Veeramamunivar’s Thevaram for Christians
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The Jesuit priest was attracted by the Bakthi motion that flourished in Tamil Nadu
Veeramamunivar, the Jesuit priest, is understood within the Tamil literary world for his epic Thembavani.
However, few are conscious that the Christian missionary additionally wrote minor literary works together with a Thevaram, on the traces of hymns sung by Saivaite saints.
“A few know about his achievements in other genres of Tamil poetry because they deal with religious and more specifically Christian themes. Moreover, these works are confined to the Christian hymns,” mentioned retired English professor M. Dominic Raj, who had translated Thembavani into English.
Veermamunivar, whose 140 start anniversary falls on November 8, was attracted by the Bakthi motion that flourished in Tamil Nadu and the singing of the hymns of the Nayanmars and Azhwars, and composed a Thevaram.
25 editions
“There are only 12 pathikams (stanzas). They are being preserved till now only because it finds a place as the last hymn of the most used prayerbook of the Catholics, namely, Thirukkutumba Bakhthi Malai,” mentioned Mr. Dominic Raj.
The guide is present in the home of just about each Catholic household. It has been offered by Nobili Book Store, Madurai, for practically 100 years taking it to 35 editions until 2018, he mentioned.
“The hymn deals with the merciful and loving nature of the God who provides everything for mankind, and yet there exists the pitiable situation in which people do not adore Him. Each verse ends with the words: paniyavarenno karunambaram (what kind of sad state is this in which Your feet are not worshipped? Divine Mercy!),” defined Mr. Dominic Raj, who has translated the stanzas.
His one other work is Annai Azhungal Anthathi, a poetic kind during which the final phrase of a stanza turns into the primary phrase of the following stanza. This poem has been written within the pulambal or oppari — a style coping with the ‘Lamentation of Mary’ after the demise of her Divine Son.
Yet one other work Thirukkavalur Kalampakam was composed in varied metrical codecs like venpa, akaval, and kalippa as an ‘Ode to Mary’ (because the Refuge of sinners).
It is in reward of Adaikkala Madha, the deity of the Church at Thirkkavalur, constructed by Veeramanmuivar, whose authentic identify was Constantine Joseph Beschi.Another work is Kitheri Ammal Ammanai. This poem has been composed within the style of the Ammanai — sung as a track by ladies enjoying with balls thrown at each other.
“It has been composed by Beschi to honour St. Quiteria in whose name a church was built at Kuthankuly in Tirunelveli District. It can be called a ‘Ballad on St. Quiteria’,” mentioned Mr. Dominc Raj.
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