Kautthuvam

Kauthvam is an ancient piece of classical dance. It is a hymn, a song of devotion in praise of a deity. It was performed by the Dhevadhāsis as part of the daily rituals, on special occasions, or during the festivals. Kauthvams are usually composed in the name of a specific deity in a particular temple.There are many Kauthvams, written in praise of different deities – Naṭarājā, Viṣhṇu, Muruga, Vināyaka. In earlier times, the Naṭṭuvanārs used to start teaching compositions to the students with Vināyaka Kauthvam. Kauthvams have both rhythmic syllables as well as lyrics interspersed in between.

Rāga: Nāṭṭai

Thāḷa: Chaturaśhra Eka

Composer:Tanjore Quartet

Language: Thamizh(Tamil)

Meanings – Word by word & Overall:

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Īdhitthitthai Tham Dhitthitthai ; Dhitthai Thatthatu Thatthattham;Ī

Ī Dhitthattham Kuṭakiṭṭa Giṇṇa Thomkaṭaku Tham Ī

Ī Thomka Thanguku Thanguku  Dhitham Ī

Ī Kuṭakiṭṭa Ginna Thomkaṭakku Tham Thomka Ī

Ī Thomka Thanguku Thanguku  Dhitham Ī

Ī Thatham Kiṭamkiki Thaththaka Dhikki Tham Ī

Ī Thatthat Tham Thaṭṭa Thaththaka Dhikki Tham Ī

Ī Thirikiṭu Thom Thom Thikkundhari    Dhikkiṭa Kiṭathaka  Dhikkundhari Ī

Ī Aru Thiru Marugane Vighna Vināyaka Ī

Ī Vinakkiṭṭa Aruḷiya Gaṇapathi Jayajaya Ī

Ī Dhikkiṭṭa Udhara Kaḍan Jayajaya Ī

Ī Dhikkiṭṭa Udharakaḍan Giṇṇam Ī

Ī Thadhikka Thudhikkai Yānai Mukhatthavar Ī

Ī Thomkiṭa Kiṭathaka  Thomkum Thakka Devargal Ganapathi Ī

Ī Dhikkiṭa Kiṭathaka Dhikki Thomka Gaṇapathi Kautthuvam Ī

Ī Katravar Vinaiyara Tham Ukkuḍuthai Ī

Ī Thakku Dhikku Thakkitta Thomkita Kiṭathaka  Ī

Ī Dan Tangi Kiṭathaka Dhikki Ī

Ī Tham Thatthat Tham Thattha Ī

Meaning

Aruthiru Marugana – Nephew Of Lord Viṣhṇnu

Vighna Vināyaka – Obstacles Remove

Vinai – Ill Fate, Sufferings, Problems

Aruḷiya - Bless

Jaya Jaya – Victory To Him

Ānai Mukhatthavan – Elephant Face

Dhévargaḷ – Gods

Katravar – One Who Recites, Sings His Praises

Vinai – Sufferings

Ara - Removed

Victory to Lord Gaṇapathi who is the nephew of Lord Viṣhṇu, who is the remover of all obstacles, who vanquishes ill fate and blesses all; I sing praises and offer my salutations to that Lord Gaṇapathi, who has the head and trunk of an elephant and who is the lord of the Gods.

Rāga: Hamsadhwani

Thāḷa: Khanḍa Chāpu

Composer: Gaṅgai Mutthu Naṭṭuvanār

Language: Thamizh (Tamil)

Meanings – Word by word & Overall:

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Viruttham / Śhlokam

Yārukkum adaṅgādha nīli ponnambalathil āḍināḷ kāḷi

Pāruḷ parabrahmatthai aḍakkiya chayai pāḍum védhaṅgaḷālum ariyādha māyai||

Kauthvam

Tha dhīm thaka dhīm thadhīm thadhīm

Thakkiṇam tharikiṭa thaka thakiṭa tham tham

dhikkinam dhimikiṭa dhīmdhīmku nam nam

Thakkiṇam tharikiṭa thaka thakiṭa tham tham

dhikkinam dhimikita dhīmdhīmku nam nam

thakathakiṭa tham dhriguthakiṭa dhīm –

thaka thakiṭa dhrigithakiṭa thomdhruthakiṭa nāmdhruthakiṭa

Thakkudhikkiṭathaka thaka thakiṭa tham tham

dhikkudhikkiṭathaka ḍhīṇ ḍhīṇku nam nam

thakathakiṭa tham dhriguthakiṭa dhīm –

thaka thakiṭa dhriguthakiṭa thomdhruthakiṭa namdhruthakiṭa

Thakkudhikkiṭathaka thaka thakiṭa tham tham

dhikkudhikkitathaka ḍhīṇ ḍhīṇku nam nam

thakathakiṭa dhriguthakiṭa thomkina thoṇakina

thothoku thokiḍa thillaiyālankāḍu tholāḍa kāḷiyuḍan dhagaṇeku gigaṇeku

Thonkiṇa thoṇakiḍa virumbiya pathanjali

vyāghramar vénḍave nandhi thā thom ena      

nāradhar pāḍave chandhira sūriyan

bandhham pagarndhiḍa bharatha vagai nūreṭṭe        

thāḷa vagaiyāgave dhrithamuḍan ilagu gurupluthanuḍan kākapadham

Dhim dhimitha dhimi dhimitha dhimi dhimitha thām thām

dhim dhimitha dhimi dhimitha dhimi dhimitha thām thām –

śheṣhanuḍan thaṇḍāḍa vānavarum koṇḍāḍa thillaimanḍrāḍiya thirunīli kautthuvam

Thaka thakiṭa dhruguthakiṭa thomdhruthakiṭa namdhruthakiṭa

Thaka thakiṭa tham dhruguthakiṭa dhīm thomdhruthakiṭa thom

Meanings;

Thillai – the city of Chidhambaram

Aalankaadu – bamboo forest;

Thōḷāḍa – un-surpassing;

Kāḷiyuḍan –with Kāli;

Virumbiya – desired;

Pathanjali – sage Pathanjali;

Vyāgramar – sage Vyaghrapādha;

Véṇḍave – requested;

Nandhi – Nandhi, the bull; 

Nāradhar – sage Nāradha; 

Pāḍave – sang;

Chandira sūriyan – moon & sun;

Bandham – poetry;

Pagarndhiḍa – recited;

Nūreṭṭe  - 108;

Thāḷa – beats;

Vagaiyāgave – types;

Drithamuḍan ilagu gurupluthanuḍan kākapadham – the music that had all grammatical things like dritham, laghu, plutam in its place;

Śhesṣhanuḍan – with Ādhiśheṣha;

Thanḍāḍa – Thanḍu danced;

Vānavarum – gods- koṇḍāḍa – praised;

Thillaimanḍrāḍiya – danced in Thillai;

Thirunīli kautthuvam – kāli kautthuvam

Note:

The word Kali is pronounced differently in different languages in India.

In Sanskrit it is Kāli, with the “L” sound being soft; where as in Thamizh it is Kāḷi, with the “L” sound being hard.

Hence you may find it with different diacriticals here, as suitable to context.

Meaning:Note to durga –add picture of Kali

Kāḷi Kautthuvam is about the Goddess Kāli, symbol of dissolution and destruction.

●        She destroys ignorance, maintains the world order, and blesses and frees those who strive for the knowledge of god.

●        She is the destroyer of all suffering and all evil.

●        She has fang-like teeth, and her lolling tongue dripping with blood hangs from her mouth.

●        Around her neck is a necklace of skulls.

●        She is usually shown with four arms, two of which hold severed heads while the other two hold a dagger and a sword.

●        A strangling noose also features in some of the images. Though her hands are blood stained, one is often raised in a gesture of protection or assurance in the midst of destruction.

This story is about Kāli dancing in a bamboo forest near Tanjore.

Two ardent sages Pathanjali and Vyāghrapādha were praying to catch a glimpse of Śhiva and Śhakthi dancing together. Nandhi was the naṭṭuvanār, setting the beats. Nāradha was singing. The Sun-god and the moon-god were there, sharing the poetry recitation. There were 108 different beats. To the 108 beats the divine feet of Śhiva danced. With him, the sage Thanḍu and the cosmic snake Śheṣha danced and the gods celebrated this cosmic dance in Thillai. At the same time Bhadhrakāli, the fierce form of Śhakthi asked for a competition with Śhiva in dance. The lord, who keeps dancing, creating, protecting, destroying, hiding and blessing, won the same, by acting the Ūrdhva thāṇḍava, raising his feet to his head.

Kāḷi Kautthuvam mentions that Śhiva’s divine feet were dancing to 108 thāḷas.
In Sāma gāna, from which Karnātic music is derived, the 108 thāḷas
or beats, represent different divine aspects.

Rāga: Gauḷa 

Thāḷa: Chathuraśhra Eka
Composer: Tanjore Quartet
Language: Thamizh(Tamil)

Meanings – Word by word & Overall:

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

|| Jheṇṇakiṭṭa Kirrakiṭṭa Thakkuḍu Dhikkuḍu Tharikiṭa tha ||
|| Thakkiḍu Dhikkiḍu Thakathari Kitathaka Thakkinam Jhekkinam Thaka ||

|| Vinaiyara Vél Vāṅgum Perumān || Aḍiyinai Thozhu Maname Jegajega ||

|| Thomkiṭa Nankiṭa Thomkita Kitathaki Thomgu Nāngu Thom ||
|| Thom Thahatha - Thokitu Thokita Kitathaki Thokita ||

|| Nanga Thar Kiṇanakka Jakkaṇakka Tha ||

|| Kānam Mayil Éri Kailāsam Thannai Suzhala Varum Iḷaiyava- ||
Ne  Thozhuvār Thāḷa Vidham Para || Uḍaiyavane -

|| Jhekita Jhaṇṇakiṭa Jhaṇakiṭa Jhaṇakiṭa Kiṭathaki Jhaṇakiṭa Kiṭathaki ||

|| Kadal Kizhiya Malai Muriya Varu Muru - ||

 Gan Enai Vinaiya Aruḷadhu Peralām ||

|| Thakkiṭu Thakkiṭa Kiṭathaki Thakkiṭu

||Thakkiṭu Kiṭathaki Thath thath Kiṭathaki ||
|| Thakku Dhikki Tha - kiṭṭa Thomkiṭa Kiṭathaka ||
|| Ḍhan Than- ki  Kiṭathaka Dhikki Thām - Thatthathām Thath tha || Tham

Meaning

Vinairara Vél Vāṅgum Perumān Aḍiyinai Thozhu Maname

Maname - Oh Mind;

Thozhu -Please Worship; Adiyinai -The Feet

Perumān- Of the Lord;

Vāṅgum - Who Took/Accepted

Vél- A Spear; Ara- To Destroy (The consequences of)

Vinai- Our deeds;

Oh mind! Please worship the feet of the Lord who took up a spear to destroy the consequences of our deeds.

Kanam Mayil Eri Kailayam Tanai Suzhala Varum Ilaiyavanai Tozhuvom

Tozuvom - Let's Worship

Ilaiyavanai - The Younger one

Eri - Who Strode Across The Skies Astride

Kana Mayil - Means A Forest Dwelling Peacock

Suzhala Varum - And Circum ambulated

Kayilayam Tanai - Mount Kailas

Let's worship the younger who strode across the skies astride a forest dwelling peacock is the circumambulator of mount Kailāsa.

Tala Mrtangitamudaiyavanai 

Tala -

Ankitam Udaiyavanai - One Who Bears

The Signs

Mruḍ = Mruḍa/Mruḍāni - Of Śhiva/Pārvathi

One who bears the signs of Śhiva/Pārvathi

Kadal Kizhiya, Malai Muriya Varum Murugan Arul Petra Kani Adhu Peralam

Peralām - Let Us Obtain

Kani Adu - The Fruit

Arul Petra -blessed

 Murugan - By the Handsome Lord

Varum - Who Has Come

Kizhiya - To Tear-Apart

Kadal - The Sea/Ocean

Muriya - And Splinter

Malai - The Mountain

Let us obtain the fruit that has been blessed by the handsome lord who has come to tear-apart the ocean and splinter the mountain.

Note:

●        Vinai Includes Both The Good (Nal) As Well As The Bad (Th||) Consequences Of Our Deeds]

●        Iḷaiyavan - Refers To The Fact That Murugan Is The Younger Son Of Śhiva-Śhakthi (Gaṇeśha Would Be Mūtthavan – the elder one)

Rāga: Hamsadhwani 

Thāḷa: Chaturaśhra Eka
Composer: Tanjore Quartette
Language: Thamizh(Tamil)

Meaning – Word by word

Meaning-Overall: Team Ambalam

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

|| Dhīm Dhīm Thakadhimi Dhimitha Dhimitha Kiṭa ||

|| Dhariguḍu Dharigugu Dhariguḍu Dhariguḍu ||

|| Thaddhīmtha Nakathari Kiṭa thaka Thaddhīmtha Thaddhīmtha ||

|| Thaṭavana Muni Jana Sakala Surāsura ||
|| Sannutha Pādha Kinkiṇi Jham Jham ||

|| Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Jhaṇa Nūpura Laya Gathi ||
|| Khaṇa Khaṇa Khaṇa Khaṇa Vidhi Hari Sevitha ||

|| Thakkuḍu dhikkuḍu Thakathari Kiṭa thaka Thām Thatha ||

||thām thathaThakkiḍakiḍathaki Dharikiḍa Kiḍathaki||

||Thāṇḍa Dhigambara Dhikkiḍakiḍathaki Dhirikiḍakiḍathaki ||

||Vyāghra Charma Dhhara  Thomkiḍa Kiḍathaka Thonakiḍakiḍathaka ||

||Thriśhuladhhara Namkiḍakiḍathaki Namkiḍakiḍathaki ||

||Nandhi Vāhana  Nādhayoga Priya ||

|| Jaganamkidathaki Jaganamkidathaki Dhirikiduthakka Thai ||

|| Jaga Jaga Jaya Jaya Śhaśhi Ravi Bhūṣhaṇa ||
|| Rūpa Bhayaṅkara Ḍamaruga Hastha ||
|| Thruthīya Sahasra Dhikṣhithanātha ||

||Nateśha Kauthvam – Repeat jaga jaga...upto kauthvam Twice ||

|| Thakathaka Thām Dhikidhiki Thai Thakku Dhikku Thakkiṭa Thām||

|| Than Dhan Dham Kiṭa thaka Dhiggitthām Thattha Thām ||

|| Tha Tha Thām.... Tha Tha Thām.. Tha Tha || Thām

Meanings:

Thaṭavana Muni Jana Sakala Surāsura
Thaṭavana - Dense Forest;

Muni Jana - The Ascetics

Sakala - Entire; Sura - Dhevas ; Asura – Asuras

Note: Vanam Means Forest. Thaṭavanam Refers To The Dhāruka Vanam ;

In the dense forest, the sages, the Gods and the demons,

Sannutha Pādha Kinkiṇi

Sannutha - Sung / Glorified / Praised
Pādha - Feet;

Kinkiṇi - The bells (here,of the anklet)

Praising the feet with bells of the anklets

Nūpura Laya Gathi
Nūpuram - Anklet

Laya Gathi - tempo & gait of the rhythm

Tempo & gait of the rhythm of the anklet.

 Vidhi Hari Sevitha
Vithi - Brahma; Hari - Viṣhṇu;

Sevitha – Worshipped

Worshipped by Brahma and Viṣhṇu

Thāṇḍa Dhigambara
Thāṇḍa - One who performs the thāṇḍavam
Digambara - The space clad one

The space clad one who performs the thāṇḍavam.

Vyāghra Charmadhhara
Vyāghra - Tiger / Leopard;

Charma - Skin;

Dhhara - One who wears;
Triśhūladhhara - One who bears the trident;

Nandhi - One who has the bull; Vāhana –Vehicle

One who wears the tiger skin, bears the trident and has the bull for his vehicle.

Nādha Yoga Priya

Nādha Yoga  - music; Priya – fond of;

One who is fond of nādha yoga

Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya Śhaśhi Ravi Bhūṣhaṇa
Jaya Jaya - Hail / Victory / Praise
Śhaśhi - Moon;

Ravi - The Sun;

Bhūṣhaṇa – Oranament

One who has the sun & moon as his ornaments.

Rūpa Bhayaṅkara Ḍamaruka Hastha
Rūpa - Form;

Bhayaṅkara - Awesome

Ḍamaruka - The Drum; Hastha – Hand

One who has an awesome form and holds the Ḍamaru in his hand.

Note: I would prefer to say awesome, though it might mean "fearsome", for can the divine create fear in you ever?? The Divine is perceived as the terrible by those who are not ready (their ego's are too small) or are not willing to accept (or take in) the overwhelming greatness of the divine.

Thruthīya Sahasra Dīkṣhitha Nātha Nateśha Kauthvam

Thruthīya Sahasra – Three thousand;

 Dhīkṣhitha – Ascetics; Nātha – Lord of

Nateśha - Naṭānām Iśha - The Lord Of Dancers. Can also be said as Naṭanam – Dance; Iśha – The Lord.

Naṭas - The practitioners of Nāṭya Vedha.

Kauthvam - prayer

This is the kautthuvam dedicated to the lord of the 3000 ascetics who is also the lord of dance and dancers.

Note:

●        There is an episode when the Dhīkṣhithas of Dhāruka vanam conjure up a tiger to attack Śhiva - he kills the tiger, skins it, and wears the skin as his lower garment - Just as the real tiger skin repels any insects, so does this light repels any possible intrusions of the animal instincts and impulses.

Rāga:

Thāḷa:

Composer: Mutthumāri Piḷḷai

Language: Thamizh (Tamil)

Meaning– Word by word: Team Ambalam

Meaning - Overall:

Alignment, Diacriticals & consequent spelling changes, Language & grammar editing, if any and necessary, of existing meaning: Team Ambalam

Tha Dhi Thom Nam

Tha Dhi Thom Nam enḍroru Thāḷam

Thāḷa  - - -  - -

Othida Hāram Uḍaiyavar Āḍa
Urudhiyāi Vānavar Odhiḍave
Kundha Kukundha Kukundhari Kiḍathaka
Mutthu Māri Pillaiyār Naga Jaga

74 Chathuryugam eṅgum Muzhaṅgiḍa Thaṅga Padham Sadhuraṅgam Thoḍuṭidhum
Chakra Rāyan

Tharaṇi Āḷāṇḍavan Chathur Vedhan
Ilaṅgai Rāvaṇan Thulaṅgā Maḍiyave
Malaṅga Maḍuseidha Madhhusūdhanan

Mathsya,Kūrma,Varāha Avadhāram
Maṇṇai Alandavan Maga Māyan

Acchan Thavirthu Śhouriya Rāyan
Harinārāyaṇa Kautthuvame

Meaning:

The item is a kautthuvam dedicated to Viṣhṇu. The poet,says that the very rhythm of this kautthuvam has a mystic power of granting the devotee the vision of Viṣhṇu.

Othida Hāram Uḍaiyavar Āḍa
Urudhiyai Vānavar Othidave
Kundha Kukundha Kukundhari Kiḍathaka
Mutthu Māri Pillaiyār Naga Jaga

Othida - ?? in this context;  Hāram – chain

 Uḍaiyavar – those who have; Āḍa – dancing;

Urudhiyai – firmness; Vānavar – those in heaven; Othidave?? in this context
Kundha Kukundha Kukundhari Kiḍathaka – dance beats
Mutthu Māri Pillaiyār  - the poet of this composition; Naga Jaga– dance beats

This rhythm helps us obtain the knowledge and vision of Viṣhṇu
Like the angels enjoy singing and dancing, likewise, Mutthumāri Piḷḷai enjoys the dance.

74 Chathuryugam eṅgum Muzhaṅgiḍa Thaṅga Pādham Sadhuraṅgam Thoḍuṭidhum
Chakra Rāyan
74 Chathuryugam  - In the 74 cycles of the 4 Yugas;

 eṅgum – everywhere;  Muzhaṅgiḍa  - sounding;

Thaṅga Pādham – golden feet; Sadhuraṅgam  - four-armed;

Thoḍuṭidhum – holding; Chakra Rāyan – disc-wielding;

In the 74 cycles of the 4 Yugas, your golden feet are everywhere
oh, the four-handed, disc-wielding lord!

Tharaṇi Āḷāṇḍavan Chathur Vedhan
Ilaṅgai Rāvaṇan Thulaṅgā Maḍiyave
Malaṅga Maḍuseidha Madhhusūdhanan

Tharaṇi – the earth;  Āḷāṇḍavan – the person who rule;

Chathur Vedhan – the form of the four Vedhas;
Ilaṅgai Rāvaṇan - Rāvaṇa of Lanka;  Thulaṅgā – not to win; Maḍiyave – to die
Malaṅga -?? Maḍu – pond; seidha – having done;

 Madhhusūdhanan – the killer of demon by name Madhhu

He is the one who spanned the universe, the embodiment of the four Vedhas. He was responsible for the death of Rāvaṇa of Lanka. He created the deep pool? and slayed Madhhu.
Note:

I don't know what the reference to the pool means. It may indirectly refer to the bridge

 (Rāma sethu) created across the Palk straits between India and Sri Lanka.

Mathsya,Kūrma,Varāha Avadhāram
Maṇṇai Alandavan Maga Māyan
Acchan Thavirthu Śhouriya Rāyan
Harinārāyaṇa Kautthuvame

Mathsya – Fish; Kūrma – Tortoise;

Varāha – Boar; Avadhāram - Incarnation
Maṇṇai  - the earth; Alandavan – one who measured;

 Magā –very;  Māyan – magical one;charmimg
Acchan – fear;  Thavirthu – to remove;  Śhouriya Rāyan – the brave lord
Harinārāyaṇa Kautthuvame – prayer to Harinārāyaṇa.

He incarnated as the fish, turtle, and the boar. He is the great charmer who spanned the universe. He abolished our fear. This is a prayer to Harinārāyaṇa, our brave Lord.

Note:

Given below is the continuous translation of the prayer and a You Tube link to view this Kautthuvam being performed.

Video - Http://Www.Youtube.Com/Watch?V=Plrt6r-_Zf0w

This rhythm helps us obtain the knowledge and vision of Viṣhṇu
Like the angels enjoy dancing, likewise, Mutthumāri Piḷḷai enjoys the dance.
In the 74 cycles of the 4 Yugas, your golden feet are everywhere
oh, the four-handed, disc-wielding lord!
Ruler of the world, he is the 4 Vedhas. Effortlessly, he destroyed the Rāvaṇa of Lankā
the slayer of the demon Madhhu,
oh wizard, you assumed the forms of fish, turtle, boar, dwarf that measured the land
oh, you are the beautiful one!
Oh fearless one, who has beautiful hair.
You are the one who shines like gold,you are the god-man.