பக்கம்:திருவாசகம்-ஆங்கில மொழிபெயர்ப்பு-1.pdf/17

Dr. S.N. KANI)ASWAMY Prof. & Head Dept. of Literature Tamil University Thanjavur ΑΝ ΑΡΡΡΕΟΙΑΤΙΟΝ Among the Tamil Devotional Hymns. Thiruvachakam occupies a supreme place. Its author, St. Manickavachakar commenced his life as a Minister and culminated his life as divine Saint. His outpourings in praise of Lord Siva naturally formed them-selves the beautiful and benevolent bone-melting poems, reflecting his spiritual experiences and the ways and means to realise and reach the Almighty. Though there are some translations in English for this sacred devotional literature, the present one surpasses in several respects its predecessors. The author of the present translation Dr. C. Srinivasan, our esteemed Emeritus Professor, has been throughout his life a religious personality, immersed himself in the soul -stirring hymns of St. Ramalingar, who has passionately atached to Thiruvacakam. In addition, he is a great biologist. His erudition and deep insight coupled with religious and philosphical knowledge enabled him to take this bold venture with effortless ease. His command and fluency both in English and Tamil are clearly understood by his powerful and faithful renderings of the sacred poems into lucid English. Even an ordinary reader would easily go through the pages of this immortal work, understanding, appreciating and assimilating the contents of the text. - In various aspects the present translation is unique and useful. The Tamil stanzes are given in the left side and their equivalent English versions are presented on the right side. This XII