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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaliyaatha Kalviyum

From Thirumalai Thenkumari · 1970

Lyricist
Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Details
Thirumalai Thenkumari1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kalaiyaadha kalviyum kuraiyaadha vayadhumUnfading education and an undiminished age,
Or kabadu vaaraadha natpumAnd a friendship untainted by deceit,
Male :Kalaiyaadha kalviyum kuraiyaadha vayadhumMale: Unfading education and an undiminished age,
Or kabadu vaaraadha natpumAnd a friendship untainted by deceit,
Kandraadha valamaiyum kundraadha ilamaiyumUnfading prosperity and undiminished youthfulness,
Kazhu pini ilaadha udalumA body free from painful diseases,
Kazhu pini ilaadha udalumA body free from painful diseases,
Male
Saliyaadha manamum anbu agalaadha manaiviyumAn untiring mind and a loving wife who never departs,
Thavaraadha santhaanamumAnd dutiful, righteous offspring,
Saliyaadha manamum anbu agalaadha manaiviyumAn untiring mind and a loving wife who never departs,
Thavaraadha santhaanamumAnd dutiful, righteous offspring,
Thaazhaadha keerthiyum maaraadha vaarthaiyumUnfading fame and an unswerving word,
Thadaigal vaaraadha kodaiyum mm mm a a a a a a aa aa aa….And boundless charity without obstacles... mm mm ah ah...
Male
Tholaiyaadha nidhiyamum konaadha kolumAn imperishable wealth and a righteous scepter,
Oru thunbam illaadha vaazhvumAnd a life devoid of any sorrow,
Thuiya nin paadhathil anbum..mm.. udhaviAlong with devotion at Your pure feet, grant me this,
Periya thondarodu koottu kandaai….a a a….And join me in the company of great devotees... ah ah...
Male
Alaiyaazhi arithuyilu maayanadhu thangaiyaeO sister of Lord Vishnu who recline in cosmic sleep on the ocean,
Aadhi kadavoorin vaazhvaeO life and soul of ancient Thirukadavur,
Alaiyaazhi arithuyilu maayanadhu thangaiyaeO sister of Lord Vishnu who recline in cosmic sleep on the ocean,
Aadhi kadavoorin vaazhvaeO life and soul of ancient Thirukadavur,
Male
Amudheesar orupaagam agalaadha sukapaaniOccupying one half of Lord Amritaghateswarar's body, holding a parrot in hand,
Arul baami abiraamiyae….yae yae yae….O gracious Goddess Abirami... yae yae...
Amudheesar orupaagam agalaadha sukapaaniOccupying one half of Lord Amritaghateswarar's body, holding a parrot in hand,
Arul baami abiraamiyaeO gracious Goddess Abirami,
Male
Dhanam tharum kalvi tharumIt bestows wealth, it bestows education,
Oru naalum thalarv ariyaa manam tharumIt grants a mind that never knows fatigue,
Dheiva vadivum tharumIt bestows a divine spiritual form,
Nenjil panjam illaa inam tharumIt grants loving kinsmen free from poverty of heart,
Nallana ellaam tharumIt bestows all good things in life,
Anbar enbavarkkae ganam tharumIt grants great honor to those who become devotees,
Poonguzhalaal abiraami kadaikkangalaeAll these flow from the graceful side-glances of Goddess Abirami, adorned with flower braids,
Poonguzhalaal abiraami kadaikkangalaeAll these flow from the graceful side-glances of Goddess Abirami, adorned with flower braids.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This devotional song is a rendered selection from the revered 18th-century Tamil masterpiece Abirami Anthadhi. The verse enumerates sixteen supreme boons essential for a complete and blessed human life, including eternal wisdom, health, noble friendship, unswerving integrity, imperishable wealth, a loving family, righteous lineage, and devotion to the divine feet of Goddess Abirami. The latter section praises the divine mother Abirami, who shares half the body of Lord Shiva (Amritaghateswarar) in Thirukadavur. It highlights that Her merciful side-glance alone is capable of granting all earthly prosperity, wisdom, spiritual beauty, and eternal honor to her beloved devotees.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora

Dhanam tharum kalvi tharum / Oru naalum thalarv ariyaa manam tharum

Repetition of 'tharum' (grants/bestows) at the end of consecutive lines (26-31) to emphasize the endless blessings from the Goddess.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Dhanam tharum kalvi tharum... Manam tharum

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive words or lines, such as 'Dhanam' and 'Manam'.

Metaphor

Alaiyaazhi arithuyilu maayanadhu thangaiyae / Amudheesar orupaagam

Describing the Goddess as the sister of Lord Vishnu ('Alaiyaazhi arithuyilu maayanadhu thangaiyae') and the occupant of half of Lord Shiva's body ('Amudheesar orupaagam').

Did you know?

Trivia

These verses are fundamentally from the 'Abirami Anthadhi' written by saint Abirami Bhattar in the 18th century. In the 1970 devotional film 'Thirumalai Thenkumari', the music was composed by violin virtuoso Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, and this classical track was sung by the legendary Carnatic vocalist Sirkazhi Govindarajan.

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