Kanavu Kanden Kanna
From Paasa Deepam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Paasa Deepam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanna manivannaa mugunthaa muraarae | O Krishna, jewel-toned Lord, Mukunda, Murari! |
| Kanavu kandaen kannaa | I saw a dream, O Krishna! |
| Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa | You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord! |
| Kanavu kandaen kannaa | I saw a dream, O Krishna! |
| Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa | You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord! |
| Female | |
| Manamenum solaiyil malar parithaen naan | I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind, |
| Manamenum solaiyil malar parithaen naan | I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind, |
| Maalaigal seithu manamudiththaai nee | You wove them into garlands and wedded me, |
| Maalaigal seithu manamudiththaai nee | You wove them into garlands and wedded me, |
| Female | |
| Kanavu kandaen kannaa | I saw a dream, O Krishna! |
| Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa | You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord! |
| Female | |
| Panthal meedhoru koondhal thoranam | Above the wedding canopy hung festoons fine like long tresses, |
| Vaazhaigal aadi kandaen | I saw auspicious banana trees swaying, |
| Paadum mangal melam thaalam | With auspicious drums playing and rhythm echoing, |
| Oorvalam poe vara kandaen | I saw the wedding procession arriving, |
| Female | |
| Mathar koottam kaigal thaangum | Borne gracefully in the hands of women gathered, |
| Manjal kungumam kandaen | I saw sacred turmeric and auspicious vermilion, |
| Maalai soodum mangai naanun | And I, the bride adorned with the wedding garland, |
| Maaya karunai kandaen | I witnessed your divine and magical mercy. |
| Female | |
| Harae krishna krishna krishna | Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, |
| Krishna harae harae krishna harae | Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare, |
| Harae krishna krishna krishna | Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna, |
| Krishna harae harae krishna harae | Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare. |
| Female | |
| Thanthai magalai kaalai kaiyil | In the morning light, a father holding his daughter's hand, |
| Thaarai vaarthida kanadaen | I saw the sacred wedding ritual of giving away the bride, |
| Sontham suttram vaazhiya endrae | Wishing blessings and long life for the family and kin, |
| Malargal thoovida kndaen | I saw them showering fragrant blossoms, |
| Female | |
| Paathi nilaavil panjanai meedhu | Under the soft half-moon upon the comfortable bed, |
| Naanam pongida kandaen | I saw modesty and bashfulness welling up in me, |
| Paalum pazhamum kandaen adhil | I saw the traditional milk and fruit, and in that, |
| Paranthaaman unai kandaen | I saw you, my Supreme Lord Vishnu! |
| Female | |
| Kanavu kandaen kannaa | I saw a dream, O Krishna! |
| Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa | You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord! |
கண்ணா.......மணிவண்ணா.....முகுந்தா முராரே...
கனவு கண்டேன் கண்ணா
நீ கை கொடுத்தாய் மணிவண்ணா
கனவு கண்டேன் கண்ணா
நீ கை கொடுத்தாய் மணிவண்ணா
O Krishna, jewel-toned Lord, Mukunda, Murari!
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
மனமெனும் சோலையில் மலர் பறித்தேன் நான்
மனமெனும் சோலையில் மலர் பறித்தேன் நான்
மாலைகள் செய்து மணமுடித்தாய் நீ
மாலைகள் செய்து மணமுடித்தாய் நீ
I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind,
I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind,
You wove them into garlands and wedded me,
You wove them into garlands and wedded me,
கனவு கண்டேன் கண்ணா
நீ கை கொடுத்தாய் மணிவண்ணா
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
பந்தல் மீதொரு கூந்தல் தோரணம்
வாழைகள் ஆடிக் கண்டேன்
பாடும் மங்கல மேளம் தாளம்
ஊர்வலம் போய்வரக் கண்டேன்
Above the wedding canopy hung festoons fine like long tresses,
I saw auspicious banana trees swaying,
With auspicious drums playing and rhythm echoing,
I saw the wedding procession arriving,
மாதர் கூட்டம் கைகள் தாங்கும்
மஞ்சள் குங்குமம் கண்டேன்
மாலை சூடும் மங்கை நானுன்
மாயக் கருணைக் கண்டேன்
Borne gracefully in the hands of women gathered,
I saw sacred turmeric and auspicious vermilion,
And I, the bride adorned with the wedding garland,
I witnessed your divine and magical mercy.
ஹரே கிருஷ்ண கிருஷ்ண கிருஷ்ண
கிருஷ்ண ஹரே..ஹரே..கிருஷ்ண ஹரே
ஸ்ரீ கிருஷ்ண கிருஷ்ண கிருஷ்ண
கிருஷ்ண...ஹரே.....ஹரே.....கிருஷ்ண...ஹரே
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna,
Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare,
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna,
Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare.
தந்தை மகளை காளைக் கையில்
தாரை வார்த்திடக் கண்டேன்
சொந்தம் சுற்றம் வாழிய என்றே
மலர்கள் தூவிடக் கண்டேன்
In the morning light, a father holding his daughter's hand,
I saw the sacred wedding ritual of giving away the bride,
Wishing blessings and long life for the family and kin,
I saw them showering fragrant blossoms,
பாதி நிலாவில் பஞ்சணை மீது
நாணம் பொங்கிடக் கண்டேன்
பாலும் பழமும் கண்டேன் அதில்
பரந்தாமன் உனைக் கண்டேன்....
Under the soft half-moon upon the comfortable bed,
I saw modesty and bashfulness welling up in me,
I saw the traditional milk and fruit, and in that,
I saw you, my Supreme Lord Vishnu!
கனவு கண்டேன் கண்ணா
நீ கை கொடுத்தாய் மணிவண்ணா
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
Kanna manivannaa mugunthaa muraarae
O Krishna, jewel-toned Lord, Mukunda, Murari!
Kanavu kandaen kannaa
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
Kanavu kandaen kannaa
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
Manamenum solaiyil malar parithaen naan
I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind,
Manamenum solaiyil malar parithaen naan
I plucked blossoms from the garden of my mind,
Maalaigal seithu manamudiththaai nee
You wove them into garlands and wedded me,
Maalaigal seithu manamudiththaai nee
You wove them into garlands and wedded me,
Kanavu kandaen kannaa
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
Panthal meedhoru koondhal thoranam
Above the wedding canopy hung festoons fine like long tresses,
Vaazhaigal aadi kandaen
I saw auspicious banana trees swaying,
Paadum mangal melam thaalam
With auspicious drums playing and rhythm echoing,
Oorvalam poe vara kandaen
I saw the wedding procession arriving,
Mathar koottam kaigal thaangum
Borne gracefully in the hands of women gathered,
Manjal kungumam kandaen
I saw sacred turmeric and auspicious vermilion,
Maalai soodum mangai naanun
And I, the bride adorned with the wedding garland,
Maaya karunai kandaen
I witnessed your divine and magical mercy.
Harae krishna krishna krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna,
Krishna harae harae krishna harae
Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare,
Harae krishna krishna krishna
Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna,
Krishna harae harae krishna harae
Krishna Hare Hare Krishna Hare.
Thanthai magalai kaalai kaiyil
In the morning light, a father holding his daughter's hand,
Thaarai vaarthida kanadaen
I saw the sacred wedding ritual of giving away the bride,
Sontham suttram vaazhiya endrae
Wishing blessings and long life for the family and kin,
Malargal thoovida kndaen
I saw them showering fragrant blossoms,
Paathi nilaavil panjanai meedhu
Under the soft half-moon upon the comfortable bed,
Naanam pongida kandaen
I saw modesty and bashfulness welling up in me,
Paalum pazhamum kandaen adhil
I saw the traditional milk and fruit, and in that,
Paranthaaman unai kandaen
I saw you, my Supreme Lord Vishnu!
Kanavu kandaen kannaa
I saw a dream, O Krishna!
Nee kai koduthaai manivannaa
You held my hand and guided me, O jewel-toned Lord!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic devotional melody captures a woman's vivid dream of marrying Lord Krishna. She recounts every detail of her dream wedding to the Lord: from gathering metaphorical flowers of love from the garden of her mind to witnessing traditional wedding decorations, auspicious music, festoons, turmeric, vermilion, and a grand procession. She describes the emotional peak of the father giving away his daughter (Kanyadaan) and relatives showering blossoms with heartfelt blessings. The song beautifully bridges sacred divine devotion (Bhakti) and romantic bridal longing (Sringara), culminating in her seeing Lord Krishna himself during the auspicious milk and fruit custom on the wedding night.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Manamenum solaiyil malar parithaen naan”
Compares the human mind directly to a lush garden ('Manamenum solaiyil' - the garden called the mind).
Alliteration (Mona)
“Kanavu kandaen kannaa”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' across 'Kanavu', 'kandaen', and 'kannaa'.
Epiphora / End Rhyme (Ebu)
“Naanam pongida kandaen”
Repetition of the word 'kandaen' (I saw) at the end of successive lines to create a rhythmic narrative flow of dream visions.
Alliteration & Assonance (Moona)
“Maalai soodum mangai naanun / Maaya karunai kandaen”
Repetition of the 'M' sound in 'Maalai', 'mangai', and 'Maaya' creates a melodic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song pays homage to Andal's immortal 'Vaaranam Aayiram' from the Nachiyar Thirumozhi, where the saint poetess Andal describes her dream of marrying Lord Ranganatha. Kannadasan adapted this classical Vaishnavite devotional concept into contemporary film poetry, while M. S. Viswanathan gave it a poignant ragam-based composition rendered softly by P. Susheela.
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