Kadalil Vizhundha
From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- C. N. Pandurangan
- Details
- Thiru Neelakandar1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Kanal padum paambukkum karaiyinil meenukkum | For the serpent caught in fire and the fish stranded on dry land, |
| Thunai kondu vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came as their companion and savior. |
| Thunai kondu vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came as their companion and savior. |
| Male | |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Male | |
| Acham bayam endru anji nindroridam | To those who stand trembling in fear and panic, |
| Acham bayam endru anji nindroridam | To those who stand trembling in fear and panic, |
| Achamayam varuvan neelakandam | At that very moment, Neelakandan will arrive. |
| Tharsamayam enakku sirsabai naayagan | Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai), |
| Tharsamayam enakku sirsabai naayagan | Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai), |
| Thannabayam tharuvaan neelakandam | Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear. |
| Thannabayam tharuvaan neelakandam | Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear. |
| Male | |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Male | |
| Neerinilae piranthu neruppinilae mudikkum | Born in water and ending in fire, |
| Neela perungkathaiyae neelakandam | Neelakandan is the grand blue saga of existence. |
| Neruppai anaikkum munnae | Before extinguishing the fire of life, |
| Iruppathu ennavendru | Understanding what true reality is, |
| Poruppai koduththu vittaen neelakandam | I surrendered all my responsibilities to Neelakandan. |
| Male | |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Male | |
| Mogaththiruntha ennai | Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment, |
| Monaththil moozhaga vaiththu | Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation, |
| Mogaththiruntha ennai | Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment, |
| Monaththil moozhaga vaiththu | Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation, |
| Yogaththai thantharulvaan neelakandam | Neelakandan will bless me with spiritual yoga. |
| Thegaththil ulla pasi theernthathu theernthathendru | Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended, |
| Thegaththil ulla pasi theernthathu theernthathendru | Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended, |
| Nyaana pasiyai vaippaan neelakandam | Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom. |
| Nyaana pasiyai vaippaan neelakandam | Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom. |
| Male | |
| Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum | Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean, |
| Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam | Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore. |
| Male | |
| Neelakandam neelakandam neelakandam | Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan, |
| Neelakandam neelakandam neelakandam | Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan. |
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
கனல் படும் பாம்புக்கும் கரையினில் மீனுக்கும்
துணைக் கொண்டு வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
துணைக் கொண்டு வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
For the serpent caught in fire and the fish stranded on dry land,
Neelakandan came as their companion and savior.
Neelakandan came as their companion and savior.
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
அச்சம் பயம் என்று அஞ்சி நின்றோரிடம்
அச்சம் பயம் என்று அஞ்சி நின்றோரிடம்
அச்சமயம் வருவான் நீலகண்டம்
தற்சமயம் எனக்கு சிற்சபை நாயகன்
தற்சமயம் எனக்கு சிற்சபை நாயகன்
தன்னபயம் தருவான் நீலகண்டம்
தன்னபயம் தருவான் நீலகண்டம்
To those who stand trembling in fear and panic,
To those who stand trembling in fear and panic,
At that very moment, Neelakandan will arrive.
Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai),
Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai),
Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear.
Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear.
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
நீரினிலே பிறந்து நெருப்பினிலே முடிக்கும்
நீளப் பெருங்கதையே நீலகண்டம்
நெருப்பை அணைக்கும் முன்னே
இருப்பது என்னவென்று
பொறுப்பைக் கொடுத்து விட்டேன் நீலகண்டம்
Born in water and ending in fire,
Neelakandan is the grand blue saga of existence.
Before extinguishing the fire of life,
Understanding what true reality is,
I surrendered all my responsibilities to Neelakandan.
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
மோகத்திருந்த என்னை
மோனத்தில் மூழ்க வைத்து
மோகத்திருந்த என்னை
மோனத்தில் மூழ்க வைத்து
யோகத்தைத் தந்தருள்வான் நீலகண்டம்
தேகத்தில் உள்ள பசி தீர்ந்தது தீர்ந்ததென்று
தேகத்தில் உள்ள பசி தீர்ந்தது தீர்ந்ததென்று
ஞானப் பசியை வைப்பான் நீலகண்டம்
ஞானப் பசியை வைப்பான் நீலகண்டம்
Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment,
Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation,
Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment,
Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation,
Neelakandan will bless me with spiritual yoga.
Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended,
Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended,
Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom.
Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom.
கடலில் விழுந்த ஓர் காக்கையை பார்த்ததும்
கரை சொல்ல வந்தவன் நீலகண்டம்
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
நீலகண்டம் நீலகண்டம் நீலகண்டம்
நீலகண்டம் நீலகண்டம் நீலகண்டம்
Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan,
Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Kanal padum paambukkum karaiyinil meenukkum
For the serpent caught in fire and the fish stranded on dry land,
Thunai kondu vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came as their companion and savior.
Thunai kondu vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came as their companion and savior.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Acham bayam endru anji nindroridam
To those who stand trembling in fear and panic,
Acham bayam endru anji nindroridam
To those who stand trembling in fear and panic,
Achamayam varuvan neelakandam
At that very moment, Neelakandan will arrive.
Tharsamayam enakku sirsabai naayagan
Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai),
Tharsamayam enakku sirsabai naayagan
Right now for me, the Lord of the Divine Court (Sirsabai),
Thannabayam tharuvaan neelakandam
Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear.
Thannabayam tharuvaan neelakandam
Neelakandan will grant protection from all fear.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Neerinilae piranthu neruppinilae mudikkum
Born in water and ending in fire,
Neela perungkathaiyae neelakandam
Neelakandan is the grand blue saga of existence.
Neruppai anaikkum munnae
Before extinguishing the fire of life,
Iruppathu ennavendru
Understanding what true reality is,
Poruppai koduththu vittaen neelakandam
I surrendered all my responsibilities to Neelakandan.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Mogaththiruntha ennai
Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment,
Monaththil moozhaga vaiththu
Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation,
Mogaththiruntha ennai
Me, who was steeped in worldly attachment,
Monaththil moozhaga vaiththu
Making me immerse in silent divine contemplation,
Yogaththai thantharulvaan neelakandam
Neelakandan will bless me with spiritual yoga.
Thegaththil ulla pasi theernthathu theernthathendru
Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended,
Thegaththil ulla pasi theernthathu theernthathendru
Declaring that the physical hunger of the body has ended,
Nyaana pasiyai vaippaan neelakandam
Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom.
Nyaana pasiyai vaippaan neelakandam
Neelakandan will instill the hunger for true wisdom.
Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum
Upon seeing a crow that fell into the ocean,
Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam
Neelakandan came to guide it safely to the shore.
Neelakandam neelakandam neelakandam
Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan,
Neelakandam neelakandam neelakandam
Neelakandan, Neelakandan, Neelakandan.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This devotional song from the 1972 movie 'Thiru Neelakandar' is a profound hymn of surrender to Lord Shiva (Neelakandan). The lyricist Kannadasan uses vivid imagery to illustrate divine compassion: just as Lord Shiva guides a helpless drowning crow to shore or protects creatures in distress, He rescues souls lost in the ocean of worldly delusion (Samsara). The song highlights the transformation of a human soul from worldly attachments (Moga) to silent meditation (Mona) and spiritual union (Yoga). The singer reflects on the transient nature of mortal life—born in water and consumed by fire—and expresses total surrender of personal ego and duty to the divine. Ultimately, Lord Shiva fulfills physical needs only to replace them with a higher, spiritual hunger for divine wisdom (Jnana Pasi), leading the devotee to complete liberation and fearlessness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kadalil vizhuntha orr kaakkaiyai paarththathum”
The 'crow falling into the ocean' represents a human soul helpless and drowning in the vast ocean of worldly existence (Samsara).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mogaththiruntha ennai / Monaththil moozhaga vaiththu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Mo' in 'Mogaththiruntha' and 'Monaththil'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Refrain)
“Karai solla vanthavan neelakandam”
The line ending and refrain 'Neelakandam' recurs throughout the poem to emphasize the deity's sacred name.
Contrast (Antithesis)
“Nyaana pasiyai vaippaan neelakandam”
Contrasts bodily hunger ('Thegaththil ulla pasi') with spiritual hunger for enlightenment ('Nyaana pasi').
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Thiru Neelakandar' (1972) chronicles the life of Tirunilakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 prominent Nayanmars of Shaivism. The legendary actor-singer T. R. Mahalingam played the main character and sang his own classical tracks. Kannadasan's lyrics seamlessly integrate core Saiva Siddhanta philosophy into accessible poetic metaphors.
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