How Sundarar, Cheraman Perumal and Avvaiyar Went to Kailasa

Sundarar was a great friend of the king of Chera Kingdom called Cheraman Perumal in the present Kerala. Cheraman Perumal, the king, accorded Sundaramoorthy a royal welcome. The friends spent joyful days together in the palace. Sundaramoorthy then took leave of Cheraman Perumal.

By now he had gone weary of worldly life and wanted to merge in the effulgence of Lord Shiva. He prayed to the Lord to break all his bonds. Shiva asked Indra to send his elephant Iravada to bring Sundaramoorthy skyward to Kailasa. Sundara mounted the great white elephant and paid a last visit to his trusted friend Cheraman at Tiru Anjaikkalam ( திருவஞ்சைக்களம்), located in the vicinity of Kodungallur, near Thrissur. On learning about Sundara's itinerary, Cheraman wanted to accompany him; so he mounted his horse and whispered the Panchaakshaara into his ear. It was his belief that Shiva's mantra, the Panchakshara, was more potent than the Lord himself. The horse swiftly rose up and circled Sundara’s white elephant and galloped ahead of Sundara toward Kailasa.

When this procession was passing through Tirukovilur they invited the old poetess Avvaiyar offering prayers to lord Ganesha to join them. She told them to go ahead and said she would come after the puja.

Though Sundara could get ready entry into Kailasa, the gates to Kailasa were closed for Cheraman, and he sang THIRUKKAYILAYA GNANA ULA " also known as AADHI ULA that describes Siva's abode in the finest detail. The gates of the kailasa opened to let Cheraman in.

After the prayer, Avvaiya sang “seetha kaLaba senthaamarai...”. Ganesha was so pleased with her that that he lifted her by this trunk and placed her in front of Lord Shiva and Parvati in mount Kailash.

After some time Sundara and the entourage came along and were surprised to see her there. They wondered how she reached Kailash before they did. So Avvai sang another song that goes:

matura moḻi nalumaiyāḷ ciṟuvaṉ malaraṭiyai
mutira niṉaiya vallārk(ku) aritō? mukilpōl muḻaṅki
atiravarum yāṉaiyum tērum ataṉpiṉ ceṉṟa
kutiraiyum kātam kiḻaviyum kātam kula maṉṉaṉē

மதுர மொழி நல்உமையாள் சிறுவன் மலரடியை
முதிர நினைய வல்லார்க்(கு) அரிதோ? முகில்போல் முழங்கி
அதிரவரும் யானையும் தேரும் அதன்பின் சென்ற
குதிரையும் காதம் கிழவியும் காதம் குல மன்னனே

the gist of which is “for those who contemplates always on the lotus feet of the son of parashakti any chariot, elephant, horse and foot soldiers have to follow at a distance.”
Read the story in Tamil by clicking the underlined word.

Please listen to the story in Tamil, as narrated by Indira Soundararajan

The Thiruppugazh in which the reference to Cheraman's Kailasa Journey along with Sundarar is described : Nada Vindu Kalaadi