Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arul Purivai

From Chandraharam · 1954

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
Ghantasala
Details
Chandraharam1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.
Nee arul purivaai ammaYou, grant your grace, Mother.
Anbenum jothiyaai amarnthathum neeyaeYou are the one who resides as the divine light of love.
Inbamae thanthidum thaayaeOh Mother who bestows true joy!
Female
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.
Male
Karpenum nilaiyae thavaraathenaiyaeWithout letting me stray from the path of chastity and virtue,
Kanavilum neeyae thunai purivaayaeEven in my dreams, please remain my guide and support.
Kanavilum neeyae thunai purivaayaeEven in my dreams, please remain my guide and support.
Kadhi veriyillaiyae thaayaeI have no other refuge, Mother.
Female
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.
Female
Karavaithanai irantha kandrinam polaeLike a herd of calves that has lost its mother cow,
Karavaithanai irantha kandrinam polaeLike a herd of calves that has lost its mother cow,
Kadharugindraenae kalangi nindraenaeI cry out in agony and stand bewildered.
Karunai seivaayae thaayaePlease shower your mercy, Mother.
Female
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.
Female
Amma unnai pol puvimael naanaeMother, so that on this earth, I too, just like you,
Amma unnai pol puvimael naanaeMother, so that on this earth, I too, just like you,
Arungunavaathiyaai vaazhnthidaththaanaeMay live as a person of noble and rare virtues,
Arungunavaathiyaai vaazhnthidaththaanaeMay live as a person of noble and rare virtues,
Adi paninthaenae thaayaeI bow down at your feet, Mother.
Adi paninthaenae thaayaeI bow down at your feet, Mother.
Female
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.
Arul purivaai ammaGrant your grace, Mother.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

More from Chandraharam