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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aranga Un Mahimaiyai

From Meera (1945) Film · 1945

Lyricist
Parthi Bhaskar
Singers
M. S. Subbulakshmi, Chorus
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Meera (1945) Film1945

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arindhavar yaar engum niraindhavanae…Who has known, oh omnipresent one?
Hae…aeHae...ae
Arindhavar yaar engum niraindhavanaeWho has known, oh omnipresent one?
Arangaa un magimaiyai arindhavar yaarOh Ranga, who has understood your divine glory?
Female
Yaanai andru aadhimoolamae endruWhen the elephant Gajendra cried out 'Aadhimoolame' back then
Olamidavum odi vandhanaiyaeYou came running to save it
Eenargal sabaiyil dhraupathi kadharaWhen Draupadi wept in despair in the assembly of wicked men
Eenargal sabaiyil dhraupathi kadharaWhen Draupadi wept in despair in the assembly of wicked men
Maanam kaarthanaiyae aahaa neeAha, you were the one who protected her honor
Chorus
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arindhavar yaar engum niraindhavanaeWho has known, oh omnipresent one?
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Female
Prahalaadhanaiyae baalanam seiyaTo protect the child Prahlada
Narahariyaai vandha naarananaeOh Narayana, who manifested as Narahari (Narasimha)
Dhaaraniyil unnai andri veraeIn this wide world, other than you
Dhaaraniyil unnai andri veraeIn this wide world, other than you
Yaar thunai sanga gadhaa dharanaeWho is our refuge, oh bearer of the conch and mace?
Chorus
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arindhavar yaar engum niraindhavanaeWho has known, oh omnipresent one?
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Arangaa un magimaiyaiOh Ranga, your glory
Arindhavar yaarWho has truly understood?
Chorus
Yadhu nandhana gopaalaOh Gopala, beloved son of the Yadavas
Jaya brundhaavana lolaVictory to the one who delights in Vrindavan
Yadhu nandhana gopaalaOh Gopala, beloved son of the Yadavas
Jaya brundhaavana lolaVictory to the one who delights in Vrindavan
Female
Jaya dheena vathsalaaVictory to the compassionate protector of the helpless
Jaya vaenughaana lolaaVictory to the divine flute player
Jaya dheena vathsalaaVictory to the compassionate protector of the helpless
Jaya vaenughaana lolaaVictory to the divine flute player
Female
Varadhaa ….aaa…..Oh Varadha... ah...
Varadhaaa arul tharuvaai vanamaaliOh Varadha, bestow your grace upon us, wearer of the forest garland
Jaya varadhaaVictory to Varadha
Arul tharuvaai vanamaaliBestow your grace upon us, wearer of the forest garland
Female
Jaya meeraa prabhu giridhaariVictory to Giridhari, the Lord of Meera
Chorus :Jaya meeraa prabhu giridhaariChorus: Victory to Giridhari, the Lord of Meera
Jaya meeraa prabhu giridhaariVictory to Giridhari, the Lord of Meera
Jaya meeraa prabhu giridhaariVictory to Giridhari, the Lord of Meera
Jaya meeraa prabhu giridhaariVictory to Giridhari, the Lord of Meera

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Arangaa Un Magimaiyai' is a deeply moving devotional hymn praising Lord Ranganatha (an avatar of Lord Vishnu/Krishna). The song recounts classic mythological events where the Lord rushed to save his devotees upon their sincere prayer: rescuing Gajendra the elephant upon hearing his call, protecting Draupadi's modesty in the assembly of the Kauravas, and manifesting as the man-lion Narasimha to save young Prahlada.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Arangaa un magimaiyai arindhavar yaar

The opening line asks 'Arindhavar yaar?' (Who has known?), emphasizing that God's infinite glory is beyond human comprehension.

Refrain / Repetition

Arangaa un magimaiyai arindhavar yaar

The repeating phrase creates a meditative, chant-like structure reinforcing unconditional surrender to the deity.

Epithet / Allusion

Yaar thunai sanga gadhaa dharanae

Addresses the deity with specific divine attributes like 'Sanga gadhaa dharanae' (holder of the conch and mace) and 'Vanamaali' (adorned with forest flowers).

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic devotional song from the 1945 landmark Tamil movie 'Meera' features legendary Carnatic vocalist M. S. Subbulakshmi. The film, directed by American filmmaker Ellis R. Dungan, was a colossal success and solidified M.S. Subbulakshmi's stature nationwide, leading to the 1947 Hindi remake.

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