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Lyrics & meaning

Devanin Kovil

From Aruvadai Naal · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Aruvadai Naal
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
17 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neram
Naan enna ketppen dheivamae
Indru en jeevan thaeiyudhae
En manam yaeno saayudhae
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neram
Naan enna ketppen dheivamae
Naan oru soga sumai thaangi
Thunbam thaangum idi thaangi
Naan oru soga sumai thaangi
Thunbam thaangum idi thaangi
Pirindhae vaazhum nadhi karai pola
Thanithae vaazhum naayagi
Inaivadhu ellaam pirivadharkkaaga
Idhayangal ellaam marappadharkkaaga
Marandhaal thaanae nimmadhi
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neram
Naan enna ketppen dheivamae
Ae… ae…
Thandhana thandhana thandhanaa… aa…aaa
Thandhaana thandhaana thaanannaa nanaa
Thandhaanaa thandhaanaa hae…
Oru vazhi paadhai en payanam
Manadhinil yaeno pala salanam
Oru vazhi paadhai en payanam
Manadhinil yaeno pala salanam
Kettaal tharuven endravan neeyae
Ketten ondru thandhaayaa
Aarudhal thaedi alaiyudhu nenjam
Azhudhida kannil neerukku panjam
Naan or kanneer kaadhali
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neram
Naan enna ketppen dheivamae
Indru en jeevan thaeiyudhae
En manam yaeno saayudhae
Dhevanin kovil moodiya neram
Naan enna ketppen dheivamae
When the house of God is closed,
what can I ask for, my Lord?
Today my soul is wearing away,
and why is my heart sinking so?
When the house of God is closed,
what can I ask for, my Lord?
I am a resting stone bearing burdens of grief,
a lightning rod absorbing all pain.
I am a resting stone bearing burdens of grief,
a lightning rod absorbing all pain.
Like riverbanks that live forever apart,
I am a woman living all alone.
Does everything unite only to part?
Do hearts connect only to forget?
For only in forgetting is there peace.
When the house of God is closed,
what can I ask for, my Lord?
Oh... oh...
Thanthana thanthana thanthanaa... ah... aah
Thanthaana thanthaana thaanannaa nanaa
Thanthaanaa thanthaanaa hey...
My journey is on a one-way path,
yet why is there so much turmoil in my heart?
My journey is on a one-way path,
yet why is there so much turmoil in my heart?
You were the one who said, "Ask and you shall receive,"
I asked for just one thing—did you give it?
My heart wanders searching for comfort,
but even tears have run dry in my eyes.
I am a lover bound only to tears.
When the house of God is closed,
what can I ask for, my Lord?
Today my soul is wearing away,
and why is my heart sinking so?
When the house of God is closed,
what can I ask for, my Lord?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Dhevanin Kovil Moodiya Neram' conveys profound grief, heartbreak, and spiritual disillusionment. The protagonist uses the metaphor of arriving at a temple after its doors have closed to symbolize unanswered prayers and absolute helplessness. She reflects on her painful life journey as an unavoidable one-way path filled with suffering. Throughout the lyrics, she describes herself through poignant imagery—a lightning rod taking the brunt of life's painful strikes, riverbanks that run parallel yet can never meet, and a lover born of tears. She comes to the melancholic conclusion that every human connection eventually dissolves into separation, and true peace can only be attained through the act of forgetting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Pirindhae vaazhum nadhi karai pola

Compares her eternal isolation to parallel riverbanks that flow together but never touch.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Thunbam thaangum idi thaangi

Metaphorically compares herself to a lightning conductor ('idi thaangi') that absorbs all life's suffering and sorrow.

Paradox

Inaivadhu ellaam pirivadharkkaaga

Presents a paradoxical view of human relationships, claiming that the sole purpose of coming together is ultimate separation.

Metaphor

Naan or kanneer kaadhali

Refers to herself as a 'lover made of tears', accentuating her sorrowful identity.

Keep listening

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