Idhayam Oru Kovil
From Idhaya Kovil · 1985
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Idhaya Kovil1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa… | Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa… |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa… | Aa…aa…aa…aa… |
| Aa…aa…aa…aa… | Aa…aa…aa…aa… |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Male | |
| Idhil vaazhum devi nee | You are the goddess residing in it |
| Isaiyai malaraai | With music as flowers |
| Naalum soottuven | I shall adorn you daily |
| Isaiyai malaraai | With music as flowers |
| Naalum soottuven | I shall adorn you daily |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Female | |
| Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa | Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa |
| Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa | Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa |
| Lalala lalala lalala lalala | Lalala lalala lalala lalala |
| Lalala lalala lalala lalala | Lalala lalala lalala lalala |
| Male | |
| Aathma raagam | In the melody of the soul |
| Ondril dhaan | Alone |
| Aadum uyirgal endrumae | Living souls dance forever |
| Uyirin jeeva naadithaan | The vital pulse of life itself |
| Naadham thaalam aanadhae | Has become sound and rhythm |
| Male | |
| Uyiril kalandhu paadum podhu | When singing intertwined with life |
| Yedhuvum paadalae | Every sound becomes a song |
| Paadalgal oru kodi | There are ten million songs |
| Yedhuvum pudhidhillai | None of them is new |
| Raagangal kodi kodi | There are millions of ragas |
| Yedhuvum pudhidhillai | None of them is new |
| Yenadhu jeevan nee dhaan | You alone are my life force |
| Yendrum pudhidhu | Which is forever new |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Idhil vaazhum devi nee | You are the goddess residing in it |
| Isaiyai malaraai | With music as flowers |
| Naalum soottuven | I shall adorn you daily |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Female | |
| Laalaalaa laala laalaa… | Laalaalaa laala laalaa… |
| Laalaalaa laala laalaa… | Laalaalaa laala laalaa… |
| Laa laa lala laalaalaa… | Laa laa lala laalaalaa… |
| Lalalaa lala lalalaa… | Lalalaa lala lalalaa… |
| Male | |
| Kaamam thedum ulagilae | In a world seeking lustful desires |
| Geedham yennum dheebathaal | Through the lamp named music |
| Raama naamam meedhilae | Upon the divine name of Rama |
| Naadha thiyaaga raajarum | Saint Thyagaraja, the king of music |
| Male | |
| Oonai urukki uyiril vilakkai | Melted his body and lit a lamp in the soul |
| Yetrinaarammaa | He ignited it, my lady |
| Avar paadalil jeevan | The life force in his song |
| Adhuvae avaraanaar | That life force became him |
| Male | |
| Yen paadalil jeevan | The life force in my song |
| Yedhuvo adhu neeyae | Whatever it is, that is you |
| Neeyum naanum ondru dhaan | You and I are one and the same |
| Engae pirivadhu | How could we ever separate? |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Male | |
| Neeyum naanum povadhu | You and I walking along |
| Kaadhal yennum paadhaiyil | On the path called love |
| Serum neram vandhadhu | The moment to join together arrived |
| Meedhi thooram paadhiyil | Yet halfway through the remaining journey |
| Male | |
| Paadhai ondru aana podhum | Even when the path seemed one |
| Dhisaigal verammaa | The directions are different, my lady |
| Unadhu paadhai veru | Your path is separate |
| Enadhu paadhai verammaa | My path is separate, my lady |
| Male | |
| Meeraavin kannan | Meera's Krishna |
| Meeraavidamae | Belongs to Meera alone |
| Yenadhaaruyir jeevan | My precious life soul |
| Ennai aandaalae | Has ruled over me |
| Vaazhga yendrum valamudan | May you live forever with prosperity |
| Yendrum vaazhgavae | May you live on forever |
| Male | |
| Idhayam oru koyil adhil | The heart is a temple, within which |
| Udhayam oru paadal | A song is born |
| Idhil vaazhum devi nee | You are the goddess residing in it |
| Isaiyai malaraai | With music as flowers |
| Naalum soottuven | I shall adorn you daily |
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல் இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
இதில் வாழும்
தேவி நீ இசையை
மலராய் நாளும்
சூட்டுவேன் இசையை
மலராய் நாளும் சூட்டுவேன்
You are the goddess residing in it
With music as flowers
I shall adorn you daily
With music as flowers
I shall adorn you daily
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
............................
Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa
Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
ஆத்ம ராகம்
ஒன்றில்தான் ஆடும்
உயிர்கள் என்றுமே
உயிரின் ஜீவ நாடிதான்
நாதம் தாளம் ஆனதே
In the melody of the soul
Alone
Living souls dance forever
The vital pulse of life itself
Has become sound and rhythm
உயிரில் கலந்து
பாடும் போது எதுவும்
பாடலே பாடல்கள் ஒரு
கோடி எதுவும் புதிதில்லை
ராகங்கள் கோடி கோடி
எதுவும் புதிதில்லை
எனது ஜீவன் நீ தான்
என்றும் புதிது
When singing intertwined with life
Every sound becomes a song
There are ten million songs
None of them is new
There are millions of ragas
None of them is new
You alone are my life force
Which is forever new
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல் இதில் வாழும்
தேவி நீ இசையை
மலராய் நாளும்
சூட்டுவேன்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
You are the goddess residing in it
With music as flowers
I shall adorn you daily
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
............................
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laa laa lala laalaalaa…
Lalalaa lala lalalaa…
காமம் தேடும்
உலகிலே கீதம் என்னும்
தீபத்தால் ராம நாமம்
மீதிலே நாதத் தியாக
ராஜரும்
In a world seeking lustful desires
Through the lamp named music
Upon the divine name of Rama
Saint Thyagaraja, the king of music
ஊனை உருக்கி
உயிரில் விளக்கை
ஏற்றினாரம்மா அவர்
பாடலில் ஜீவன்
அதுவே அவரானார்
Melted his body and lit a lamp in the soul
He ignited it, my lady
The life force in his song
That life force became him
என் பாடலில்
ஜீவன் எதுவோ அது
நீயே நீயும் நானும்
ஒன்று தான் எங்கே
பிரிவது
The life force in my song
Whatever it is, that is you
You and I are one and the same
How could we ever separate?
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
நீயும் நானும்
போவது காதல் என்னும்
பாதையில் சேரும் நேரம்
வந்தது மீதித் தூரம் பாதியில்
You and I walking along
On the path called love
The moment to join together arrived
Yet halfway through the remaining journey
பாதை ஒன்று
ஆனபோதும் திசைகள்
வேறம்மா உனது பாதை
வேறு எனது பாதை
வேறம்மா
Even when the path seemed one
The directions are different, my lady
Your path is separate
My path is separate, my lady
மீராவின்
கண்ணன் மீராவிடமே
எனதாருயிர் ஜீவன் எனை
ஆண்டாளே வாழ்க என்றும்
வளமுடன் என்றும் வாழ்கவே
Meera's Krishna
Belongs to Meera alone
My precious life soul
Has ruled over me
May you live forever with prosperity
May you live on forever
இதயம் ஒரு
கோவில் அதில் உதயம்
ஒரு பாடல் இதில் வாழும்
தேவி நீ இசையை
மலராய் நாளும்
சூட்டுவேன்
The heart is a temple, within which
A song is born
You are the goddess residing in it
With music as flowers
I shall adorn you daily
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
You are the goddess residing in it
Isaiyai malaraai
With music as flowers
Naalum soottuven
I shall adorn you daily
Isaiyai malaraai
With music as flowers
Naalum soottuven
I shall adorn you daily
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa
Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa
Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa
Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Aathma raagam
In the melody of the soul
Ondril dhaan
Alone
Aadum uyirgal endrumae
Living souls dance forever
Uyirin jeeva naadithaan
The vital pulse of life itself
Naadham thaalam aanadhae
Has become sound and rhythm
Uyiril kalandhu paadum podhu
When singing intertwined with life
Yedhuvum paadalae
Every sound becomes a song
Paadalgal oru kodi
There are ten million songs
Yedhuvum pudhidhillai
None of them is new
Raagangal kodi kodi
There are millions of ragas
Yedhuvum pudhidhillai
None of them is new
Yenadhu jeevan nee dhaan
You alone are my life force
Yendrum pudhidhu
Which is forever new
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
You are the goddess residing in it
Isaiyai malaraai
With music as flowers
Naalum soottuven
I shall adorn you daily
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laa laa lala laalaalaa…
Laa laa lala laalaalaa…
Lalalaa lala lalalaa…
Lalalaa lala lalalaa…
Kaamam thedum ulagilae
In a world seeking lustful desires
Geedham yennum dheebathaal
Through the lamp named music
Raama naamam meedhilae
Upon the divine name of Rama
Naadha thiyaaga raajarum
Saint Thyagaraja, the king of music
Oonai urukki uyiril vilakkai
Melted his body and lit a lamp in the soul
Yetrinaarammaa
He ignited it, my lady
Avar paadalil jeevan
The life force in his song
Adhuvae avaraanaar
That life force became him
Yen paadalil jeevan
The life force in my song
Yedhuvo adhu neeyae
Whatever it is, that is you
Neeyum naanum ondru dhaan
You and I are one and the same
Engae pirivadhu
How could we ever separate?
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Neeyum naanum povadhu
You and I walking along
Kaadhal yennum paadhaiyil
On the path called love
Serum neram vandhadhu
The moment to join together arrived
Meedhi thooram paadhiyil
Yet halfway through the remaining journey
Paadhai ondru aana podhum
Even when the path seemed one
Dhisaigal verammaa
The directions are different, my lady
Unadhu paadhai veru
Your path is separate
Enadhu paadhai verammaa
My path is separate, my lady
Meeraavin kannan
Meera's Krishna
Meeraavidamae
Belongs to Meera alone
Yenadhaaruyir jeevan
My precious life soul
Ennai aandaalae
Has ruled over me
Vaazhga yendrum valamudan
May you live forever with prosperity
Yendrum vaazhgavae
May you live on forever
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
The heart is a temple, within which
Udhayam oru paadal
A song is born
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
You are the goddess residing in it
Isaiyai malaraai
With music as flowers
Naalum soottuven
I shall adorn you daily
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic song 'Idhayam Oru Koyil' from the film Idhaya Kovil portrays the sacred relationship between love, spirituality, and music. The protagonist envisions his heart as a temple where continuous melodies emerge as devotional offerings to his beloved, whom he revered as a deity. He draws parallels to Saint Thyagaraja's devotion to Lord Rama and Meera's eternal bond with Krishna, emphasizing that music is the ultimate expression of the soul that transcends physical existence. Even when life forces their paths to diverge in different directions, the protagonist accepts destiny with utmost devotion, selflessness, and grace, offering lifelong blessings for his beloved's well-being and acknowledging that true love remains eternal through music.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Idhayam oru koyil adhil / Isaiyai malaraai”
Comparing the heart to a temple ('Idhayam oru koyil') and music to flowers ('Isaiyai malaraai') offered in daily worship.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Monai and Ethukai)
“Idhayam oru koyil adhil / Udhayam oru paadal”
The phonetic harmony in the second letters of 'Idhayam' and 'Udhayam' adds rhythmic resonance to the opening refrain.
Cultural and Devotional Allusion (Kurippu)
“Naadha thiyaaga raajarum / Meeraavin kannan”
Refers to Saint Thyagaraja melting his physical self in divine music for Lord Rama, and Meera's total surrender to Krishna.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Idhayam Oru Koyil' features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, who also wrote the lyrics for this soulful track. The male version was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, while a female counterpart was sung by S. Janaki. The 1985 film 'Idhaya Kovil' was directed by Mani Ratnam.
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