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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Agaramuthala

From Saraswathi Sabatham · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Saraswathi Sabatham
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
10 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam
Ariyavaiththaai devi
Aadhi bhagavan mudhalendrae
Unaravaiththaai devi
Iyal isai nadaga deepam
Yetri vaiththai neeyae
Eendravar nenjai indru
Kulira vaiththaai thaayae
Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam
Ariyavaiththaai devi
Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam
Ariyavaiththaai devi
Aadhi bhagavan mudhalendrae
Unaravaiththaai devi
Aadhi bhagavan mudhalendrae
Unaravaiththaai devi
Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam
Ariyavaiththaai devi
Iyal isai nadaga deepam
Yetri vaiththai
Iyal isai nadaga deepam
Yetri vaiththai
Eendravar nenjai indru
Kulira vaiththaai
Eendravar nenjai indru
Kulira vaiththaai
Uyir mei ezhuthellaam
Theriya vaiththaai
Uyir mei ezhuthellaam
Theriya vaiththaai
Oomaiyin vaai thiranthu
Pesavaiththaai
Ammaa pesavaiththaai
Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam
Ariyavaiththaai devi
Ennum ezhuthu ennum
Kan thiranthaai
Ennum ezhuthu ennum
Kan thiranthaai
Yettram tharum pulamai
Aatral thandhaai
Yettram tharum pulamai
Aatral thandhaai
Aiyaam theliya veithu
Arivu thandhaai
Aiyaam theliya veithu
Arivu thandhaai
Oli thandhu mozhi thandhu
Kural thandhaai
Oli thandhu mozhi thandhu
Kural thandhaai
Omkaara isai thandhu
Uyara veiththaai devi
Pottraveithu pugal saatraveithu
Arivootrinodu uyar aatral thandhu ennai
Aringnan kavingnan kalaingnan ivan ena
Arulum thamizhum thigalum kadal ena
Kattravarum kottravarum
Muttrumae arindhavarum
Nitham nitham pugalnthida
Ninarulai thandu arul vaai
Uttraar suttram
Uravinar maandharai
Yaaani saenai
Padaiyudai veendharu
Pattrum pattrai
Neekiya gnyani
Palarum pughalnthinda
Aakiya vaani
Thaai ilaadha pillai endru
Vaai illadha oomai endru
Aayirangal aana kalvi
Vaai thiranthu thandha selvi
Annai unnai saranam adaithen deviiii…..
All the letters beginning with 'A',
you helped me understand, O Goddess!
That the primordial God is the origin of all,
you made me realize, O Goddess!
The lamp of literature, music, and drama,
you lit within me yourself!
The heart of the mother who bore me,
you filled with soothing joy, O Mother!
All the letters beginning with 'A',
you helped me understand, O Goddess!
All the letters beginning with 'A',
you helped me understand, O Goddess!
That the primordial God is the origin of all,
you made me realize, O Goddess!
That the primordial God is the origin of all,
you made me realize, O Goddess!
All the letters beginning with 'A',
you helped me understand, O Goddess!
The lamp of literature, music, and drama,
you lit within me,
The lamp of literature, music, and drama,
you lit within me,
The heart of the mother who bore me,
you filled with soothing joy,
The heart of the mother who bore me,
you filled with soothing joy.
Every vowel and consonant,
you made known to me,
Every vowel and consonant,
you made known to me.
Opening the mouth of a mute,
you made me speak,
O Mother, you made me speak!
All the letters beginning with 'A',
you helped me understand, O Goddess!
The twin eyes of numbers and letters,
you opened for me,
The twin eyes of numbers and letters,
you opened for me.
Scholarly wisdom that elevates,
and great power, you gave me,
Scholarly wisdom that elevates,
and great power, you gave me.
Clearing away my doubts,
you gave me true knowledge,
Clearing away my doubts,
you gave me true knowledge.
Giving me light and language,
you gave me a voice,
Giving me light and language,
you gave me a voice,
Giving the sacred music of Om,
you raised me high, O Goddess!
Making the world honor and praise me,
granting me a spring of wisdom and great power,
making everyone say, 'He is a scholar, a poet, and an artist!'
like an ocean brimming with grace and Tamil,
So that scholars and kings,
and those of complete wisdom,
praise me day after day,
shower your divine grace upon me!
Kith and kin,
relatives and ordinary people,
emperors with mighty armies
and legions of war elephants,
and wise sages who have cast away
all worldly desires—
all sing your praises,
O Goddess Saraswathi (Vani)!
Knowing I was a motherless child,
knowing I was a speechless mute,
thousands of streams of learning,
you opened your lips to bestow, O Goddess!
O Mother, I surrender at your feet, O Goddess!...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional hymn from 'Saraswathi Sabatham' is a prayer offered to Goddess Saraswathi, the deity of wisdom, arts, and learning. The protagonist, who was born mute and ignorant, expresses heartfelt gratitude to the Goddess for miraculously granting him speech, knowledge, and poetic fluency. The song builds upon classical Tamil literary references, acknowledging how knowledge opens human perception like eyes and brings joy to parents and society. As the song progresses, the speaker describes how divine grace transformed a speechless orphan into a celebrated scholar, poet, and artist praised by kings, scholars, and sages alike. The lyrics culminate in total surrender (Saranagathi) to the Mother, celebrating Her power to grant spiritual enlightenment, remove worldly attachments, and elevate human consciousness through language and divine sound.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Reference)

“Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam”

The opening lines directly evoke Thirukkural 1: 'Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam aadhi bhagavan mudhattre ulagu', linking the alphabet 'A' to the divine origin.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Agaramudhala ezhuthellaam”

Rhyming of second letters across consecutive lines ('ga' in Agaramudhala / Bhagavan / Iyal-isai).

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Ennum ezhuthu ennum Kan thiranthaai”

Comparing numbers and letters ('Ennum ezhuthum') to the two eyes of human understanding.

Monae (Initial Alliteration)

“Oli thandhu mozhi thandhu”

Alliteration on 'O' sound across words ('Oli thandhu mozhi thandhu / Omkaara isai').

Did you know?

Trivia

This song is a pivotal musical sequence in the 1966 Tamil mythological film 'Saraswathi Sabatham', directed by A. P. Nagarajan. Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung magnificently by T. M. Soundararajan, the song picturizes the transformation of the character Vidyapati (played by Sivaji Ganesan) from a mute devotee into a master poet by the grace of Goddess Saraswathi.

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