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Lyrics & meaning

Bavani Varugira

From Ponnar Shankar · 2011

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shreya Ghoshal, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponnar Shankar2011

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ae bavani varuguraaHey, she comes in grand procession!
Periya paandi chellaandiPeriya Pandi Chellaandi!
Aathaa enga aathaa hoiMother, our mother, hoi!
Karagam eduthu vaaBring the Karagam pot!
Karagam eduthu vaaBring the Karagam pot!
Karunaiyodu kan therandhu paappaaShe will open her eyes with compassion and look upon us,
Thunbam theerppaaShe will relieve all our distress!
Female
Edukka yedukka varum pudhaiyal polaLike a hidden treasure that keeps yielding as you dig,
Irukku irukku thaen paattuThere is a honeyed song ready to be sung!
Female
Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilaePick it up and sing, young deer-like cuckoo!
Kudhikkum kudhikkum oor kaettuHearing it, the entire village will dance in joy!
Chorus
Oho thaer yaeri aathaa varuvaaOho, riding on her chariot, mother goddess comes!
Ava poo maari ponnaa pozhivaaShe will shower prosperity like a rain of flowers!
Female
Edukka edukka varum pudhaiyal polaLike a hidden treasure that keeps yielding as you dig,
Irukku irukku thaen paattuThere is a honeyed song ready to be sung!
Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilaePick it up and sing, young deer-like cuckoo!
Kudhikkum kudhikkum oor kaettuHearing it, the entire village will dance in joy!
Chorus
Ponga paana pongi vara paaru aathaaLook at the festival pot overflowing with sweet rice, mother!
Female
Kurinji koothaadum engaIn our mountain lands where flowers bloom and dance,
Thanga mannulaUpon this blessed golden soil,
Kulava kaetkindra thirunaalIt is a festive day filled with cheerful ululations!
Female
Ae kumari ponnunga kulichuHey, young women after bathing,
Koondhal kattiAdorning their styled hair,
Karagam yedutthu varum perunaalIt is a grand day when they carry ritual Karagam pots!
Female
Raavellaam poo vaanam pattaasu palagaaramAll night long, sky rockets, firecrackers, and sweet delicacies!
Chorus
Chellaandi ammaa aasi sollaendi poovaayiMother Chellaandi, pray bestow your divine blessings, Poovaayi!
Female
Edukka edukka varum pudhaiyal polaLike a hidden treasure that keeps yielding as you dig,
Irukku irukku thaen paattuThere is a honeyed song ready to be sung!
Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilaePick it up and sing, young deer-like cuckoo!
Kudhikkum kudhikkum oor kaettuHearing it, the entire village will dance in joy!
Female
Malliga mottaagi malarndhu kulunginaaWhen a jasmine bud blooms and gently sways,
Manakkum poo maala aagumIt transforms into a fragrant flower garland,
Female
Manakkum poo maalaA fragrant flower garland!
Mannavan chinnavan yenaWhether for a great ruler or an ordinary man,
Aathaa thol meedhum aadumIt adorns the shoulders of the goddess mother!
Female
Yaarukku un maala yaarukku en maalaWho receives your garland? Who receives mine?
Chorus
Chellaandi ammaa thaanOnly Mother Chellaandi herself
Nal vaazhvu tharuvaalaeWill grant a life of happiness and prosperity!
Female
Edukka edukka varum pudhaiyal polaLike a hidden treasure that keeps yielding as you dig,
Irukku irukku thaen paattuThere is a honeyed song ready to be sung!
Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilaePick it up and sing, young deer-like cuckoo!
Kudhikkum kudhikkum oor kaettuHearing it, the entire village will dance in joy!
Chorus
Oho thaer yaeri aathaa varuvaaOho, riding on her chariot, mother goddess comes!
Ava poo maari ponnaa pozhivaaShe will shower prosperity like a rain of flowers!
Female
Edukka edukka varum pudhaiyal polaLike a hidden treasure that keeps yielding as you dig,
Irukku irukku thaen paattuThere is a honeyed song ready to be sung!
Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilaePick it up and sing, young deer-like cuckoo!
Kudhikkum kudhikkum oor kaettuHearing it, the entire village will dance in joy!
Chorus
Haei..haei…haei…Haei..haei…haei…
Haei haei haei haei haeiiiiiiHaei haei haei haei haeiiiiii
Hoi hoi hi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi ho hoiHoi hoi hi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi ho hoi

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This vibrant song celebrates a traditional village temple festival dedicated to the deity Chellaandi Amman. The lyrics capture the ecstatic joy of the community coming together, carrying ritual Karagam pots, boiling sweet Pongal offerings, setting off fireworks, and partaking in traditional festivities. The devotion is expressed through exuberant singing and dancing, seeking the divine mother's grace and blessings for health, prosperity, and joy for all the villagers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Edukka yedukka varum pudhaiyal pola

Compares sweet musical songs to an inexhaustible treasure buried underground that yields more as you dig.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Eduthu eduthu padi ila maan kuyilae

Addresses a young singer using metaphors of a gentle deer and a cuckoo bird (ila maan kuyilae).

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Edukka yedukka varum pudhaiyal pola

Repetition of words like 'Edukka yedukka', 'Irukku irukku', and 'Eduthu eduthu' to add rhythm and poetic intensity.

Rhyme (Edhai)

Irukku irukku thaen paattu

Matching second letter rhyming patterns across lines ('Edukka', 'Irukku', 'Eduthu').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ponnar Shankar' is a historical drama film adapted from M. Karunanidhi's novel of the same name, based on the legendary Tamil folk story of the warrior brothers Ponnar and Shankar. The song highlights authentic Kongu Nadu folk traditions, specifically the worship of guardian village deities like Chellaandi Amman.

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