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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aayi Mahamayi

From Aadi Velli · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Aadi Velli
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Chorus :Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Ammaannu sonnaalae pothum
Anbennum vellamthaan modhum
Chorus :Ammaannu sonnaalae pothum
Anbennum vellamthaan modhum
Simmavaagini aaththaa sarppa roobini
Annapoorani aaththaa sarvakaarini
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Mangala kunguma pottukkaari
Maalini soolini viththakkaari
Minnidum veppala selakkaari
Manakkura elumichcha maalakkaari
Vempaattam paampaattam kaatchi koduppaa
Oorukkum ulakukkum kaaval iruppaa
Chorus :Aayiram kanni antha thaayaiyae enni
Nee saththiyam thaanguvennu kayile vaangu
Madhava sothari muththumaarithaan
Thaandavam aadinaa pathrakaalithaan
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Ammaannu sonnaalae pothum
Anbennum vellamthaan modhum
Simmavaagini aaththaa sarppa roobini
Annapoorani aaththaa sarvakaarini
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Omsakthi om omsakthi om
Omsakthi om omsakthi om
Annaiyai paaduthu naalu vedham
Aanaiyai ketkuthu panjabootham
Aalaya poojaithaan aarukaalam
Annaiyai pottruthu yaezhu logam
Eppothu kettaalum pambai saththam
Aaththaakku santhosam aaga moththam
Chorus :Aadiyil koozha kaaichchi ooththura yaezhai
Vendinaa pothum avanga vedhana theerum
Sakthi om endru naam paattedukkalaam
Nambinaal naamumthaan thee midhikkalaam
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Ammaannu sonnaalae pothum
Anbennum vellamthaan modhum
Simmavaagini aaththaa sarppa roobini
Annapoorani aaththaa sarvakaarini
{Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi
Aayi magamaayi
Ava thaaikkellaam thaayaana thaayi} (2)
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Chorus: Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Just calling out "Amma" is enough,
A flood of love comes rushing in!
Chorus: Just calling out "Amma" is enough,
A flood of love comes rushing in!
Riding a lion, Mother takes the form of a serpent,
Mother Annapoorani, the source of all creation!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
She wears the auspicious kumkum dot on Her forehead,
Malini, holder of the trident, performer of miracles!
She wears a glowing saree made of neem leaves,
She wears a fragrant garland of lemons!
She appears swaying like neem leaves and moving like a snake,
Protecting our village and the entire world!
Chorus: A thousand young girls pray to that Mother,
Take the vow in hand, trusting you will keep it true!
She is Muthumaari, the sister of Lord Vishnu,
When She dances the dance of fury, She is Bhadrakali!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Just calling out "Amma" is enough,
A flood of love comes rushing in!
Riding a lion, Mother takes the form of a serpent,
Mother Annapoorani, the source of all creation!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Om Sakthi Om, Om Sakthi Om!
Om Sakthi Om, Om Sakthi Om!
The four Vedas sing praises of the Mother,
The five natural elements obey Her command!
Temple worship takes place six times a day,
All seven worlds sing praises of the Mother!
Whenever the sound of the pambai drum is heard,
Mother is filled with boundless joy!
Chorus: When the poor cook and serve porridge in the month of Aadi,
If they just pray to Her, all their suffering will end!
We can raise our voices singing "Sakthi Om",
With faith in our hearts, even we can walk on burning embers!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Just calling out "Amma" is enough,
A flood of love comes rushing in!
Riding a lion, Mother takes the form of a serpent,
Mother Annapoorani, the source of all creation!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Mother, O great Mother,
She is the Mother of all mothers!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a vibrant devotional hymn dedicated to Goddess Mariamman (an incarnation of Goddess Parvati/Sakthi). Written by Vaali, the lyrics emphasize the Mother Goddess's supreme power, infinite love, and protective nature over all living beings in the world. Merely calling out her name invokes a flood of maternal affection and grace. The song highlights popular Tamil Hindu devotional customs performed during the auspicious month of Aadi, such as offering sacred porridge (Aadi Koozhu), wearing neem leaves, offering lemon garlands, playing traditional drums like Pambai, and walking over burning embers (thee midhithal) with unyielding faith.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Anbennum vellamthaan modhum

Love is directly portrayed as a rushing flood ('Anbennum vellam').

Initial Rhyme / Monai

Annaiyai paaduthu naalu vedham / Aanaiyai ketkuthu panjabootham

Assonance/Monai created by repeating initial vowel sound 'A' in consecutive lines.

End Rhyme / Iyaypu

Mangala kunguma pottukkaari / Maalini soolini viththakkaari

Matching end sounds ('pottukkaari', 'viththakkaari', 'selakkaari', 'maalakkaari') creates a rhythmic folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aadi Velli (1990) is a superhit Tamil devotional film directed by Rama Narayanan. Songs from Rama Narayanan's devotional movies featuring lyrics by Vaali are iconic staples played across temples in Tamil Nadu during the Aadi festival season.

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