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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eyru Mayil Eyri

From Thambi Pondatti · 1992

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Swarnalatha, Minmini, Kalpana, Prasanna
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thambi Pondatti1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Chorus
Koorum adiyaargalFor the devotees who pray to him
Vinai theerththa mugam ondruOne face resolves their karma and sins
Kundruva vael vaangiHolding the sacred spear (Vel) upon the hill
Nindra mugam ondruOne face stands triumphantly
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Female
Vetrikalai thaedi tharumHe who bestows victories upon us
Velan vijayaganthanVelan, like Vijayakanth
Chorus :AamaaChorus: Yes!
Female :Saththiyathai kaaththu varumFemale: He who protects the truth
Seelan saththiyarajanThe virtuous Sathyaraj
Female
Sundharanin vaani valliThe beloved of Valli and Deivayanai
Kadhal kamalakashanThe romantic Kamal Haasan
Chorus :Aamaa…Chorus: Yes...
Female :Sooran kadhai mudiththu thandhaFemale: He who vanquished the demon Surapadman
Super rajinikanthanThe super Rajinikanth
Chorus
Pakkam irunthaalIf he is right by our side
Kutram varumaaWill any fault or harm come to us?
Niththam vanthaal vittu vidumaaIf he visits us daily, will our misery remain?
Sakthi sivanin pillai allavaaIs he not the child of Shiva and Sakthi?
Mukthi kodukkum ellai solla vaaCome, let us praise the realm that grants liberation!
Female
Mampazhaththai vendiDesiring the sacred mango fruit
Chorus :AiyaaChorus: Oh Lord!
Female :Maamalaiyil yaeriFemale: He climbed the great mountain
Komanaththu aandiAs an ascetic clad in a loincloth
Chorus :AiyaaChorus: Oh Lord!
Female :Kooda iruppaandiFemale: He will dwell right beside us!
Chorus
Mottaiyum netriyil pattaiyumWith a shaved head and sacred ash on his forehead
Kazhuthil kottaiyum irukkumWearing Rudraksha beads around his neck
Pattazhagan ezhilThe naturally handsome and divine beauty
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Female
Aarupadai veededuththuEstablishing his six sacred abodes
Amarnthirukkum nesanThe loving Lord who resides there
Chorus :Aamaa…Chorus: Yes...
Female :Aaruthalai thedi varumFemale: Seeking to grant solace, he arrives
Nandha vana vaasanThe dweller of the sacred divine garden
Female
Iru ………………….Wait...
Enga siva balanOur young child of Lord Shiva
Chorus :Aamaa…Chorus: Yes...
Female :Perudaiya vaazhvulagaFemale: Making our life world-renowned
Seiyum muththu velanThe precious pearl-like Velan
Chorus
Suntharan pudhan ivvidam vanthaanThe beautiful youth came to this place
Sutta kaniyai avvaikku thanthaanHe offered the roasted fruit to saint Avvaiyar
Vetta veli pol engum irupaanLike the vast open sky, he is present everywhere
Vetri vadivel pakkam iruppaanThe victorious Vadivelan will stand by our side
Female
Mounaguru saamiThe silent teacher Lord
Chorus :Aiyaa….Chorus: Oh Lord!...
Female :Vaazhum intha bhoomiFemale: On this living earth
Female
Makkal pugazh naadumDesired and celebrated by the people
Chorus :Aiyaa…Chorus: Oh Lord!...
Female :Mangalaththu saamiFemale: The god of auspiciousness
Chorus
Buththiyum nirainthaFilled with supreme intellect
Sakthiyum thelinthaClear in divine power
Yukthiyum padaiththaEndowed with clever wisdom
Uththama thalaivanThe noble leader
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Chorus
Yaeru mayilThe peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….Is one face that speaks...
Chorus
Koorum adiyaargal vinaiThe karma of devotees who call upon him
Theerththa mugam ondruIs resolved by one face
Kundruva vael vaangiHolding the sacred spear (Vel) upon the hill
Nindra mugam ondruOne face stands triumphantly
Chorus
{Yaeru mayil{The peacock he mounts
Yaeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru…One face plays upon the mounted peacock...
Eesarudan nyaana mozhiWords of supreme wisdom with Lord Shiva
Paesum mugam ondru….} (2)Is one face that speaks...} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a vibrant, contemporary fusion of traditional Tamil devotional praise dedicated to Lord Murugan, layered with playful pop-culture references. The verses adapt classic devotional imagery—such as Murugan's six faces, his peacock mount, his sacred abodes (Aarupadai Veedu), the myth of Palani, and his encounter with Saint Avvaiyar—and cleverly weave them into modern cultural metaphors. By comparing the deity's heroic, virtuous, handsome, and charismatic qualities to iconic Tamil cinema stars (Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijayakanth, and Sathyaraj), the song bridges ancient sacred devotion with popular 1990s Tamil culture. Ultimately, it celebrates Lord Murugan as an omnipresent protector, wisdom-giver, and loving supreme leader who removes karma and grants liberation to his devotees.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Buththiyum niraintha / Sakthiyum thelintha / Yukthiyum padaiththa

The second consonant sound 'th' (த்) is repeated across successive lines ('Buththiyum', 'Sakthiyum', 'Yukthiyum'), establishing traditional Tamil rhythmic harmony.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Vetrikalai thaedi tharum / Velan vijayaganthan

Repetition of the initial sound 'V' across 'Vetrikalai', 'Velan', and 'Vijayaganthan'.

Pop-Culture Metaphor / Allusion

Vetrikalai thaedi tharum / Velan vijayaganthan ... Seelan saththiyarajan ... Kadhal kamalakashan ... Super rajinikanthan

The lyricist draws direct parallels between divine attributes of Lord Murugan (victory, truthfulness, romance, victory over demons) and the iconic screen personas of leading Tamil actors of that era.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Mottaiyum netriyil pattaiyum / Kazhuthil kottaiyum irukkum

Matching end sounds ('pattaiyum', 'kottaiyum') create a pleasant musical lilt typical of folk devotional singing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt notes the composer as unknown, the music for 'Thambi Pondatti' (1992) was composed by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned the lyrics for this track. The song's opening lines ('Yaeru mayil yaeri vilaiyaadum...') are derived directly from classical Murugan devotional literature (specifically inspired by Saint Arunagirinathar's Thiruppugazh and Kandar Anubhuti) describing the six faces of Lord Murugan, which Ilaiyaraaja creatively modernized by interweaving references to popular Tamil film heroes.

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