Abhirami Anthadhi (Kappu & Opening Verse) — Word-by-Word Meaning
அபிராமி அந்தாதி
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
தாரமர் கொன்றையும் சண்பக மாலையும்
tāramar konṟaiyum saṇbaka mālaiyum
The garland of konrai (Indian laburnum) blossoms and the garland of shenbaga (champaka) flowers.
சாத்தும் தில்லை ஊரர்
sāththum thillai ūrar
(He) who wears them, the Lord of Thillai (Chidambaram) — i.e. Lord Nataraja-Shiva.
பாகத்து உமைமைந்தனே
pāgaththu umaimainthanē
O son of Uma (Parvati) who shares half of Shiva's body — i.e. Lord Ganapati.
உலகு ஏழும் பெற்ற
ulagu ēzhum peṟṟa
Who gave birth to (bore) all the seven worlds — the Mother Abhirami.
சீர் அபிராமி அந்தாதி
sīr abirāmi anthādhi
This glorious Abhirami Anthadhi (the 'end-and-beginning' garland of verses to Abhirami).
எப்போதும் என் சிந்தையுள்ளே
eppōdhum en sinthaiyuḷḷē
Always, within my mind / thought.
காரமர் மேனிக் கணபதியே
kāramar mēnik gaṇapathiyē
O Ganapati of (dark) cloud-like splendid form.
நிற்கக் கட்டுரையே
niṟkak kaṭṭuraiyē
Ordain (grant) that it stand firm (in my mind) — the prayer of the invocation (kappu).
உதிக்கின்ற செங்கதிர்
udhikkinṟa sengadhir
The rising red rays of the sun (the freshly-risen sun).
உச்சித் திலகம்
uchchith thilagam
The tilaka (sacred mark) upon the crown (of her brow).
உணர்வுடையோர் மதிக்கின்ற மாணிக்கம்
uṇarvuḍaiyōr madhikkinṟa māṇikkam
The ruby (manikkam) prized by the wise / discerning ones.
மாதுளம் போது
mādhuḷam pōdhu
The pomegranate blossom (to which her radiance is compared).
மலர்க் கமலை
malark kamalai
The blossoming lotus (Lakshmi-like) — her lotus-like beauty.
துதிக்கின்ற மின்கொடி
thudhikkinṟa minkoḍi
The praised, dazzling streak of lightning (her shining, slender form).
மென்கதிர் கும்குமம் என்ன
menkadhir kumkumam enna
Like soft-rayed (radiant) kumkuma (saffron-red) — describing the glowing red lustre of her form.
விதிக்கின்ற மேனி அபிராமி
vidhikkinṟa mēni abirāmi
Abhirami, whose ordained (resplendent) form is (all this) — the Goddess of surpassing beauty.
என் தன் உயிர்த் துணையே
en than uyirth thuṇaiyē
She is the very companion (support) of my life (my soul's refuge).
அந்தாதி
anthādhi
Anthadhi — a poetic form in which the last word (antam) of each verse begins (adi) the next, forming an unbroken garland.
அபிராமி
abirāmi
Abhirami — 'she of great beauty / delight', the supreme Goddess (Shakti) at Thirukkadaiyur.
Complete Translation
The Abhirami Anthadhi is the great Tamil garland of 100 verses to the Goddess Abhirami of Thirukkadaiyur, sung by the devotee Subramania Iyer, known as Abhirami Bhattar.
Kappu (invocation): O Ganapati of splendid cloud-dark form, O son of Uma who is the half of the Lord of Thillai (Chidambaram) — He who wears garlands of konrai and shenbaga blossoms — ordain that this glorious Abhirami Anthadhi, (a hymn to the Mother) who bore all the seven worlds, may stand for ever within my thought.
Verse 1: Like the rising red rays of the sun, like the tilaka upon the crown, like the ruby prized by the wise, like the pomegranate flower and the blossoming lotus, like a praised streak of lightning, like the glow of soft-rayed kumkuma — such is the resplendent form of Abhirami; she is the very companion and refuge of my life.
The Abhirami Anthadhi is composed in the 'anthadhi' form, where the closing syllables of each verse open the next, binding all hundred verses into a single unbroken garland of praise to the Mother.
Origin & History
Source: Abhirami Anthadhi of Abhirami Bhattar (Tamil), Thirukkadaiyur
Author: Abhirami Bhattar (Subramania Iyer)
Period: c. 18th century CE
Abhirami Bhattar served the Goddess Abhirami at the temple of Thirukkadaiyur, so immersed in her vision that he often seemed lost to the world. When the Thanjavur king Serfoji visited and asked him what day it was, the saint, seeing only the Mother's radiant face, said it was a full-moon day — though it was new moon. Bound to prove his word or be punished, Abhirami Bhattar sang the hundred verses of the Abhirami Anthadhi through the night, and the Goddess, to save her devotee, made her light shine forth as the full moon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Abhirami Anthadhi?▼
It is a Tamil devotional hymn of 100 verses in praise of the Goddess Abhirami, the form of Shakti enshrined with Lord Amritaghateshwara at Thirukkadaiyur. It was composed by the saint Abhirami Bhattar and is written in the 'anthadhi' form, where each verse's ending begins the next.
Who was Abhirami Bhattar?▼
Abhirami Bhattar (Subramania Iyer) was a great devotee of the Goddess Abhirami at Thirukkadaiyur, who lived absorbed in her vision. Tradition places him in the 18th century, associated with the reign of the Maratha king Serfoji of Thanjavur.
What is the famous miracle of the Abhirami Anthadhi?▼
It is told that, lost in devotion, Abhirami Bhattar declared a new-moon (Amavasya) day to be a full-moon day. Challenged to prove it, he sang the Abhirami Anthadhi, and by the Goddess's grace she flung up her shining earring (or, by her power, the full moon appeared) to light the night — vindicating her devotee.
What does 'anthadhi' mean?▼
An 'anthadhi' is a Tamil poetic form in which the last word or syllable (antam) of each verse becomes the first (adi) of the next, so that the verses are linked in an unbroken chain — like a garland — and the final verse loops back to the first.
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