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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aandavane Illaiye

From Rani Lalithangi · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Rani Lalithangi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Thillai thaandavanaeO cosmic dancer of Thillai!
Un pol thaarani meethinilaeOn this earth, like you
Male
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Thillai thaandavanaeO cosmic dancer of Thillai!
Un pol thaarani meethinilaeOn this earth, like you
Male
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Male
Alaimagal thalaimeedhil nilaiyaanathaenWhy did the goddess of waves become permanent on your head?
Aa….aa….aa…..aa…aa….aa…aah…aa…aa…aah….Aa....aa....aa.....aa...aa....aa...aah...aa...aa...aah....
Male
Alaimagal thalaimeedhil nilaiyaanathaenWhy did the goddess of waves become permanent on your head?
Malaimagal idappaagam maraivaanathaenWhy did the goddess of mountains hide on your left side?
Alaimagal thalaimeedhil nilaiyaanathaenWhy did the goddess of waves become permanent on your head?
Malaimagal idappaagam maraivaanathaenWhy did the goddess of mountains hide on your left side?
Male
Ulagame unaithedum oliyaanathaenWhy did you become the light that the whole world seeks?
Ulagamae unaithedum oliyaanathaenWhy did you become the light that the whole world seeks?
Unaiyalaathu orr anuvum asaiyaathuWithout you, not even an atom can move
Unmaiyaavum puriyaatha ulagil veroruIn this world that fails to understand the ultimate truth, there is no other
Male
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Thillai thaandavanaeO cosmic dancer of Thillai!
Un pol thaarani meethinilaeOn this earth, like you
Male
Aandavane illaiyae…..There is no Lord like you...
Male
Baktharkal pottruvaar palarunnai thoottruvaarDevotees will praise you, while many will slander you
Baktharkal pottruvaar palarunnai thoottruvaarDevotees will praise you, while many will slander you
Iththaraiyil maanthar edhaiyumae maattruvaarHumans on this earth will change everything
Iththaraiyil maanthar edhaiyumae maattruvaarHumans on this earth will change everything
Male
Bakthiyae marainthaalum saththiyam maraiyaathuEven if devotion fades away, truth will never fade
Bakthiyae marainthaalum saththiyam maraiyaathuEven if devotion fades away, truth will never fade
Parama thiyaana sivanyaana brammamaeO Supreme meditative Brahman of Shiva wisdom!
Paarulaavum unaiyandri vaazhvil veroruIn this life across the wide world, other than you, there is no other
Male
Aandavane illaiyaeThere is no Lord like you
Thillai thaandavanaeO cosmic dancer of Thillai!
Un pol thaarani meethinilaeOn this earth, like you
Male
Aandavane illaiyae….There is no Lord like you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic Tamil devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva (Thillai Ambalavan / Nataraja of Chidambaram) glorifies the supreme omnipresence and divine attributes of God. The song emphasizes that without the divine will of Shiva, not even an atom can move ('Unaiyalaathu orr anuvum asaiyaathu'), highlighting human impermanence and the changing nature of earthly perceptions compared to eternal truth ('Saththiyam'). The lyrics incorporate philosophical questions about Shiva's iconography, such as housing Ganga (Alaimagal) on his head and Parvati (Malaimagal) as half his body (Ardhanarishvara), ultimately concluding that Shiva is the ultimate Brahman and sole refuge in the world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Aandavane illaiyae / Alaimagal thalaimeedhil

Repetition of the initial sound 'Aa' in 'Aandavane' and 'Alaimagal' across stanzas creating musical rhythm.

Edugai (Assonance/Rhyme)

Alaimagal thalaimeedhil / Malaimagal idappaagam

Repetition of the second letter 'la' in 'Alaimagal' and 'Malaimagal' forming traditional Tamil rhyming scheme.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Baktharkal pottruvaar palarunnai thoottruvaar

Matching endings in lines, such as 'pottruvaar' and 'thoottruvaar'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rendered by the legendary T. M. Soundararajan in Ragam Hindolam (set by composer G. Ramanathan) for the 1957 film 'Rani Lalithangi', this song remains one of the most celebrated classical film devotionals in Tamil cinema. The line 'Unaiyalaathu orr anuvum asaiyaathu' became a widely quoted proverb in popular Tamil culture.

Keep listening

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