Vattanai Madi Suḍiyai / Keeravani / Adi / Appar Thevaram / Sargurunathan Othuvar

Krithi: Vattanai Madi Ragam: Kiravani Talam: Adi Composer: Appar Thevaram Vocal: Sargurunathan Othuvar Sri Sargurunathan Othuvar is a respected Carnatic musician and renowned exponent of the Panniru Thirumurai (the twelve sacred Saivite hymns). Born on 15 May 1972 in Karukkadipatti near Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, he received traditional training in Thevaram and Thiruvasagam under Tiruvavaduturai Somasundara Desigar and later studied Carnatic music under Vidwan B. Achutharaman. He made his Thirumurai debut at the Tamil Isai Sangam in Chennai in 1990 and has served as the Head Othuvar of the historic Kapaleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, since 1998. An 'A' Grade Artiste of All India Radio (AIR), he has performed widely in India and abroad, playing a significant role in preserving and promoting Tamil Saivite devotional music. This Tirumurai hymn possesses the unique distinction of referring to Lord Shiva's destruction of the three demon cities (Tripura Samhara) in each of its first nine verses. Tiruvannamalai is traditionally revered as the sacred abode that grants moksha (liberation) through the mere remembrance of the Lord. Saint Appar, who spent the latter part of his life in constant remembrance and worship of Lord Shiva, did not compose this hymn as a reminder for himself. Instead, by speaking in the first person, he offers a profound spiritual message to all devotees: forgetting the Lord leads one away from liberation, while constant remembrance, unwavering devotion, and sincere worship of Lord Shiva are the true path to attaining salvation. Lyrics: 1. Vaṭṭanai(yum), madi suḍiyai, vanavar- sittanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, ittanai, igazhndhar puram munraiyum attanai, – aḍiyen marandu uyvano? 2. Vananai(yum), madi suḍiya maindhanai, thenanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, enanai, igazhndhar puram munru eydha ananai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 3. Matthanai(yum), madha yanai uritha em siththanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, muththanai(yum), munindhar puram munru eydha aththanai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 4. Karranai, kalakkum vinai poy arath therranai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, kurranai, koḍiyar puram munru eydha arranai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 5. Minnanai, vinai thirthu enai aṭkoṇḍa thennanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, ennanai, igazhndhar puram munru eydha annanai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 6. Manranai(yum), madhiyadhavan veḷvimel senranai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, venranai, veguṇḍhar puram munraiyum konranai, koḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 7. Viranai, viḍam uṇḍanai, viṇṇavar- thiranai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, uranai, uṇarar puram munru eydha aranai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 8. Karuvinai, kaḍalvay viḍam uṇḍa em thiruvinai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, uruvinai, uṇarar puram munru eydha aruvinai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 9. Arutthanai, aravu aindhalai nagaththaith thirutthanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, karutthanai, kaḍiyar puram munru eydha varutthanai, – aḍiyen marandhu uyvano? 10. Arakkanai alaṟa(v) viral unriya thirutthanai, Tiru Aṇṇamalaiyanai, irakkam ay en uḍal uṟu noygaḷaith thurakkanai, – thoṇḍanen marandhu uyvano? _______ Meaning: Can I, your humble servant, ever attain liberation if I forget the Lord of Tiruvannamalai? The One who wears the crescent moon, is revered by the celestial beings, and destroyed the three fortified cities (Tripura) of those who scorned Him; the youthful Lord adorned with the crescent moon, sweet as honey, who burnt the three cities of those who mocked him; the supreme and ancient Lord who flayed the fierce elephant and destroyed the three cities of those who opposed him; the One who removes the turmoil of karma, grants peace, and destroyed the three cities of the cruel enemies; the radiant Lord who removed my sins, accepted me as his own, and burnt the three cities of those who reviled him; the One who destroyed Daksha's sacrificial rite and the three cities of those filled with arrogance; the valiant Lord who drank the deadly poison for the sake of the gods and destroyed the three cities of those who failed to realize his greatness; the auspicious One who consumed the deadly poison that arose from the ocean and destroyed the three cities of those ignorant of his true nature; the Lord adorned with the five-headed serpent who destroyed the three cities of the wicked and arrogant; and the compassionate One who subdued the demon Ravana by pressing him down with his toe and removes the diseases and sufferings that afflict my body? _______ DISCLAIMER: These songs have been uploaded solely for listening pleasure and as an archive to preserve Carnatic music. I do not intend to infringe any copyrights of the respective owners. I do not own any copyright to the content uploaded. If any material infringes on your copyright, please notify me, and I will promptly remove it from my YouTube channel.