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Thiruvarutchelvar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aadhi Sivan

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
7 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin
Thunai peruvomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin
Thunai peruvomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
{Vaedhangalin thaththuvathai
Naadiduvomae
Thiru venneerum kungumamum
Soodiduvomae} (2)
Anjezhuththai kaalamellaam
Nenjil vaippomae
Anjezhuththai kaalamellaam
Nenjil vaippomae
Avan adiyavarkkum anbarukkum
Thondu seivomae
Avan adiyavarkkum anbarukkum
Thondu seivomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin
Thunai peruvomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
{Naavukkarasar paadippugazhum
Naadhanallavaa
Andha naadhaththukkae perumai thandha
Jeevan allavaa} (2)
Pesum thamizh paattukkellaam
Thandhai allavaa
Pesum thamizh paattukkellaam
Thandhai allavaa
Adhai pillai thamizh endru sonna annaiyallavaa
Adhai pillai thamizh endru sonna annaiyallavaa
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin
Thunai peruvomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae
Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin
Thunai peruvomae
Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu
Arul peruvomae …ae….
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
From our supreme Goddess, the primordial Shakti,
let us seek her loving support!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
From our supreme Goddess, the primordial Shakti,
let us seek her loving support!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
The profound wisdom of the Vedas,
let us seek with all our heart!
The sacred holy ash and kumkum,
let us wear upon our brows!
The five sacred letters (the Shiva mantra),
let us cherish in our hearts forever!
The five sacred letters,
let us cherish in our hearts forever!
To his devoted followers and humble servants,
let us offer our selfless service!
To his devoted followers and humble servants,
let us offer our selfless service!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
From our supreme Goddess, the primordial Shakti,
let us seek her loving support!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
Is he not the Lord celebrated in song
by the great Saint Navukkarasar?
Is he not the living spirit
who gave glory to the divine sound of music itself?
For all the spoken poetry and songs of Tamil,
is he not the caring father?
For all the spoken poetry and songs of Tamil,
is he not the caring father?
And when Tamil is sung as a beloved child (Pillai Tamil), is she not the mother?
And when Tamil is sung as a beloved child, is she not the mother?
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
From our supreme Goddess, the primordial Shakti,
let us seek her loving support!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
From our supreme Goddess, the primordial Shakti,
let us seek her loving support!
Bowing before the feet of the primordial Lord Shiva,
let us receive his divine grace!
Female
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song from the classic movie Thiruvarutchelvar expresses deep reverence to Lord Shiva and Goddess Sakthi. It urges believers to surrender to the divine feet of Shiva, seek the philosophy of the Vedas, wear holy symbols like sacred ash (Vibhooti) and vermilion (Kungumam), and constantly chant the Panchakshara (five-letter) mantra 'Namasivaya'. Furthermore, it emphasizes the Shaivite ethos that serving God's devotees is equivalent to serving God himself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu / Engal aadhi sakthi naayagiyin

The second consonant 'dhi' (தி) rhymes across lines 'Aadhi' (ஆதி) and 'Aadhi' (ஆதி). Also seen in 'Anjezhuththai' and 'Nenjil'.

Monaai (Alliteration / First letter matching)

Avan adiyavarkkum anbarukkum

The starting sound 'A' repeats in 'Aadhi' and 'Arul', as well as 'Avan', 'adiyavarkkum', and 'anbarukkum'.

Anaphora (Repetition for emphasis)

Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu / Arul peruvomae

The refrain 'Aadhi sivan thaal panindhu / Arul peruvomae' is repeated throughout to reinforce devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thiruvarutchelvar (1967) is a biographical devotional drama film starring Sivaji Ganesan, centered on the lives of Shaivite saints (Nayanmars) like Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the song was sung by P. Susheela and T. M. Soundararajan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan.

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