9. Thirupporchunnam (Verses 3 and 4 also deal with the arrangements for pounding the powder. The lady-love commands her companions). “Adorn your fore-heads with the beautiful sacred ash. Wipe and cleanse the place. Sprinkle pure gold dust and spread riches thereon. Plant a bough of Indraa's sacred Karpaka tree. Place beautiful lamps everywhere and hoist the flag Let us pound the befitting golden dust for the bath of the King of the heavenly beings, for the Lord of Ayan. for the Spouse of Him of the disc, for the Father of the divine good Velan and for Umaa's Husband Who enslaves people of our standard !” (Velan = son of Civan) (9:3) “Adorn all the pestles with strings of jewels. Decorate the coloured mortars with silk. Invoke the blessings of His loving devotees by wishing that they may live here eternally for ever. Let us sing of the golden shrine of Ekaambaram of Kanchi which all the world praises. Let us sing for rooting out the bonds of Karma and pound the dust of gold to (9:4) “Oh damsels with smiling red lips : Unless it be after us we will not allow not only Indraa along with immortals and the muttering Devaas and the other heavenly beings to pick the Arugu (Cyanodon dactylon) grass but also Ayan and Ari who have been already doing the same. Let us sing of the temple of the Sacred Ekamban, which is roofed with plates of copper, of the Bowman Who shot an arrow at the three strong fortresses and pound the dust of gold for the bath of the three-eyed Father 1" (9:5) o: 389
