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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaana Kann Kodi

From Konjum Salangai · 1962

Lyricist
V. Seetharaman
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Konjum Salangai1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaana kan kodi vendumOne needs a crore eyes to behold the sight
Aiyan kaal thookki nindraadumOf the Lord dancing with his raised foot
Kaatchi ponnampalaththilIn the golden hall of Chidambaram
Kaana kan kodi vendumOne needs a crore eyes to behold the sight
Aiyan kaal thookki nindraadumOf the Lord dancing with his raised foot
Kaatchi ponnampalaththilIn the golden hall of Chidambaram
Female
Kaana kan kodi vendumOne needs a crore eyes to behold the sight
Female
Maanada mazhuvaada madhiyaada punalaadaThe deer dances, the axe dances, the crescent moon dances, the sacred river Ganges dances
Maanada mazhuvaada madhiyaada punalaadaThe deer dances, the axe dances, the crescent moon dances, the sacred river Ganges dances
Vaanada ayanaada mangai sivagaamiyaadaThe heavens dance, Brahma dances, and Goddess Sivagami dances along
Female
Kaana kan kodi vendumOne needs a crore eyes to behold the sight
Female
Neer pooththa mega niram konda vannaaO Lord, who possesses the color of water-laden dark clouds
Neer pooththa mega niram konda vannaaO Lord, who possesses the color of water-laden dark clouds
Kaar pooththa unthi paranthaamane kannaO Lord Krishna, Paramathma, whose navel blossomed like a monsoon bloom
Paar meavum srirangam kaaviri karaimaelaeOn the banks of Kaveri in Srirangam worshipped by the entire world
Vannaththu thuyil kondulagai kaakkum perumaalaeO Supreme Lord, who sleeps colorfully on the serpent bed and protects the world
Female
Yean palli kondeer aiyaa srirangaanaathaaWhy did you go to sleep, O Lord Ranganatha?
Aa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing melody (Aa... aaa...)
Yean palli kondeer aiyaa srirangaanaathaaWhy did you go to sleep, O Lord Ranganatha?
Yean palli kondeer aiyaa srirangaanaathaaWhy did you go to sleep, O Lord Ranganatha?
Aa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing melody (Aa... aaa...)
Female
Manamigum kadhampavana vaasiniO resident of the fragrant Kadamba forest
Aa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aa….Vocalizing melody (Aa... aaa...)
Manamigum kadhampavana vaasiniO resident of the fragrant Kadamba forest
Maamadhuraa puriyalum devi magaraaniO Queen Goddess who rules the great city of Madurai
Manamigum kadhambavana vaasiniO resident of the fragrant Kadamba forest
Maamadhuraa puriyaalum devi magaraaniO Queen Goddess who rules the great city of Madurai
Female
Dhikvijayam seiya seanaiyudanae sendruThe one who set out with an army to conquer all eight directions
Sokkanukku maalaiyitta meenaatchiGoddess Meenakshi who wed Lord Sundareswarar
Dhikvijayam seiya seanaiyudanae sendruThe one who set out with an army to conquer all eight directions
Sokkanukku maalaiyitta meenaatchiGoddess Meenakshi who wed Lord Sundareswarar
Female
Manamigum kadhampavana vaasiniO resident of the fragrant Kadamba forest
Maamadhuraa puriyalum devi magaraaniO Queen Goddess who rules the great city of Madurai
Female
Kuravalli kunjari maruvidum kuganaeO Lord Guha, who embraced Valli from the Kuravar tribe and Devayanai
Aaa……aaa….aa….aa….aa…aaa….Vocalizing melody (Aaa... aaa...)
Kuravalli kunjari maruvidum kuganaeO Lord Guha, who embraced Valli from the Kuravar tribe and Devayanai
Thiruchendhoor valar aaru muganaeO six-faced Lord residing and flourishing in Thiruchendur
Kuravalli kunjari maruvidum kuganaeO Lord Guha, who embraced Valli from the Kuravar tribe and Devayanai
Thiruchendhoor valar aaru muganaeO six-faced Lord residing and flourishing in Thiruchendur
Female
Oru maangani vendi sirupillaithanamaagaJust for the sake of a mango fruit, like a childish prank
Ulagai valam vantha sivapaalaO son of Shiva who circumnavigated the entire world
Oru maangani vendi sirupillaithanamaagaJust for the sake of a mango fruit, like a childish prank
Ulagai valam vantha sivapaalaO son of Shiva who circumnavigated the entire world
Female
Un thirukoyil valam varaTo walk around and circumambulate your sacred temple
Naanenna punniyam seithen vadivelaaWhat good deeds have I performed, O Lord Vadivelan?
Naanenna punniyam seithen vadivelaaWhat good deeds have I performed, O Lord Vadivelan?
Female
Pachchai maamalai pol maeniBody resembling a lush green mountain
Pavalavaai kamalasengan achchuthaa amarareWith coral lips, lotus-like red eyes, Achyutha, Lord of the devas
Aayar tham kozhunthaeThe young shoot of the cowherd community
Female
Adiyodu vinnodum pirivindriWithout separation, spanning earth and high heavens
Ayiram pallaanduFor thousands of years
Panivaai nin malar maarbil vaazhkindraHumbly, residing upon your flower-like divine chest
Mangaiyum pallanduLong live the Goddess Lakshmi as well
Female
Pallaandu pallaanduFor many years, many years
PallaayiraraththaanduFor hundreds of thousands of years
Pallaandu pallaanduFor many years, many years
PallaayiraraththaanduFor hundreds of thousands of years
Palakodi nooraayiram….For many millions and hundreds of thousands of years...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional composition structured as a Ragamalika is a magnificent praise of Hindu deities. It opens with adoration for Lord Shiva's Nataraja form dancing in the golden hall of Chidambaram (Ponnambalam), describing the rhythmic cosmic dance involving Goddess Sivagami, celestial beings, and cosmic elements. It then transitions to praising Lord Ranganatha of Srirangam, asking gently why the lord slumbers upon the serpent couch over the Kaveri river banks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Kaana kan kodi vendum

Repetition of the phrase 'Kaana kan kodi vendum' emphasizes the cosmic beauty of Lord Shiva's dance which requires a crore eyes to fully perceive.

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Emonai & Edhugai)

Maanada mazhuvaada madhiyaada punalaada

Rhythmic rhyming of 'Maanada mazhuvaada madhiyaada punalaada' creates a natural beat mirroring the Tandava dance steps.

Metaphor

Pachchai maamalai pol maeni

Lord Krishna/Vishnu's physical form is metaphorically compared to a lush green mountain ('Pachchai maamalai pol maeni').

Literary Allusion (Pasuram Reference)

Pallaandu pallaandu Pallaayiraraththaandu

Directly quotes and adapts Thirumangai Alvar's and Periyalvar's famous Divya Prabandham hymns ('Pachchai maamalai pol maeni' and 'Pallaandu pallaandu').

Did you know?

Trivia

This dance performance piece from the 1962 film 'Konjum Salangai' showcases classical ragamalika music composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu. The film stars Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, and features legendary Nadaswaram playing by Karukurichi Arunachalam alongside playback vocals.

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