- Lyricist
- Arunagirinathar
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Arunagirinathar
- Movie release year
- 1964
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Sept 2021
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This divine hymn is a combination of iconic verses composed by the 15th-century Tamil saint Arunagirinathar, most notably featuring lines from Kandar Anuboothi. The poet surrenders to Lord Murugan, requesting that his sole purpose in life be the singing of Murugan's glory. He addresses Murugan as the brother of Lord Ganesha and describes the omnipresent, panentheistic nature of the deity who embodies all dualities—form and formlessness, existence and non-existence, fragrance and flower. In the grand climax of the prayer, the poet acknowledges Murugan as the ultimate reality that pervades creation, life, destiny, and light, finally pleading with the Lord to manifest as his spiritual teacher (Guru) and shower His divine grace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Uruvaai arulvaai uladhaai iladhaai”
Juxtaposition of opposing concepts such as 'Uruvaai' (with form) vs 'Aruvaai' (formless) and 'Uladhaai' (existing) vs 'Iladhaai' (non-existing) to emphasize God's omnipresence.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Rhyming Refrain)
“Maruvaai malaraaai maniyaai oliyaai”
The repetitive suffix '-aai' at the end of each word (Maruvaai, Malaraai, Maniyaai, Oliyaai) creates a rhythmic, musical cadence known as Iyaibu in Tamil prosody.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaimai)
“Karuvaai uyiraai gathiyaai vidhiyaai”
The deity is metaphorically identified directly as the essential essence of things—the fragrance in a flower, the light in a gem, the life in a seed.
Anaphora and Repetition
“Thedum kayama muganai seruvil”
Repetition of the phrase 'Thedum kayama muganai seruvil' builds melodic intensity and devotional emphasis in rendering.
Did you know?
Trivia
These lines are adapted from Saint Arunagirinathar's revered spiritual work 'Kandar Anuboothi' (specifically the final 51st verse 'Uruvaai Aruvaai'). In the 1964 biographical film 'Arunagirinathar', playback singer T. M. Soundararajan played the lead role of the saint himself and rendered this song under T. R. Pappa's musical direction.
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