Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jyothisa Roobane

From Nambinar Keduvathillai · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nambinar Keduvathillai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
SwaamyaeOh Lord!
Chorus :Saranam aiyappaChorus: I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Male :SwaamyaeMale: Oh Lord!
Chorus :Saranam aiyappaChorus: I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Chorus
Swaamyae swaamyae swaamyaeOh Lord! Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
Swaamyae swaamyae swaamyaeOh Lord! Oh Lord! Oh Lord!
Male
Jothi swaroopanae needhi nilai naattumOh embodiment of divine light, who establishes justice,
En swaamyae aiyappanaeMy Lord Aiyappa,
Un maganin pizhai poruththuPardoning the mistakes of your child,
Oru nodiyil manniththuForgiving them in a single moment,
Kural thantha manikandanae…Oh Manikandan who bestowed the voice...
Chorus
Swaamyae saranam aiyappaOh Lord Aiyappa, I surrender to you.
Male
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaaThe camphor burns brightly, Oh Lord,
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaaAnd in its light, my ego dissolves, Oh Lord.
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaaThe camphor burns brightly, Oh Lord,
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaaAnd in its light, my ego dissolves, Oh Lord.
Porpaadham kandaenaiyyaaI beheld your golden feet, Oh Lord,
Adhil naan pudhu vaazhvu kondaenaiyyaaAnd in them, I found a renewed life, Oh Lord.
Male
Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaOh Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaLord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Chorus :Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaChorus: Oh Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaLord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Male
Irumudigal enathu sumaiThe twin-bundle 'Irumudi' is my light burden,
Ulagam ellaamum unathu sumaiWhile the whole cosmos is the heavy weight you carry.
Irumudigal enathu sumaiThe twin-bundle 'Irumudi' is my light burden,
Ulagam ellaamum unathu sumaiWhile the whole cosmos is the heavy weight you carry.
Male
Aiyappaa un sumaiyil naanorOh Aiyappa, relative to the weight you carry, I am merely
Anuvilum orr anuvaiyaaAn atom within an atom, Oh Lord!
Aiyappaa un sumaiyil naanorOh Aiyappa, relative to the weight you carry, I am merely
Anuvilum orr anuvaiyaaAn atom within an atom, Oh Lord!
Male
Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaOh Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Chorus :Swaamy aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaChorus: Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa.
Male
Karpooram jolikkuthaiyyaaThe camphor burns brightly, Oh Lord,
Adhil en karvangal marainthathaiyyaaAnd in its light, my ego dissolves, Oh Lord.
Male
Thaengaaigal udaiyumidam adhuveThe spot where the coconuts shatter,
Theevinaigal sidharum idamIs the very place where evil deeds get scattered and destroyed.
Thaengaaigal udaiyumidam adhuveThe spot where the coconuts shatter,
Theevinaigal sidharum idamIs the very place where evil deeds get scattered and destroyed.
Male
Neengaatha thavaththinilae swaamyIn everlasting penance, Oh Lord,
Nee amarntha nalla idamIs the sacred abode where you sit in meditation.
Neengaatha thavaththinilae swaamyIn everlasting penance, Oh Lord,
Nee amarntha nalla idamIs the sacred abode where you sit in meditation.
Male
{Aiyyaa aiyappaa saranam aiyappaa{Oh Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa,
Male and Chorus :Male and Chorus:
Swaamyae aiyappa saranam aiyappa} (4)Oh Lord Aiyappa, I seek refuge in you, Aiyappa} (repeated 4 times)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

More from Nambinar Keduvathillai