muruganthiruppugazharunagirinatharkartikeya

𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌪𑍁𑌕𑌌 — 𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑍁

Thiruppugazh — Muthai Tharu in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 On Tuesdays, Krittika nakshatra days, during Skanda Sashti and Thaipusam, or daily as devotion to Murugan·📜 Thiruppugazh of Arunagirinathar (Tamil, 15th century CE) — song 1, sung at Tiruvannamalai

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Thiruppugazh of Arunagirinathar (Tamil, 15th century CE) — song 1, sung at Tiruvannamalai · Arunagirinathar · c. 15th century CE

Arunagirinathar of Tiruvannamalai, after a misspent youth, in utter despair climbed the temple tower (gopuram) to end his life. Lord Murugan caught him, saved him, and touched his tongue with the Vel, granting him divine wisdom. When the Lord bade him sing His praise and Arunagiri faltered, Murugan Himself uttered the words 'Muthai tharu...' — and with them the entire Thiruppugazh, thousands of songs in dazzling metre, poured forth from the saint.

✦ As told in scripture

It is said that Lord Murugan literally placed the first words of the Thiruppugazh, 'Muthai tharu', upon Arunagirinathar's tongue with His Vel — and that ever after the saint could compose, on the instant, songs of the most intricate rhythm in praise of the Lord at every shrine he visited.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑍁 𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌨𑌕𑍈 𑌅𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍈 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌸𑍍 𑌸𑌰𑌵𑌣 𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍋̀𑌰𑍁 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌰 ॥॥॥ 𑌏̀𑌨𑌵𑍋𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍

muththaith tharu paththith thirunagai aththik kiṟai saththich saravaṇa muththik koru viththuk gurupara ...... enavōdhum

Meaning:This is the very first song of the Thiruppugazh ('Glory to the Holy One'), the great Tamil hymn-cycle of Saint Arunagirinathar in praise of Lord Murugan. Tradition holds that Murugan Himself gave Arunagiri the opening words 'Muthai tharu' to begin his songs.

Verse 2

𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍍 𑌪𑌰 𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌸𑍍 𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌟𑍍 𑌟𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 𑌮𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌕𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌮𑌰𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥॥॥ 𑌅𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍇𑌣

mukkaṭ para maṟkuch suruthiyin muṟpaṭ ṭadhu kaṟpith thiruvarum muppaththu muvarkkath thamararum ...... aḍipēṇa

Meaning:The verse extols Murugan as the one whose pearl-like sacred smile bestows the pearl of liberation in devotion; the son of the Mountain-Goddess's Shakti; Saravanabhava; the seed of mukti and the supreme Guru — who taught the foremost meaning of the Vedas even to His three-eyed father Shiva, while the hosts of the gods cherish His feet. It recalls the deeds of Vishnu (Murugan's uncle): He whose arrow made Ravana's ten heads roll, who churned the ocean with Mount Mandara, who turned day to night with His discus — that emerald-hued cloud-dark Lord. Then comes the poet's prayer: 'Will there ever be a day when You protect me too with such loving grace?' The closing lines paint the battlefield where Bhairavi and the eight Bhairavas dance amid drum-beats and the cries of vultures and owls, as Murugan cuts down the friendless demons and pierces the great Krauncha mountain — O Great Lord (Perumale)!

Verse 3

𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌲𑍈 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌣𑍈𑌤𑍋̀𑌟𑍁 𑌓̀𑌰𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍋̀𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍋̀𑌰𑍁 𑌪𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌕𑌲𑍍 𑌵𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌿𑌲𑍍 ॥॥॥ 𑌇𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌕𑌪𑍍

paththuth thalai thaththak kaṇaithoḍu oṟṟaik kiri maththaip poruthoru paṭṭap pagal vaṭṭath thigiriyil ...... iravāgap

Verse 4

𑌪𑌰𑍍𑌰𑌰𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍈𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌟𑌵𑌿𑌯 𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌸𑍈𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍁𑌯𑌲𑍍 𑌮𑍇̀𑌸𑍍𑌸𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌕𑍁𑌪𑍋̀𑌰𑍁𑌳𑍍 𑌪𑌟𑍍𑌸𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍋̀𑌟𑍁 𑌰𑌟𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌳𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍 ॥॥॥ 𑌓̀𑌰𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌳𑍇

paṟṟaṟ kirathath thaik kaḍaviya pachchaip puyal mechchath thaguporuḷ paṭchath thoḍu raṭchith tharuḷvadhum ...... orunāḷē

Verse 5

𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍇̀𑌯 𑌓̀𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌤𑌮𑍍 𑌵𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌯𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌿 𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍋̀𑌟𑍍 𑌕𑌨 𑌟𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌕𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌌𑌉𑌕𑍋̀𑌟𑍁 ॥॥॥ 𑌕𑌌𑌉𑌤𑌾𑌟

thiththith theya oththap paripura nirththap padham vaiththup payiravi thikkoṭ kana ḍikkak kazhugoḍu ...... kazhudhāḍa

Verse 6

𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌰𑌿 𑌅𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌯𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌰𑍍 𑌤𑍋̀𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍋̀𑌕𑍁 𑌤𑍋̀𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍋̀𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍋̀𑌕𑍁 𑌸𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌵𑍁 𑌰𑌿𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍍𑌰𑌿𑌕𑌟𑌕 ॥॥॥ 𑌏̀𑌨𑌵𑍋𑌤

thikkup pari aṭṭap payiravar thokkuth thogu thokkuth thogudhogu sithrap pavu rikkuth thrigaḍaka ...... enavōdha

Verse 7

𑌕𑍋̀𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌰𑍈 𑌕𑍋̀𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌳𑌮𑌿𑌸𑍈 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍁 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍁𑌕𑍁 𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍁𑌤𑍈 𑌪𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌕𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌿𑌟𑌿𑌯𑍇̀𑌨 ॥॥॥ 𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍁𑌕𑍂𑌕𑍈

koththup paṟai koṭṭak kaḷamisai kukkuk kugu kukkuk kugukugu kuththup pudhai pukkup piḍiyena ...... mudhukūgai

Verse 8

𑌕𑍋̀𑌟𑍍𑌪𑍁𑌰𑍍 𑌰𑍇̀𑌌𑌅 𑌨𑌟𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍 𑌰𑌵𑍁𑌣𑌰𑍈 𑌵𑍇̀𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌲𑌿 𑌯𑌿𑌟𑍍𑌟𑍁𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌟 𑌓̀𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍋̀𑌰𑌵𑌲 ॥॥॥ 𑌪𑍇̀𑌰𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌳𑍇

koṭpuṟ ṟezha naṭpaṟ ṟavuṇarai veṭṭip pali yiṭṭuk kulagiri kuththup paḍa oththup poravala ...... perumāḷē

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑍁 𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌿𑌰𑍁𑌨𑌕𑍈🔊muththaith tharu paththith thirunagai(He) of the sacred smile that, in devotion, bestows pearls (mukti) — a smile radiant like pearls.

𑌅𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑍈 𑌸𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿🔊aththik kiṟai saththiThe Lord (consort) of the daughter of the mountain — i.e. Shakti's son; wielder of the Shakti-vel.

𑌸𑌰𑌵𑌣🔊saravaṇaSaravana — He who was born in the Saravana reed-grove; a name of Murugan.

𑌮𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌿𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑍋̀𑌰𑍁 𑌵𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌪𑌰🔊muththik koru viththu guruparaThe very seed (source) of liberation (mukti), O supreme Guru (Gurupara).

𑌏̀𑌨𑌵𑍋𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍 𑌮𑍁𑌕𑍍𑌕𑌟𑍍 𑌪𑌰𑌮𑌰𑍍𑌕𑍁🔊enavōdhum mukkaṭ paramaṟkuTo the three-eyed Supreme One (Shiva), who is thus extolled (by His son).

𑌸𑍁𑌰𑍁𑌤𑌿𑌯𑌿𑌨𑍍 𑌮𑍁𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌤𑍁 𑌕𑌰𑍍𑌪𑌿𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁🔊suruthiyin muṟpaṭṭadhu kaṟpiththuTeaching (to Shiva) the foremost essence of the Vedas (the Pranava / Om) — referring to Murugan as Swaminatha, guru to His own father.

𑌮𑍁𑌪𑍍𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁 𑌮𑍁𑌵𑌰𑍍𑌕𑍍𑌕𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌮𑌰𑌰𑍁𑌮𑍍 𑌅𑌟𑌿𑌪𑍇𑌣🔊muppaththu muvarkkath thamararum aḍipēṇaWhile the thirty-three crore (classes of) celestials cherish and adore His feet.

𑌪𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌲𑍈 𑌤𑌤𑍍𑌤 𑌕𑌣𑍈𑌤𑍋̀𑌟𑍁🔊paththuth thalai thaththak kaṇaithoḍu(The Lord — Rama/Vishnu) who loosed an arrow that made the ten heads (of Ravana) roll.

𑌓̀𑌰𑍍𑌰𑍈𑌕𑍍 𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿 𑌮𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍈𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍋̀𑌰𑍁𑌤𑍁🔊oṟṟaik kiri maththaip poruthuWho churned (the ocean) using the single great mountain (Mandara) as the churning-rod.

𑌪𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌕𑌲𑍍 𑌵𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌿𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿𑌯𑌿𑌲𑍍 𑌇𑌰𑌵𑌾𑌕🔊paṭṭap pagal vaṭṭath thigiriyil iravāgaWho, with His round discus, turned broad day into night (to slay Jayadratha).

𑌪𑌸𑍍𑌸𑍈𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍁𑌯𑌲𑍍🔊pachchaip puyalThe green (emerald-dark) rain-cloud — Lord Vishnu/Krishna, Murugan's maternal uncle.

𑌪𑌟𑍍𑌸𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑍋̀𑌟𑍁 𑌰𑌟𑍍𑌸𑌿𑌤𑍍 𑌤𑌰𑍁𑌳𑍍𑌵𑌤𑍁𑌮𑍍 𑌓̀𑌰𑍁𑌨𑌾𑌳𑍇🔊paṭchath thoḍu raṭchith tharuḷvadhum orunāḷēWill there be a day when You graciously protect me with such loving favour? (the poet's central prayer).

𑌪𑌰𑌿𑌪𑍁𑌰 𑌨𑌿𑌰𑍍𑌤𑍍𑌤𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌤𑌮𑍍 𑌵𑍈𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁🔊paripura nirththap padham vaiththuPlacing (her) dancing feet adorned with anklets — referring to Bhairavi/Kali dancing on the battlefield.

𑌪𑌯𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌿🔊payiraviBhairavi (the fierce Goddess) who dances on the field of battle.

𑌅𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌯𑌿𑌰𑌵𑌰𑍍🔊aṭṭap payiravarThe eight Bhairavas (who gather at the battlefield).

𑌕𑌳𑌮𑌿𑌸𑍈🔊kaḷamisaiUpon the battlefield (kalam).

𑌨𑌟𑍍𑌪𑌰𑍍 𑌰𑌵𑍁𑌣𑌰𑍈 𑌵𑍇̀𑌟𑍍𑌟𑌿🔊naṭpaṟ ṟavuṇarai veṭṭiCutting down the friendless asuras (demons).

𑌕𑍁𑌲𑌕𑌿𑌰𑌿 𑌕𑍁𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑌟 𑌓̀𑌤𑍍𑌤𑍁𑌪𑍍 𑌪𑍋̀𑌰𑌵𑌲🔊kulagiri kuththup paḍa oththup poravalaO mighty one who fought so that the great mountain (Krauncha) was pierced through.

𑌪𑍇̀𑌰𑍁𑌮𑌾𑌳𑍇🔊perumāḷēO Great Lord! — the refrain ending every Thiruppugazh song, addressed to Murugan.

Benefits of Chanting Thiruppugazh — Muthai Tharu

✦

The very first and most beloved song of the Thiruppugazh — held to be given by Murugan Himself to Arunagirinathar.

✦

Chanting it is believed to bestow Murugan's grace, sharpen the intellect, and lead the devotee toward liberation (mukti), as its opening words declare.

✦

Its intricate metre (chandam) trains the tongue and mind; singing it is considered a powerful spiritual and even rhythmic discipline.

✦

Recited for devotion to Lord Murugan on Tuesdays, Krittika nakshatra days, and during Skanda Sashti and Thaipusam.

✦

Loved across Tamil Nadu and the Tamil diaspora; it is one of the most frequently sung of all Murugan hymns.

How to Chant Thiruppugazh — Muthai Tharu

Repetitions1times

Best TimeOn Tuesdays, Krittika nakshatra days, during Skanda Sashti and Thaipusam, or daily as devotion to Murugan

FaceFacing east or the deity of Murugan

Sit before an image of Lord Murugan with His Vel and peacock. Learn the rhythm (chandam) of the song carefully, for the Thiruppugazh is sung in precise metrical cadence; chant 'Muthai tharu' slowly at first, keeping the beat, and let the pauses (marked by the gaps) fall correctly. Sing with devotion, dwelling on the meaning, and close with 'Perumale!'. Many begin their Thiruppugazh recitation with this first song before singing others.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Thiruppugazh — Muthai Tharu written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The Thiruppugazh ('Glory to the Holy One') is a celebrated body of Tamil devotional songs in praise of Lord Murugan, composed by Saint Arunagirinathar in the 15th century. It is famous for its profound devotion and its extraordinarily intricate rhythmic metres (chandam).

Muthai Tharu is the very first song of the Thiruppugazh. Tradition holds that when Arunagirinathar, redeemed from despair, could not begin, Lord Murugan Himself appeared and gave him the opening words 'Muthai tharu...', from which the whole Thiruppugazh flowed.

Arunagirinathar was a 15th-century Tamil saint-poet of Tiruvannamalai. After a wayward youth he was saved and blessed by Lord Murugan, and went on to compose the Thiruppugazh and other works (Kandar Anubhuti, Kandar Alankaram, Vel Vaguppu) wholly in Murugan's praise.

'Perumale' means 'O Great Lord' and is Arunagirinathar's signature address to Lord Murugan. Every one of the thousands of Thiruppugazh songs ends on this word, so that each song culminates in calling upon the Lord Himself.