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Isaimozhi
Bharathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ethilum Ingu

From Bharathi · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Madhu Balakrishnan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bharathi
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
2 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa
Aa… aaa…aa….aaa…
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
Avan yaaro
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan
Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan
Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
Avan yaaro
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Vari puli adhazh
Tharithavan ezhil kanden
Pirappenum pini
Aruppavan thunai konden
Thamizh kavi tharum enakkoru varam
Thara thiruvulam vendum
Sagathinukkenai thara thagum neri
Vaguthida thunai vendum
Aalam karu neelam
Yena theriyum oru kandan
Andum thiru thondan
Yenum adiyaarkkoru thondan
Patru thalaikku neruppavan
Pottrai kanathil azhippavan
Netri piraikkul neruppai valarthu
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
Avan yaaro
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Thodakkamum adhan
Adakkamum avan velai
Nadappadhum adhai
Thaduppadhum avan leelai
Udukkalil saram thoduthavan
Thalai mudikkaniyavum koodum
Perukkalum adhai vaguthalum adhai
Kazhithalum avan paadam
Maarum yugam thorum avan
Kanakkin padi aagum
Mannum uyar vinnum avan
Oru kai pidiyaagum
Sattam anaithum vaguthavan
Thittam anaithum thoguthavan
Muttra padithu muditha oruthan
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
Avan yaaro
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Thavazhum nadhiyai tharitha mudiyaan
Adiyum mudiyum ariya mudiyaan
Eliya adiyar odhum vedha naadhamaagi
Edhilum ingu iruppaan
Avan yaaro
Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro
Aa... Aa... Haa... Aa... Aaa
Aa... Aaa... Aa... Aaa...
He is present in everything here,
who is he?
Do they know that he lives within me?
He wears the flowing river in his hair,
no one can find his beginning or his end,
becoming the sacred chants sung by humble devotees,
he is present in everything here,
who is he?
Do they know that he lives within me?
Clad in striped tiger skin,
I saw his majestic beauty.
The endless cycle of birth,
I took refuge in the one who cuts it away.
To me, a maker of Tamil poetry, a boon
his divine heart must grant.
To dedicate myself to this world, the right path
to guide me forward, I need his help.
With dark blue poison
resting visible upon his throat,
he draws near as a devoted servant
to those who love and serve him,
he is a burning fire to worldly attachments,
destroying mountains of delusion in an instant,
kindling fire beneath the crescent on his forehead,
he is present in everything here,
who is he?
Do they know that he lives within me?
The beginning and
the end of all things are his doing.
Whatever happens and whatever
is stopped is only his divine play.
He strings a garland of stars
and can wear it gracefully in his hair.
Multiplying, dividing,
and subtracting them are his lessons.
Through every changing era, all things move
according to his precise count.
The wide earth and the highest skies
fit into the palm of his single hand.
He who laid down every law of nature,
he who designed the entire cosmos,
the supreme one who knows everything completely,
he is present in everything here,
who is he?
Do they know that he lives within me?
He wears the flowing river in his hair,
no one can find his beginning or his end,
becoming the sacred chants sung by humble devotees,
he is present in everything here,
who is he?
Do they know that he lives within me?
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This profound philosophical composition from the movie 'Bharathi' (2000) depicts Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's intense spiritual experience and realization of the divine. The song addresses the omnipresent cosmic force—traditionally portrayed with iconic imagery of Lord Shiva—and marvels at how the supreme entity that governs the entire cosmos also resides within the poet's own inner self.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Avan yaaro / Enakkul avan iruppaan arivaaro”

The matching end sounds 'yaaro' and 'arivaaro' create a melodic, rhythmic refrain throughout the song.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Pirappenum pini”

Literally translating to 'the disease called birth', the poet metaphorically compares the cycle of mortal existence to an ailment that only divine grace can cure.

Muran (Antithesis/Contrast)

“Perukkalum adhai vaguthalum adhai / Kazhithalum avan paadam”

Contrasting mathematical operations (multiplication, division, subtraction) are used symbolically to explain cosmic creation, distribution, and destruction.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Sattam anaithum vaguthavan / Thittam anaithum thoguthavan”

The second consonant 'tt' (ட்) in 'Sattam' and 'Thittam' creates a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Bharathi' (2000) is a biographical film about the life of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, directed by Gnana Rajasekaran. The musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, who won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for this soundtrack. The song combines traditional Shaivite devotional imagery with modern mathematical metaphors to convey Bharathiyar's pantheistic worldview.

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