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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Per Unakku

From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Details
Thiru Neelakandar1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Eththanai per unakku nadarajaHow many names do you have, O Nadaraja?
Eththanai per unakku nadarajaHow many names do you have, O Nadaraja?
Enna vayathu solvaai yuvaraja…aa…Tell me, what is your age, young Prince?
Male
Eththanai per unakku nadarajaHow many names do you have, O Nadaraja?
Male
Muthu tamil madurai somesaO Somesa of pearl-like Tamil Madurai,
Muthu tamil madurai somesaO Somesa of pearl-like Tamil Madurai,
Gangai muththamidum kaasi visuvesaaO Visvesa of Kashi, kissed by the river Ganges,
Kaththung kadal naagai sokkesaaO Sokkesa of Nagai by the roaring ocean,
Kaththung kadal naagai sokkesaaO Sokkesa of Nagai by the roaring ocean,
Ingae kaanbavai yaavum nee sarvesaaEverything seen here is you, O Supreme Lord!
Male
Eththanai per unakku nadarajaHow many names do you have, O Nadaraja?
Enna vayathu solvaai yuvaraja…aa…Tell me, what is your age, young Prince?
Male
Eththanai per unakku nadarajaHow many names do you have, O Nadaraja?
Male
Maduraiyilae un manaivi meenaatchiIn Madurai, your wife is Meenakshi,
Kasi karaiyinil un manaivi visalatchiOn the banks of Kashi, your wife is Visalakshi,
Unnudan aval nadaththum arasatchiHer rule alongside you,
Intha ulagaththil enakku kankatchiIs a grand spectacle for me in this world!
Male
Viththu kullae mulaiththa sivalingamO Sivalingam sprouted from within the seed,
Viththu kullae mulaiththa sivalingamO Sivalingam sprouted from within the seed,
Unnai virumbi nindrorkku illai oru pangamThere is no harm for those who stand in love with you.
Saththiya sabaiyaerum nyanamandramRising to the hall of truth, the assembly of wisdom,
Aa…aah…aa….aa….Aa... aah... aa... aa...
Saththiya sabaiyaerum nyanamandramRising to the hall of truth, the assembly of wisdom,
Unnai thazhuvi kondae varuvaen neelakandamI will come embracing you, O Blue-throated One!
Chorus
Neelakandam thiru neelakandamO Blue-throated One, Holy Blue-throated Lord!
Neelakandam thiru neelakandamO Blue-throated One, Holy Blue-throated Lord!
Neelakandam thiru neelakandamO Blue-throated One, Holy Blue-throated Lord!
Neelakandam thiru neelakandamO Blue-throated One, Holy Blue-throated Lord!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Eththanai Per Unakku Nadaraja' from the 1972 movie 'Thiru Neelakandar' is a devotional composition rendered by T. R. Mahalingam and written by Kannadasan. The singer playfully addresses Lord Shiva, asking about his ageless nature and his innumerable names across various holy shrines such as Madurai, Kashi, and Nagapattinam. It extols the divine presence of Shiva and his consort Goddess Shakti in different forms, highlighting how total surrender to the Lord brings liberation from suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Nindhasthuthi / Playful Address)

Enna vayathu solvaai yuvaraja…aa…

The singer affectionately questions the timeless and infinite nature of Lord Shiva by asking his age and number of names.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maduraiyilae un manaivi meenaatchi

Rhyming ending words ('meenaatchi', 'visalatchi', 'arasatchi', 'kankatchi') creating a melodic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Viththu kullae mulaiththa sivalingam

Describing the divine existence of Lord Shiva as a plant/lingam sprouting from the primary cosmic seed.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Thiru Neelakandar' (1972) depicts the life of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars of Tamil Shaivism. T. R. Mahalingam, who played the title role and sang the track, was renowned for his extraordinary vocal range and classical music expertise, making this devotional track iconic.

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