Nachiyar Thirumozhi — Varanam Ayiram (Andal) — Word-by-Word Meaning
நாச்சியார் திருமொழி — வாரணம் ஆயிரம்
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
வாரணம் ஆயிரம் சூழ
vāraṇam āyiram sūzha
Surrounded by a thousand elephants (in grand procession).
வலம்செய்து
valamseydhu
Going around (the town) in auspicious circumambulation.
நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான் என்று
nāraṇa nambi naḍakkinṟān enṟu
Saying 'the perfect Lord Narayana is coming/walking (here)!'
பூரண பொற்குடம் வைத்து
pūraṇa poṟkuḍam vaiththu
Placing the full golden pots (purna-kumbha, the auspicious welcome).
தோரணம் நாட்ட
thōraṇam nāṭṭa
Raising festoons / decorative arches (everywhere).
கனாக்கண்டேன் தோழீ நான்
kanākkaṇḍēn thōzhī nān
I saw (this) in a dream, O my friend!
நாளை வதுவை மணமென்று நாள்இட்டு
nāḷai vadhuvai maṇamenṟu nāḷiṭṭu
Fixing the day, saying 'tomorrow is the wedding ceremony'.
கோளரி மாதவன் கோவிந்தன்
kōḷari mādhavan gōvindhan
The fierce-lion (Narasimha) Madhava, Govinda (Krishna).
காளை புகுத
kāḷai pugudha
(That) youthful bridegroom entering (the wedding pavilion).
இந்திரன் உள்ளிட்ட தேவர் குழாம் எல்லாம்
indiran uḷḷiṭṭa dēvar kuzhām ellām
All the host of gods, including Indra.
என்னை மகள்பேசி மந்திரித்து
ennai magaḷpēsi mandhiriththu
Formally speaking of me as the bride and counselling (the betrothal).
மந்திரக் கோடி உடுத்தி
mandhirak kōḍi uḍuththi
Clothing (me) in the sanctified bridal garment.
மணமாலை அந்தரி சூட்ட
maṇamālai andhari sūṭṭa
Durga (Antari) adorning (me) with the wedding garland.
கைத்தலம் பற்ற
kaiththalam paṟṟa
(He) taking hold of my hand (the rite of panigrahana, taking the bride's hand).
அத்தனும் அன்னையும் என்னைக் கொடுத்திட
aththanum annaiyum ennaik koḍuththiḍa
My father and mother giving me away (in the kanyadana).
முத்தணல் நீரால் முழுக்காட்டி
muththaṇal nīrāl muzhukkāṭṭi
Bathing (me) with the sacred waters of the wedding rite.
Complete Translation
These are pasurams from the famous sixth decad of Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, the 'Varanam Ayiram' — the dream-wedding in which Andal sees herself married to Lord Narayana (Krishna). It is sung to this day at Sri Vaishnava and Iyengar weddings.
'O my friend! I saw in a dream that the perfect Lord Narayana came walking in procession, encircled by a thousand elephants, going around the town; that everywhere they set out the full golden pots of welcome and raised festoons of celebration.'
'O my friend! I saw in a dream that they fixed the day, saying "tomorrow is the wedding"; and beneath the pavilion adorned with areca palms and tender blossoms, that youthful bridegroom — Madhava the man-lion, Govinda — entered (as the groom).'
'O my friend! I saw in a dream that all the host of gods led by Indra came and sat, formally spoke of me as the bride and counselled the betrothal, clothed me in the sanctified bridal cloth, and the Goddess (Durga) adorned me with the wedding garland.'
'O my friend! I saw in a dream that He took my hand in His; that He clasped me close; that my father and mother gave me away, and that I was bathed with the sacred waters of the marriage rite.'
Origin & History
Source: Nalayira Divya Prabandham — Nachiyar Thirumozhi, 6th decad 'Varanam Ayiram', by Andal (Tamil, c. 8th century CE)
Author: Andal (Godadevi / Kodhai), Alwar saint
Period: Tamil Bhakti era (c. 8th century CE)
Andal, the foster-daughter of Periyalwar of Srivilliputhur, loved Lord Vishnu so wholly that she would wear the garlands meant for the temple before they were offered. In the Nachiyar Thirumozhi she pours out her longing for union with the Lord, and in this sixth decad she recounts a dream in which the whole marriage is celebrated — the Lord coming in procession, the gods gathering, and she herself wedded to Narayana. Tradition holds she was at last united with Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Varanam Ayiram'?▼
It is the famous sixth decad (Tirumozhi) of Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, in which Andal describes a dream of her wedding to Lord Narayana (Krishna). It narrates the marriage stage by stage and is sung at Sri Vaishnava weddings to this day.
Who was Andal?▼
Andal (Godadevi) is the only woman among the twelve Alwar saints of the Sri Vaishnava tradition. Found as a child in a tulasi garden in Srivilliputhur by the saint Periyalwar, she grew up in intense love for Lord Ranganatha and, tradition holds, finally merged with Him. She gave the world the Tiruppavai and the Nachiyar Thirumozhi.
Why is it sung at weddings?▼
Because the decad describes a complete, auspicious marriage to the Lord — the procession, the betrothal, the garland, the taking of the hand, the giving away and the sacred bath. Each verse corresponds to a stage of a traditional wedding, making it the perfect benediction for the bride and groom.
Is this part of the Divya Prabandham?▼
Yes. The Nachiyar Thirumozhi is one of Andal's two works in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 4,000-verse Tamil canon of the Alwars. 'Varanam Ayiram' is its sixth decad and among the most beloved sections of the whole corpus.
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