Thiruvempavai (Opening Verse) — Word-by-Word Meaning

The Thiruvempavai is a hymn of twenty verses by the great Tamil Saiva saint Manikkavacakar, part of the Thiruvasagam (the eighth book of the Tirumurai). Set in the cool month of Margazhi, it takes the form of girls observing the Paavai vow, going at dawn to bathe and to wake one another with the praise of Lord Shiva — so that the waking becomes an image of the soul rousing itself to God. Verse 1: 'O girl of bright, wide eyes — even as we sing the rare, great Light that has no beginning and no end, do you still lie sleeping? Or are your ears grown deaf? For when the sound of our praise extolling the holy anklet-clad feet of Mahadeva is heard along the street, one sobs and sobs, forgets the body, and rises tossing and rolling upon the flower-strewn bed, beside herself, able to do nothing — how wondrous, how wondrous! Is this then, O my friend, your nature?' — Take up our vow! Thus the very first verse sets the theme of the whole hymn: the soul that has truly heard the Lord's praise cannot remain unmoved, but melts in longing for Him.