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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Mantharukku

From Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
9 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muruga…..muruga…..muruga….
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
Eththanai manamundo aththanai gunamundru
Yaenendru sol velavaa murugaa
Yaenendru sol velavaa
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
Padaiththaalum uyirkalukku gurubeedamae
Perumpanaththaasaiyae silarin palibeedamae
Paduththaalum ezhunthaalum kann munnamae
Silarkku padhavi padhavi ennum oru ennamae
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
Paavigal palarundu un nilaththilae
Appaavigal silarundu un padaippilae
Kovil evarkku vaiththaai kolamurugaa
Verum koshaththil enna payan kooru murugaa
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
Thaan endra agangaaram azhiththiduvaai
Selvam thamakkendru ninaipporai ozhiththiduvaai
Needhi niyaayangal nilaikattumae
Nalle nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae
Nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
Muruga... Muruga... Muruga...
For so many different people, one temple is not enough,
O Lord of truth, Muruga, O Lord of truth!
As many minds as there are, there are just as many human natures.
Tell me why, O Velava (bearer of the spear), Muruga,
Tell me why, O Velava!
For so many different people, one temple is not enough,
O Lord of truth, Muruga, O Lord of truth!
You are the sacred master to all the living souls you created and protect,
Yet an endless greed for money is the sacrificial altar for some.
Whether lying down or waking up, right before their eyes,
Some have only one single obsession: power and position!
For so many different people, one temple is not enough,
O Lord of truth, Muruga, O Lord of truth!
There are many sinners upon your earth,
And only a few innocent souls in your creation.
For whose sake did you build this temple, O graceful Muruga?
What is the use of empty shouting and chants? Tell me, Muruga!
For so many different people, one temple is not enough,
O Lord of truth, Muruga, O Lord of truth!
Destroy the arrogance of the ego,
Put an end to those who think wealth belongs only to themselves!
Let justice and fairness stand firm,
Let this world learn to respect true honesty,
Let this world respect true honesty!
For so many different people, one temple is not enough,
O Lord of truth, Muruga, O Lord of truth!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Iththanai Maantharukku Oru Kovil Pothaathu is a reflective devotional and social commentary song from the 1976 Tamil film Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna. Composed and passionately sung by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, the song addresses Lord Murugan to question the moral state of humanity. It highlights how human minds vary widely, yet greed for money, obsession with political power, and egoism turn society away from spiritual truth, making rituals and empty chants meaningless. In the song, Kannadasan urges the deity to eradicate arrogance, greed, and injustice, praying for a world where righteousness, honesty, and fair judgment prevail over selfish ambitions. The track stands as a powerful blend of devotional lyricism and social critique.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Padaiththaalum uyirkalukku gurubeedamae”

The end of the lines use matching vowel sounds (-ae) such as gurubeedamae, palibeedamae, and ennamae, creating a harmonious lyrical rhythm.

Alliteration (Moonaai / Etukai)

“Paavigal palarundu un nilaththilae”

Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound across 'Paavigal', 'palarundu', and 'Appaavigal' sharpens the conceptual contrast between sinners and innocent people.

Rhetorical Question

“Kovil evarkku vaiththaai kolamurugaa”

The songwriter poses a direct question to the deity to challenge the utility of religious structures in a morally corrupt world.

Repetition (Anaphora)

“Silarkku padhavi padhavi ennum oru ennamae”

The repetition of 'padhavi' emphasizes the obsessive human greed for power and high status.

Did you know?

Trivia

Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna (1976) was directed by Cho Ramaswamy. M. S. Viswanathan composed the music and personally sang this track with intense emotional expression. Kannadasan's lyrics reflect his characteristic knack for weaving deep philosophical questioning into popular film music.

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