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Thirumalai Thenkumari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Guruvayoorappa

From Thirumalai Thenkumari · 1970

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name
Thirumalai Thenkumari
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
11 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Un kovil vaasalilae dhinamum
Thirunaal dhaanappa… thirunaal dhaanappa
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Un kovil vaasalilae dhinamum
Thirunaal dhaanappa… thirunaal dhaanappa
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Engum undhan thiru naamam
Edhilum neeyae aadhaaram
Engum undhan thiru naamam
Edhilum neeyae aadhaaram
Un sangin oliyae sangeetham
Saranam saranam un paadham
Un sangin oliyae sangeetham
Saranam saranam un paadham
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Un kovil vaasalilae dhinamum
Thirunaal dhaanappa… thirunaal dhaanappa
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Ulagam ennum thaerinaiyae
Oda cheiyum saaradhiyae
Ulagam ennum thaerinaiyae
Oda cheiyum saaradhiyae
Kaalam ennum sakkaramae
Un kaiyil suzhalum arpudhamae
Kaalam ennum sakkaramae
Un kaiyil suzhalum arpudhamae
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
Un kovil vaasalilae dhinamum
Thirunaal dhaanappa… thirunaal dhaanappa
Guruvaayoorappa thiruvarul tharuvaai neeyappa
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
At the entrance of Your temple, every day
is truly a festival day... truly a festival day!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
At the entrance of Your temple, every day
is truly a festival day... truly a festival day!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
Everywhere, Your holy name echoes,
in everything, You are the true support.
Everywhere, Your holy name echoes,
in everything, You are the true support.
The sound of Your conch is pure music,
I surrender, I surrender at Your feet!
The sound of Your conch is pure music,
I surrender, I surrender at Your feet!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
At the entrance of Your temple, every day
is truly a festival day... truly a festival day!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
This chariot called the world,
You are the charioteer who guides it on!
This chariot called the world,
You are the charioteer who guides it on!
The wheel of time itself
spins as a wonder in Your hand!
The wheel of time itself
spins as a wonder in Your hand!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
At the entrance of Your temple, every day
is truly a festival day... truly a festival day!
O Guruvayurappa, grant us Your divine grace!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a soul-stirring Tamil devotional hymn addressed to Lord Guruvayurappan (Lord Krishna). The lyrics express profound reverence, describing how every day spent at the deity's temple feels like a festive celebration. The song extols the omnipresence of the Almighty, noting that His divine name echoes throughout creation and His sacred conch shell generates celestial music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvaham)

Ulagam ennum thaerinaiyae / Kaalam ennum sakkaramae

Compares the world to a chariot ('ulagam ennum thaer') and time to a spinning wheel ('kaalam ennum sakkaram').

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ulagam ennum thaerinaiyae / Oda cheiyum saaradhiyae

Rhyming of the line endings with '-yae' ('thaerinaiyae' and 'saaradhiyae').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Engum undhan thiru naamam / Edhilum neeyae aadhaaram

Alliteration of the initial vowel sound 'E' in 'Engum' and 'Edhilum'.

Alliteration & Wordplay

Un sangin oliyae sangeetham

Repetition of the 'sang-' sound connecting 'sangu' (conch) with 'sangeetham' (music).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thirumalai Thenkumari' (1970) is a famous Tamil devotional road-trip movie directed by A. P. Nagarajan, depicting a group of pilgrims visiting major South Indian temples. The film's acclaimed soundtrack was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, with lyrics written by Poovai Senguttavan. This particular devotional piece honors the famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala.

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