Paripaatal
Encyclopedia
Paripaatala classical Tamil poetic work, is the fifth book in the Ettuthokai
, a Sangam literature
anthology. Paripaatal contains seventy poems on various deities of the Hindu
pantheon. This is a rare example of religious poetry we find in Sangam literature and is possibly the oldest religious composition in Tamil. The poems have associated music (பண்) so that these can be classified as songs (இசைப்பா). There are eight songs on Thirumaal (Vishnu
), 31 songs on Kumaran (Muruga), one song on the Sea God, 26 on the mother Vaigai and four songs on Madurai
. These songs are written in the 'Paripaatal' meter.
One of the popular songs in this work is the one attributed to Katuvan Ilaveyinanar:
To திருமால் (Vishnu):
தீயினுள் தெறல் நீ; பூவினுள் நாற்றம் நீ;
கல்லினுள் மணியும் நீ; சொல்லினுள் வாய்மை நீ;
அறத்தினுள் அன்பு நீ; மறத்தினுள் மைந்து நீ;
வேதத்து மறை நீ; பூதத்து முதலும் நீ;
வெஞ் சுடர் ஒளியும் நீ; திங்களுள் அளியும் நீ;
அனைத்தும் நீ; அனைத்தின் உட்பொருளும் நீ;
You are the heat within the fire; Fragrance within the flower;
Gem within the stone; Truth within the word;
Mercy within justice; Might behind valour;
Secret within the scripture; Foremost among elements;
Splendour in the sun; Coolness in the moon;
You are everything; and also the inner substance of these.
(Paripadal, iii: 63-68)
Ettuthokai
Ettuthokai– 'The Eight Anthologies' - Classical Tamil poetic work - form part of the Pathinenmaelkanakku anthology series of the Sangam Literature...
, a Sangam literature
Sangam literature
Sangam literature refers to a body of classical Tamil literature created between the years c. 600 BCE to 300 CE. This collection contains 2381 poems composed by 473 poets, some 102 of whom remain anonymous The period during which these poems were composed is commonly referred to as the Sangam...
anthology. Paripaatal contains seventy poems on various deities of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
pantheon. This is a rare example of religious poetry we find in Sangam literature and is possibly the oldest religious composition in Tamil. The poems have associated music (பண்) so that these can be classified as songs (இசைப்பா). There are eight songs on Thirumaal (Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
), 31 songs on Kumaran (Muruga), one song on the Sea God, 26 on the mother Vaigai and four songs on Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. These songs are written in the 'Paripaatal' meter.
One of the popular songs in this work is the one attributed to Katuvan Ilaveyinanar:
To திருமால் (Vishnu):
தீயினுள் தெறல் நீ; பூவினுள் நாற்றம் நீ;
கல்லினுள் மணியும் நீ; சொல்லினுள் வாய்மை நீ;
அறத்தினுள் அன்பு நீ; மறத்தினுள் மைந்து நீ;
வேதத்து மறை நீ; பூதத்து முதலும் நீ;
வெஞ் சுடர் ஒளியும் நீ; திங்களுள் அளியும் நீ;
அனைத்தும் நீ; அனைத்தின் உட்பொருளும் நீ;
You are the heat within the fire; Fragrance within the flower;
Gem within the stone; Truth within the word;
Mercy within justice; Might behind valour;
Secret within the scripture; Foremost among elements;
Splendour in the sun; Coolness in the moon;
You are everything; and also the inner substance of these.
(Paripadal, iii: 63-68)