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Mantra · Arunagirinathar's sixteen Vel lines, reordered by Vallimalai Swamigal

Vel Maaral

திருத்தணியில் உதித்(து)அருளும் ஒருத்தன்மலை விருத்தன்என(து) உளத்தில்உறை

Also known as Vel Maaral Maha Mantiram

In Tamil and English — with the meaning of every word, and the one sound most people pronounce wrongly.

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What the Vel Maaral is

The Vel Maaral, also printed as the Vel Maaral Maha Mantiram, is a Tamil recitation addressed not to Murugan himself but to his Vel, the lance in his hand. Every word in it comes from the Vel Vaguppu, a sixteen-line poem by the fifteenth-century saint Arunagirinathar, the poet of the Tiruppugazh. In the twentieth century Vallimalai Satchidananda Swamigal set those sixteen lines out four times over in a fixed, shifting order, giving sixty-four lines in all. Each line sets the Vel beside a single image: the eyes of the huntress Valli, the feet of Shiva when Yama comes, the file that cut the fetters on Indra's feet, a companion at the left and the right on a lonely road. The Tiruttani line, naming Guha who appeared at Tiruttani, rides the peacock and dwells in the heart, opens the recitation, returns after every line and closes it. The source poem begins on the syllable pa and ends on le, so commentators call it the pale vaguppu.

A Vallimalai sage reorders sixteen lines

Vallimalai Satchidananda Swamigal was born Ardhanari in 1870 at Poonachi Pudur in Coimbatore district. According to the accounts of his life, a song heard at the Palani temple turned him toward Arunagirinathar's Tiruppugazh, which he learned within a month. At Skandasramam in Tiruvannamalai, Ramana Maharshi is said to have explained to him the inner sense of the songs, and Seshadri Swamigal sent him on to Vallimalai, the hill near Walaja that tradition names as the birthplace of Valli. He lived there in a cave for some three decades, and in 1917-18 he began the step festival at Tiruttani, held as the year turns on 31 December, when devotees climb the hill step by step. He attained samadhi at Vallimalai on 22 November 1950. Swamigal grouped three of Arunagirinathar's vaguppu poems as gem, mantra and medicine: the Seerpada Vaguppu, the Devendra Sanga Vaguppu and, in the last class, the Vel Vaguppu. From that poem he built the Vel Maaral, taking its sixteen lines up and down in alternating order, a pattern his followers liken to a yantra laid out in sound. The word maaral, a turning about or exchange, refers to that ordering.

The opening lines, in Tamil and English

Tamilதிருத்தணியில் உதித்(து)அருளும் ஒருத்தன்மலை விருத்தன்என(து) உளத்தில்உறை கருத்தன்மயில் நடத்துகுகன் வேலே

EnglishRoman transliterationtiruttaṇiyil utit(tu)aruḷum oruttaṉmalai viruttaṉeṉa(tu) uḷattiluṟai karuttaṉmayil naṭattukukaṉ vēlē

“This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock. It is chanted 12 times at the start, after every line, and 12 times at the close.”

பருத்தமுலை: paruttamulai — full-breasted
சிறுத்தஇடை: ciṟuttaiṭai — slender-waisted
வெளுத்தநகை: veḷuttanakai — white-smiling
கறுத்தகுழல்: kaṟuttakuḻal — dark-haired
சிவத்தஇதழ்: civattaitaḻ — red-lipped
மறச்சிறுமி: maṟacciṟumi — young huntress (Valli)
விழிக்குநிகர்: viḻikkunikar — equal to the eyes
ஆகும்: ākum — it is

Vel Maaral lyrics in full

Sixty-four lines in Vallimalai Swamigal's order, with the Tiruttani refrain set at the head; letters in brackets mark the joins of the sung form.

All 195 lines, in Tamil and English, each with its meaning. Choose a script:

Download the Vel Maaral PDFAll 195 lines with their meanings, in Tamil. Free to print and keep.

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Refrain

திருத்தணியில் உதித்(து)அருளும் ஒருத்தன்மலை
விருத்தன்என(து) உளத்தில்உறை
கருத்தன்மயில் நடத்துகுகன் வேலே

This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock. It is chanted 12 times at the start, after every line, and 12 times at the close.

Verse 1

பருத்தமுலை சிறுத்தஇடை வெளுத்தநகை
கறுத்தகுழல் சிவத்தஇதழ் மறச்சிறுமி
விழிக்குநிகர் ஆகும்

The Vel is equal to the eyes of the young huntress Valli, with her full breasts, slender waist, white smile, dark hair and red lips.

Verse 2

This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock.

Verse 3

சொலற்(கு)அரிய திருப்புகழை உரைத்தவரை
அடுத்தபகை அறுத்(து)எறிய
உறுக்கிஎழும் அறத்தைநிலை காணும்

When enemies come against those who recite the Tiruppugazh, whose glory is beyond words, the Vel rises in fury to cut them down and makes dharma stand firm.

Verse 4

தருக்கிநமன் முருக்கவரின் எருக்குமதி
தரித்தமுடி படைத்தவிறல் படைத்தஇறை
கழற்குநிகர் ஆகும்

When Yama comes in his pride to strike, the Vel is equal to the feet of the mighty Lord Shiva, whose crown bears the erukku flower and the crescent moon.

Verse 5

பனைக்கைமுக படக்கரட மதத்தவள
கசக்கடவுள் பதத்(து)இடு(ம்)நி
களத்துமுளை தெறிக்கவரம் ஆகும்

The Vel is the file that snapped the bolt of the fetters placed on the feet of Indra, lord of the white elephant with a trunk like a palm, an ornamented face cloth and flowing must.

Verse 6

சினத்(து)அவுணர் எதிர்த்தரண களத்தில்வெகு
குறைத்தலைகள் சிரித்(து)எயிறு
கடித்துவிழி விழித்(து)அலற மோதும்

On the battlefield where the angry asuras opposed it, the Vel strikes so that countless severed heads laugh, bite their teeth, glare and cry out.

Verse 7

துதிக்கும்அடி யவர்க்(கு)ஒருவர் கெடுக்கஇடர்
நினைக்கின்அவர் குலத்தைமுதல் அறக்களையும்
எனக்(கு)ஓர் துணை ஆகும்

If anyone even thinks of harming the devotees who praise it, the Vel uproots that person's whole line; it is my one companion.

Verse 8

தலத்தில்உள கணத்தொகுதி களிப்பின்உண
வழைப்ப(து) என மலர்க்கமல கரத்தின்முனை
விதிர்க்கவளை(வு) ஆகும்

When the Lord moves the tip of His lotus hand, the Vel bends as if inviting all the hosts of the world to come and eat with joy.

Verse 9

பழுத்தமுது தமிழ்ப்பலகை இருக்கும்ஒரு
கவிப்புலவன் இசைக்(கு)உருகி
வரைக்குகையை இடித்துவழி காணும்

Melted by the song of the peerless poet of the ancient Tamil Sangam board, the Vel broke open the mountain cave and made a way out for him.

Verse 10

திசைக்கிரியை முதற்குலிசன் அறுத்தசிறை
முளைத்த(து)என முகட்டின்இடை
பறக்கஅற விசைத்(து) அதிர ஓடும்

The Vel flies across the vault of the sky with such force that the world shakes, as if the wings Indra once cut from the mountains of the directions had grown again.

Verse 11

சுடர்ப்பரிதி ஒளிப்பநில(வு) ஒழுக்கு(ம்)மதி
ஒளிப்பஅலை அடக்குதழல் ஒளிப்பஒளிர்
ஒளிப்பிரபை வீசும்

The Vel sends out a radiance that makes the blazing sun, the moon that pours cool light and the fire that holds back the sea all hide in shame.

Verse 12

தனித்துவழி நடக்கும்என(து) இடத்தும்ஒரு
வலத்தும்இரு புறத்தும்அரு(கு)
அடுத்(து)இரவு பகற்றுணைய(து) ஆகும்

When I walk alone on the road, the Vel stays at my left, my right and on both sides, close beside me, my companion by night and by day.

Verse 13

பசித்(து)அலகை முசித்(து)அழுது முறைப்படுதல்
ஒழித்(து)அவுணர் உரத்(து)உதிர
நிணத்தசைகள் புசிக்கஅருள் நேரும்

The Vel ends the wailing of the starving ghouls who weep and complain, and graciously lets them feed on the blood, fat and flesh of the asuras.

Verse 14

திரைக்கடலை உடைத்துநிறை புனற்கடிது
குடித்(து)உடையும் உடைப்(பு) அடைய
அடைத்(து)உதிரம் நிறைத்துவிளை யாடும்

The Vel breaks the wave-tossed sea, swiftly drinks its water, closes the breach and plays after filling it with blood.

Verse 15

சுரர்க்கு(ம்)முநி வரர்க்கு(ம்)மக பதிக்கும்விதி
தனக்கும்அரி தனக்கும்நரர் தமக்கும்உறும்
இடுக்கண்வினை சாடும்

The Vel strikes down the troubles and karma that befall the gods, the sages, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu and human beings.

Verse 16

சலத்துவரும் அரக்கர்உடல் கொழுத்துவளர்
பெருத்தகுடர் சிவத்ததொடை
எனச்சிகையில் விருப்பமொடு சூடும்

The Vel gladly wears on its crest, like a red garland, the great entrails of the asuras who came in anger with fattened bodies.

Verse 17

The Vel strikes down the troubles and karma that befall the gods, the sages, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu and human beings.

Verse 18

The Vel gladly wears on its crest, like a red garland, the great entrails of the asuras who came in anger with fattened bodies.

Verse 19

The Vel ends the wailing of the starving ghouls who weep and complain, and graciously lets them feed on the blood, fat and flesh of the asuras.

Verse 20

The Vel breaks the wave-tossed sea, swiftly drinks its water, closes the breach and plays after filling it with blood.

Verse 21

The Vel sends out a radiance that makes the blazing sun, the moon that pours cool light and the fire that holds back the sea all hide in shame.

Verse 22

When I walk alone on the road, the Vel stays at my left, my right and on both sides, close beside me, my companion by night and by day.

Verse 23

Melted by the song of the peerless poet of the ancient Tamil Sangam board, the Vel broke open the mountain cave and made a way out for him.

Verse 24

The Vel flies across the vault of the sky with such force that the world shakes, as if the wings Indra once cut from the mountains of the directions had grown again.

Verse 25

If anyone even thinks of harming the devotees who praise it, the Vel uproots that person's whole line; it is my one companion.

Verse 26

When the Lord moves the tip of His lotus hand, the Vel bends as if inviting all the hosts of the world to come and eat with joy.

Verse 27

The Vel is the file that snapped the bolt of the fetters placed on the feet of Indra, lord of the white elephant with a trunk like a palm, an ornamented face cloth and flowing must.

Verse 28

On the battlefield where the angry asuras opposed it, the Vel strikes so that countless severed heads laugh, bite their teeth, glare and cry out.

Verse 29

When enemies come against those who recite the Tiruppugazh, whose glory is beyond words, the Vel rises in fury to cut them down and makes dharma stand firm.

Verse 30

When Yama comes in his pride to strike, the Vel is equal to the feet of the mighty Lord Shiva, whose crown bears the erukku flower and the crescent moon.

Verse 31

The Vel is equal to the eyes of the young huntress Valli, with her full breasts, slender waist, white smile, dark hair and red lips.

Verse 32

This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock.

Verse 33

When Yama comes in his pride to strike, the Vel is equal to the feet of the mighty Lord Shiva, whose crown bears the erukku flower and the crescent moon.

Verse 34

When enemies come against those who recite the Tiruppugazh, whose glory is beyond words, the Vel rises in fury to cut them down and makes dharma stand firm.

Verse 35

This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock.

Verse 36

The Vel is equal to the eyes of the young huntress Valli, with her full breasts, slender waist, white smile, dark hair and red lips.

Verse 37

When the Lord moves the tip of His lotus hand, the Vel bends as if inviting all the hosts of the world to come and eat with joy.

Verse 38

If anyone even thinks of harming the devotees who praise it, the Vel uproots that person's whole line; it is my one companion.

Verse 39

On the battlefield where the angry asuras opposed it, the Vel strikes so that countless severed heads laugh, bite their teeth, glare and cry out.

Verse 40

The Vel is the file that snapped the bolt of the fetters placed on the feet of Indra, lord of the white elephant with a trunk like a palm, an ornamented face cloth and flowing must.

Verse 41

When I walk alone on the road, the Vel stays at my left, my right and on both sides, close beside me, my companion by night and by day.

Verse 42

The Vel sends out a radiance that makes the blazing sun, the moon that pours cool light and the fire that holds back the sea all hide in shame.

Verse 43

The Vel flies across the vault of the sky with such force that the world shakes, as if the wings Indra once cut from the mountains of the directions had grown again.

Verse 44

Melted by the song of the peerless poet of the ancient Tamil Sangam board, the Vel broke open the mountain cave and made a way out for him.

Verse 45

The Vel gladly wears on its crest, like a red garland, the great entrails of the asuras who came in anger with fattened bodies.

Verse 46

The Vel strikes down the troubles and karma that befall the gods, the sages, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu and human beings.

Verse 47

The Vel breaks the wave-tossed sea, swiftly drinks its water, closes the breach and plays after filling it with blood.

Verse 48

The Vel ends the wailing of the starving ghouls who weep and complain, and graciously lets them feed on the blood, fat and flesh of the asuras.

Verse 49

The Vel breaks the wave-tossed sea, swiftly drinks its water, closes the breach and plays after filling it with blood.

Verse 50

The Vel ends the wailing of the starving ghouls who weep and complain, and graciously lets them feed on the blood, fat and flesh of the asuras.

Verse 51

The Vel gladly wears on its crest, like a red garland, the great entrails of the asuras who came in anger with fattened bodies.

Verse 52

The Vel strikes down the troubles and karma that befall the gods, the sages, Indra, Brahma, Vishnu and human beings.

Verse 53

The Vel flies across the vault of the sky with such force that the world shakes, as if the wings Indra once cut from the mountains of the directions had grown again.

Verse 54

Melted by the song of the peerless poet of the ancient Tamil Sangam board, the Vel broke open the mountain cave and made a way out for him.

Verse 55

When I walk alone on the road, the Vel stays at my left, my right and on both sides, close beside me, my companion by night and by day.

Verse 56

The Vel sends out a radiance that makes the blazing sun, the moon that pours cool light and the fire that holds back the sea all hide in shame.

Verse 57

On the battlefield where the angry asuras opposed it, the Vel strikes so that countless severed heads laugh, bite their teeth, glare and cry out.

Verse 58

The Vel is the file that snapped the bolt of the fetters placed on the feet of Indra, lord of the white elephant with a trunk like a palm, an ornamented face cloth and flowing must.

Verse 59

When the Lord moves the tip of His lotus hand, the Vel bends as if inviting all the hosts of the world to come and eat with joy.

Verse 60

If anyone even thinks of harming the devotees who praise it, the Vel uproots that person's whole line; it is my one companion.

Verse 61

This is the Vel of Guha, the One who appeared at Tiruttani, the ancient Lord of the hills, who dwells in my heart and rides the peacock.

Verse 62

The Vel is equal to the eyes of the young huntress Valli, with her full breasts, slender waist, white smile, dark hair and red lips.

Verse 63

When Yama comes in his pride to strike, the Vel is equal to the feet of the mighty Lord Shiva, whose crown bears the erukku flower and the crescent moon.

Verse 64

When enemies come against those who recite the Tiruppugazh, whose glory is beyond words, the Vel rises in fury to cut them down and makes dharma stand firm.

The syllable people get wrong

In the refrain's நடத்துகுகன் (naṭattukukaṉ) the name is spelt with the letter k, but Tamil softens a k that falls between vowels, so it is said close to 'nadattu-guhan', the Sanskrit Guha, never 'kukan'. The final ன் (ṉ) is a light n made with the tongue just behind the teeth ridge.

When the Vel Maaral is chanted

Weekday. Tuesday

Festival. Sashti, Krittika and Vishakha days

Questions

The words are Arunagirinathar's: all sixty-four lines are drawn from his sixteen-line Vel Vaguppu, one of the poems grouped as the Tiruvaguppu. The arrangement is the work of Vallimalai Satchidananda Swamigal, who died in 1950. He added no verse of his own; what he contributed is the order in which the lines return and the placing of the Tiruttani refrain between them. Printed copies therefore credit the poem to Arunagirinathar and the parayanam to Swamigal.

The Vel Vaguppu is the source poem, read straight through once, from paruttamulai to the closing vele. The Vel Maaral reads the same lines four times in a set, shifting sequence, so that each line meets different neighbours on each pass, and it threads the Tiruttani line between them. Some booklets also add framing verses before and after, such as a Kandar Anubhuti invocation or a verse from Kandar Alangaram; these differ from one printing to the next.

The line refers to Nakkeerar of the ancient Tamil Sangam at Madurai. According to tradition, a demoness named Karkimukhi held him with other captives in a cave on the hill of Tirupparankundram, and Nakkeerar sang the Tirumurugatruppadai to Murugan from there. The Vel, the story goes, broke the cave open and set them free. Arunagirinathar compresses the whole episode into one line, saying the Vel was melted by the poet's song before it split the rock.

The text is given in the split reading form used in most Vel Maaral booklets. Tamil runs words together in speech, so the poet's line reads utittarulum, while the split form prints utit(tu)arulum to show the two words underneath. The bracketed letters are the joining sounds: they are sung, but bracketing them lets a reader see where one word ends and the next begins. Editions in the joined form carry the same words with different spacing.

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Vel Maaral

What the Vel Maaral is

A Vallimalai sage reorders sixteen lines

The opening lines, in Tamil and English

Vel Maaral lyrics in full

The syllable people get wrong

When the Vel Maaral is chanted

Questions

Have your chart read before you decide

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