Aadhaarama Nirkum
From Chakkravarthy · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Chakkravarthy1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Adharama nirkkum maariyamma | Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support, |
| Needhanamma engal kaaval | You alone are our guardian. |
| Adharama nirkkum maariyamma | Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support, |
| Needhanamma engal kaaval | You alone are our guardian. |
| Female | |
| Aattru vellam therndhaalumae | Even if the river flood recedes, |
| Aattru vellam therndhaalumae | Even if the river flood recedes, |
| Engal aasai vellam theeradhamma | The flood of our desires will never end, Mother. |
| Female | |
| Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda | Even if three hundred tablets are taken, |
| Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal | Ailments will not clear without neem leaves. |
| Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda | Even if three hundred tablets are taken, |
| Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal | Ailments will not clear without neem leaves. |
| Male | |
| Aayiram kaavalar vandhaalum kooda | Even if a thousand guards arrive, |
| Amma un munnadi pesaadhu vaaigal | Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother. |
| Aayiram kaavalar vandhaalum kooda | Even if a thousand guards arrive, |
| Amma un munnadi pesaadhu vaaigal | Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother. |
| Female | |
| Aadatha sendai katti naadalum | Rulership may be held by beating drums and making noise, |
| Thangakatti neeliyamma bathrakaaliamma | Oh golden lump, Goddess Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali! |
| Chorus :Neeliyamma bathrakaaliamma | Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali! |
| Male | |
| Nenju paadhi nanju paadhi manidhar jaadhi | Humanity is half heart and half poison, |
| Nee illavidil yedhamma needhi | If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother? |
| Nee illavidil yedhamma needhi | If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother? |
| Male | |
| Adharama nirkkum maariyamma | Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support, |
| Needhanamma engal kaaval | You alone are our guardian. |
| Adharama nirkkum maariyamma | Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support, |
| Needhanamma engal kaaval | You alone are our guardian. |
| Female | |
| Aattru vellam therndhaalumae | Even if the river flood recedes, |
| Engal aasai vellam theeradhamma | The flood of our desires will never end, Mother. |
| Male | |
| Koonderi ninaalum poi saatchi solvaar | People stand in witness boxes and give false testimonies, |
| Kondoodu ponaalum ooraarai keduppar | Even as they head to their graves, they ruin the village folk. |
| Amma un sanidhiyil vandhaalum podhum | Yet, it is enough if they step into your divine presence, Mother, |
| Athamaiyum sathiyama thathuvamae pesum | Even all that deceit turns into truth and profound philosophy. |
| Female | |
| Naadengum sattam undu yerala thittam undu | There are laws across the nation and countless schemes, |
| Neeliamma bathrakaaliamma | Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali! |
| Chorus :Neeliamma bathrakaaliamma | Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali! |
| Male | |
| Dharmam meeri sattam illai | There is no law higher than righteousness (Dharma), |
| Thaaiyai meeri thittam illai | There is no scheme superior to the Mother Goddess, |
| Endha kottaikkum needhanae ellai | You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power. |
| Endha kottaikkum needhanae ellai | You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power. |
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
You alone are our guardian.
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
You alone are our guardian.
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தீர்ந்தாலுமே
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தீர்ந்தாலுமே
எங்கள் ஆசை வெள்ளம் தீராதம்மா
Even if the river flood recedes,
Even if the river flood recedes,
The flood of our desires will never end, Mother.
முனகல் :
....................
Even if three hundred tablets are taken,
Ailments will not clear without neem leaves.
Even if three hundred tablets are taken,
Ailments will not clear without neem leaves.
மாத்திரை முந்நூறு போட்டாலும் கூட
வேப்பில்லை இல்லாமல் தீராது நோய்கள்
மாத்திரை முந்நூறு போட்டாலும் கூட
வேப்பில்லை இல்லாமல் தீராது நோய்கள்
Even if a thousand guards arrive,
Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother.
Even if a thousand guards arrive,
Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother.
ஆயிரம் காவலர் வந்தாலும் கூட
அம்மா உன் முன்னாடி பேசாது வாய்கள்
ஆயிரம் காவலர் வந்தாலும் கூட
அம்மா உன் முன்னாடி பேசாது வாய்கள்
Rulership may be held by beating drums and making noise,
Oh golden lump, Goddess Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
ஆடாத செண்டை கட்டி நாடாளும்
தங்கக்கட்டி நீலியம்மா பத்ரகாளியம்மா
குழு :
நீலியம்மா பத்ரகாளியம்மா
Humanity is half heart and half poison,
If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother?
If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother?
நெஞ்சு பாதி நஞ்சு பாதி மனிதர் ஜாதி
நீ இல்லாமல் ஏதம்மா நீதி
நீ இல்லாமல் ஏதம்மா நீதி
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
You alone are our guardian.
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
You alone are our guardian.
முனகல் : .
.......................
Even if the river flood recedes,
The flood of our desires will never end, Mother.
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
People stand in witness boxes and give false testimonies,
Even as they head to their graves, they ruin the village folk.
Yet, it is enough if they step into your divine presence, Mother,
Even all that deceit turns into truth and profound philosophy.
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தீர்ந்தாலுமே
எங்கள் ஆசை வெள்ளம் தீராதம்மா
There are laws across the nation and countless schemes,
Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
முனகல் :
....................
There is no law higher than righteousness (Dharma),
There is no scheme superior to the Mother Goddess,
You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power.
You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power.
கூண்டேறி நின்னாலும் பொய்சாட்சி சொல்வார்
கூண்டோடு போனாலும் ஊராரை கெடுப்பார்
அம்மா உன் சந்நிதியில் வந்தாலும் போதும்
அத்தனையும் சத்தியமா தத்துவமே பேசும்
நாடெங்கும் சட்டம் உண்டு ஏராள திட்டம் உண்டு
நீலியம்மா பத்ரகாளியம்மா
குழு :
நீலியம்மா பத்ரகாளியம்மா
தர்மம் மீறி சட்டம் இல்லை
தாயை மீறி திட்டம் இல்லை
எந்தக் கோட்டைக்கும் நீதானே எல்லை
எந்தக் கோட்டைக்கும் நீதானே எல்லை
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தீர்ந்தாலுமே
எங்கள் ஆசை வெள்ளம் தீராதம்மா
ஆதாரமா நிற்கும் மாரியம்மா
நீதானம்மா எங்கள் காவல்
முனகல் :
....................
Adharama nirkkum maariyamma
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
Needhanamma engal kaaval
You alone are our guardian.
Adharama nirkkum maariyamma
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
Needhanamma engal kaaval
You alone are our guardian.
Aattru vellam therndhaalumae
Even if the river flood recedes,
Aattru vellam therndhaalumae
Even if the river flood recedes,
Engal aasai vellam theeradhamma
The flood of our desires will never end, Mother.
Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda
Even if three hundred tablets are taken,
Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal
Ailments will not clear without neem leaves.
Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda
Even if three hundred tablets are taken,
Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal
Ailments will not clear without neem leaves.
Aayiram kaavalar vandhaalum kooda
Even if a thousand guards arrive,
Amma un munnadi pesaadhu vaaigal
Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother.
Aayiram kaavalar vandhaalum kooda
Even if a thousand guards arrive,
Amma un munnadi pesaadhu vaaigal
Mouths will not dare to speak before you, Mother.
Aadatha sendai katti naadalum
Rulership may be held by beating drums and making noise,
Thangakatti neeliyamma bathrakaaliamma
Oh golden lump, Goddess Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Chorus :Neeliyamma bathrakaaliamma
Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Nenju paadhi nanju paadhi manidhar jaadhi
Humanity is half heart and half poison,
Nee illavidil yedhamma needhi
If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother?
Nee illavidil yedhamma needhi
If you do not exist, where is justice, Mother?
Adharama nirkkum maariyamma
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
Needhanamma engal kaaval
You alone are our guardian.
Adharama nirkkum maariyamma
Oh Goddess Maariyamma, standing as our sole support,
Needhanamma engal kaaval
You alone are our guardian.
Aattru vellam therndhaalumae
Even if the river flood recedes,
Engal aasai vellam theeradhamma
The flood of our desires will never end, Mother.
Koonderi ninaalum poi saatchi solvaar
People stand in witness boxes and give false testimonies,
Kondoodu ponaalum ooraarai keduppar
Even as they head to their graves, they ruin the village folk.
Amma un sanidhiyil vandhaalum podhum
Yet, it is enough if they step into your divine presence, Mother,
Athamaiyum sathiyama thathuvamae pesum
Even all that deceit turns into truth and profound philosophy.
Naadengum sattam undu yerala thittam undu
There are laws across the nation and countless schemes,
Neeliamma bathrakaaliamma
Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Chorus :Neeliamma bathrakaaliamma
Chorus: Oh Neeliyamma, Goddess Bhadrakali!
Dharmam meeri sattam illai
There is no law higher than righteousness (Dharma),
Thaaiyai meeri thittam illai
There is no scheme superior to the Mother Goddess,
Endha kottaikkum needhanae ellai
You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power.
Endha kottaikkum needhanae ellai
You are the ultimate boundary for any fortress of power.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a devotional and philosophical hymn addressed to Goddess Maariyamma (also called Neeliyamma and Bhadrakali). The lyrics contrast human morality, modern medicine, and legal systems with divine grace and justice. Kannadasan highlights that while human laws, courts, and medicines have limitations and human nature is often corrupt ('half heart, half poison'), the divine power of the Mother Goddess stands above all worldly authority and remedies.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagathal)
“Nenju paadhi nanju paadhi manidhar jaadhi”
Comparing human nature to poison ('Nenju paadhi nanju paadhi') and divine love/desire to an unending river flood ('Aasai vellam').
Emona / Rhyme (Aethugai)
“Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda / Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal”
The second letter rhyme present in 'Maathirai' and 'Vepillai' or 'Aayiram' and 'Amma'.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Maathirai munnooru pottaalum kooda / Vepillai illamal theeradhu noigal”
Contrasting modern medical solutions ('Maathirai' / tablets) with traditional faith and divine cure ('Vepillai' / neem leaves).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Kannadasan for the film 'Chakkravarthy' (1977). It features a popular blend of devotional fervor and socio-philosophical commentary typical of Kannadasan's devotional compositions.
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