Behold the colourful marriage ceremony! 
Where Thirumal, Devas join in harmony; 
Offering their wishes to the heavenly pair - 
‘Sivan-Uma’- that celestial couple rare! 
Uma, the matrix of the universe, 
Revealer of Brahman and Sakti diverse! 
Consort of the three-eyed lord, merciful
Like the ocean, endless and bountiful! 
For, form and formless he does ‘mukti’ define 
Gracing Arunachala with his presence divine! 
In such a rich ambience, O’ how you did roam, 
Making those sacred hills your abode and home! 
There, you met an elder and a great soul 
Who guided you in your spiritual goal: 
"Believe and accept the six-faced ShanmugA 
That compassionate Lord Guha-MurugA!" 
So began your search and quest 
For Lord Muruga with zeal and zest. 
While initially frustrating - your mission 
You were finally graced with HIS vision. 
Yes, he was that Murugan your Guru brave, 
That guru who indeed your life did save! 
That Murugan, who in Swamimalai became, 
Guru to Sivan with his mantra of fame!
And no sooner than he did take leave, 
Why, the gift of poetry you did receive! 
For sweet garlands of verses did you braid, 
Their fragrance spanning many a decade! 
Ah centuries - your flawless poetry did span 
Indeed, such lilting lyrics were the Almighty’s plan. 
And what of that intricate tight thALaa terse? 
O’ unequalled master of rhythm and verse! 
For incomparable to any poetry or prose, 
Sixteen thousand songs did you compose! 
Your words - dancing, measure for measure; 
How your Thiruppugazh we richly treasure! 
Anubhoothi, AndhAdhi, Thiruvaguppu galore, 
Amidst nine other gems with music and more! 
'Love' - not just the privilege of the fortunate some, 
You have spread in your message of "avirOdham"! 
For, it is not the surrounding that governs or guides 
But it is within oneself that "Happiness" resides! 
Giving us simple truths, quite plain and merry, 
Any wonder you are immortal, O’ AruNagiri?

Rajeshwari Iyer lives in Brampton, Ontario and teaches Chemistry at the College/University level in Toronto. She is the mother of a special needs child and enjoys reading, music and travel. She has contributed poems to SAWF (South Asian Women's Forum), Magazines such as KALA, Marina, quarterly publications based in Toronto. She has also contributed to e-zines such as Poetry.com, Thinnai, and Tamilonline.