The Tiruvempavai (Tamil: திருவெம்பாவை, IAST: Tiruvempāvai) is a collection of songs composed by the poet-saint Manikkavacakar.[1] It consists of 20 stanzas devoted to the Hindu deity Shiva.[2] It forms part of the collection called the Tiruvasagam, and the 8th book of the Tirumurai, a canonical text of the Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta. The songs form part of the pavai ritual for unmarried young girls during the Tamil month of Margali.
Triyampawai, one of the twelve month ceremonies in royal Thai Hinduism, descended from the tradition of Tiruvempavai.[3]
The pavai songs are part of an ancient tradition amongst unmarried young girls, where they would light lamps in the early mornings of Margali, and sing songs in praise of Shiva. The 20 stanzas are sung, one on every day and then followed by the 10 songs of the Tirupalliyeluchi. It is believed that such rituals would bring prosperity and a suitable husband.
The first verse of the work extols the attributes of Shiva:[4]