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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Parivel Anisevalena

From Arunagirinathar · 1964

Lyricist
Arunagirinathar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Arunagirinathar1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadum parivel ani sevalenaWith the dancing spear, the peacock mount, and the rooster banner,
Paadum paniyae paniyaai arulvaaiGrant me the blessing that singing your praise becomes my eternal duty.
Thedum kayama muganai seruvilIn battle, the elephant-faced Lord Ganesha who searches,
Thedum kayama muganai seruvilIn battle, the elephant-faced Lord Ganesha who searches,
Saadum thaniyaanai sagotharanaeO brother to that mighty, incomparable elephant god!
Male
Uruvaai arulvaai uladhaai iladhaaiAs form, as formlessness, as that which exists, as that which does not,
Maruvaai malaraaai maniyaai oliyaaiAs fragrance, as flower, as precious gem, as radiant light,
Karuvaai uyiraai gathiyaai vidhiyaaiAs the embryo, as life force, as ultimate refuge, as destiny,
Guruvaai varuvaai arulvaai guhanaeCome as my divine Guru and bestow your grace, O Lord Guha!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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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