Muneeswarar Stotram

Translated by P. R. Ramachander

[Muneeswarar or God like sage is a popular village God of TamilNadu. It is believed that when Lord Shiva got angry againstDaksha, his father in law, he first created Veerabhadra, todestroy Daksha and muneeswaras to look after the beings ofthe earth. They are called Shiva Muni, Maha Muni, Thava Muni,Naatha Muni, Jada Muni, Dharma Muni, Pandi Muni, Easwara Muniand Vazha Muni. All of them are called Muneeswara. Some of themhave fierce forms and others have peaceful forms. Munseeswaraworship is popular in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Singapore andMalaysia. Animal sacrifice is done in temples with fierce formof Muneeswara,. Here is a great prayer addressed to Muneeswara.]
 
Refrain
Om Namashivaya om, Om Namashivaya
Om Namashivaya om, Om Namashivaya
Om I salute Lord Shiva Om, I salute lord Shiva,
Om I salute Lord Shiva Om, I salute lord Shiva.

1. Ardha jama velayil, Akhilam thoongum kalayil,
Ukkiramai varugiraar, ulaka nadhan Dalapathi
Kachai katti varugiraar, Kayil dandam yenthiye,
Garjanayum cheukiraar, Kadalai pola pongiye

In the mid of night, at the time when the world is sleeping,
With great ferocity comes, the commander in chief of the Lord ofthe world,
He comes fully prepared, holding a staff in his hand,
He is also roaring, Raising up like a sea.

2. Ucharikkum manthiram, omkara nadhamaam,
Mechukira vathiyam, melai kadal idikalaam,
Archanaikal purivathu, aadi adangum thalangalaam,
Ithanaikkum adhipathi, Kala devan THalapathi.

The chants that he utters are all the sound of "Om",
The musical instrument he likes is the thunder of the westernsea,
The places he worships are those places where he dances and getspeaceful,
And the Lord of all this, is the Commander of the God of death.

3. Sangu ndha sekhandi tharai parai vathiyam,
Mangalamai muzhangida mahimayodu varugiraar,
Thongum meesai kathiyaam, thudikkum kannil sakthiyaam,
Ingithamai nethiyil olirum neeru venmayai.

When the Sound of conch, Shekandi, Tharai and Parai*instruments,
Are making auspicious sounds, he is coming with very great fame,
His dropping moustache is his sword and his power is in hisbattling eye,
And his forehead is shining prettily with white sacred ash mark.
* A metal gong, A broad leather drum and a short drum

4. Dhuttamigu devathai, thudukku cheyyum yakshikal,
Athanayum adakkave, aavesam kondu varugraar,
Kattalaikal poduvaar, Kadumayaga Chaduvaar,
Athanaikkum athipathi, aanavar thaan nam pathi.

For subduing all evil demi gods as well as,
The very mischievous Yakshis, he is coming with great emotion,
He would pass orders and would command us with harshness,
For he is the lord of everything and such a one is our lord.

5. Kali aadum velayil, kood thalam poduvaar,
Kala Kalan poosayil thalamodu aduvaar,
Chamamana velayil, konangiyai maaruvaar,
Chema nalam koorida chithar kolam chooduvaar

At the time when the Goddess Kali dances, he would keep thebeat,
At the time of worship of the killed of God of death, He woulddance with rhythm,
During the very dark night time, he would turn in to oracle,
And for predicting your welfare, he would turn in to a Sidha.

6. Iravu kaalai idai veli irulum oliyum cherveli,
Puravi meethi yeriye Puyalai pola varugirrar,
Ariyum aranum ayanudan annai moovar pothida,
Puriyum kadamai vilangave punnagayum purigiraar.

At the middle of the day and night when light and darknessjoins,
He climbs on a horse and comes like a storm,
Being appreciated by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the threeGoddesses,
To make others understand his job, he also breaks in to a smile.

7. Anchezhuthai othidum anaivarukkum adimayaam,
Nenjamathil eesanai ninaithavarkkum adimayaam,
Thanjamena eesanai, panipavarkkum adimayaam,
Vanjamindri avagalai aadarikkum vallalaam.

He is a slave to all those who chant "Namashivaya",
He is also slave to all those who meditate on Shiva in theirmind,
He is also slave to all those who surrender to God,
And he is the unbiased philanthropist who supports them.

8. Thillai nadhan chevadi dhinamum yendhanin,
Thollai pokka varupavar, Thodarnthu yennai kappavar,
Pillaikalaam yengalai perumayodu kaakave,
Yellai kaval deivamai, yendrum vaazhndu arulpavar.

In my heart which daily wishes for the feet,
Of the lord of Chidambaram, he is the one to remove my problems,
He is the one who continues to protect me,
For the sake of protecting us who are his children,
He is living as the village border God and showers his grace.

9. Yendru vanthapodhilum, yenthan manam vizhithidum,
Nandru othum mndhiram, yenthan chevi kettidum,
Antha puravi kulambu oli, yenthan illam kadakkayil,
Chinthai yavvum eesanin chevadiyil nilathidum.

Any time that he comes, my mind would wake up,
And the properly chanted chant of his would be heard by my ears,
And when the sound of hoof of that horse crosses my home,
Al my thoughts would go and join with the feet of the God.