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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bhuvaneswari Arulpuri

From Thaye Neeye Thunai · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chitra
Music directors
Raveendran, Gangai Amaran
Details
Thaye Neeye Thunai1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Bhuvaneshvari arulpuri aadhariO Bhuvaneshvari, grant your grace and support us.
Sivasangari thaayae neeyae thunaiO Sivasangari, Mother, you alone are our companion and solace.
Panivarai thondriya soolini maaliniO Goddess born on the snow-capped mountain, holding the trident, adorned with garlands!
Janani jeganmoginiO Mother of the universe, enchantress of the world!
Madhavan sritharan sodhariyaeO Sister of Madhava (Lord Vishnu), Sri Sridhara!
Male
Bhuvaneshvari arulpuri aadhariO Bhuvaneshvari, grant your grace and support us.
Sivasangari thaayae neeyae thunaiO Sivasangari, Mother, you alone are our companion and solace.
Male
Vaayillaatha pillaiLike a child who cannot speak,
Vizhiyillaatha killaiLike a parrot without sight,
Noyai theerkka varuga aa…aa…aa…aa…Come to cure this affliction, ah... ah...
Female
Paavamo vinaiyin thaabamoIs it a sin, or the burning agony of past karma?
Unathu kobamo vilaintha saabamo karunaiIs it your anger, or a curse that has come to pass? Have mercy!
Vaasai thaedi vanthu vaadum nenjam renduSearching for a dwelling of fragrance, these two hearts wither;
Vendum vaazhvai tharuga aa….aa…Please grant us the life we desire, ah... ah...
Male
Naalellaam unathu poojaithaanAll day long, it is your worship alone,
Enathu naavellaam unathu paadalthaanOn my tongue, it is your song alone.
Vizhiyil vazhiyum punalilIn the tears flowing from my eyes,
Unthan thiruvadi nanaiyattumMay your divine feet be soaked.
Female :Nanintha piragu unthanFemale: After being soaked,
Thiruvulam kaniyattumMay your divine heart melt with compassion.
Male
Kanintha kanivil unthanIn that ripened grace of yours,
Kadai kangal olirattumMay the corners of your eyes shine upon us.
Female :Irundu kidakkum engalFemale: Our days that lie dark and gloomy,
Pozhuthugal pularattumMay they dawn into bright light.
Male
Madiyil thavazhum kodiyinOn the face of the vine-child crawling on our lap,
Mugamum siriththidaFor a smile to bloom upon it,
Unatharul kidaiththidumaa….aa….Will your divine grace be bestowed?
Chorus :Thaayae…yae….neeyae…yae….thunai….Chorus: O Mother, you alone are our solace...
Female
Sri bhuvaneshwari arulpuri aadhariO Sri Bhuvaneshwari, grant your grace and support us.
Sivasangari thaayae neeyae thunaiO Sivasangari, Mother, you alone are our companion and solace.
Chorus :Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa….Chorus: Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Female
Vembhu pola nindru paambu pola vanthuStanding strong like the bitter neem tree, arriving like a protective serpent,
Oorai kaakkum umaiyae…yae….O Uma, who protects the whole village!
Male :Maariyae amutha vaariyaeMale: O Mariamman, divine ocean of nectar!
Thalangal maariya vilangum deviyaeO Goddess who manifests across various sacred places!
Male
Ulagil nee illaamal ondruWithout you in this world,
Nearvathaethu ingu oonilaadum uyirae…yae…What can happen to the soul residing in this body?
Female :Aadhiyae paraman paathiyaeFemale: O Primal Supreme Goddess, half of Lord Shiva!
Puviyin jothiyae vazhangu needhiyaeO Light of the earth, grant us justice!
Female
Dhinamum saranam saranamDaily calling out 'Refuge, Refuge!',
Endru thozhuthida azhuthidaAs we worship and weep,
Male :Manamum udalum ingu mezhugena urugidaMale: As mind and body melt here like wax,
Female :Tharunam tharunamithu thanayanaguthavidaFemale: This is the opportune moment, come to help your child!
Male
Thavarai maranthu ingu tharisanam koduththiduForgetting our faults, bestow your divine sight upon us!
Female :Vinaiyum vithiyum vilagumFemale: The path for karma and fate to move away,
Vazhiyum thiranthidu vizhimalar thiranthidammaa…aa…Please open it, open your flower-like eyes, O Mother!
Chorus :Thaayae neeyae thunai…Chorus: O Mother, you alone are our companion!
Male
Bhuvaneshvari arulpuri aadhariO Bhuvaneshvari, grant your grace and support us.
Sivasangari thaayae neeyae thunaiO Sivasangari, Mother, you alone are our companion and solace.
Panivarai thondriya soolini maaliniO Goddess born on the snow-capped mountain, holding the trident, adorned with garlands!
Janani jeganmoginiO Mother of the universe, enchantress of the world!
Madhavan sritharan sodhariyaeO Sister of Madhava (Lord Vishnu), Sri Sridhara!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thaye Neeye Thunai is a deeply moving devotional prayer directed at Goddess Bhuvaneshwari and Mariamman, begging for relief from suffering and divine protection. The devotees compare their helpless condition to a child unable to speak and a bird without sight, pleading with the divine mother to forgive past sins and curses that cause their current agony. They pour their tears over her sacred feet in hopes of bringing forth her compassionate glance and bringing joy to their child. The song highlights absolute surrender (Saranagathi), describing how body and mind melt like wax in front of the deity. Through rich epithets praising her power across all sacred places and her manifestations as the sister of Vishnu and half of Shiva, the singers pray for her to open her flower-like eyes and dispel their karmic burdens, reaffirming that she is their ultimate refuge.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Vaayillaatha pillai / Vizhiyillaatha killai

Compares the helpless state of the suffering devotees to a speechless child and a sightless parrot.

Simile (Upamai)

Vembhu pola nindru paambu pola vanthu / Mezhugena urugida

Compares the deity's protective presence to the healing neem plant and the sacred snake, and the devotion to wax melting.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maariyae amutha vaariyae / vizhimalar thiranthidammaa

Refers to the Goddess as an ocean of nectar ('Amutha vaariyae') and her eyes as opening flowers ('Vizhimalar').

Rhyme & Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)

Panivarai thondriya soolini maalini / Janani jeganmogini

Internal and end rhymes like 'soolini maalini' and 'Janani jeganmogini' create a rhythmic, chant-like devotional quality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is the title track from the 1987 devotional film 'Thaye Neeye Thunai'. The musical score was created through a rare collaboration involving Malayalam veteran composer Raveendran along with Gangai Amaran, featuring masterly vocal renditions by K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra with lyrical brilliance by Vaali.

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