16. Nalla Karinkallu (Tekkumbhgam-Ernakulam Paḷḷi Song)

Stanzas 2-4 of a poetic song about the Tekkumbhagam Synagogue in Ernakulam. The entire song is structured as a prayer, with the first verse and chorus requesting God  to grant the proper spirit for worshipping in the beloved paḷḷi. The other verses describe in detail the synagogue’s gateway and surrounding courtyard, the small outer building in front of it, and the synagogue itself, with the women's section upstairs, and the highly polished black floor -- details referring to the old synagogiie (built in 1580) rather than the larger one built on the site in 1939. The singer from Kadavumbhagam-Kochi. Tune: Elohei 'oz tehilati.

Text

-1-
The God who existed from the beginning, the One to whom all should bow down,
How difficult for anyone, however righteous, to stand before Him!
Oh Lord, awaken our hearts to worship You
In this paḷḷi, the joy of our life.

-2-
Crossing the decorated threshold of polished granite stones,
Walking across the place spread with fine caral sand,
Then we pass through the handsome entrance way.
Washing our feet at the break of day,
We walk around łhe four sides of  the paḷḷi.
Oh Lord, awaken our hearts to worship You
In this paḷḷi, the joy of our life.

-3-
Like a graceful stone set in a ring,
A small place in front of the paḷḷi
Is built as if with pearls.
And inside the paḷḷi, an upper floor is built,
Where heaven's beauty has descended.
Oh Lord, awaken our hearts to worship You
In this paḷḷi, the joy of our life.

-4-
As if rising out of the purest of pure gold,
As if itself built from the purest of gold,
The Jewish paḷḷi is made pure in its golden essence.
Of golden black its shining floor is made.
This paḷḷi floor is so excellent
That it rings out like the chiming of bells.
Tekkumbhagam is an eternal treasure box.
Oh Lord, awaken our hearts to worship You
In this paḷḷi, the joy of our life.