Abhirami Anthadhi


Abhirami Anthadhi is a Tamil collection of poems sung on goddess Abhirami residing in Thirukkadaiyur Amirtaghatesvarar Sivan Temple, situated in Tamil Nadu, India. This poetry was composed by Abhirami Bhattar lived in 18th century CE, a contemporary to Serfoji I of Tanjore.

Etymology

"Andhaathi" is a classification of Tamil poetry in which last word of a previous verse comes as the first word of next verse. Thus this kind of poem gots its name, Antam + āti = Antāti. Since this anthadhi was sung on goddess Abhirami residing in Thirukkadavur, Tamil Nadu, it is known as Abhirami Anthadhi. Although Tamil literature consists of hundreds of Anthadhi songs, Abhirami Anthadi is praised as one of the prominent Anthadhi songs of Tamil literature.

Anthadhi

It is said that the author of this song, Abhirami Bhattar, was an ardent devotee of goddess Shakti. Once when king Serfoji I visited the Thirukkadavur temple on the day of the new moon and asked him what day it is, he mistakenly said that it was a full moon day. This made the king angry and sentenced Bhattar to death. Legend says that he sung this anthadhi until the goddess appeared in front of him and threw her earring towards the sky, which lit the sky bright like the full moon. Tamil Shaktas believe that recitation of Abhirami Anthadhi on the full moon and new moon days will result in impossible boons.

Stanzas

There are a hundred stanzas plus a காப்பு verse for lord Ganesha and a final பயன், thus a total of 102 stanzas that are included in Abhirami Anthadhi. The author praises Abhirami as his own mother, regrets his mistakes, speaks of the divine play of mother and father Sivan, and her simplicity & mercy. It is believed that recitation of each stanza will result in the specific achievement of the devotees. Here is one of the famous stanzas of Abhirami Anthadhi:
Pearl like you are, You who are the reddish aura of the pearl!

You are like the pearl studded chain who adds beauty to the chain,

You are pain to those who do not fall at your feet while the panacea for pains of those who fall at your feet, the nectar of Gods,

After worshipping at thine lotus feet, Will I bow before any other, Now and now after.
The beauty of Abhirami Anthathi:

காப்பு starts as ″தார் அமர் கொன்றையும்...″ and பயன் ends as ″... தீங்கு இல்லையே″