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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gaja Nadha Gana Nadha

From Vetri Vinayagar · 1996

Lyricist
K. P. Arivanantham
Singer
Sivachidambaram
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Vetri Vinayagar
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
12 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gaja naadha gana naadha vigneeshwara
Gaja naadha gana naadha vigneeshwara
Karam aindhil varam thandhu kaappattruvaai
Karam aindhil varam thandhu kaappattruvaai
Aadhaara boodhangal aindhaagumae
Aadhaara boodhangal aindhaagumae
Nee arasalum avai yaavum puviyaalaumae
Paadhaara vindhangal vaedhangalae
Kazhal naadhangal kelungal vaazhungalaen
Thudhikaiyil vidhikaigal pala kodiyae
Unai thudhithaalae thuyar pogum paranthodiyae
Kadhirumaagi madhiyumaagi ganapathi kadhiyumaagi
Vidhiyumaagum thava nidhi
Gajaanana ganathiba vinayaganae
Gaja naadha gana naadha vigneeshwara
Karam aindhil varam thandhu kaappattruvaai
Karam aindhil varam thandhu kaappattruvaai
Thandha nayagan viyasarukku ezhuthaani
Thandha nayagan
Muruganukku udhavuvadharkku vandha naayagan
Thandha nayagan viyasarukku ezhuthaani
Thandha nayagan
Muruganukku udhavuvadharkku vandha naayagan
Mukthi naayagan mootha nayagan
Saranangal pala kodi bhakthi naayagan
Sithi naayagan sithikka arulum
Varasithi naayagan
Kattra naayagam kaniyamudhai valam vandhu
Pettra naayagan
Kattra naayagam kaniyamudhai valam vandhu
Pettra naayagan
Thambhi naayagan nalam paadi thudhipoorkku
Nalgum naayagan
Vinayagan aa aa aa vetri vinayagan
Vetri vinayagan vetri vinayagan
Elephant-faced Lord, Lord of the Ganas, Vigneshwara!
Elephant-faced Lord, Lord of the Ganas, Vigneshwara!
Grant us boons with your five hands and protect us.
Grant us boons with your five hands and protect us.
The primal elements of nature are five...
The primal elements are five, and you...
...rule over them all, as they govern the earth.
Your lotus feet are the sacred Vedas themselves.
Listen to the sound of his anklets and live blessed lives!
In your sacred trunk lie millions of destined blessings;
Just praising you makes all sorrow fly away.
You are the sun and the moon, Ganapathi, you are our refuge;
You are destiny itself, a treasure of divine penance!
O elephant-faced Ganapathi, Lord Vinayaka!
Elephant-faced Lord, Lord of the Ganas, Vigneshwara!
Grant us boons with your five hands and protect us.
Grant us boons with your five hands and protect us.
The Lord of the tusk, who gave it as a writing pen to sage Vyasa,
The Lord who bestowed his tusk,
The Lord who arrived to help Lord Murugan!
The Lord of the tusk, who gave it as a writing pen to sage Vyasa,
The Lord who bestowed his tusk,
The Lord who arrived to help Lord Murugan!
Lord of ultimate salvation, the eldest Lord,
Lord of deep devotion, praised by millions in surrender!
Lord of Siddhi (spiritual achievement), who grants every success,
The Lord of powerful boons!
The wise Lord, who circled his parents to win the sweet fruit,
The Lord who attained that divine prize!
The wise Lord, who circled his parents to win the sweet fruit,
The Lord who attained that divine prize!
To those who trust and sing praises of his grace,
He is the Lord who bestows all goodness!
Lord Vinayaka, ah... victorious Vinayaka!
Victorious Vinayaka... victorious Vinayaka!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring devotional song from the film 'Vetri Vinayagar' is a grand tribute to Lord Ganesha, invoking his various sacred names such as Vigneshwara, Gajanana, Ganapathi, and Vetri Vinayagan. The song begins by recognizing Him as the supreme ruler over the five elements of nature (Pancha Bhootas) and the ultimate source of cosmic order. Devotees offer prayers to His five hands, seeking protection, relief from sorrow, and divine blessings through the sacred sounds of His anklets and the wisdom of His lotus feet. Narratively, the lyrics recall iconic mythological stories associated with Lord Ganesha, including breaking His own tusk to act as a scribe for Sage Vyasa during the composition of the Mahabharata, assisting His younger brother Lord Murugan in winning Valli, and circumambulating His divine parents Shiva and Parvati to win the fruit of ultimate knowledge (Gnana Pazham). The song concludes on a triumphant note, celebrating Ganesha as the giver of success, wisdom, and liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Gaja naadha gana naadha vigneeshwara

Repetition of the initial letter 'G' in 'Gaja' and 'gana' creates a rhythmic cadence in the line.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattra naayagam... / Pettra naayagan

The second consonant cluster 'ttra' (ற்ற) rhymes across lines 28 and 29 ('Kattra' and 'Pettra').

Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)

Kadhirumaagi madhiyumaagi ganapathi kadhiyumaagi

Internal and line-end rhyming using the suffix '-umaagi' creates a melodious, chanting effect.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Mukthi naayagan mootha nayagan... Sithi naayagan... Varasithi naayagan

Repeated invocation of the word 'Naayagan' (Leader/Lord) at the end of multiple descriptive phrases emphasizes His supreme status in various cosmic domains.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vetri Vinayagar' (1996) is a classic Tamil devotional movie centered on the divine plays and miracles of Lord Ganesha. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary music maestro M. S. Vishwanathan (MSV), who composed extensive devotional repertoires alongside his mainstream cinematic works. The song is rendered by Sivachidambaram, a prominent Carnatic and devotional vocalist known for his deep, resonant vocal delivery in Tamil spiritual music.

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