Vaka Charthu- A Malayalam song

Vaka  Charthu- A Malayalam song

Translated  by

P.R.Ramachander

(In Guruvayur after  all worships  , the Temple   would be closed  at 10 Pm.Then at  3 Am   next day  , the  sanctum would be opened.The  previous days decorations  of the God would be there  and these  are called  Nirmalyam .The priest removes them, applies  oil on the Body of the god and over that  to remove the oil he applies a read  powder  called  Vaka.This is called  Vaka Charthu (application of Vaka  -the powder  made of the bark of the   vaka tree  is used  by  Malayali’s  till recently  to remove oil   from the body. It is considered  extremely  lovely to see  the lord  after  Vaka Charthu.A picturesque  description  of this process   is given in  this prayer  . These   are the lyrics of the song melodiously sung by  Smt.P.Leela https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U1tFPBYInE   )

Pularaan ezhara naazhikayil kaattin
Chalathiloode neendhi varum
Pulakaanguram nalkum sankhanaadam……….
Pulakaanguram nalkum sankhanaadam

Three  hours   before sun rise, swimming,

Along with the  slow movement of wind,

The  sound of conch which  gives bristling of our hairs,

The   sound of conch    which   gives   bristling of hairs

Nidra nilamaatti kannum thuranneedum, kannum thurannedum
Melshanthi snaanam kazhinju vannu
Paramaathma bhagavante sreekovilil
Aathmaartha bhakthi poorvam thurannu
Azhakil vaakacharthinnorungi…… (2)

It would change the position of sleep  and open the eyes, open the eyes,

The chief priest after   take   bath   will come,

And with devotion   coming from his soul,

Opened the divine doors  of  the god who is our divine soul,

And prepared himself for the pretty  Vaka Charthu

Keshavanunni kannante roopam
Keshaadipaadam enna thechu
Vaasana vaaka podi chaarthi , vaaka podi chaarthi
Vasudevan meni neeraatti

The form of the  baby   Kesava will be applied

From head to foot  with oil,

And then he applied    the perfumed  Vaka powder , the Vaka powder,

And gave bath to the    body  of Vasudeva.

Oru shuddha vasthram kondudane thane
Thirumudi thorthi deham thudachu
Guruvaayoorappante mohanamaam (2)
Malarmeni aake alankarichu

Then immediately    with a clean cloth,

He dried his divine hair   and then his body,

And completely    decorated  ,

The very pretty  body  of Guruvayurappan,

Nerukayil peeli niraketti
Nettiyil kasthuri thilakamittu
Karu karu anjanam kannezhuthi
Kanaka kundalam kaathilittu (2)

He tied the peacock feather  on his head,

Made thilaka with musk   on his forehead,

Applied very , very  black Anjana  on his eyes,

And made him wear golden globes  on his ears.

Muthu padakkam kazhuthilaninju
Mohana ponnvala kayyil kilungi
Kausthubha maala manimaaril kochu
Kaalil kingini nira minni…. (2)

Arimulla maalika nirapole – thiru }
Arayil ponnaranjaan vilangi } (2)

He made him wear  a pearl pendant on his neck,

Made jingling sounds while wearing pretty   golden Bangles,

Made him wear Kausthubha    Garland on his chest,

And the anklets shined   on his   tiny legs.

Resembling the filling up of just harvested jasmines,

His golden belt shined on his   hips

Narayanaa govindaa enna thirunaama sthothram engum muzhangi
Hari Narayanaa govindaa enna thirunaama sthothram engum muzhangi

The names  Narayana, Govinda  which are divine prayers  boomed   everywhere,

Hari, NarayanA, Govinda   the prayer of his divine  names   boomed everywhere

Narayana narayana hari narayana
Naana vidhamaaya naivedyangal nannaai nivedichu pooja cheythu
Sreenaatha devan vara prasadam
Naam sadaa sevichu punyam nedam
Prathyekam theertha kinarezhum en
Nisthula saukhya pradamanu
Athyanda roga peeda maanjidum
Aaditya kiranathal irul pole

Narayana, Narayana Hari Narayana,

Different   verities of offerings were offered well    and he was worshipped,

The  offerings presented to the divine god is a boon,

And we will always serve him and get blessedness

And the specially made   seven wells,

Are for my eternal  health  and pleasant life,

And  due to them  the sufferings due to great sickness,

Would    get erased, just like rays of sun.

Aravindaakshante roopam kandu
Bhakthi aananda baashpam kannil kavinju
Narajanma paapam nasichu paaril
Chirakaalam saubhagyam othuvanaai
Guruvaayoorappa thuna neeye
Guruvaayoorappa gathu neeye
Karunasaagara chaarumoorthe
Arulenam varamennum bhagavanee (3

After   seeing the form of that  lotus eyed God,

Tears of devotion and joy   came out of  the eyes,

In the world, sin of being born as humans  got destroyed,

For    telling for   some time   great prosperity ,

Oh Lord  Guruvayurappa, you   are   the only help,

Oh ocean of mercy,  God with pretty form,

You should forever   grant me boons