Azhagana Kovil
From Veedu Varai Uravu · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Veedu Varai Uravu1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Azhagaana kovil katta | To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar | He received a boon |
| Female | |
| {Azhagaana kovil katta | {To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar} – (2) | He received a boon} – (2) |
| Female | |
| Oridaththil avan sendru | He went to a distant place |
| Silai vaanginaan | And bought an idol |
| Oridaththil avan sendru | He went to a distant place |
| Silai vaanginaan | And bought an idol |
| Avan ulloorin seitha silai | The idol sculpted in his hometown |
| Thaniyaaginaal… | Became left all alone... |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana kovil katta | To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar… | He received a boon... |
| Female | |
| Kumbaabishegam kooda mudintha pinnae | Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over |
| Avan kolgaiyinai | His firm principles |
| Maattra vanthaal sariyaa kannae | Is it right to try and alter them, my dear? |
| Kumbaabishegam kooda mudintha pinnae | Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over |
| Avan kolgaiyinai | His firm principles |
| Maattra vanthaal sariyaa kannae | Is it right to try and alter them, my dear? |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana kovil katta | To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar… | He received a boon... |
| Female | |
| Alangaara silaiyaanaal | She became an adorned idol |
| Avan sorpadi | According to his words |
| Indru aval antha kovilukku vaasarpadi | Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple |
| Alangaara silaiyaanaal | She became an adorned idol |
| Avan sorpadi | According to his words |
| Indru aval antha kovilukku vaasarpadi | Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple |
| Female | |
| Ini antha padikkedhu thiruvaasagam | What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now? |
| Avan yaeththi vaikkum | The place where his foot treads |
| Kaaladithaan ninaivaalayam | That footprint itself is the shrine of memories |
| Ini antha padikkedhu thiruvaasagam | What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now? |
| Avan yaeththi vaikkum | The place where his foot treads |
| Kaaladithaan ninaivaalayam | That footprint itself is the shrine of memories |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana kovil katta | To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar… | He received a boon... |
| Female | |
| Oridaththil avan sendru | He went to a distant place |
| Silai vaanginaan | And bought an idol |
| Avan ulloorin seitha silai | The idol sculpted in his hometown |
| Thaniyaaginaal… | Became left all alone... |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana kovil katta | To build a beautiful temple |
| Nilam vaanginaar | He bought land |
| Avar anbennum deivaththidam | From the deity known as love |
| Varam vaanginaar… | He received a boon... |
அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார்
அவர் அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்.....
To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon
{அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார்
அவர் அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்} - (2)
{To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon} – (2)
ஓரிடத்தில் அவன் சென்று
சிலை வாங்கினான்
ஓரிடத்தில் அவன் சென்று
சிலை வாங்கினான்
அவன் உள்ளூரின் செய்த சிலை
தனியாகினாள்......
He went to a distant place
And bought an idol
He went to a distant place
And bought an idol
The idol sculpted in his hometown
Became left all alone...
அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார் அவர்
அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்.....
To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon...
அம்பாளும் கோவிலுக்குள்
அமர்ந்த பின்னே செய்யும்
ஆராதனைகளெல்லாம் நடந்த பின்னே
அம்பாளும் கோவிலுக்குள்
அமர்ந்த பின்னே செய்யும்
ஆராதனைகளெல்லாம் நடந்த பின்னே
Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over
His firm principles
Is it right to try and alter them, my dear?
Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over
His firm principles
Is it right to try and alter them, my dear?
கும்பாபிஷேகம் கூட முடிந்த பின்னே
அவன் கொள்கையினை
மாற்ற வந்தால் சரியா கண்ணே
கும்பாபிஷேகம் கூட முடிந்த பின்னே
அவன் கொள்கையினை
மாற்ற வந்தால் சரியா கண்ணே
To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon...
அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார் அவர்
அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்....
She became an adorned idol
According to his words
Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple
She became an adorned idol
According to his words
Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple
அலங்கார சிலையானாள்
அவன் சொற்படி
இன்று அவள் அந்த கோவிலுக்கு வாசற்படி
அலங்கார சிலையானாள்
அவன் சொற்படி
இன்று அவள் அந்த கோவிலுக்கு வாசற்படி
What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now?
The place where his foot treads
That footprint itself is the shrine of memories
What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now?
The place where his foot treads
That footprint itself is the shrine of memories
இனி அந்த படிக்கேது திருவாசகம்
அவன் ஏத்தி வைக்கும்
காலடிதான் நினைவாலயம்..
இனி அந்த படிக்கேது திருவாசகம்
அவன் ஏத்தி வைக்கும்
காலடிதான் நினைவாலயம்..
To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon...
அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார் அவர்
அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்......
He went to a distant place
And bought an idol
The idol sculpted in his hometown
Became left all alone...
ஓரிடத்தில் அவன் சென்று
சிலை வாங்கினான்
அவன் உள்ளூரின் செய்த சிலை
தனியாகினாள்......
To build a beautiful temple
He bought land
From the deity known as love
He received a boon...
அழகான கோவில் கட்ட
நிலம் வாங்கினார் அவர்
அன்பென்னும் தெய்வத்திடம்
வரம் வாங்கினார்.....
Azhagaana kovil katta
To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar
He received a boon
{Azhagaana kovil katta
{To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar} – (2)
He received a boon} – (2)
Oridaththil avan sendru
He went to a distant place
Silai vaanginaan
And bought an idol
Oridaththil avan sendru
He went to a distant place
Silai vaanginaan
And bought an idol
Avan ulloorin seitha silai
The idol sculpted in his hometown
Thaniyaaginaal…
Became left all alone...
Azhagaana kovil katta
To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar…
He received a boon...
Kumbaabishegam kooda mudintha pinnae
Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over
Avan kolgaiyinai
His firm principles
Maattra vanthaal sariyaa kannae
Is it right to try and alter them, my dear?
Kumbaabishegam kooda mudintha pinnae
Even after the sacred consecration ceremony is over
Avan kolgaiyinai
His firm principles
Maattra vanthaal sariyaa kannae
Is it right to try and alter them, my dear?
Azhagaana kovil katta
To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar…
He received a boon...
Alangaara silaiyaanaal
She became an adorned idol
Avan sorpadi
According to his words
Indru aval antha kovilukku vaasarpadi
Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple
Alangaara silaiyaanaal
She became an adorned idol
Avan sorpadi
According to his words
Indru aval antha kovilukku vaasarpadi
Today she remains as the doorstep of that temple
Ini antha padikkedhu thiruvaasagam
What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now?
Avan yaeththi vaikkum
The place where his foot treads
Kaaladithaan ninaivaalayam
That footprint itself is the shrine of memories
Ini antha padikkedhu thiruvaasagam
What need does that doorstep have for sacred hymns now?
Avan yaeththi vaikkum
The place where his foot treads
Kaaladithaan ninaivaalayam
That footprint itself is the shrine of memories
Azhagaana kovil katta
To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar…
He received a boon...
Oridaththil avan sendru
He went to a distant place
Silai vaanginaan
And bought an idol
Avan ulloorin seitha silai
The idol sculpted in his hometown
Thaniyaaginaal…
Became left all alone...
Azhagaana kovil katta
To build a beautiful temple
Nilam vaanginaar
He bought land
Avar anbennum deivaththidam
From the deity known as love
Varam vaanginaar…
He received a boon...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song uses rich temple metaphors to portray emotional devotion, heartbreak, and sacrificial love. The hero buys land to build a temple for love, bringing home an idol from elsewhere while the local idol—representing the protagonist or original beloved—is left behind in solitude. The lyrics express the anguish of being relegated to the doorstep of a newly consecrated temple, bearing the weight of duty and unfulfilled love while submitting gracefully to the beloved's principles and destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagamy (Metaphor)
“Avar anbennum deivaththidam / Varam vaanginaar”
Compares love to a deity ('anbennum deivam') and the lover's memory to a shrine ('ninaivaalayam').
Emona / Ethirukai (Rhyme and Alliteration)
“Azhagaana kovil katta / Nilam vaanginaar”
Use of matching second consonant sounds like 'katta' and 'vaanginaar', creating a rhythmic flow across lines.
Metaphorical Contrast
“Indru aval antha kovilukku vaasarpadi”
Contrasts the worshipped idol inside the temple sanctum with the doorstep ('vaasarpadi') on which people step, symbolizing humble sacrifice.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, this song relies heavily on allegorical imagery typical of 1970s Tamil cinema, where temple rituals and architecture serve as deep metaphors for human relationships and societal expectations.
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