Devan Kovil Dheepam
From Muthukkal Moondru · 1987
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Muthukkal Moondru1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
| Male | |
| Unnai nambinaen unmai pesinaen | I trusted you, I spoke the truth, |
| Unnai nambinaen unmai pesinaen | I trusted you, I spoke the truth, |
| Yaedho ondrai nenjil yaenthinaen | I held something deep in my heart, |
| Adhanai mudikka naatkkal vendinaen | I sought time to accomplish it. |
| Male | |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
| Male | |
| Thattungal thirakkapadum kelungal kodukkappadum | Knock and it shall be opened, ask and it shall be given, |
| Paavangal mannikkapadum paarangal kuraikkapdum | Sins will be forgiven, burdens will be lightened. |
| Bodhanaigal seithavan paadhagangal seiyyalaama | Can one who preached moral teachings commit atrocities? |
| Vedhanaigal sumappavan nee saathagam seiyyanum | You who bear all agonies must make things favorable. |
| Male | |
| Unai naan thuthippaen uyiraai madhippaen | I will praise you, I will cherish you as my life, |
| Enai nee kaappaai kadhavai thirappaai | You shall protect me, you shall open the door. |
| Male | |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
| Male | |
| Paavaththai pookkutharkku vethaththai thanthavanae | O Lord who gave holy scriptures to wipe away sins, |
| Manaththai arivatharkku madhaththai kandavanae | O Lord who created religion to understand human minds, |
| Paavapatta ullangal panpada vendugiraen | I pray that sinful hearts become refined, |
| Mannippai pettravargal thirunthida vendugiraen | I pray that those who receive forgiveness truly reform. |
| Thiranthitta kadhavai mooduvathillai | The door once opened is never shut, |
| Koduththitta vaakkai meeruvathillai | The promise once given is never broken. |
| Male | |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
| Male | |
| Paluvai yaettru nee siluvai sumakkiraai | Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross, |
| Paluvai yaettru nee siluvai sumakkiraai | Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross, |
| Male | |
| Unthan vazhiyil naanum nadakkiraen | I too walk in the path shown by you, |
| Enthan nilaiyai unakku solgiraen | I lay down my plight before you. |
| Male | |
| Devan kovil dheepam | The lamp in the house of God, |
| Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae…. | Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae... |
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே......ஏ.....ஏ...ஏ....
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே......ஏ.....ஏ...ஏ....
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
உன்னை நம்பினேன் உண்மை பேசினேன்
உன்னை நம்பினேன் உண்மை பேசினேன்
ஏதோ ஒன்றை நெஞ்சில் ஏந்தினேன்
அதனை முடிக்க நாட்கள் வேண்டினேன்
I trusted you, I spoke the truth,
I trusted you, I spoke the truth,
I held something deep in my heart,
I sought time to accomplish it.
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே.....ஏ.....ஏ...ஏ....
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
தட்டுங்கள் திறக்கப்படும் கேளுங்கள் கொடுக்கப்படும்
பாவங்கள் மன்னிக்கப்படும் பாரங்கள் குறைக்கப்படும்
போதனைகள் செய்தவன் பாதகங்கள் செய்யலாமா
வேதனைகள் சுமப்பவன் நீ சாதகம் செய்யணுமே
Knock and it shall be opened, ask and it shall be given,
Sins will be forgiven, burdens will be lightened.
Can one who preached moral teachings commit atrocities?
You who bear all agonies must make things favorable.
உனை நான் துதிப்பேன் உயிராய் மதிப்பேன்
எனை நீ காப்பாய் கதவை திறப்பாய்
I will praise you, I will cherish you as my life,
You shall protect me, you shall open the door.
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே......ஏ.....ஏ...ஏ....
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
பாவத்தை போக்குதற்கு வேதத்தை தந்தவனே
மனத்தை அறிவதற்கு மதத்தை கண்டவனே
பாவப்பட்ட உள்ளங்கள் பண்பட வேண்டுகிறேன்
மன்னிப்பை பெற்றவர்கள் திருந்திட வேண்டுகிறேன்
திறந்திட்ட கதவை மூடுவதில்லை
கொடுத்திட்ட வாக்கை மீறுவதில்லை
O Lord who gave holy scriptures to wipe away sins,
O Lord who created religion to understand human minds,
I pray that sinful hearts become refined,
I pray that those who receive forgiveness truly reform.
The door once opened is never shut,
The promise once given is never broken.
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே......ஏ.....ஏ...ஏ....
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
பளுவை ஏற்று நீ சிலுவை சுமக்கிறாய்
பளுவை ஏற்று நீ சிலுவை சுமக்கிறாய்
Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross,
Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross,
உந்தன் வழியில் நானும் நடக்கிறேன்
எந்தன் நிலையை உனக்கு சொல்கிறேன்
I too walk in the path shown by you,
I lay down my plight before you.
தேவன் கோவில் தீபமே
பாவம் இந்த ஜீவனே......ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ....
The lamp in the house of God,
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Unnai nambinaen unmai pesinaen
I trusted you, I spoke the truth,
Unnai nambinaen unmai pesinaen
I trusted you, I spoke the truth,
Yaedho ondrai nenjil yaenthinaen
I held something deep in my heart,
Adhanai mudikka naatkkal vendinaen
I sought time to accomplish it.
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Thattungal thirakkapadum kelungal kodukkappadum
Knock and it shall be opened, ask and it shall be given,
Paavangal mannikkapadum paarangal kuraikkapdum
Sins will be forgiven, burdens will be lightened.
Bodhanaigal seithavan paadhagangal seiyyalaama
Can one who preached moral teachings commit atrocities?
Vedhanaigal sumappavan nee saathagam seiyyanum
You who bear all agonies must make things favorable.
Unai naan thuthippaen uyiraai madhippaen
I will praise you, I will cherish you as my life,
Enai nee kaappaai kadhavai thirappaai
You shall protect me, you shall open the door.
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Paavaththai pookkutharkku vethaththai thanthavanae
O Lord who gave holy scriptures to wipe away sins,
Manaththai arivatharkku madhaththai kandavanae
O Lord who created religion to understand human minds,
Paavapatta ullangal panpada vendugiraen
I pray that sinful hearts become refined,
Mannippai pettravargal thirunthida vendugiraen
I pray that those who receive forgiveness truly reform.
Thiranthitta kadhavai mooduvathillai
The door once opened is never shut,
Koduththitta vaakkai meeruvathillai
The promise once given is never broken.
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Paluvai yaettru nee siluvai sumakkiraai
Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross,
Paluvai yaettru nee siluvai sumakkiraai
Taking upon the heavy burden, you carry the cross,
Unthan vazhiyil naanum nadakkiraen
I too walk in the path shown by you,
Enthan nilaiyai unakku solgiraen
I lay down my plight before you.
Devan kovil dheepam
The lamp in the house of God,
Paavam Intha jeevanae…ae…ae…ae….
Pity this poor soul...ae...ae...ae...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses a soul's desperate prayer and complete surrender to God in a church setting. Drawing heavily from Christian theological motifs and Biblical verses (such as 'Knock and it shall be opened'), the protagonist laments his current emotional suffering while remaining steadfast in his faith and truthfulness. He draws strength from Jesus Christ's sacrifice of carrying the cross, seeking redemption, solace, and divine intervention to overcome injustice and hardship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Biblical Allusion
“Thattungal thirakkapadum kelungal kodukkappadum”
Direct reference to Matthew 7:7 ('Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thattungal thirakkapadum kelungal kodukkappadum / Paavangal mannikkapadum paarangal kuraikkapdum”
Repetition of identical ending suffixes (-padum) across four consecutive phrases creating a rhythmic, chanting effect.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Unai naan thuthippaen uyiraai madhippaen / Enai nee kaappaai kadhavai thirappaai”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('nai' in Unai / Enai).
Metaphor
“Devan kovil dheepam / Paavam Intha jeevanae”
Comparing a human life to a vulnerable lamp inside God's temple.
Did you know?
Trivia
T. Rajendar, known for his unique multi-talented filmmaking where he handles story, screenplay, lyrics, and music, frequently incorporated secular and Christian themes alongside traditional Tamil devotional motifs. K.J. Yesudas' haunting vocal performance became one of the most memorable devotional-style film tracks of 1987.
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