theva means "God", and haaram (a Sanskrit word) means "garland." Thevaram are hymns from the 'Panniru-Thirumurai' - a twelve-volume collection of Tamil Saivite devotional poetry. The hymns in the Tevaram (called pathikam, பதிகம்) are generally in sets of ten verses. Usually, the hymns sung in temples are from the first seven volumes of the Tirumurai. The first three Tirumurais (meaning parts) of Thevaram are composed by Saint Sambanthar, the next three by Saint Appar and the seventh one is composed by Saint Sundarar. Shaivities (followers of Shiva) regard the Thevaram as Tamil Marai (meaning Tamil Veda). Believed to have origins from 7th Century, Thevaram has gradually evolved over many centuries in Tamil Nadu.
In one of his lectures (I believe the audio of this available), Periva explains the following hymn (appears in the fifth Tirumura 5.90.1) composed by Saint Appar (also known as Tirunavakkarasu Swamigal) singing the praise of Lord Shiva:
"மாசில் வீணையும் மாலையும் மதியமும்
வீசு தென்றலில் வீங்கிள வேணியில்
மூசு வண்டறை பொய்கையும் போன்றதே
ஈசன் எந்தை இணையடி நிழலே"
Meaning: இறைவனாகிய எந்தையின் திருவடி நீழல் குற்றமற்ற வீணையின் நாதமும் , மாலையிலே தோன்றிய நிலவின் தண்மையும் , வீசுகின்ற தென்றலின் சாயலும் , செறிந்த இளவேனிலின் மாட்சியும் , ஒலிக்கும் வண்டுகள் மொய்க்கும் பொய்கையின் குளிர்ச்சியும் போன்று இன்பம் பயப்பதாகும் .
This beautiful verse compares God's (Lord Shiva) divine feet to various naturally arising pleasures. Roughly translated, it means:
"My Lord's paadams feet yield pleasure
like the harmless musical tone from a Veena
like the cool moon of the evening
like the gentle Southern breeze
like the beauty of early spring
like the coolness of a bee-humming pond"
Singing Thevarams continues to be part of temple activities even today in many of the Shiva temples. You may be able to hear sometimes in the evening at the Kapali Temple in Chennai.
I welcome fellow-members to add more such Thevarams to this post. Thank you.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara
In one of his lectures (I believe the audio of this available), Periva explains the following hymn (appears in the fifth Tirumura 5.90.1) composed by Saint Appar (also known as Tirunavakkarasu Swamigal) singing the praise of Lord Shiva:
"மாசில் வீணையும் மாலையும் மதியமும்
வீசு தென்றலில் வீங்கிள வேணியில்
மூசு வண்டறை பொய்கையும் போன்றதே
ஈசன் எந்தை இணையடி நிழலே"
Meaning: இறைவனாகிய எந்தையின் திருவடி நீழல் குற்றமற்ற வீணையின் நாதமும் , மாலையிலே தோன்றிய நிலவின் தண்மையும் , வீசுகின்ற தென்றலின் சாயலும் , செறிந்த இளவேனிலின் மாட்சியும் , ஒலிக்கும் வண்டுகள் மொய்க்கும் பொய்கையின் குளிர்ச்சியும் போன்று இன்பம் பயப்பதாகும் .
This beautiful verse compares God's (Lord Shiva) divine feet to various naturally arising pleasures. Roughly translated, it means:
"My Lord's paadams feet yield pleasure
like the harmless musical tone from a Veena
like the cool moon of the evening
like the gentle Southern breeze
like the beauty of early spring
like the coolness of a bee-humming pond"
Singing Thevarams continues to be part of temple activities even today in many of the Shiva temples. You may be able to hear sometimes in the evening at the Kapali Temple in Chennai.
I welcome fellow-members to add more such Thevarams to this post. Thank you.
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara