* Usages like these make the term ‘Nama Shivaayam’ all the more difficult to understand, let alone translate. It is customary in anthologies of poems like this to start with a dedication to the choice deity and beg forgiveness for any errors that the author might commit. The poem rounds off with a request to ‘great ones’ and ‘little ones’ (in age) and the learned people to kindly forbear with any mistakes that a stricken person (the author referring to himself) might commit while saying. He says by worshipping the abode of all learning – the One with the Blackened face, one can summon the knowledge of a hundred arts into one’s consciousness. Its possible that he got his name from this stanza. Then he states that he is going to speak of Shiva ‘Sivavakkiyam’ (i.e. He speaks of this mantra being uttered by 1200 celestial beings. The author says that Namashivaayam is the Beginning and the End*. Great ones, Small ones and Learned ones! please bear with the mistakes of this madman who speaks. If one worships the One with a blackened face – the abode of Education, and the knowledge of a hundred arts will come and dawn in one’s consciousness. Stigmas, sins, illusions will run afar and further still.
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The rare Namashivaayam is both the Beginning and End – I shall speak of Shiva, in whose honor the twelve hundred celestial beings uttered the sacred mantra.