Thirupalliyezhuchi (திருப்பள்ளியெழுச்சி): all 10 verses with meaning
Read the verse in Tamil, follow a silent word-by-word guide at your own speed, and listen to the meaning in Tamil or English.
Thirupalliyezhuchi (திருப்பள்ளியெழுச்சி) means the waking of the Lord from his bed. It is a set of ten Tamil verses composed by Manikkavacakar (மாணிக்கவாசகர்) and is part of his Thiruvasagam (திருவாசகம்). It is sung at dawn in Shiva temples, and is often sung through the month of Margazhi together with Thiruvempavai.
The poem is set at Thiruperunthurai, the temple town where Manikkavacakar is said to have met his teacher. Each verse describes the signs of morning, such as the rising sun, the birds, the conches and the crowds of devotees at the door, and ends with the same request: our Lord, please rise.
How each page works
- Read along. The verse is in large Tamil script. Press Follow along and each word lights up in turn, so you can read it aloud at a steady pace. The highlight makes no sound, and a slider sets the speed.
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- Print it. Every page prints with large Tamil text, so a group can recite from one sheet.
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The 10 verses
- 1போற்றியென் வாழ்முத லாகிய பொருளேPottri En VaazhmudhalWaking the Lord at dawn with flowers and a smile, from the fields of Thiruperunthurai.
- 2அருணன் இந்திரன் திசை அணுகினன் இருள்போய்Arunan Indiran ThisaiThe sun rises, the dark goes, and bees hum as the Lord is asked to wake.
- 3கூவின பூங்குயில் கூவின கோழிKoovina PoongkuyilThe birds, cocks and conches announce the morning, and the stars fade.
- 4இன்னிசை வீணையர் யாழினர் ஒருபால்Innisai VeenaiyarMany kinds of devotees have come to the Lord's door, some singing, some weeping, some with folded hands.
- 5பூதங்கள் தோறும்நின் றாய்எனின் அல்லால்Boodhangal ThorumThe Lord is in everything, yet those who have really seen him are hard to find.
- 6பப்பற வீட்டிருந் துணரும்நின் அடியார்Pappara VittirundhuDevotees who have given up deceit have cut their bonds, and the poet asks the Lord to end his birth too.
- 7அதுபழச் சுவையென அமுதென அறிதற்குAdhu PazhachchuvaiThe Lord is sweet and easy to reach for those who love him, though others cannot understand him.
- 8முந்திய முதல்நடு இறுதியும் ஆனாய்Mundhiya Mudhal NaduThe Lord who is the beginning, middle and end, whom even the three great gods cannot know, comes to the huts of his devotees.
- 9விண்ணகத் தேவரும் நண்ணவும் மாட்டாVinnagath ThevarumThe Lord whom even the heavenly gods cannot reach has made his servants live on earth.
- 10புவனியிற் போய்ப்பிற வாமையின் நாள்நாம்Puvaniyil Poip PiravaamaiyinThe gods lament that they cannot be born on earth where the Lord saves souls, and ask him to come down and take them in.
About these pages
The Tamil text was checked line by line against the open e-text of Project Madurai (projectmadurai.org), a volunteer project that shares classical Tamil texts freely. Printed books sometimes spell or join words a little differently, so your own copy may not match every letter. The meanings and the page text were written for makekite, and they are short summaries to help you follow the verse, not a commentary or a substitute for a teacher.
If you spot a mistake, or a word you would write differently, please tell us and we will look at it.