Thiruppavai is a famous set of 30 Tamil devotional hymns (pasurams) composed by the saint Andal, (also called Goda or Kodhai) from Srivilliputhur , one of the twelve Alvars of the South Indian Vaishnava tradition. It is part of the Nalayira Divya Prabandham (the “4,000 divine hymns”) and is among the best‑known works of Tamil bhakti literature.Andal is the only woman among the Alvars and is highly revered in Sri Vaishnavism.
30 short hymns expressing intense devotion to Vishnu (Krishna). The poems are framed as a pavai vrata (a maiden’s vow) in which a group of young girls perform a month‑long observance seeking union with the Lord. The outer imagery — seasonal life, village ritual, longing for a bridegroom — is used to express spiritual yearning and instructions in devotion.
Religious and cultural role of Thiruppavai : It is traditionally sung daily in many Vaishnava households and temples during the Tamil month of Margazhi (roughly mid‑December to mid‑January). Each day one pasuram is often recited during that month. It is also widely taught, translated, and sung across India and by Vaishnavite communities worldwide.
Motive is devotion (bhakti), ethical living, community worship, surrender to God, and the simple path of loving service to Vishnu as means to spiritual fulfilment.
30 short hymns expressing intense devotion to Vishnu (Krishna). The poems are framed as a pavai vrata (a maiden’s vow) in which a group of young girls perform a month‑long observance seeking union with the Lord. The outer imagery — seasonal life, village ritual, longing for a bridegroom — is used to express spiritual yearning and instructions in devotion.
Religious and cultural role of Thiruppavai : It is traditionally sung daily in many Vaishnava households and temples during the Tamil month of Margazhi (roughly mid‑December to mid‑January). Each day one pasuram is often recited during that month. It is also widely taught, translated, and sung across India and by Vaishnavite communities worldwide.
Motive is devotion (bhakti), ethical living, community worship, surrender to God, and the simple path of loving service to Vishnu as means to spiritual fulfilment.
Pasuram no:1 Ragam :Nattai Thala :Adi
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mārgazi ttiṅgaḻ madi niṟainda nannāḻāl
nīrāḍa ppōduvīr pōduminō nēr izaiyīr śīr malgum āyppāḍi ccelva cciṟumīrgāḻ kūr vēl koḍun tozilan nandagōban kumaran ērārnda kaṇṇi yaśōdai iḻam śiṅgam kārmēni cceṅgaṇ kadirmadiyam pōl mugattānnārāyaṇanē namakkē paṟai taruvān pārōr pugaza ppaḍindēlōr em pāvāy |
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Pasuram no:2 Ragam:Goulai Thala:Misra chapu
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vaiyattu vāzvīrgāḻ ! nāmum nam pāvaikku
śeyyum kiriśaigaḻ kēḻīrō pāṟkaḍaluḻ paiya ttuyinṟa paraman aḍi pāḍi ey uṇṇōm pāl uṇṇōm nāṭkālē nīr āḍi aiyiṭṭezudōm malariṭṭu nām muḍiyōm śeyyādana śeyyōm tīkkuṟaḻai śenṟōdōm aiyamum piccaiyum āndanaiyum kai kāṭṭi uyyumāṟeṇṇi ugandēlōr em pāvāy Á Á |
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Pasuram no:3 Ragam:Arabhi Thala:Adi
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ōṅgi ulagaḻanda uttaman pēr pāḍi
nāṅgaḻ nam pāvaikku ccāṭri nīr āḍināl tīṅginṟi nāḍellām tiṅgaḻ mummāri peydu ōṅgu peṟuñjennel ūḍu kayal ugaḻa pūṅguvaḻai ppōdil poṟivaṇḍu kaṇ paḍuppa tēṅgādē pukkirundu śīrtta mulai paṭri vāṅga kuḍam niṟaikkum vaḻḻal perum paśukkaḻ nīṅgāda śelvam niṟaindēlōr em pāvāy |
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Pasuram no:4 Ragam:Varali Thala:Adi
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āzi mazaikkaṇṇā ! onṟu nī kai karavēl
āzi uḻ pukku mugandu koḍārttēṟi ūzi mudalvan uruvam pōl mey kaṟuttu pāziyan tōḻuḍai ppaṟpanāban kaiyil āzi pōl minni valamburi pōl ninṟadirndu tāzādē śārṅgam udaitta śaramazai pōlvāza ulaginil peydiḍāy nāṅgaḻum mārgazi nīrāḍa magizndēlōr em pāvāy |
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Pasuram no:5 Ragam:Sri Thala:Adi
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māyanai mannu vaḍamadurai maindanai
tūya perunīr yamunai ttuṟaivanai āyar kulattinil tōnṟum aṇi viḻakkai tāyai kkuḍal viḻakkam śeyda tāmōdaranai tūyōmāy vandu nām tūmalar tūvi ttozudu vāyināl pāḍi manattināl śindikka pōya pizaiyum pugudaruvān ninṟanavum tīyinil tūśāgum śeppēlōr em pāvāy |
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Pasuram no:6 Ragam:Sankarabharanam Thala:Misra chapu
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puḻḻum śilambina kāṇ puḻḻaraiyan kōyil
veḻḻai viḻi śaṅgin pēr aravam kēṭṭilaiyō piḻḻāy ! ezundirāy pēymulai nañjuṇḍu kaḻḻa ccagaḍam kalakkaziya kkālōcci veḻḻattaravil tuyil amarnda vittinai uḻḻattu kkoṇḍu munivargaḻum yōgigaḻum meḻḻa ezundari enṟa pēr aravam uḻḻam pugundu kuḻirndēlōr em pāvāy Á Á |
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Pasuram no:7 Ragam:Bhairavi Thala:Misra chapu
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kīśu kīśenṟeṅgum ānaiccāttan
kalandu pēśina pēccaravam kēṭṭilaiyō pēy ppeṇṇē kāśum piṟappum kala kalappa kkai pērttu vāśa naṟum kuzal āycciyar mattināl ōśai paḍutta tayir aravam kēṭṭilaiyō nāyaga ppeṇ piḻḻāy ! nārāyaṇan mūrtti kēśavanai ppāḍavum nī kēṭṭē kiḍattiyō tēśam uḍaiyāy ! tiṟavēlōr em pāvāy |
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Pasuram no: 8 Ragam:Dhanyasi Thala:Khanda chapu
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kīzvānam veḻḻenṟerumai śiṟu vīḍu
mēyvān parandana kāṇ mikkuḻḻa piḻḻaigaḻum pōvān pōginṟārai ppōgāmal kāttu unnai kkūvuvān vandu ninṟōm kōdu kalam uḍaiya pāvāy ! ezundirāy pāḍi ppaṟai koṇḍu māvāy piḻandānai mallarai māṭṭiya tēvādidēvanai ccenṟu nām śēvittāl āvā enṟārāyndaruḻēlōr em pāvāy |
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