48. Toomai what is it?

Verse 48

அறையினில் கிடந்தபோது அன்று தூமை என்கிறீர்

துறை அறிந்து நீர்குளித்த அன்று தூமை என்கிறீர்

பறையறைந்து நீர்பிறந்த அன்று தூமை என்கிறீர்

புரைஇலாத ஈசரோடு பொருந்துமாறது எங்ஙனே?

Translation:

When remaining in the chamber/womb, you say menstrual fluid

The day you bathed in water knowing the way, you say menstrual fluid,

The day you were born declaring it by beating the drum, you say menstrual fluid,

What is the way to join the faultless Lord?

Commentary:

In this verse, Civavākkiyar ridicules the practice of calling various things as desecration.  Tūmai refers to the menstrual fluid which is considered unclean, impure.  A fetus in the womb is nothing but the menstrual fluid.  The baby comes out of the womb bathed in the waters of the menstrual fluid which is considered impure.  When the baby is born, the family is considered unclean or tūmai.  Outsiders are not allowed to visit the house that has a newborn for at least ten days.  As everything is unclean, impure in this world, Civavākkiyar wonders when one would join the Lord who is the only clean, pure (nirmala) entity.