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Lyrics & meaning

Harahara Siva Siva

From Bhagya Devathai · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Ghantasala
Music director
Master Venu
Details
Bhagya Devathai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Harahara sivasiva ambalavaanaaOh Lord Shiva, Lord of the Golden Hall!
Adiyaargal solvathai nambiduvaanaaWill He believe what His devotees say?
Varavara kaalam maari pochchuthuAs time passes, times have completely changed,
Vaayaara avanai kumbiduvaanaaWill anyone pray to Him wholeheartedly now?
Male
Harahara sivasiva ambalavaanaaOh Lord Shiva, Lord of the Golden Hall!
Adiyaargal solvathai nambiduvaanaaWill He believe what His devotees say?
Varavara kaalam maari pochchuthuAs time passes, times have completely changed,
Vaayaara avanai kumbiduvaanaaWill anyone pray to Him wholeheartedly now?
Male
Porantha veettilum puguntha veettilumIn her birth house as well as her marital house,
Porumaiyaai iruppava samsaariShe who remains patient is a good homemaker.
Pathi perumai purinjava samsaariShe who understands her husband's honor is a good homemaker.
Ooru sirikkavae ulagam sirikkavaeMaking the town laugh, making the world laugh,
Perai keduppava peruchaaliShe who ruins the family name is like a bandicoot.
Dagal pechai alappava peruchaaliShe who speaks deceitful words is like a bandicoot.
Male
Harahara sivasiva ambalavaanaaOh Lord Shiva, Lord of the Golden Hall!
Adiyaargal solvathai nambiduvaanaaWill He believe what His devotees say?
Varavara kaalam maari pochchuthuAs time passes, times have completely changed,
Vaayaara avanai kumbiduvaanaaWill anyone pray to Him wholeheartedly now?
Male
Kazhuththu ponaalum kadamai thavaramalEven under extreme hardship, without failing her duty,
Karpai kaappaval samsaariShe who protects her virtue is a good homemaker.
Namm kannagi pondraval samsaariShe who is like our Kannagi is a true homemaker.
Azhuththam thiruththamaa idhara pengalaiManipulating other women with clever cunning,
Aatti vaippava peruchaaliShe who sways everyone around is like a bandicoot.
Pallai kaatti sirippava peruchaaliShe who grins falsely showing her teeth is like a bandicoot.
Male
Harahara sivasiva ambalavaanaaOh Lord Shiva, Lord of the Golden Hall!
Adiyaargal solvathai nambiduvaanaaWill He believe what His devotees say?
Varavara kaalam maari pochchuthuAs time passes, times have completely changed,
Vaayaara avanai kumbiduvaanaaWill anyone pray to Him wholeheartedly now?
Male
Maamiyin sollai thalaimeal konduTaking her mother-in-law's words upon her head,
Mathiththu nadappava marumagalaamShe who acts with respect is a good daughter-in-law.
Dhinam thuthiththu nadappava marumagalaamShe who acts with daily reverence is a good daughter-in-law.
Maanam mariyaathai yaedhu illaamalWithout any sense of honor or respect,
Maamiyai edhirppava madamaagalaamShe who opposes her mother-in-law is a foolish girl.
Nilai maari nadappava madamaagalaamShe who strays from righteousness is a foolish girl.
Male
Harahara sivasiva ambalavaanaaOh Lord Shiva, Lord of the Golden Hall!
Adiyaargal solvathai nambiduvaanaaWill He believe what His devotees say?
Varavara kaalam maari pochchuthuAs time passes, times have completely changed,
Vaayaara avanai kumbiduvaanaaWill anyone pray to Him wholeheartedly now?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Bhagya Devathai' (1959) serves as a satirical yet moralistic commentary on shifting social values and family dynamics. Invoking Lord Shiva (Ambalavanan), the lyrics reflect on how times have changed and question whether devotion and moral integrity are still truly practiced. Through a series of comparisons, the song contrasts ideal domestic behavior with destructive traits. The lyrics praise a virtuous woman who preserves peace in both her birth and marital homes, comparing her to the legendary Tamil ideal of chastity, Kannagi. In contrast, deceitful and manipulative individuals who disrupt family harmony and ruin family honor are metaphorically branded as 'peruchaali' (bandicoots/rats). By outlining the qualities of a good daughter-in-law versus a disrespectful one, the song delivers a lighthearted yet sharp social sermon on ethics, respect for elders, and righteous living.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Perai keduppava peruchaali

Compares a person who ruins the family reputation to a 'peruchaali' (a destructive pest/bandicoot rat) to emphasize their harmful nature.

Allusion

Namm kannagi pondraval samsaari

Refers directly to Kannagi, the heroine of the Tamil epic Silappatikaram, as the gold standard of virtue, loyalty, and chastity.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Porantha veettilum puguntha veettilum / Porumaiyaai iruppava samsaari

Rhyming of the second letter ('ra') in 'Porantha' and 'Porumaiyaai'.

Monai (First Letter Rhyme)

Porantha veettilum puguntha veettilum

Alliteration of the starting sound 'Po' and 'Pu' across words in the same line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bhagya Devathai' (1959) features music by Master Venu and lyrics by the legendary Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who was known for blending folk wisdom and social commentary into catchphrase-filled film songs. Iconic playback singer Ghantasala rendered this song in Tamil; despite being primarily a legendary Telugu singer, Ghantasala recorded numerous acclaimed Tamil tracks during the 1950s with exceptionally clear diction.

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