Pathinarum Petru Peru Vazhvu Vazhga - Blessed with 16

Pathinarum petru peru vazhu vazhga

Blessings

Pathinarum petru peru vazhvu vazhga, is a common blessing in Tamil Nadu, especially while blessing the newlyweds. This blessing translates to, "Lead a great life by acquiring sixteen kind of wealth".

Oftentimes, people misunderstand this and conclude the meaning as "Give birth to sixteen children and lead a prosperous life". Even movies get in comedy act add such dialog and suggest we follow the government recommendation for only two children in the family. The reason for this confusion was the word "petru" (often said "pethu" in this context), which means "to give birth".

What are these sixteen kind of wealth? The origin of these sayings were not clear, but can be attributed to two sources: Kalamega Pulavar and Abirami Battar (Abirami Pathigam).

The first one is from a poem by Poet Kalamegam (Kalamega Pulavar) from 15th century.

 

Tamil:
துதி, வாணி, வீரம், விசயம், சந்தானம், துணிவு, தனம்,
அதி தானியம், சவு பாக்கியம், போகம், அறிவு, அழகு,
புதிதாம் பெருமை, அறம், குலம், நோயின்மை பூண்வயது
பதினாறு பேறும் தருவாய் மதுரைப் பராபரனே” — (காளமேகப் புலவர்)

Transliteration:
Thudhi, Vaani, Veeram, Visayam, Santhaanam, Thunivu, Dhanam,
Adhi Dhaaniyam, Sowbakkiyam, Bhogam,  Arivu, Azhagu,
Pudhidhaam perumai, Aram, Kulam, Noyinmai poon vayadhu
Pathinaaru perum tharuvaay Madhurai Paraaparaney!

Meaning:

1) Thudhi: Fame
2) Vaani: Education
3) Veeram: Courage
4) Visayam (Vijayam): Success
5) Santhaanam: Children/progeny
6) Thunivu: Bravery/Daring
7) Dhanam: Wealth
8) Adhidhaanyam: Grain (abundance of food)
9) Sowbakkiyam: Good fortune
10) Bhogam: Enjoyment of pleasures
11) Arivu: Intelligence/wisdom
12) Azhagu: Beauty
13) Pudhidhaam perumai: Honors
14) Aram: Charity/Philanthropy
15) Kulam: Family/lineage
16) Poon Vayadhu: Healthy and long life

He prays to the Lord of Madurai to bless him with these sixteen wealth.

The second source is attributed to Abirami Padhigam by Sri Abirami Bhattar.

Text source

Tamil:

கலையாத கல்வியும், குறையாத வயதும்,
ஓர் கபடு வாராத நட்பும், கன்றாத வளமையும்,
குன்றாத இளமையும், கழுபிணி இலாத உடலும்,
சலியாத மனமும், அன்பு அகலாத மனைவியும்,
தவறாத சந்தானமும், தாழாத கீர்த்தியும்,
மாறாத வார்த்தையும், தடைகள் வாராத கொடையும்,
தொலையாத நிதியமும், கோணாத கோலும்,
ஒரு துன்பம் இல்லாத வாழ்வும்,
துய்ய நின்பாதத்தில் அன்பும் உதவிப்,
பெரிய தொண்டரொடு கூட்டு கண்டாய்;
அலைஆழி அறி துயில்கொள் மாயனது தங்கையே!
ஆதி கடவூரின் வாழ்வே!
அமுதீசர் ஒரு பாகம் அகலாத சுகபாணி!
அருள் வாமி! அபிராமியே!

Transliteration:

Kalaiyatha Kalviyum, Kuriyatha Vayathum,
Oru Kabadu Vaaratha Natpum, Kandratha valamayum,
kundratha elamaiyum, kazhupini ilatha udalum,
saliyaatha manamum, anbu agalaatha manaiviyum,
thavaraatha santhanamum, thazhaatha keerthiyum,
maraatha varthaiyum, thadaigal vaaratha kodaiyum,
tholaiyaatha nithiyamum, konaatha kolum,
oru thumbam illatha vaazhvum,
thuyya ninpathathil anbum udavi,
periya thondarodu kootu kandai;
alai aazhi thuyil kol maayanthu thangaiye!
Adi kadavurin vaazhve!
Amudeesar oru baagam agalaatha sugapani!
arulvaami! abiramiye!

Meaning:

1) Kalaiyatha Kalviyum: Unwavering education or knowledge that is not distracted; not consumed by information alone and that which helps you in life.
2) Kuriyatha Vayathum: Age that does not diminish; healthy and youthful life.
3) Oru Kabadu Vaaratha Natpum: A strong friendship that does not welcome deceit.
4) Kandratha valamayum: Wealth that does not diminish.
5) Kundratha elamaiyum: Youthfulness that does not reduce; being healthy and active.
6) Kazhupini ilatha udalum: A body free from disease.
7) Saliyaatha manamum: An active mind; a mind without boredom and tiredness.
8) Anbu agalaatha manaiviyum: An ever loving wife [husband/spouse].
9) Thavaraatha santhanamum: Children following righteous path.
10) Thazhaatha keerthiyum: Fame that never diminishes.
11) Maraatha varthaiyum: Keeping ones word; Words (uttered) that never change due to circumstances.
12) Thadaigal vaaratha kodaiyum: Charity without obstacles or hindrance.
13) Tholaiyaatha nithiyamum: Wealth never lost; or stolen; or not spent unnecessarily; (Can infer: savings is better than spending).
14) Konaatha kolum: A straight sceptre (staff/rod - Senkoal) - a just government; Also means (Koll - planet) planets doing good; In this context, it means running a household in a righteous manner.
15) Oru thumbam illatha vaazhvum: Life without pain or sufferings.
16) Thuyya nin-pathathil anbum: (Thuyya - at all times) ever loving your graceful feet.

Udavi periya thondarodu kootu kandai: Help me to be part of devotees who worship you.
Alai aazhi thuyil kol maayanthu thangaiye: Oh Sister of the Mayan (Vishnu) who sleeps on a serpent in the ocean waters.
Adi kadavurin vaazhve: Oh the Life of Adi Kadavur (Abirami of Thirukadaiyur)
Amudeesar oru baagam agalaatha sugapani: One who become part of lord Shiva (Arthanari form - half Shiva half sakthi).
Arulvaami! Abiramiye! : Bless me! Oh Abirami!.

On the surface, all these wishes appear normal for anyone. When looked in deeply, we see it all related to "Self". If anyone work to become a better person, these wealth qualities are acquired and stay with them.

To acquire knowledge, one should become a life long learner. To maintain a healthy and disease free life, he should eat healthy and exercise. To accumulate wealth, the knowledge and the body should be put into good use; save and live frugally and not spend  frivolously.

To get an ever loving wife (or husband), one should be ever loving in turn. Love is reciprocated. To raise righteous children, the parents should follow the path of righteousness and honesty.

Life doesn't end with keeping a accumulating wealth, having a strong body and mind and raising righteous children. Charity even during tough times (sometime god puts the roadblock to see if you're determined to continue); hence pray to god to remove the obstacles.

Finally, understanding the ultimate goal is to Unite with God, hence praying for the ability to love him at all times.

Hinduism, especially Tamil culture  has many deep rooted traditions with meanings hidden in plain sight. It is our responsibility to seek and understand them. Kannadasan's Arthamulla Hindu Madham (Meaningful Hinduism) book cover some of these traditions and  the reasons behind them. 

 Youtube link to Seerkazhi Govindarajan's song:

 

Thank you. Please comment in case of errors or omissions or to just say thanks.