TAMIL
Saint’s compositions
H. RAMAKRISHNAN
IRUPPAVAL THIRUPPUGAZH: Thiruppugazh Maamani Mu Arunagiri; Arunagiri Pathippagam, 26, Kandhaswami Koil Street, Chennai-600012. Rs. 85.
THIS BOOK, a compilation of articles, deals with some of the aspects of the 15th century saint, Arunagirinathar’s compositions. His numerous verses portray the glory of Lord Muruga eloquently and elegantly . The word ‘Iruppaval’ in the title is a compound of the two words, ‘iruppu’ (stock) and ‘aval’ (rice flakes), which occur at the beginning of a Thiruppugazh. The suggestion is that the glory of the Lord is like the stock of aval ‘for the long journey of life.’ This particular Thiruppugazh is on the deity in Thiruthani.
The author has provided the meaning and substance of many verses in lucid Tamil. The article on ‘Pillayar Chuzhi’ deals with the advent of the written word. Several references to the Ramayana and the Mahabharata that are found in Thiruppugazh have been explained and examined at length by the author, a disciple of Vallimalai Sachidanda Swamigal. Apart from recalling some rare incidents in the life of Arunagirinathar, he has highlighted some common aspects of Saivism and Vaishnavism based on quotations from the hymns of Peyazhwar, Thirumangai Azhwar, Thirunavukkarasar and Thirugnanasambandhar. This inspiring book would help the devotees of Muruga to understand the meaning and appreciate the nuances of quite a few Thiruppugazh verses.
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