Saturday, June 20, 2009

роЯропாройா 'роЕро▒ிрои்родродுроо் роЕройுрокро╡рооுроо்': роУроо் роироороЪிро╡ாроп !

роЯропாройா 'роЕро▒ிрои்родродுроо் роЕройுрокро╡рооுроо்': роУроо் роироороЪிро╡ாроп !

роЪிро▒рок்рокுроХ்роХூроЯ்роЯு ро╡ро┤ிрокாроЯு....!!! роЮாропிро▒்ро▒ுроХ்роХிро┤рооை роЬூрой் 21роо் родிроХродி ‘роХாро▓ை 9.30 роорогி

From: ро╡ிроЬி
Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:24:41 -0400
Local: Fri, Jun 19 2009 9:24 pm
роЪிро▒рок்рокுроХ்роХூроЯ்роЯு ро╡ро┤ிрокாроЯு

> *ро╡ро┤ிрокாроЯ்роЯு роиாро│்: роЮாропிро▒்ро▒ுроХ்роХிро┤рооைроЬூрой் 21роо் родிроХродி ‘роХாро▓ை 9.30 роорогிроХ்роХு.*
> **
> **
> *родிро░ுроЪ்роЪிро▒்ро▒роо்рокро▓роо்*
> **
> *роорог்рогுро▓роХрод்родிройிро▓் рокிро▒ро╡ி рооாроЪро▒*
> *роОрог்рогிроп рокொро░ுро│ெро▓்ро▓ாроо் **роОро│ிродிро▓் рооுро▒்ро▒ுро▒*
> *роХрог்рогுродро▓் роЙроЯைропродோро░் роХро│ிро▒்ро▒ிро▓் рооாрооுроХ*
> *рокрог்рогро╡рой் рооро▓ро░роЯி рокрогிрои்родு рокோро▒்ро▒ுро╡ோроо்*
> **
> **
> роЪிро╡рокுро░ாрогроо்

> родொро▓்ро▓ை роЗро░ுроо்рокிро▒ро╡ி роЪூро┤ுроо் родро│ை роиீроХ்роХி
> роЕро▓்ро▓ро▓் роЕро▒ுрод் родாройрои்родроо் роЖроХ்роХிропродே - роОро▓்ро▓ை
> рооро░ுро╡ா роиெро▒ி роЕро│ிроХ்роХுроо் ро╡ாродро╡ூро░் роОроЩ்роХோрой்
> родிро░ுро╡ாроЪроХроо் роОрой்ройுроо் родேрой்


> роироороЪ்роЪிро╡ாроп ро╡ாро┤்роХ роиாродрой்родாрой் ро╡ாро┤்роХ
> роЗрооைрок்рокொро┤ுродுроо் рооெрой்роиெроЮ்роЪிро▓் роиீроЩ்роХாродாрой் родாро│் ро╡ாро┤்роХ
> роХோроХро┤ி ропாрог்роЯ роХுро░ுроорогிродрой் родாро│்ро╡ாро┤்роХ
> роЖроХроо рооாроХிроиிрой் ро▒рог்рогிрок்рокாрой் родாро│் ро╡ாро┤்роХ
> роПроХрой் роЕроиேроХрой் роЗро▒ைро╡ ройроЯிро╡ாро┤்роХ.


> ро╡ேроХроЩ் роХெроЯுрод்родாрог்роЯ ро╡ேрои்родройроЯி ро╡ெро▓்роХ
> рокிро▒рок்рокро▒ுроХ்роХுроо் рокிроЮ்роЮроХрой்ро▒рой் рокெроп்роХро┤ро▓்роХро│் ро╡ெро▓்роХ
> рокுро▒род்родாро░்роХ்роХுроЪ் роЪேропோрой்ро▒рой் рокூроЩ்роХро┤ро▓்роХро│் ро╡ெро▓்роХ
> роХро░роЩ்роХுро╡ிро╡ா ро░ுрог்роороХிро┤ுроЩ் роХோрой்роХро┤ро▓்роХро│் ро╡ெро▓்роХ
> роЪிро░роЩ்роХுро╡ிро╡ா ро░ோроЩ்роХுро╡ிроХ்роХுроЪ் роЪீро░ொрой்роХро┤ро▓் ро╡ெро▓்роХ


> роИроЪройроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி роОрои்родைропроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி
> родேроЪройроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி роЪிро╡рой்роЪேро╡роЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி
> роиேропрод்родே роиிрой்ро▒ роиிрооро▓ройроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி
> рооாропрок் рокிро▒рок்рокро▒ுроХ்роХுроо் роорой்ройроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி
> роЪீро░ாро░் рокெро░ுрои்родுро▒ைроирои் родேро╡ройроЯி рокோро▒்ро▒ி
> роЖро░ாрод роЗрой்рокроо் роЕро░ுро│ுроо் рооро▓ை рокோро▒்ро▒ி


> роЪிро╡рой் роЕро╡рой் роОрой்роЪிрои்родைропுро│் роиிрой்ро▒ роЕродройாро▓்
> роЕро╡ройро░ுро│ாро▓ே роЕро╡рой்родாрой் родாро│் ро╡рогроЩ்роХி
> роЪிрои்родைроороХிро┤роЪ் роЪிро╡рокுро░ாрогроо் родрой்ройை
> рооுрои்родை ро╡ிройைрооுро┤ுродுроо் роУроп роЙро░ைрок்рокрой்ропாрой்


> роХрог்рогுродро▓ாрой் родрой்роХро░ுрогை роХрог்роХாроЯ்роЯ ро╡рои்родெроп்родி
> роОрог்рогுродро▒் роХெроЯ்роЯா роОро┤ிро▓ாро░் роХро┤ро▓் роЗро▒ைроЮ்роЪி
> ро╡ிрог்рогிро▒ைрои்родு роорог்рогிро▒ைрои்родு рооிроХ்роХாроп் ро╡ிро│роЩ்роХொро│ிропாроп்
> роОрог்рогிро▒рои் родொро▓்ро▓ை ропிро▓ாродாройே роиிрой்рокெро░ுроЮ்роЪீро░்
> рокொро▓்ро▓ா ро╡ிройைропேрой் рокுроХро┤ுрооா ро▒ொрой்ро▒ро▒ிропேрой்
> .
> рокுро▓்ро▓ாроХிрок் рокூроЯாроп்рок் рокுро┤ுро╡ாроп் рооро░рооாроХிрок்
> рокро▓்рооிро░ுроХрооாроХிрок் рокро▒ро╡ைропாроп்рок் рокாроо்рокாроХிроХ்
> роХро▓்ро▓ாроп் рооройிродро░ாроп்рок் рокேропாроп்роХ் роХрогроЩ்роХро│ாроп்
> ро╡ро▓்ро▓роЪுро░ ро░ாроХி рооுройிро╡ро░ாроп்род் родேро╡ро░ாроп்роЪ்
> роЪெро▓்ро▓ாродு роиிрой்ро▒ роЗрод் родாро╡ро░ роЪроЩ்роХроород்родுро│்


> роОро▓்ро▓ாрок் рокிро▒рок்рокுроо் рокிро▒рои்родிро│ைрод்родேрой் роОроо்рокெро░ுрооாрой்
> рооெроп்ропே ропுрой் рокொрой்ройроЯிроХро│் роХрог்роЯிрой்ро▒ு ро╡ீроЯுро▒்ро▒ேрой்
> роЙроп்роп роОрой் роЙро│்ро│род்родுро│் роУроЩ்роХாро░рооாроп் роиிрой்ро▒
> рооெроп்ропா ро╡ிрооро▓ா ро╡ிроЯைрок்рокாроХா ро╡ேродроЩ்роХро│்
> роРропா роОрой роУроЩ்роХி роЖро┤்рои்родроХрой்ро▒ роиுрог்рогிропройே


> ро╡ெроп்ропாроп் родрогிропாроп் роЗропрооாрой роиாроо் ро╡ிрооро▓ா
> рокொроп்ропா ропிройро╡ெро▓்ро▓ாроо் рокோропроХро▓ ро╡рои்родро░ுро│ி
> рооெроп்роЮாройрооாроХி рооிро│ிро░்роХிрой்ро▒ рооெроп்роЪ்роЪுроЯро░ே
> роОроЮ்роЮாройроо் роЗро▓்ро▓ாродேрой் роЗрой்рокрок் рокெро░ுрооாро│ே
> роЕроЮ்роЮாройроо் родрой்ройை роЕроХро▓்ро╡ிроХ்роХுроо் роиро▓்ро▓ро▒ிро╡ே


> роЖроХ்роХроо் роЕро│ро╡ிро▒ுродி роЗро▓்ро▓ாроп் роЕройைрод்родுро▓роХுроо்
> роЖроХ்роХுро╡ாроп் роХாрок்рокாроп் роЕро┤ிрок்рокாроп் роЕро░ுро│் родро░ுро╡ாроп்
> рокோроХ்роХுро╡ாроп் роОрой்ройைрок் рокுроХுро╡ிрок்рокாроп் роиிрой்родொро┤ுроо்рокிрой்
> роиாро▒்ро▒род்родிрой் роиேро░ிропாроп் роЪேропாроп் роирогிропாройே
> рооாро▒்ро▒роо் рооройроЩ்роХро┤ிроп роиிрой்ро▒ рооро▒ைропோройே


> роХро▒рои்родрокாро▓் роХрой்ройро▓ொроЯு роиெроп்роХро▓рои்родாро▒் рокோро▓роЪ்
> роЪிро▒рои்родроЯிропாро░் роЪிрои்родройைропுро│் родேройூро▒ி роиிрой்ро▒ு рокிро▒рои்род
> рокிро▒рок்рокுро▒ுроХ்роХுроо் роОроЩ்роХро│் рокெро░ுрооாрой்
> роиிро▒роЩ்роХро│் роУро░் роРрои்родுроЯைропாроп் ро╡ிрог்рогோро░்роХро│் роПрод்род
> рооро▒ைрои்родிро░ுрои்родாроп் роОроо்рокெро░ுрооாрой் ро╡ро▓்ро╡ிройைропேрой் родрой்ройை


> ''рооро▒ைрои்родிроЯ рооூроЯிроп рооாроп роЗро░ுро│ை
> роЕро▒роо்рокாро╡роо் роОрой்ройுроо் роЕро░ுроЩ்роХропிро▒்ро▒ாро▒் роХроЯ்роЯி
> рокுро▒рои்родோро▓் рокோро░்род் родெроЩ்роХுроо் рокுро┤ு роЕро┤ுроХ்роХு рооூроЯி
> рооро▓роЮ் роЪோро░ுроо் роТрой்рокродு ро╡ாропிро▒் роХுроЯிро▓ை
> рооро▓роЩ்роХрок் рокுро▓ройைрои்родுроо் ро╡роЮроЪройைропைроЪ் роЪெроп்роп


> ро╡ிро▓роЩ்роХு рооройрод்родாро▓் ро╡ிрооро▓ா роЙройроХ்роХுроХ்
> роХро▓рои்род роЕрой்рокாроХிроХ் роХроЪிрои்родுро│்ро│ுро░ுроХுроо்
> роиро▓рои்родாрой் роЗро▓ாрод роЪிро▒ிропேро▒்роХு роиро▓்роХி
> роиிро▓рои்родрой்рооேро▓் ро╡рои்родро░ுро│ி роиீро│்роХро┤ро▓்роХро│் роХாроЯ்роЯி
> роиாропிро▒் роХроЯைропாроп் роХிроЯрои்род роЕроЯிропேро▒்роХுрод்


> родாропிро▒் роЪிро▒рои்род родропாро╡ாрой родрод்родுро╡ройே
> рооாроЪро▒்ро▒ роЪோродி рооро▓ро░்рои்род рооро▓ро░்роЪ் роЪுроЯро░ே
> родேроЪройே родேройாро░் роЕрооுродே роЪிро╡рокுро░ройே
> рокாроЪрооாроо் рокро▒்ро▒ро▒ுрод்родுрок் рокாро░ிроХ்роХுроо் роЖро░ிропройே
> роиேроЪ роЕро░ுро│் рокுро░ிрои்родு роиெроЮ்роЪிро▓் ро╡роЮ்роЪроЩ் роХெроЯрок்


> рокேро░ாродு роиிрой்ро▒ рокெро░ுроЩ்роХро░ுрогைрок் рокேро░ாро▒ே
> роЖро░ா роЕрооுродே роЕро│ро╡ிро▓ாрок் рокெроо்рооாройே
> роУро░ாродாро░் роЙро│்ро│род் родொро│ிроХ்роХுроо் роТро│ிропாройே
> роиீро░ாроп் роЙро░ுроХ்роХி роОрой் роЖро░ுропிро░ாроп் роиிрой்ро▒ாройே
> роЗрой்рокрооுрои் родுрой்рокрооுроо் роЗро▓்ро▓ாройே роЙро│்ро│ாройே


> роЕрой்рокро░ுроХ் роХрой்рокройே ропாро╡ைропுрооாроо் роЕро▓்ро▓ைропுрооாроЮ்
> роЪோродிропройே родுрой்ройிро░ுро│ே родோрой்ро▒ாрок் рокெро░ுрооைропройே
> роЖродிропройே роЕрои்родроо் роироЯுро╡ாроХி роЕро▓்ро▓ாройே
> роИро░்род்родெрой்ройை роЖроЯ்роХொрог்роЯ роОрои்родை рокெро░ுрооாройே
> роХூро░்род்род рооெроп்роЮ் роЮாройрод்родாро▒் роХொрог்роЯுрогро░்ро╡ாро░் родроЩ்роХро░ுрод்родிрой்


> роиோроХ்роХро░ிроп роиோроХ்роХே роиுрогுроХ்роХро░ிроп роиுрог்рогுрогро░்ро╡ே
> рокோроХ்роХுроо் ро╡ро░ро╡ுроо் рокுрогро░்ро╡ுроо் роЗро▓ாрок் рокுрог்рогிропройே
> роХாроХ்роХுроо் роОроо் роХாро╡ро▓ройே роХாрог்рокро░ிроп рокேро░ொро│ிропே
> роЖро▒்ро▒ிрой்рок ро╡ெро│்ро│рооே роЕрод்родா рооிроХ்роХாроп் роиிрой்ро▒
> родோро▒்ро▒роЪ் роЪுроЯро░ொро│ிропாроп் роЪொро▓்ро▓ாрод роиுрог்рогро░்ро╡ாроп்


> .рооாро▒்ро▒рооாроо் ро╡ைропроХрод்родிрой் ро╡ெро╡்ро╡ேро▒ே ро╡рои்родро▒ிро╡ாроо்
> родேро▒்ро▒ройே родேро▒்ро▒род் родெро│ிро╡ே роОрой் роЪிрои்родройைропுро│்
> роКро▒்ро▒ாрой роЙрог்рогாро░் роЕрооுродே роЙроЯைропாройே
> ро╡ேро▒்ро▒ுро╡ிроХாро░ ро╡ிроЯроХ்роХுроЯроо்рокிрой் роЙроЯ்роХிроЯрок்рок
> роЖро▒்ро▒ேрой் роОроо் роРропா роЕро░ройே роУ роОрой்ро▒ெрой்ро▒ு



рокோро▒்ро▒ிрок் рокுроХро┤்рои்родிро░ுрои்родு рокொроп்роХெроЯ்роЯு рооெроп்ропாройாро░்
рооீроЯ்роЯிроЩ்роХு ро╡рои்родு ро╡ிройைрок் рокிро▒ро╡ி роЪாро░ாрооே
роХро│்ро│рок் рокுро▓роХ் роХுро░роо்рокை роХроЯ்роЯро┤ிроХ்роХ ро╡ро▓்ро▓ாройே
роиро│்ро│ிро░ுро│ிро▓் роироЯ்роЯроо் рокропிрой்ро▒ாроЯுроо் роиாродройே
родிро▓்ро▓ைропுроЯ் роХூрод்родройே родெрой்рокாрог்роЯி роиாроЯ்роЯாройே


роЕро▓்ро▓ро▒் рокிро▒ро╡ி роЕро▒ுрок்рокாройே роУ ро╡ெрой்ро▒ு
роЪொро▓்ро▓ро▒்роХு роЕро░ிропாройைроЪ் роЪொро▓்ро▓ி родிро░ுро╡роЯிроХ்роХீро┤்
роЪொро▓்ро▓ிроп рокாроЯ்роЯிрой் рокொро░ுро│் роЙрогро░்рои்родு роЪொро▓்ро▓ுро╡ாро░்
роЪெро▓்ро╡ро░் роЪிро╡рокுро░род்родிрой் роЙро│்ро│ாро░் роЪிро╡ройроЯிроХ் роХீро┤்
рокро▓்ро▓ோро░ுроо் роПрод்родрок் рокрогிрои்родு


родிро░ுроЪ்роЪிро▒்ро▒роо்рокро▓роо்.


роЗродுро╡ро░ை роИро┤род்родிро▓் роироЯрои்род роЕроЪроо்рокாро╡ிродроЩ்роХро│ாро▓் роЗро▒рои்родு рокோрой роЕрок்рокாро╡ி роЙропிро░்роХро│ிрой்
роЖрод்роороЪாрои்родிроХ்роХாроХ роЪிро▒рок்рокு ро╡ро┤ிрокாроЯு роЪெроп்ропுрооாро▒ு роЕрой்рокро░்роХро│் роЕройைро╡ро░ைропுроо் родропை роХூро░்рои்родு
роХேроЯ்роЯுроХ்роХொро│்роХிрой்ро▒ேрой்.


...

Monday, June 15, 2009

роЖроЪைроХро│ே роЕродрой் роХாро░рогроЩ்роХро│்.....!!!

From: vishalam raman
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:53:51 +0530


роХுро▒ைрои்род роЪுрооை роиிро▒ைрои்род ро╡ாро┤்роХ்роХை

ро╡ாро┤்роХ்роХை роОройுроо் ро░ропிро▓் рокாро░ு
роХுро▒ைрои்род роЪுрооைропுроЯрой் роЕродிро▓் роПро▒ு
роЕродிроХ роЪுрооைроХро│் роЕроЩ்роХு родாроЩ்роХாродு ,
роЙро│்ро│ே роЗроЯрооுроо் рокோродாродு .
роЪுрооைроХро│் рокрод்родிро░рооாроп் роХாрод்родро▓்
ро╡ро░ுроо் рооройродிро▓் роЙро│ைроЪ்роЪро▓் .
роЪுрооைроХро│ாро▓் ро╡ро░ுроо் рокிро░роЪ்роЪройைроХро│்,
роЖроЪைроХро│ே роЕродрой் роХாро░рогроЩ்роХро│் .
роЗро▓ேроЪாрой роЪுрооைроХро│் родூроХ்роХро╡родு роЪுро▓рокроо்
роЪுрооைроХро│் роЗро▓்ро▓ைропெройிро▓் роЕродைро╡ிроЯ ро▓ாрокроо்
рокрои்родрокாроЪроЪ்роЪுрооை роХройрод்род роОроЯை ,
рооேро▓ே роПро▒ роЕродு роТро░ு родроЯை ,
рокேро░ாроЪை роЪுрооைроХро│ை ро╡ро│ро░்роХ்роХுроо்
роЖрой்рооீроХ ро╡ро│ро░்роЪ்роЪிропைрод் роЕродு родро│ро░்роХ்роХுроо்
рооройроЪுрооைроХро│் роЗро▒роХ்роХ ро╡ேрог்роЯுроо் роТро░ு роХூро▓ிроХ்роХாро░рой்
роЖрой்рооீроХ роиிро▓ைропрод்родிро▓் роиிро▒்роХுроо் роТро░ு роХூро▓ிроХ்роХாро░рой்
роХூрок்рокிроЯ்роЯро╡ுроЯрой் роироо் рооுрой் родோрой்ро▒ுро╡ாрой்
роироо் роЪுрооைропை роЕро╡рой் родாроЩ்роХுро╡ாрой்
роЕро╡рой் родро▓ைропிро▓் роироо் роЪுрооைроХро│் роЕрооро░்род்родி
рокெро▒ுро╡ோроо் роиாроо் рооுро┤ு роиிроо்роородி ,
роироо்рокிроХ்роХைропுроЯрой் роЪுрооைропைроХ் роХொроЯுрок்рокோроо்
роироо்рокிроХ்роХைропுроЯрой் роЕро╡рой் рокிрой் роЪெро▓்ро╡ோроо் .

Sunday, June 14, 2009

The annual festivals of Nainathivu Naga Pooshani Ambal temple....!!!

Nagadeepa season begins
Jaffna Sp. Corr.

The annual festivals of Nainathivu Naga Pooshari Ambal temple (Nagadeepa) will commence on June 23 with the flag hoisting ceremony. The festivals will continue for 16 days.

The highlights of the festivals are the "Mancham, Sapparam, Car festival and the Theertham (water cutting ceremony) festivals.The festivals will conclude with "Poongavanam" (Nuptial Ceremony) where the Ambal diety will be dressed with golden and diamond jewellery and garlands. The Ambal statue will be taken round the inner and outer courtyard of the temple with Nathaswara and drum music of the leading Nathaswara and drum musicians in Sri Lanka.The Amutha Sukvaki Anna Dhana Saba (Almsgiving society) will provide free rice meals to the devotees daily.

sundayobserver.lk

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Kanthapuranam holding a prestigious place particularly among the Thamilians of Yaalpaanam...!!!

Gleanings:

Transcreating part of 'Kantha Puranam'
K S Sivakumaran

Going back to the genre of the ancient 'Purana' literature in Thamil, one finds Kachchiappa Sivachariar's Kanthapuranam holding a prestigious place particularly among the Thamilians of Yaalpaanam. In fact a scholar from that region the late Pandithamani Kanapathillai eluded that "Kanthapurana Kalasaram" (The Culture of Kantha Puranam) is the Culture of the people in the North. "Kantha" is the Thamil word for the Sanskrit "Skanda" and it refers to the deity in Kathirkamam (Kataragama) who the Thamilians call Murugan or Kanthasamy and other names.

Thamil folklore
To introduce part of the original work in Thamil to readers in English, particularly the children of Thamilian parents living in foreign climes a book has been published. These children do not know Thamil as they study the languages of the west where they live. But if they could read in English, then they may be able to know something about their language, religion and culture. To facilitate this task a scholar V Sivarajasingam transcreated suitably some sections of the original work in lucid and clear language. The title of the work is "The Divine Exploits of Skandakumara" and it is published by the Department of Hindu Culture and Religious Affairs in Colombo. The book was launched last Friday (May 29, 2009) at the Ramakrishna Seminar Hall in Wellawatta.

Book launch
Chaired by the Director of the Department Shanthi Navukkarasan, two prominent scholars - Vidwan Kalabooshanam Vasantha Vaithianathan and Prof. K Shanmugavel from Thamilnadu - spoke at the launch.

Yours truly was asked to review the book apart from the respected author, M. Shanmuganatahan also spoke. Departmental officials sang hymns and presented the programme.

The author V. Sivarajasingam was an Assistant Commissioner of the Official Languages Department, and visiting English Lecturer in the University of Yaalpaanam.

What follows is an abridged version of the review presented for the occasion.

The book in English is titled 'The Divine Exploits of Skandakumara' and I would have liked either Skandakumar or Skandakumaran used instead of Skandakumara to refer to the Thamil Deity Lord Murugan.

This book is primarily addressed to non-Hindus in all communities in Lanka as well as the Hindus of all sects. As such, the identity of Skanda as in Sanskrit or Kanthan in Thamil could have been better related to Kachiyappar's Kanthapuranam in Thamil.

But this is only a minor observation of mine. However the writer must have had the Lankan Sinhala community in mind, particularly the Buddhists when he wrote this book. Of course the sylvan deity Lord Murugan is enshrined in the southern locality Kathirkaamam also known as Kataragama. Leaving aside the concern for the nomenclature, let us see what the book is all about.

Saiva Siththantham
The thin volume is really an exposition and elucidation of the quintessence of Kachiyappar's Kanthapuranam, which all knowledgeable people know as one of the source books to know more about Saiva Siththantham, followed by the majority of Lankan Thamilians as well as a great number of Thamilians elsewhere in the globe, particularly in Thamilnadu.

The Hindus in the North, East and elsewhere in the country consider Lord Murugan or Kanthan as one of the primary divinities of the Saivaite Thamilians. The famous Nallur Temple in the North, Mandoor Temple in the East and Kathirgamam in the deep southwest of the island are standing testimony of the reverence most of us have for Skanda or Kanthan as we call in Thamil.

The Foreword
S. Vinaykamoorthy in his foreword to the book also refers to the poetic quality of the Purana or Kanthap Puranam, besides informing us that the writer V. Sivarajasingam has "written an interpretation of one section of the work titled 'Soora Pathman Shashti Vathaipadalam' in 1992 for the benefit of devotees who recite it during the Kanthar fasting period." As S V says in his foreword, the writer, V S, has followed the sequential of the work concerned. I agree with the observation of High Court Judge R T Vigna Raja's pronouncement that Hindu social reformers turned to religious texts with different purposes in mind. Some sought inspiration from them; some simply wanted to highlight the golden moments in Hindu philosophy, but the author of this book wanted to bring to light the nuances of Puranic thoughts". The author of this book V Sivarajasingam intended: "The work by Kachiyappar is better termed a transmogrification rather than translation, for he has made many changes structurally and substantially. Kanthapuranam among many other things speaks predominantly of the glory, grace and prowess of Skandaouranam."

At this point I suggest to the author that instead of using 'transmogrification', he could have used a now accepted term 'transcreation' to works that are inspired by some text but creatively interpreted as Kambar's Ramayanam from Vaalmiki's Ramayana.

Poetic excellence
I agree with the writer as many of us would endorse, when he says that "Kanthapuranam has poetic excellence, depth of knowledge, beauty of language and above all the depiction of divine grace of Lord Skantha and of God's ways of effusing it to those who seek it."

Quoting Sivarajasingam's Prolegomenon as it underlines the essence of the original work and the author's own interpretation: "Though it is preeminently considered a religious 'epic' ('epic' because an epic largely belongs to another genre) it deals with all kinds of thoughts, philosophical and metaphysical concepts necessary for spiritual and material lives. It deals with the four cardinal values of dharma, Artha, Kaama and Moksha (Virtue, pleasure and salvation) and expounds ways and means of attaining them."

Lord Siva's grace
Next is the author's other points: "It upholds the greatness of Saiva Saints and devotees and the profuseness of Lord Siva's grace." The book is interspersed with hymn - like verses that are suitable for reciting during daily prayers." In Kasipa Muni's sermon to his sons are encapsulated the tenets of Saiva Sithantha. "Maya's advice to her son- Surapathman- has its base in Charavaka philosophy. In this manner the book abounds with information pertaining to every aspect of life, knowledge and values."

Having seen what the theme of the book is from an authentic voice, we shall next see briefly what attracted me most. In arranging the content structurally, the author has divided the book into the following Cantos or 'chapters'. There are six cantos in the 118 page book. The book begins with Siva and Uma on Mount Kailas and ends when Skanda weds Valliamma.

The six cantos
Admittedly I need not comment on each of the items in the six cantos, because the book is for your reading pleasure. But I shall comment on the author's presentation and quote a relevant passage which pleased me.

Before I do that, I should substantiate my understanding that the writer Sivarajasingam is not only a scholar in his field but also an admirable translator from Thamil to English.

A sample:

Adoration to Vinayaga

Adoration to the holy feet

of the lord

With ten arms and

five faces

Adoration to him

in whose waist band

The sun-god rests

as diamond stand

Adoration to him

who bears the name

of Vikatachakra.

Obeisance to Subramania

Obeisance to the twice

three faces of Kumara

Obeisance to the

grace flowing

from the six faces

Obeisance to the showers

held in admiration by all

Obeisance to the shying

spear resting in his hand

Obeisance to the Lord

residing at Kanchmango

grove

Obeisance to the

cock banner and

peacock vehicle.

Let me conclude that Sivarajasingam has done a good job in giving us in English the beautiful poetic prose of Kaachiapar Sivachariar in a simple but highly polished and equally poetic language and he deserves to be congratulated. I shall read out the first passage only to invite your attention to his flowing and flowery language.

"Mount Kailas stands majestically- aloft licking the sky with its snow capped peaks. It is the abode of Siva the omnipotent Lord. It abounds with innumerable Rishis and Devas. Around it are the cities of Indira and other regents of the spheres"

The style is suitably in tune with the serenity of the tone of the passage. The book is recommended for all who want to know about Thamil Literature and Saivaism.

sivakumaranks@yahoo.com

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