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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jegatheeswara Paahi

From Manalane Mangaiyin Bakkiam · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
P. Susheela, Chorus
Music director
P. Aadhinarayana Rao
Details
Manalane Mangaiyin Bakkiam1957

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Om namashivaya sitham namahaomOm Namah Shivaya, salutations to Lord Shiva.
Jagadheeswara paahi parameshwaraOh Lord of the Universe, protect me, Supreme God!
Chorus :Jagadheeswara paahi parameshwaraChorus: Oh Lord of the Universe, protect me, Supreme God!
Female :Devar pugazh sreegara thillai natasekaraFemale: Oh auspicious Lord Nataraja of Thillai, praised by the celestials!
Kaarum karunakara vaazhum gunasekaraOh merciful protector, who abides as the embodiment of good virtues!
Chorus
Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaaHaaa..aaa..aaa..aaa
Jagadheeswara paahi parameshwaraOh Lord of the Universe, protect me, Supreme God!
Female
Lambhodharan pottrum sambhodharaOh Lord Sambhu, praised by Lord Ganesha!
Anbin arul saagaraOh ocean of love and grace!
Chorus :Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaaChorus: Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaa
Lambhodharan pottrum sambhodharaOh Lord Sambhu, praised by Lord Ganesha!
Anbin arul saagaraOh ocean of love Presenting grace!
Female :Varamaearul kailai valar sundharaFemale: Oh beautiful Lord of Kailash who bestows boons!
Gowri magizh sundharaOh handsome Lord who delights Goddess Gowri!
Vanna kalai maevum oli veesumOh radiant Lord associated with fine arts,
Gangadhara deva gangadharaOh divine Gangadhara, bearer of the holy Ganges!
Chorus
Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaaHaaa..aaa..aaa..aaa
Jagadheeswara paahi parameshwaraOh Lord of the Universe, protect me, Supreme God!
Female
Maan mazhuvaada madhiyaravaadaAs the deer, axe, crescent moon, and serpent dance in unison,
Mangaiyum sernthadaAnd Goddess Parvati joins in the cosmic dance,
Vaanavarum andru magizhndhadaThe celestials rejoiced in celebration on that day,
Indha maanilamum pugazh kavi paadaAnd this great world sings poetic songs of glory.
Chorus
Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaaHaaa..aaa..aaa..aaa
Maan mazhuvaada madhiyaravaadaAs the deer, axe, crescent moon, and serpent dance in unison,
Mangaiyum sernthadaAnd Goddess Parvati joins in the cosmic dance,
Vaanavarum andru magizhndhadaThe celestials rejoiced in celebration on that day,
Indha maanilamum pugazh kavi paadaAnd this great world sings poetic songs of glory.
Female
Nadamida sruthiyai jathiyudan thoninthidumAs the dance unfolds in perfect pitch and rhythm,
Nandhiyin mathala naadhamaeEchoes the majestic sound of Lord Nandi's drum,
Chorus :Marai naangum pugazhndhidum geethamaeChorus: It is a musical hymn celebrated by all four Vedas!
Female :Thathimidhimidhathimi thaithaithaiyenaFemale: Moving to the rhythmic beats of 'Thathimi dhimi dhathimi thai thai thai',
Thaandavamaadiya paaadhamaeTo the sacred feet that performed the cosmic Tandava dance,
Chorus :Thara vendigirom eppodhumaeChorus: We pray for your grace for all eternity!
Female :Jegam pugazh thaayaga sivakaamasundhari naayagaFemale: Oh Lord of Sivakamasundari, the mother revered by the entire world!
Jegam pugazh thaayaga sivakaamasundhari naayagaOh Lord of Sivakamasundari, the mother revered by the entire world!
Chorus
Haaa..aaa..aaa..aaaHaaa..aaa..aaa..aaa
Hoo..oo..oo.ooo.oo.ooo.ooo.ooo.oooHoo..oo..oo.ooo.oo.ooo.ooo.ooo.ooo
Maan mazhuvaada madhiyaravaadaAs the deer, axe, crescent moon, and serpent dance in unison,
Mangaiyum sernthadaAnd Goddess Parvati joins in the cosmic dance,
Vaanavarum andru magizhndhadaThe celestials rejoiced in celebration on that day,
Indha maanilamum pugazh kavi paadaAnd this great world sings poetic songs of glory.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand devotional panegyric addressed to Lord Shiva in His cosmic dancer form, Nataraja. The devotee glorifies Shiva's divine attributes, calling Him the Lord of the Universe (Jagadheeswara), bearer of the Ganges (Gangadhara), and consort of Goddess Parvati (Sivakamasundari). The lyrics vividly capture the imagery of Shiva's Ananda Tandava—where his holy attributes such as the deer, battle-axe, crescent moon, and serpent appear to dance along with Him to the rhythm of Nandi's mridangam percussion. The verse structure incorporates classical dance syllables (solkattu) and references to scripture, establishing the cosmic dance as an act celebrated by devas, praised by the four Vedas, and revered by all earthly beings. Through melodic invocation, the singer surrenders at the divine feet of Nataraja, seeking perpetual protection and grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Solkattu / Onomatopoeia (Rhythmic Syllables)

“Thathimidhimidhathimi thaithaithaiyena”

Use of rhythmic dance syllables ('Thathimidhimidhathimi thaithaithaiyena') to evoke the actual footwork and drum patterns of Lord Shiva's Tandava dance.

Metaphor (Rupaka Alankaram)

“Anbin arul saagara”

Directly comparing Lord Shiva's grace and love to an infinite ocean ('Anbin arul saagara').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Maan mazhuvaada madhiyaravaada”

Repetition of ending rhyming sounds '-aada' across consecutive lines ('Maan mazhuvaada', 'madhiyaravaada', 'sernthada', 'magizhndhada') creating a rhythmic cadence matching a dance pace.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Indha maanilamum pugazh kavi paada”

Assonance of the second letter 'n' sound between 'Maan' and 'Vaanavarum' / 'maanilamum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manalane Mangaiyin Bakkiam' (1957) was the Tamil remake of the legendary Telugu hit 'Suvarna Sundari' produced by Anjali Pictures. Music director P. Adinarayana Rao composed the music for both versions, retaining the classical Telugu/Tamil ragas. Sung masterfully by P. Susheela, this dance sequence was filmed on classical dancer and actress Vyjayanthimala, becoming one of the benchmark classical dance compositions in South Indian cinema.

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