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Thiruvarutchelvar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhalaagi

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Master Maharajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvarutchelvar
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
22 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaadhalaagi kasindhu…
Kanneer malgi
Odhuvaar thammai…
Nanneri puippadhu
Vaedham naangilum…
Mei porulaavadhu
Naadhan naamam namachivaayavae…
Ae… ae… ae… ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae..
Ae…ae..ae..ae…a.e..ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…ae…
Maasil veenaiyum…
Maalai madhiyamum…
Veesu thendralum…
Veengila vaenilum
Maasil veenaiyum…
Maalai madhiyamum…
Veesu thendralum…
Veengila vaenilum
Moosu vandarai
Pogaiyai pondradhae
Eesan endhai inaiyadi nizhalae… ae…
Melting with deep love,
with tears welling in their eyes,
for those who chant it,
it guides them onto the righteous path;
in all the four sacred Vedas,
the ultimate truth is
the sacred name of the Lord: Namachivaya!
Ah... ah... ah...
Ah... ah... ah...
Like the pure sound of a flawless veena (traditional stringed instrument),
like the soothing evening moon,
like the gentle southern breeze,
like the warmth of early spring,
like the pure sound of a flawless veena,
like the soothing evening moon,
like the gentle southern breeze,
like the warmth of early spring,
and like a pond buzzing with humming bees,
so delightfully peaceful is
the sheltering shade of the twin feet of the Lord, my Father!
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic devotional medley from the movie Thiruvarutchelvar brings together sacred Thirumurai hymns written by ancient Tamil Saivite saints. The first part, 'Kaadhalaagi Kasindhu', highlights that for devotees who chant the five-letter mantra 'Namachivaya' with tears of love and devotion, the mantra serves as the core truth of the four Vedas and guides them toward spiritual liberation. The second part, 'Maasil Veenaiyum', uses poetic imagery—comparing the shelter of Lord Shiva's feet to pleasant sensory delights like pure Veena music, the evening moon, a cool breeze, early spring, and a bee-filled pond—to describe the ultimate peace and comfort found in divine refuge.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

Maasil veenaiyum... Pogaiyai pondradhae

The poet compares the soothing shade of Lord Shiva's feet to pleasant experiences such as flawless veena music, the evening moon, a soft breeze, spring season, and a cool pond using the comparative suffix 'pondradhae'.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Naadhan naamam namachivaayavae…

Repetition of the 'Na' sound across words in the line creates a pleasing rhythmic and sacred cadence.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Maasil veenaiyum... / Veesu thendralum... / Moosu vandarai

Rhyming of the second letter 's' in 'Maasil', 'Veesu', and 'Moosu' across consecutive verses creates musical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

These lines are ancient 7th-century Thirumurai hymns composed by Saivite saints Thirugnanasambandar ('Kaadhalaagi kasindhu') and Appar / Thirunavukkarasar ('Maasil veenaiyum'). In the film Thiruvarutchelvar (1967), starring Sivaji Ganesan, these classic verses were set to music by legendary composer K. V. Mahadevan.

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