POEM FROM TAMIL LITERATURE -THE WHITE UMBRELLA OF THE KING

ABOUT THE POEM:The poem THE WHITE UMBRELLA OF THE KING weaves together the splendor of nature and the glory of the Choza king. The red star is likened to a lamp upon the sea, while the joyous dance of peacocks greets the full moon. The poet and his wife Virali, adorned with bangles, pause in the forest to bow before the moon again and again. Yet, the moon itself becomes a symbol of their lord, Chozan Thirumaavalavan — mighty as a bull hauling a salt-laden cart from shore to mountain and sovereign with drum and sword in hand. To them, the moon is no mere celestial light but the white umbrella of their king, shading even the sun. Worship flows naturally, for in beholding the moon, they behold the majesty of their lord. In short the poem blends cosmic imagery, nature’s beauty and royal power into a vision where the full moon becomes the emblem of the king’s divine authority.THE WHITE UMBRELLA OF THE KINGThe red star glimmers, lantern of the deep,as if a fisher’s flame upon the sea, while moonlight wakes the peacock’s joyful leap. With Virali, whose bangles softly sing, we walked the forest paths, our hearts in tune,and bowed in worship to the shining moon.Our lord, Thirumaavalavan, proud and strong, a tireless bull that draws with patient might the salted cart through mountains rough and long. He holds the drum of triumph, sword of light, and when we saw the moon’s pale disc above, we thought it Choza’s umbrella, vast and white. Why bid us bow? We worship out of love— the moon itself his canopy unfurled,a shade to veil the fiery sun thereof. PURANANURU - 60POET: URAIYUR MARUTHUVAN DHAMODHARANAR.PATRON: CHOZHA KING PERUNTHIRUMAAVALAVAN, WHO RESTED AT KURAPPALLI.