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Lyrics & meaning

Arpudha Leelaigalai

From Sivagami · 1960

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Sivagami1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Arpudha leelaigalaiMiraculous divine plays,
Arpudha leelaigalai yaararivaarWho can comprehend your miraculous divine plays?
Agilaanda naayaganae haranae undhanOh Lord of the universe, Hara, your...
Arpudha leelaigalai yaar arivaarWho can comprehend your miraculous divine plays?
Agilaanda naayaganae haranae undhanOh Lord of the universe, Hara, your...
Arpudha leelaigalaiMiraculous divine plays.
Male
Sithparanae sivanaeOh Supreme Consciousness, Shiva,
Sithparanae sivanae unadhadiyaarOh Supreme Consciousness, Shiva, your devotees...
Sithparanae sivanae unadhadiyaarOh Supreme Consciousness, Shiva, your devotees...
Seipizhaigal porutharulum enadhaiyanaeMy Lord who forgives the misdeeds done!
Unathadigal seipizhaigal porutharulum enadhaiyanaeYour devotees' misdeeds done, my Lord who forgives!
Thiru abaya varakaiyanunThe one with sacred hands offering protection and blessings,
Male
Arpudha leelaigalai yaararivaarWho can comprehend your miraculous divine plays?
Agilaanda naayaganae haranae undhanOh Lord of the universe, Hara, your...
Arpudha leelaigalaiMiraculous divine plays.
Male
Paattilaasaiyaal andru paravaimanaiOut of love for music, back then, to Paravai's house,
Thoodhu nadanthava viragu sumandhavaThe one who walked as a messenger, the one who carried firewood!
Paattilaasaiyaal andru paravaimanaiOut of love for music, back then, to Paravai's house,
Thoodhu nadanthava viragu sumandhavaThe one who walked as a messenger, the one who carried firewood!
Mattudaiyaai thillai kaattinilaeYou who possess distinction in the forest of Thillai,
Kila mattudaiyaai thillai kaattinilaeYou who possess supreme glory in the forest of Thillai,
Arulaatudaiyaai thalai oottudaiyaaiYou who rule with grace, who nourish all beings,
Arulaatudaiyaai thalai oottudaiyaaiYou who rule with grace, who nourish all beings,
Male
Unnai katti maraippaaiYou conceal yourself bound away,
Ennai aatti alaipaaiYou make me move and toss me around,
Unnai katti maraippaaiYou conceal yourself bound away,
Ennai aatti alaipaaiYou make me move and toss me around,
Empiratiyudanae vattamara inbamTogether with our Goddess Parvati, endless bliss...
Oottuvai thunbam ottuvaaiYou feed us bliss and drive away sorrow!
Female
Undhan arpudha leelaigalai yaararivaarWho can comprehend your miraculous divine plays?
Agilaanda naayaganae haranae undhanOh Lord of the universe, Hara, your...
Arpudha leelaigalai …..Miraculous divine plays...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Arpudha Leelaigalai' is a profound devotional composition praising Lord Shiva's divine sports and boundless mercy. Written by Papanasam Sivan and rendered by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, the song addresses Shiva as the ruler of the universe (Agilaanda Naayagan) and Supreme Consciousness (Sithparan). It highlights Shiva's forgiving nature towards the errors of His devotees and his protective grace. The lyrics explicitly refer to famous Saivite Thiruvilaiyadal (divine sports) in Madurai and Chidambaram, such as Lord Shiva walking as a mediator to the residence of Paravai Nachiyar for His devotee Sundarar out of fondness for devotional music, and carrying firewood on His head as a vendor to protect musician Banabhadra. The singer surrenders completely to God's enigmatic play, acknowledging that while Shiva tests human beings, He ultimately bestows eternal bliss alongside Goddess Parvati and dispels all grief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Arpudha leelaigalai yaararivaar

The phrase 'yaar arivaar' (who can comprehend?) is used repeatedly to emphasize the unfathomable, mysterious nature of Lord Shiva's divine acts.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Unnai katti maraippaai / Ennai aatti alaipaai

Rhyming of the second consonant 'n' between 'Unnai' and 'Ennai' creates a rhythmic cadence in the verse.

Mythological Allusion (Thiruvilaiyadal)

Paattilaasaiyaal andru paravaimanai / Thoodhu nadanthava viragu sumandhava

Refers directly to Lord Shiva's divine acts recorded in Tamil Saivite literature: serving as a messenger to Paravaiyar for Saint Sundarar and carrying firewood for Banabhadra.

Antithesis / Contrast

Oottuvai thunbam ottuvaai

Contrasts the act of granting joy ('inbam oottuvai') with driving away pain ('thunbam ottuvaai').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Arpudha Leelaigalai' was composed by Papanasam Sivan for the 1960 film 'Sivagami', scored by K. V. Mahadevan. It features one of the last recorded cinematic performances of the legendary Carnatic singer-actor M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), released after his demise in 1959. The song showcases MKT's iconic vocal range and emotional depth in high-pitch Carnatic devotional style.

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