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Vinayaka Chathurthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Hare Narayana

From Vinayaka Chathurthi · 1959

Lyricist
Samudrala
Singer
Ghantasala
Music director
Ghantasala
Movie name
Vinayaka Chathurthi
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
26 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hare narayana
Hare narayana
Thirubhuvana baalaga kalaa paarina
Hare narayana
Jaladhara shyamaa sundhara naama…aaa..aa
Jaladhara shyamaa sundhara naama
Saagara saamara maandhagaamaa
Saagara saamara maandhagaamaa
Thulasikaamaga lithagana sreemaa
Pooridhanadhajina maanasa kaama
Pooridhanadhajina maanasa kaama
Hare narayana
Thirubhuvana baalaga kalaa paarina
Hare narayana
O Lord Narayana!
O Lord Narayana!
Protector of the three worlds, destroyer of the wicked,
O Lord Narayana...
Dark as a raincloud, with a sacred and beautiful name...
Dark as a raincloud, with a sacred and beautiful name,
You who rest serenely upon the ocean waves,
You who rest serenely upon the ocean waves,
Adorned with fragrant Tulsi garlands, radiant and divine,
You fulfill the cherished desires of your devoted souls,
You fulfill the cherished desires of your devoted souls,
O Lord Narayana!
Protector of the three worlds, destroyer of the wicked,
O Lord Narayana...
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional hymn praises Lord Narayana (Vishnu), extolling his divine attributes, protective nature across the three worlds, and captivating aesthetic beauty. He is described as having a dark, luminous complexion resembling moisture-laden rain clouds (Jaladhara Shyama) and moving with deep, serene grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Jaladhara shyamaa sundhara naama / Saagara saamara maandhagaamaa

The lines end with rhyming suffixes ('naama', 'maandhagaamaa', 'sreemaa', 'kaama') creating a lyrical and melodious rhythm.

Metaphor (Uwamai Ani)

Jaladhara shyamaa

The divine Lord's complexion is metaphorically described as 'Jaladhara Shyama'—dark and beautiful like water-bearing rain clouds.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Saagara saamara maandhagaamaa

Repetition of the 'Sa' consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent words creates an agreeable musical rhythm.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Hare narayana

The holy chant 'Hare narayana' is repeated at key intervals throughout the verse to reinforce the central devotional theme.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vinayaka Chathurthi' (1959) is a mythological film based on the story of Lord Ganesha and the Syamantaka jewel. The legendary singer-composer Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao composed the music and sang this devotional track, cementing his reputation as one of the finest classical and devotional playback singers in South Indian cinema history.

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