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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aatha Kungumakari

From Rayilukku Neramachu · 1988

Lyricist
S. A. Rajkumar
Singer
S. P. Shailaja
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Rayilukku Neramachu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Arasaalum magamaayi arasaalum magamaayiGoddess Magamaayi who rules the realm, Goddess Magamaayi who rules the realm,
Kula dheivam needhaanammaaYou alone are our family deity, O Mother!
Female
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Chorus
Om sakthi om sakthi om sakthi omOm Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om!
Om sakthi om sakthi om sakthi omOm Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om!
Om sakthi om sakthi om sakthi omOm Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om!
Om sakthi om sakthi om sakthi omOm Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om Sakthi, Om!
Female
Kanna thoranthu vittaaIf you open your eyes,
Karunai mazhai pozhiyumA rain of mercy will shower down.
Vazhiya koduththu vittaaIf you grant us a path,
Varappu vayal thazhaikkumThe fields and ridges will flourish.
Chorus
Semmanjal panneeril aadiBathing in rose water mixed with red turmeric,
Nalla Sevvanthi poomaalai soodiAdorned with a garland of beautiful yellow chrysanthemums,
Vanthaayae pallaakkil yaeriYou arrived riding upon a palanquin,
Nee vanthaadu pon muththumaariCome and dance with joy, golden Mother Mari!
Female
Kodumai azhikkum valimai neeyaeYou are the supreme power that destroys evil,
Oor sezhiththida per nilaiththida vaa thirumagalaeCome, goddess of prosperity, so the village thrives and gains lasting renown!
Chorus
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Chorus
…………………[Musical Interlude]
Female
Ulagai alanthavalaeO Goddess who measured the universe,
Unaiyae paninthu vanthomWe have come surrendering to you alone.
Pagaiyai mudippavalaeO Goddess who vanquishes all enemies,
Padaiyal eduththu vaiththomWe have prepared sacred food offerings for you.
Chorus
Kulam kaakkum veerammaa kaaliValiant Mother Kaali, protector of our clan,
Engal kuraiyellaam theerppaai magamaayiResolve all our troubles and grievances, O Magamaayi!
Nallaarai kaarai saerkkum maari ammaaMother Mari, who safely guides good souls to the shore,
Nal vaazhvu tharuvaayae maariBestow a prosperous life upon us, O Mari!
Female
Vaanam bhoomi yaavum neeyaeYou are the sky, the earth, and everything in between,
Theemtharigida theemtharigida vaa malai magalaeCome to rhythmic beats, O daughter of the mountains!
Female
AaththaaMother!
Chorus :KungumakkaariChorus: Bearer of red vermilion!
Female :Nee paaththaaFemale: If you look upon us...
Chorus :MangalamthaandiChorus: ...auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Chorus
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Female :Arasaalum magamaayiFemale: Goddess Magamaayi who rules the realm,
Chorus :Arasaalum magamaayiChorus: Goddess Magamaayi who rules the realm,
Female :Kula dheivam neethaanammaaFemale: You alone are our family deity, O Mother!
Chorus
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!
Aaththaa kungumakkaariMother, the bearer of red vermilion,
Nee paaththaa mangalamthaandiIf you look upon us, auspiciousness will be bestowed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a devotional invocation dedicated to Goddess Mariamman (referred to as Aaththaa, Magamaayi, and Kaali). The devotees praise her divine grace, expressing their deep reverence and faith that her sight alone brings auspiciousness, prosperity, and protection to their village and family. They invite the deity to accept their ritual offerings (padaiyal), adornment, and devotion, praying for abundant rainfall, fertile crops, and the destruction of evil.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kanna thoranthu vittaa / Vazhiya koduththu vittaa

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Kanna' and 'Vazhiya' / 'Semmanjal' and 'Vanthaayae'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Varappu vayal thazhaikkum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line, such as 'Karunai' and 'Kanna' or 'Varappu' and 'Vayal'.

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

Karunai mazhai pozhiyum

Comparing the divine gaze of the goddess to a rain of mercy ('Karunai mazhai pozhiyum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Rayilukku Neramachu (1988) features early musical work by S. A. Rajkumar, who gained significant prominence in Tamil cinema in the 1990s as a hit music director known for melodious folk and devotional-style songs.

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