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Isaimozhi
Agathiyar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Isaiyai Thamizhai

From Agathiyar · 1972

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singers
T. R. Mahalingam, Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name
Agathiyar
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
2 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Isaiyaai
Male :Thamizhaai
Both :Iruppavanae….. aaaaa….
Innisaiyaai senthamizhaai iruppavanae
Engum sivamayamaai nilaippavanae…
Nilaippavanae…
Iga para sugam arul parama karunai vadivae
Innisaiyaai senthamizhaai iruppavanae
Engum sivamayamaai nilaippavanae nilaippavanae
Miga pala sugam arul parama karunai vadivae
Innisaiyaai senthamizhaai iruppavanae…..
Vaanavar
Gnyaaniyar
Vaazhthidum
Vadivinai udaiyaai
Arutperum chudaraai
Nandhi daevanodu indhiraadhiyarum
Vandhu thaalinai vanangidavae
Aaa aaa……aaa…aa…..aa….aa….aa…
Nandhi daevanodu indhiraadhiyarum
Vandhu thaalinai vanangidavae
Thandhai maamuganum vindhai vaelguganum
Sandhamaar thamizh muzhangidavae
Aaa aaa……aaa…aa…..aa….aa….aa…
Thandhai maamuganum vindhai vaelguganum
Sandhamaar thamizh muzhangidavae
Endha vaelaiyum marandhidaadhu marai
Sindhu naanmugan panindhidavae
Sandhavaar kuzhalai indhu naer vadhani
Mangalaambigai magizhndhidavae
Kavinuru mugam adhu ilanagaiyae
Kanivuru vizhigalil arul mazhaiyae
Suvai pada varuvadhum edhir suramae
Sulai ena mozhivadhu uyar thamizhai
Mandhiramaai
Maa thavamaai
Thandhiramaai
Thaaragamaai
Vaanavar
Gnyaaniyar
Vaazhthidum
Vadivinai udaiyaai
Arutperum chudaraai
As music,
As Tamil,
O You who exist as both... Aaaa...
O You who dwell as sweet music and pure Tamil!
O You who abide everywhere filled with the essence of Shiva...
O You who abide forever...
O embodiment of supreme grace, granting joy in this world and the next!
O You who dwell as sweet music and pure Tamil!
O You who abide everywhere filled with the essence of Shiva, who abide forever!
O embodiment of supreme grace, granting countless joys!
O You who dwell as sweet music and pure Tamil...
The gods in heaven,
the enlightened sages,
who praise and revere
Your divine form,
O great light of supreme grace!
As Lord Nandi along with Indra and the gods
come and bow before Your holy feet,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
As Lord Nandi along with Indra and the gods
come and bow before Your holy feet,
As the elephant-faced Ganesha and the wondrous spear-bearing Murugan
resoundingly chant rhythmic, beautiful Tamil,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
As the elephant-faced Ganesha and the wondrous spear-bearing Murugan
resoundingly chant rhythmic, beautiful Tamil,
As the four-faced Brahma, never forgetting at any moment,
bows down and recites the holy Vedas,
As Mother Mangalambigai, with lovely hair and a moon-like face,
rejoices with deep delight in Her heart,
A gentle smile graces Your radiant face,
A rain of divine grace flows from Your tender eyes,
Matching musical notes rise with exquisite flavor,
You speak elevated Tamil as sweet as luscious fruit,
As sacred chant,
as great penance,
as profound wisdom,
as the supreme guiding refuge,
The gods in heaven,
the enlightened sages,
who praise and revere
Your divine form,
O great light of supreme grace!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional hymn from the movie Agathiyar praises Lord Shiva as the personification of sweet music and refined Tamil language. It glorifies Him as the omnipresent divinity, the ultimate embodiment of mercy, who bestows joy in both the physical world and the afterlife. The lyrics describe how celestial beings, sages, Lord Indra, Lord Nandi, Brahma, and His family including Lord Ganesha, Lord Murugan, and Goddess Mangalambigai revere His radiant form while rhythmic Tamil chants echo His glory.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Mandhiramaai / Maa thavamaai / Thandhiramaai”

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Innisaiyaai' and 'Engum' (n-sound sequence/harmony) or 'Mandhiramaai', 'Thandhiramaai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamdhu)

“Innisaiyaai senthamizhaai iruppavanae”

Equating Lord Shiva directly with the essence of music (Isai) and the divine language of Tamil (Thamizh).

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Kavinuru mugam adhu ilanagaiyae / Kanivuru vizhigalil arul mazhaiyae”

Repetition of initial consonants like 'K' in 'Kavinuru' and 'Kanivuru'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from the mythological movie 'Agathiyar' (1972) was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and sung brilliantly by T. R. Mahalingam and Sirkazhi Govindarajan. It highlights the classical belief that Lord Shiva created and embodies the Tamil language alongside Carnatic music.

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