8. Thiruvammaanai “Let us sing of the endless rapture bestowed by Civan, the Lord of Perunthurai Who came on a charger to remove my bonds. While Indra, Maal, Ayan, and the rest of the heavenly beings stood in suspense, He coming down on earth in the guise of One with ash-covered shoulder, and making those even like me His own, melts my mind. Behold : Ammaanaai!” (8:3) “Let us sing of the honeyed Ambrosial essence-like jewelled luminous Feet Which were rare to be seen by the devaas of heaven, along with Maal, Ayan and Indra even though they did penance in forests with their body withering away and anthill growing over them but which came showing love like a very mother to this cur, penetrated my flesh breathing life, into the very hair-roots. Behold ! Ammaanaai!” (8:4) “Let us sing of the mighty One, the Southerner, the Lord of Perunthurai, the Sage, the Rider of the fast-walking bull, Who entering Thillai abides in the hall of gnosis. Let us sing of Him Who filling me the vilest cur with frenzy and kneading the stone of my untaught mind into a ripe fruit, immersed me in the flood of His mercy and rid me of all my Karma. Behold Ammaanaai!” (8:5) 371
