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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennai Pethavalae

From Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal1986

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Aa..aa..aa.aa….aa.aaa.aa.aa..Aa..aa..aa.aa….aa.aaa.aa.aa..
Aa..aa..aa.aa…Aa..aa..aa.aa…
Ennai pethavalae periyavalaeOh Mother who gave birth to me, the Great One!
Udukkai satham kaadhil vaangi pottukkaListen closely to the sound of the udukkai drum,
Adhil un pugazhai paadugiren kettukkaListen as I sing your praises through it.
Male
Ennai pethavalae periyavalaeOh Mother who gave birth to me, the Great One!
Udukkai satham kaadhil vaangi pottukkaListen closely to the sound of the udukkai drum,
Adhil un pugazhai paadugiren kettukkaListen as I sing your praises through it.
Male
Naan padaicha gyanamellaam nee kodutha pichaAll the wisdom I possess is the alms given by you,
Enna needhaan thamizheduthu paadum padi vechaIt is you who made me sing using the Tamil language.
Naan padaicha gyanamellaam nee kodutha pichaAll the wisdom I possess is the alms given by you,
Enna needhaan thamizheduthu paadum padi vechaIt is you who made me sing using the Tamil language.
Male
Aathaa nee aazhamaram naan unadhu vizhudhuMother, you are a banyan tree, and I am your aerial root,
Aathaa nee aazhamaram naan unadhu vizhudhuMother, you are a banyan tree, and I am your aerial root,
Un adi nizhalil kudiiruppen paadhangalai thozhudhuI will reside under the shade of your feet, worshipping them.
Male
Pethavalae periyavalaeOh Mother who gave birth, the Great One!
Udukkai satham kaadhil vaangi pottukkaListen closely to the sound of the udukkai drum,
Adhil un pugazhai paadugiren kettukkaListen as I sing your praises through it.
Male
Ezhai veetil erivadhu nee yethi vecha vilakkuThe light burning in a poor house is the lamp lit by you,
En ezhu jenma punniyamthaan maganaanaen unakkuIt is my good karma from seven births that I became your son.
Ezhai veetil erivadhu nee yethi vecha vilakkuThe light burning in a poor house is the lamp lit by you,
En ezhu jenma punniyamthaan maganaanaen unakkuIt is my good karma from seven births that I became your son.
Male
Koozhu kaaichi oothinaalum kudikkurava needhaanEven if served simple porridge, you are the one who drinks it,
Koozhu kaaichi oothinaalum kudikkurava needhaanEven if served simple porridge, you are the one who drinks it,
Andha koozh kudicha vaayala vaazhthurava nee dhaanWith that very mouth that drank the porridge, you bless us.
Andha koozh kudicha vaayala vaazhthurava nee dhaanWith that very mouth that drank the porridge, you bless us.
Male
Vatta vatta pottu vachu manja poosi varuvaeYou arrive adorned with a round bindi and smeared with turmeric,
Nee valartha pulla naan virumbhi kettadhellaam tharuvaAs the child raised by you, you grant everything I desire and ask for.
Vatta vatta pottu vachu manja poosi varuvaeYou arrive adorned with a round bindi and smeared with turmeric,
Nee valartha pulla naan virumbhi kettadhellaam tharuvaAs the child raised by you, you grant everything I desire and ask for.
Male
Kaal molachu kai milachu neril vandha deivamYou are the deity who manifested in person with arms and legs,
Kaal molachu kai milachu neril vandha deivamYou are the deity who manifested in person with arms and legs,
Un kann malarum karunai thaanae maadu manai selvamThe grace blooming in your eyes is our real wealth, cattle, and home.
Male
Pethavalae periyavalaeOh Mother who gave birth, the Great One!
Udukkai satham kaadhil vaangi pottukkaListen closely to the sound of the udukkai drum,
Adhil un pugazhai paadugiren kettukkaListen as I sing your praises through it.
Male
Ennai pethavalae periyavalaeOh Mother who gave birth to me, the Great One!
Pethavalae periyavalae…………..Oh Mother who gave birth, the Great One!...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ennai Pethavalae Periyavalae' from the 1986 Tamil film 'Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal' is a deeply moving devotional song dedicated to Goddess Adhiparasakthi. Sung from the perspective of an ardent devotee, the lyrics express complete surrender and gratitude toward the Divine Mother. The narrator attributes all his intelligence, poetic talents in Tamil, and life's blessings entirely to the Mother's boundless grace, viewing himself merely as a small aerial root dependent on her grand banyan tree. The song vividly evokes rural Tamil folk-devotional traditions, referencing the rhythmic sound of the 'udukkai' drum, offerings of simple porridge ('koozhu'), and traditional adornments like turmeric and a bold round bindi. It highlights the compassionate nature of the goddess, who resides comfortably among the poor, accepts their simple offerings, and bestows happiness and prosperities upon her children.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai Ani)

“Aathaa nee aazhamaram naan unadhu vizhudhu”

Compares the Goddess directly to a majestic banyan tree and the devotee to its dependent aerial prop root.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Udukkai satham kaadhil vaangi pottukka / Adhil un pugazhai paadugiren kettukka”

The lines end with rhyming sound structures ('pottukka' and 'kettukka').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Ezhai veetil erivadhu nee yethi vecha vilakku”

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'E' in 'Ezhai' and 'erivadhu'.

Imagery / Personification

“Kaal molachu kai milachu neril vandha deivam”

Creates vivid visual imagery of abstract divinity manifesting as a human form with hands and legs walking directly to the devotee.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from 'Mel Maruvathoor Arpudhangal' (1986), a devotional film depicting the spiritual significance and miracles associated with the Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam in Tamil Nadu. The lyrics were written by legendary lyricist Vaali, who brilliantly incorporated traditional Tamil folk idioms and devotional motifs into the song.

Keep listening

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