- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- Ghantasala
- Movie name
- Chandraharam
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Jan 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Arul Purivaai Amma is a poignant devotional prayer seeking divine grace, guidance, and righteous living. The singer surrenders completely to the Mother figure, pleading for moral strength to uphold virtue (karpus) and asking for protection even in dreams. Expressing helpless grief, she compares her anguish to that of orphaned calves crying out for their mother cow, reinforcing her absolute dependence on divine compassion. The song highlights the aspiration to embody noble virtues and walk the righteous path on Earth. By repeatedly bowing at the sacred feet of the Mother, the protagonist seeks total refuge, asking for inner enlightenment and peace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Karavaithanai irantha kandrinam polae”
Comparing the protagonist's helpless and distressed state to a calf that has lost its mother cow ('Karavaithanai irantha kandrinam polae').
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Anbenum jothiyaai amarnthathum neeyae”
Describing divine love directly as a glowing light or flame ('Anbenum jothiyaai').
Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Tamil Mohnai)
“Karavaithanai irantha kandrinam polae / Kadharugindraenae kalangi nindraenae”
The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' across consecutive lines (Karavaithanai, Kadharugindraenae, Karunai).
Refrain / Anaphora
“Arul purivaai amma”
The repeated line 'Arul purivaai amma' acts as a thematic anchor reinforcing the core prayer for grace throughout the composition.
Did you know?
Trivia
Chandraharam (1954) was a lavish fantasy film produced by Vijaya Vauhini Studios, directed by Kamalakara Kameswara Rao, and scored by legendary composer Ghantasala. This devotional track rendered by P. Leela is renowned for its classical purity and soulful emotive delivery.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Chandraharam
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.