Author Dr S Padmapriya

 A beautiful couplet from the Thirukkural by Saint Thiruvalluvar, perhaps the greatest of world philosophers, thinkers and poets! கணைகொடிது யாழ்கோடு செவ்விதுஆங்கு அன்ன  வினைபடு பாலால் கொளல் Translation  Is not the cruel arrow smooth and straight, while the curved lyre makes sweet music? Our judgement must not depend on appearance but on conduct.

The Thiruvempavai (Tamil: திருவெம்பாவை)are a collection of songs composed by the poet and saint, Manikkavacakar. It forms part of the collection called Thiruvasagam.   It was composed in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai during the month of Margazhi(December-january) when the temple town was celebrating the Pavai Nolumbu. This is a penance observed by unmarried girls of those times to get good husbands. The maids all wake up early , wake each other up and with song and dance go to the ponds and streams for bathing and then worship Pavai (woman goddess) and request her to bless them with suitable husbands. These songs are sung by them during the festival on 10 days preceding the Thiruadhirai Nolumbu. The fact that during the coronation of the Kings of Thailand these are sung shows the importance people of those times attached to this song. The Tamil used was the ancient Tamil and though many words used during those times are common even today, the meanings ...