Kamakshi Amman Viruttham-a song in Tamil on Goddess Kamakshi (M. Venkataraman)

Glimpses from Indian spirituality, mythology and way of life.

About 100 kms from the city of Chennai in Tamilnadu, there is a place known as Kancheepuram. It is an ancient town with a lot of temples. One of the most important temples here is that of Goddess Kamakshi-The Kamakshi Amman Temple.

I am presenting here a song in Tamil on this great Goddess. It is known as Kamakshi Amman Virruttam. It is full of piety and devotion. We do not have any information on the author of this song.

The Viruttam has 11 verses each ending with the sentence, ‘அழகான காஞ்சியில் புகழாக வாழ்ந்திடும் அன்னை காமாட்சி உமையே’ meaning, ‘Oh mother Kamakshi, who is also known as Uma, who lives gloriously in the pretty town of Kanchipuram’.

Eulogising the Goddess with various forms of praise the author says, ‘Oh great Goddess! Though I was born and then grew up in this world, I do not know any great religious places. I do not remember whether at any day I saw at least a few of the many great people and praised them. I do not remember whether at any time I sung from my mouth and praised you as Vaami and Shivakami. I do not remember whether at any time I prostrated at the feet of my mother and my father. I have never saluted by falling at the lotus like feet of any great religious leader.

Have you seen a greater fool than me on this earth? Yet, oh Goddess Kamakshi, I know that you will pardon me for all my mistakes and shower your grace on me. So, I am seeking refuge in you. Why is it that in spite of coming before you and seeking protection relating all my problems to you, you are confused and behave harshly with me by keeping poverty on me? Does not the mother tell good advices even if the son is bad? Does not even a ghost bring up with love the child born to it ?

You are the mother who would remove all pains of those who come and see you on Fridays. You would remove the sorrows of those who prostrate at your feet even in their thoughts. Except you, I do not see any one to protect me in this world. Oh mother, I do not know how many births I have taken in this earth. At least now take mercy on me and protect me by not making me take another birth and give me salvation’.

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