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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ambigai Neril Vanthaal

From Itho Enthan Deivam · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Itho Enthan Deivam1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Devi…..ee…..ee….Goddess...
Female :Deva….aa…..aa…Female: Lord...
Male :Devi……Male: Goddess...
Male
Ambikai neril vanthaalThe Goddess came in person,
Anbinai alli thanthaalAnd showered her love generously.
Gopuram kannil kandaenI saw the temple tower in her eyes,
Konjidum kalasam kandaenI saw the charming finial tower.
Devi…….en devi……Goddess... my Goddess...
Female
Aalayam thiranthu vaiththaenI opened the temple,
Aaraaththi thattum vaiththaenAnd prepared the platter for worship,
Aalayam thiranthu vaiththaenI opened the temple,
Aaraaththi thattum vaiththaenAnd prepared the platter for worship,
Sannithaanam varaiyilAll the way up to the sanctum sanctorum,
Deviyai kaana vaiththaenI enabled her to see the Goddess.
Deva…..en deva…..Lord... my Lord...
Female
Aalayam thiranthu vaiththaenI opened the temple,
Aaraaththi thattum vaiththaenAnd prepared the platter for worship,
Male
Povilae poojai seivaenI will perform worship with flowers,
Kadhilae vedham solvaenI will whisper scriptures into your ears.
Povilae poojai seivaenI will perform worship with flowers,
Kadhilae vedham solvaenI will whisper scriptures into your ears.
Aayiram kudangal konduWith a thousand pots of sacred water,
Abhisegam nadaththi vaippaenI will perform the holy bath ritual.
Female
Saaththpatti pottu vaipenI will drape silk garments,
Santhanaththil oora vaippaenAnd soak in fragrant sandalwood paste.
Saaththpatti pottu vaipenI will drape silk garments,
Santhanaththil oora vaippaenAnd soak in fragrant sandalwood paste.
Female
Arththa jaamam varaiyilUntil the midnight ritual,
Ammanai kaana vaippaenI will let you behold the Mother Goddess.
Arththa jaamam varaiyilUntil the midnight ritual,
Ammanai kaana vaippaenI will let you behold the Mother Goddess.
Deva….en deva….Lord... my Lord...
Male
Ambikai neril vanthaalThe Goddess came in person,
Anbinai alli thanthaalAnd showered her love generously.
Female
Pallakkil yaetri vaippaenI will place you upon a palanquin,
Pamalai sootti vaippaenAnd adorn you with a garland of poems.
Pallakkil yaetri vaippaenI will place you upon a palanquin,
Pamalai sootti vaippaenAnd adorn you with a garland of poems.
Ullaasa oorvalaththilIn a joyful procession,
Ullaththai mayanga vaipaenI will entrance your heart.
Male
Koyilil kudiyirupenI will reside inside the temple,
Kuththu vilakkettri vaippaenAnd light the sacred traditional lamp.
Koyilil kudiyirupenI will reside inside the temple,
Kuththu vilakkettri vaippaenAnd light the sacred traditional lamp.
Devanin nilaiyil nindruStanding in the divine status of the Almighty,
Deviyai thazhuvi kolvaenI will embrace my Goddess.
Devi…….en devi……Goddess... my Goddess...
Male
Ambikai neril vanthaalThe Goddess came in person,
Anbinai alli thanthaalAnd showered her love generously.
Gopuram kannil kandaenI saw the temple tower in her eyes,
Konjidum kalasam kandaenI saw the charming finial tower.
Female :Deva…..en deva…..Female: Lord... my Lord...
Male :Devi…….en devi……Male: Goddess... my Goddess...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet uses rich temple iconography and sacred metaphors to describe the divine and exalted nature of romantic love between two lovers. Comparing each other to a God and Goddess (Devan and Devi), the lovers equate their emotional devotion to religious rituals, temple worship, holy ablutions (abhishekam), offering poetry, and lighting sacred lamps. Written by Kannadasan with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan, the song beautifully blends spiritual devotion (Bhakti) with romantic love (Sringara), demonstrating how human affection can mirror divine reverence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Gopuram kannil kandaen / Konjidum kalasam kandaen

Comparing the lover's beauty to a temple tower (Gopuram) and sacred spire (Kalasam) to emphasize divine grace.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Pallakkil yaetri vaippaen / Pamalai sootti vaippaen

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Pa' in 'Pallakkil' and 'Pamalai'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Pallakkil yaetri vaippaen / Pamalai sootti vaippaen

Consistent end rhyming pattern using the suffix '-vaippaen' across multiple verses to create musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1972 Tamil film 'Itho Enthan Deivam', this song highlights Kannadasan's mastery of using sacred Hindu temple rituals (such as abhishekam, gopuram, and arthajama pooja) as elaborate allegories for romantic worship and devotion.

Keep listening

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