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Varaprasadham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Gangai Nathiyoram

From Varaprasadham · 1976

Lyricist
Ambikapathi
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Movie name
Varaprasadham
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gangai nadhi oram
Raaman nadandhaan
Kannin mani seethai
Thaanum thodarndhaal
Mella nadandhaal
Gangai nadhi oram
Raaman nadandhaan
Kannin mani seethai
Thaanum thodarndhaal
Mella nadandhaal
Kalyaanam ennum
Dheiveega bandham
Kaalangal thorum
Vaazhgindra sondham
Kalyaanam ennum
Dheiveega bandham
Kaalangal thorum
Vaazhgindra sondham
Vilaiyaattu pillai manal veedu alla
Vidhi yennum aatril pari povadhalla
Gangai nadhi oram
Raaman nadandhaan
Kannin mani seethai
Thaanum thodarndhaal
Mella nadandhaal
{Aa… haa… haa… aa… aa… aa… } (Overlap)
Mangai aval seethai
Mullil nadandhaal
Mannanavan kannil
Gangai vazhindhaal
Ullam neghizhndhaan
Mannanavan kannil
Gangai vazhindhaal
Maanikka paavai
Nee vandha velai
Ninaiyaadhadhellaam
Niraivaera kanden
Maanikka paavai
Nee vandha velai
Ninaiyaadhadhellaam
Niraivaera kanden
Anbaana dheivam azhiyaadha selvam
Pennendru vandhaal ennendru solven
Mangai aval seethai
Mullil nadandhaal
Mannanavan kannil
Gangai vazhindhaal
Ullam neghizhndhaan
Maniyosai kettu
Mana maalai sootti
Uravaana vaazhkkai
Nalamaaga vendum
Nadamaadum kovil
Manavaalan paadham
Vazhipaattu vaedham
Vizhi sollum baavam
Thirunaalil yaetrum
Anaiyaadha dheepam
Aanandha poojai
Aaramba velai
Gangai nadhi oram
Raaman nadandhaan
Kannin mani seethai
Thaanum thodarndhaal
Along the banks of the Ganga,
Rama walked,
and Sita, the apple of his eye,
followed him too,
walking gently.
Along the banks of the Ganga,
Rama walked,
and Sita, the apple of his eye,
followed him too,
walking gently.
The union called marriage
is a divine bond,
a relationship that endures
through all of time.
The union called marriage
is a divine bond,
a relationship that endures
through all of time.
It is not a child's sandcastle built in play,
nor can it be swept away by the river of fate.
Along the banks of the Ganga,
Rama walked,
and Sita, the apple of his eye,
followed him too,
walking gently.
{Ah... haa... haa... ah... ah... ah...}
As that gentle Sita
walked upon thorns,
from the king's eyes
tears flowed like the Ganga,
and his heart melted.
From the king's eyes
tears flowed like the Ganga.
O precious jewel of a woman,
the moment you arrived,
everything I had never even dreamed of
came true before my eyes.
O precious jewel of a woman,
the moment you arrived,
everything I had never even dreamed of
came true before my eyes.
A loving goddess, a priceless treasure,
came into my life as a woman—how can I put it into words?
As that gentle Sita
walked upon thorns,
from the king's eyes
tears flowed like the Ganga,
and his heart melted.
Hearing the ring of wedding bells,
exchanging the garlands of our hearts,
the life we share together
must be filled with goodness.
A living temple
rests in the husband's feet;
the sacred prayer of worship
is the love showing in her eyes.
Lit on this auspicious day,
it is a lamp that never goes out;
the time for this joyful worship
has just begun.
Along the banks of the Ganga,
Rama walked,
and Sita, the apple of his eye,
followed him too.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Gangai Nadhi Oram' from the film Varaprasadham (1976) draws poetic parallels between human marriage and the mythological devotion of Lord Rama and Sita. It narrates Sita's quiet dedication as she followed Rama along the Ganges and endured hardships like walking on thorns, which stirred such intense empathy in Rama that tears flowed from his eyes like the Ganges itself. Through this divine imagery, the song exalts marital bonds as sacred and permanent. The lyrics contrast true love with fragile sandcastles, emphasizing that marriage is an enduring divine gift that cannot be swept away by fate. It portrays the arrival of a loving wife as priceless wealth and describes marital life as an unending, joyful ritual where devotion, mutual respect, and unspoken expressions of the eyes illuminate the home like an eternal lamp.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Mannanavan kannil Gangai vazhindhaal”

Tears overflowing from Rama's eyes are directly compared to the River Ganges, emphasizing deep grief and boundless empathy.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Maanikka paavai”

The woman/bride is referred to as a 'ruby doll' (maanikka paavai) to depict her preciousness and radiant beauty.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Nadamaadum kovil Manavaalan paadham”

The groom's feet are metaphorically characterized as a 'walking temple', highlighting intense devotion and respect within traditional marital ethos.

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

“Kalyaanam ennum / Kaalangal thorum”

The repetition of the initial consonant sound ('Ka') across alternate lines creates melodic harmony.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Aanandha poojai / Aaramba velai”

Lines ending with matching phonetics ('poojai' / 'velai') establish rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Ambikapathi for the 1976 Tamil film 'Varaprasadham', this song heavily utilizes Ramayana iconography—specifically Rama and Sita's journey along the Ganges—to depict the ideal qualities of fidelity, sacrifice, and divine union in marriage.

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