Devotional Hymns Sung in Praise of Lord Shiva

OM NAMA SHIVAYA

Devotional hymns sung in praise of Lord Shiva  at shrine Ilambayan Kottur(Near Chennai, Madras) by saint Thiru Gnana Sambandar. ( Translation)

1.     Shiva is eternally present in the shrines paruppatham (Sri Sailam) Thiruthuruti, Thirumarperu, Thirumaraikkadu and in the Thiruveithavam. He accepts all my words as his divine will. He has smeared the sacred ash (Thiru Neeru) on his fore head and all over his body. He likes the bull as his wagon and comes on it to save his devotes. Shiva is faultless. The Shiva with the above attributes has chosen this Ilambayan Kottur surrounded by groves, where the deer and peacock are delightful with their mates .Shiva! You are very much present in this Ilambayan Kottur. Would it be all right for you Shiva to snatch my handsome appearance?

2.Shiva adorns the Konrai flower (and not vice-versa). He is the chief of the celestial beings & angels. He is present in the shrines Thiruninravur,Thirukkazhippa etc.., The source of my speech is his divine will and the Shiva, who wears the sacred ash and moves on the divine-bull and he is present in the shrine Ilambayan Kottur with  water ponds and fountains with neithal and lady’s-eye like lily flowers blossomed. Will it be proper for you shiva! to my fine appearance?

3.According to the maturity levels of devotees, Shiva blesses them by making your appearance as a boy, as lord, as the chieftains of all creations and as the death of god of death himself (YAMA). My talk and his will are the same and he holds fire in his hands . Will it be fair ,for Shiva (who is located in Ilambayan Kottur ,surrounded by fragrant water-ponds with the spilling of pollen grains from the lily flowers and with the buzzing, singing of bees over the fountains with blue coloured flowers )to take my comeliness?   

4.Lord Shiva blesses those devotees who fix him in their sacrifices and offerings of foods and Shiva  does not have any other wealth than his own self and my inspired talks are in consonance with his divine will and that Shiva wears the crescent moon over his   tasseled hair. will it be proper for Shiva to take back my handsome appearance and Shiva is very much present in Ilambayan Kottur ,which is very fertile with the river bank and cultivable lands with pearls, gems and gold washed away.

5.  Lord Shiva is so sweet as honey and Ambrosia . He is the God, He manifests himself as the five colossal elements, earth, water ,fire and wind. Shiva accepts all my expressions as his own opinions .He bears   the serpent as girdle will it be fair for such grand Shiva, who is located in the shrine Ilambayan Kottur  qualified with the monkeys . so leaping as to deter the deers  and with the wandering wild –boars and cows from the herds grazing on the sturdy slopes of the hill to fend me and at the same time to take my pleasing appearance.

6.     Shiva manifests him self as water, fire,  cosmos and as ether. He is present in the minds of those devotees who think of him and he is present in the shrines where his devotees are performing and worshiping with rituals and austerities prescribed by the sacred texts. My  words are in accordance with his will . He comes  mounted on the bull will it be just for Shiva to take out my comeliness, and that Shiva is located in the shrine of Ilambayan Kottur surrounded by the people who are dancing and singing and with the buzzing of hornets besides being surrounded by the beautiful groves.

7.     Grand  Shiva blesses those devotees who contemplate  him in their hearts. He is present very much in the shrines Thirukkachchiyegambam, Thiruvotriyur and in The Annamalai.  My expositions of the holy scriptures matches with his divine will .He has borne the impact of  the surging river Ganga  with his tasseled hair. Is it proper for Shiva , to take away my comeliness, who makes Ilambayan Kottur his abode, surrounded by water- ponds with bouncing-deers ,hills with resounding echoes and creepers leaping and winding around the Bilwa trees.

8.     Vishnu who held up the Govardhana hills as an umbrella to save the cows and to save us and to thwant continuous down-pour of rains and the  Quadri-headed Brahma, both Vishnu and Brahma were unable to find the feet and head of Shiva , who has accepted benignly all my song offerings as his divine intentions. The Shiva, who holds fire in his hand, and who is present in the shrine Ilambayan Kottur surrounded by ponds with water flowing gracefully .n Will it be Shiva to take away my winsomeness.

9.     Shiva is rarely understandable by the nude and wandering Jains and by the devilish people .He is like great wealth .He has accepted all my inspired talks as his divine will. He  swiftly moves around as if to accept the offerings of his devotees and worshipped by virtuous and great people. The Shiva with such attributes is present in the shrine  Ilambayan Kottur with groves in which  bees and hornets pleasantly  sucking the nectar and honey from the flowers like Vengai etc.., Is it fair on Shiva’s part to usurp my comeliness?

10.                        Saint Gnana Sambandar is the altar-ego of the classical Tamil and has mastered all the four Vedas(religiouisscriptures.) Saint  Gnana Sambandar was born in the Shiva shrine “Kazhumalam”, full of  littoral groves, sound made by the waves and their sounds are sent to the sea shore.  Who ever chant this set of ten Melodious, divine songs, composed in praise of the lord ,Shiva and in praise of his shrine Ilambayan Kottur will be blessed , and they will be ecstatic and attain eternal perfection of their births.