Vinayagar Agaval (Opening) — Word-by-Word Meaning

The Vinayagar Agaval is the great Tamil hymn to Lord Ganesha (Vinayaka) by the poet-saint Avvaiyar, composed in the flowing 'agaval' (blank-verse) metre. It begins by adoring the Lord from His feet upward: His cool, sandal-anointed lotus-red feet whose anklets sing in many tunes; the golden waist-cord and silken robe; the casket-like belly and the single great tusk; the elephant face bright with vermilion; the five hands bearing goad and noose; the dark form dwelling in the devotee's heart; the eight arms, three eyes and the marks of rut; the two ears, the gleaming golden crown, and the broad chest shining with the three-stranded sacred thread. Then the poet hails Him as the wonder of supreme Turiya knowledge that lies beyond all words — the wish-granting divine elephant, rider of the mouse, who relishes the three fruits. She prays: at this very moment, desiring to take me as His own, He came to me of His own grace like a mother, cut away the delusion of illusory birth, and clearly revealed the perfect five sacred letters (the Panchakshara). Entering my heart and taking the form of the Guru, He set His holy feet upon this earth, taught me 'this is the Truth', graciously made me rejoice beyond all withering, and with the weapon of His tusk rooted out my cruel karma. The hymn goes on to describe the awakening of the kundalini and the inner yogic experience that Ganesha bestows.