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Idhaya Kovil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhayam Oru Kovil

From Idhaya Kovil · 1985

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Idhaya Kovil
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
16 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Aa…aa…aa…aa…
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
Isaiyai malaraai
Naalum soottuven
Isaiyai malaraai
Naalum soottuven
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Lalalala laa lala lala lalalala laa
Lalalala laa lala lala lala laa
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Lalala lalala lalala lalala
Aathma raagam
Ondril dhaan
Aadum uyirgal endrumae
Uyirin jeeva naadithaan
Naadham thaalam aanadhae
Uyiril kalandhu paadum podhu
Yedhuvum paadalae
Paadalgal oru kodi
Yedhuvum pudhidhillai
Raagangal kodi kodi
Yedhuvum pudhidhillai
Yenadhu jeevan nee dhaan
Yendrum pudhidhu
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
Isaiyai malaraai
Naalum soottuven
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laalaalaa laala laalaa…
Laa laa lala laalaalaa…
Lalalaa lala lalalaa…
Kaamam thedum ulagilae
Geedham yennum dheebathaal
Raama naamam meedhilae
Naadha thiyaaga raajarum
Oonai urukki uyiril vilakkai
Yetrinaarammaa
Avar paadalil jeevan
Adhuvae avaraanaar
Yen paadalil jeevan
Yedhuvo adhu neeyae
Neeyum naanum ondru dhaan
Engae pirivadhu
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Neeyum naanum povadhu
Kaadhal yennum paadhaiyil
Serum neram vandhadhu
Meedhi thooram paadhiyil
Paadhai ondru aana podhum
Dhisaigal verammaa
Unadhu paadhai veru
Enadhu paadhai verammaa
Meeraavin kannan
Meeraavidamae
Yenadhaaruyir jeevan
Ennai aandaalae
Vaazhga yendrum valamudan
Yendrum vaazhgavae
Idhayam oru koyil adhil
Udhayam oru paadal
Idhil vaazhum devi nee
Isaiyai malaraai
Naalum soottuven
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
You are the goddess who lives within,
and with music as flowers,
I will adorn you every day.
With music as flowers,
I will adorn you every day.
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
La la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la la
Only to the melody
of the soul
do living beings dance forever.
The very heartbeat of our lives
has turned into rhythm and melody.
When you sing from the depths of your soul,
everything turns into a song.
There are millions of songs,
yet none of them is new.
There are countless melodies,
yet none of them is new.
You are my living soul,
and you are forever new.
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
You are the goddess who lives within,
and with music as flowers,
I will adorn you every day.
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...
La la la la la la la...
In a world chasing desires,
using song as a sacred lamp
in praise of Lord Rama's name,
the great Saint Thyagaraja
melted his body and in his soul,
lit a shining flame.
The life within his music
became his very self.
The life within my songs,
whatever it may be, is you.
You and I are one,
how could we ever part?
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
The journey you and I are taking
is on the path of love.
The end of the road has come
halfway through the journey.
Though our path was once the same,
our directions have parted now.
Your path goes one way,
and my path goes another.
Meera's Krishna
belongs only to Meera.
My dearest, beloved soul
has ruled over my heart.
May you always live in happiness,
may you live well forever.
The heart is a temple, and inside,
a song is born.
You are the goddess who lives within,
and with music as flowers,
I will adorn you every day.
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Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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