Ethanai Mantharukku
From Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Unmaiye Un Vilai Enna1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muruga…..muruga…..muruga…. | Muruga... Muruga... Muruga... |
| Male | |
| Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu | A single temple is not enough for so many human beings, |
| Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga | O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth! |
| Eththanai manamundo aththanai gunamundru | As many minds as there are, so many different human characters exist. |
| Yaenendru sol velavaa murugaa | Tell me why it is so, O Velava, Muruga! |
| Yaenendru sol velavaa | Tell me why it is so, O Velava! |
| Male | |
| Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu | A single temple is not enough for so many human beings, |
| Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga | O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth! |
| Male | |
| Padaiththaalum uyirkalukku gurubeedamae | Though created, the seat of a spiritual master exists for living beings, |
| Perumpanaththaasaiyae silarin palibeedamae | Yet the desire for immense wealth becomes an altar of sacrifice for some. |
| Paduththaalum ezhunthaalum kann munnamae | Whether lying down or rising up, right before their eyes, |
| Silarkku padhavi padhavi ennum oru ennamae | Some people constantly obsess only over position and power. |
| Male | |
| Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu | A single temple is not enough for so many human beings, |
| Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga | O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth! |
| Male | |
| Paavigal palarundu un nilaththilae | There are many sinners upon your land, |
| Appaavigal silarundu un padaippilae | While there are only a few innocent souls in your creation. |
| Kovil evarkku vaiththaai kolamurugaa | For whom did you build temples, O beautiful Muruga? |
| Verum koshaththil enna payan kooru murugaa | Tell me, Muruga, what is the use of mere empty shouting and slogans? |
| Male | |
| Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu | A single temple is not enough for so many human beings, |
| Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga | O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth! |
| Male | |
| Thaan endra agangaaram azhiththiduvaai | Destroy the ego that boasts 'I am everything', |
| Selvam thamakkendru ninaipporai ozhiththiduvaai | Eradicate those who think all wealth belongs solely to themselves. |
| Needhi niyaayangal nilaikattumae | Let justice and fairness be firmly established, |
| Nalle nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae | May this world learn to respect pure honesty! |
| Nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae | May this world learn to respect honesty! |
| Male | |
| Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu | A single temple is not enough for so many human beings, |
| Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga | O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth! |
முருகா....முருகா......முருகா.....
Muruga... Muruga... Muruga...
இத்தனை மாந்தருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் போதாது
சத்தியத் திருநாயகா முருகா சத்தியத் திருநாயகா.....
எத்தனை மனமுண்டோ அத்தனை குணமுண்டு
ஏனென்று சொல் வேலவா முருகா
ஏனென்று சொல் வேலவா.....
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
As many minds as there are, so many different human characters exist.
Tell me why it is so, O Velava, Muruga!
Tell me why it is so, O Velava!
இத்தனை மாந்தருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் போதாது
சத்தியத் திருநாயகா முருகா சத்தியத் திருநாயகா......
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
படைத்தாளும் உயிர்களுக்கு குருபீடமே
பெரும் பணத்தாசையே சிலரின் பலிபீடமே
படுத்தாலும் எழுந்தாலும் கண் முன்னமே
சிலர்க்கு பதவி பதவி என்னும் ஒரு எண்ணமே
Though created, the seat of a spiritual master exists for living beings,
Yet the desire for immense wealth becomes an altar of sacrifice for some.
Whether lying down or rising up, right before their eyes,
Some people constantly obsess only over position and power.
இத்தனை மாந்தருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் போதாது
சத்தியத் திருநாயகா முருகா சத்தியத் திருநாயகா......
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
பாவிகள் பலருண்டு உன் நிலத்திலே
அப்பாவிகள் சிலருண்டு உன் படைப்பிலே
கோவில் எவர்க்கு வைத்தாய் கோலமுருகா
வெறும் கோஷத்தில் என்ன பயன் கூறு முருகா
There are many sinners upon your land,
While there are only a few innocent souls in your creation.
For whom did you build temples, O beautiful Muruga?
Tell me, Muruga, what is the use of mere empty shouting and slogans?
இத்தனை மாந்தருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் போதாது
சத்தியத் திருநாயகா முருகா சத்தியத் திருநாயகா....
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
தான் என்ற அகங்காரம் அழித்திடுவாய்
செல்வம் தமக்கென்று நினைப்போரை ஒழித்திடுவாய்
நீதி நியாயங்கள் நிலைக்கட்டுமே
நல்ல நேர்மையை இவ்வுலகம் மதிக்கட்டுமே
நேர்மையை இவ்வுலகம் மதிக்கட்டுமே
Destroy the ego that boasts 'I am everything',
Eradicate those who think all wealth belongs solely to themselves.
Let justice and fairness be firmly established,
May this world learn to respect pure honesty!
May this world learn to respect honesty!
இத்தனை மாந்தருக்கு ஒரு கோவில் போதாது
சத்தியத் திருநாயகா முருகா சத்தியத் திருநாயகா......
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Muruga…..muruga…..muruga….
Muruga... Muruga... Muruga...
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Eththanai manamundo aththanai gunamundru
As many minds as there are, so many different human characters exist.
Yaenendru sol velavaa murugaa
Tell me why it is so, O Velava, Muruga!
Yaenendru sol velavaa
Tell me why it is so, O Velava!
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Padaiththaalum uyirkalukku gurubeedamae
Though created, the seat of a spiritual master exists for living beings,
Perumpanaththaasaiyae silarin palibeedamae
Yet the desire for immense wealth becomes an altar of sacrifice for some.
Paduththaalum ezhunthaalum kann munnamae
Whether lying down or rising up, right before their eyes,
Silarkku padhavi padhavi ennum oru ennamae
Some people constantly obsess only over position and power.
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Paavigal palarundu un nilaththilae
There are many sinners upon your land,
Appaavigal silarundu un padaippilae
While there are only a few innocent souls in your creation.
Kovil evarkku vaiththaai kolamurugaa
For whom did you build temples, O beautiful Muruga?
Verum koshaththil enna payan kooru murugaa
Tell me, Muruga, what is the use of mere empty shouting and slogans?
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Thaan endra agangaaram azhiththiduvaai
Destroy the ego that boasts 'I am everything',
Selvam thamakkendru ninaipporai ozhiththiduvaai
Eradicate those who think all wealth belongs solely to themselves.
Needhi niyaayangal nilaikattumae
Let justice and fairness be firmly established,
Nalle nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae
May this world learn to respect pure honesty!
Nermaiyai ivvulagam madhikkattumae
May this world learn to respect honesty!
Iththanai maantharukku oru kovil pothaathu
A single temple is not enough for so many human beings,
Saththiya thirunaayagaa muruga saththiya thirunaayaga
O Muruga, divine leader of truth, divine leader of truth!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
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