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Nambinar Keduvathillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jyothisa Roobane

From Nambinar Keduvathillai · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nambinar Keduvathillai
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
6 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Swaamyae
Chorus :Saranam aiyappa
Male :Swaamyae
Chorus :Saranam aiyappa
Swaamyae swaamyae swaamyae
Swaamyae swaamyae swaamyae
Jothi swaroopanae needhi nilai naattum
En swaamyae aiyappanae
Un maganin pizhai poruththu
Oru nodiyil manniththu
Kural thantha manikandanae…
Swaamyae saranam aiyappa
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaa
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaa
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaa
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaa
Porpaadham kandaenaiyyaa
Adhil naan pudhu vaazhvu kondaenaiyyaa
Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Chorus :Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Irumudigal enathu sumai
Ulagam ellaamum unathu sumai
Irumudigal enathu sumai
Ulagam ellaamum unathu sumai
Aiyappaa un sumaiyil naanor
Anuvilum orr anuvaiyaa
Aiyappaa un sumaiyil naanor
Anuvilum orr anuvaiyaa
Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Chorus :Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaa
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaa
Thaengaaigal udaiyumidam adhuve
Theevinaigal sidharum idam
Thaengaaigal udaiyumidam adhuve
Theevinaigal sidharum idam
Neengaatha thavaththinilae swaamy
Nee amarntha nalla idam
Neengaatha thavaththinilae swaamy
Nee amarntha nalla idam
{Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa
Male and Chorus :
Swaamyae aiyappa saranam aiyappa} (4)
O Lord!
Chorus: I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
Male: O Lord!
Chorus: I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
O Lord! O Lord! O Lord!
O Lord! O Lord! O Lord!
O embodiment of divine light, who establishes justice,
My Lord, O Ayyappa!
Forgiving your son's mistakes,
Pardoning me in a single moment,
O Manikanda, who blessed me with a voice...
O Lord, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
The camphor burns bright, my Lord,
And in its flame, my pride has vanished, my Lord!
The camphor burns bright, my Lord,
And in its flame, my pride has vanished, my Lord!
I have seen your golden feet, my Lord,
And through them, I have found a new life, my Lord!
O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
Chorus: O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
The Irumudi (sacred pilgrimage bundle) is my burden,
While the whole world is your burden!
The Irumudi (sacred pilgrimage bundle) is my burden,
While the whole world is your burden!
O Ayyappa, in the vast burden you carry,
I am merely the smallest speck of dust, my Lord!
O Ayyappa, in the vast burden you carry,
I am merely the smallest speck of dust, my Lord!
O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
Chorus: O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!
The camphor burns bright, my Lord,
And in its flame, my pride has vanished, my Lord!
The place where coconuts are broken
Is the place where all sins are shattered!
The place where coconuts are broken
Is the place where all sins are shattered!
In eternal penance, O Lord,
Is the sacred place where you sit!
In eternal penance, O Lord,
Is the sacred place where you sit!
{O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa,
Male and Chorus:
O Lord Ayyappa, I take refuge in you, Ayyappa!} (4)
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song dedicated to Lord Aiyappa expresses profound surrender, humility, and spiritual transformation during the Sabarimala pilgrimage. The devotee compares the physical burden of carrying the 'Irumudi' (the holy bundle) with the immense cosmic responsibility shouldered by Lord Aiyappa, highlighting human insignificance before divine grandeur. Rituals like burning camphor and breaking coconuts are metaphorically interpreted as the destruction of ego and past sins, paving the way for a spiritual rebirth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaa / Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaa”

Burning camphor (karpooram) symbolizes the burning away of the devotee's ego (karvam).

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai)

“Thaengaaigal udaiyumidam adhuve / Theevinaigal sidharum idam”

The second letter consonant rhyming 'ng' (ங்) in 'Thaengaaigal' and 'Theevinaigal'.

Hyperbole / Juxtaposition

“Irumudigal enathu sumai / Ulagam ellaamum unathu sumai”

Contrasting the small personal bundle ('Irumudi') carried by the devotee against the entire universe ('Ulagam') borne by the Lord.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nambinar Keduvathillai' (1986), scored by legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, features iconic Sabarimala devotional tracks sung by K. J. Yesudas, whose voice is deeply intertwined with Aiyappa devotional songs across South India.

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