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Lyrics & meaning

Kannapura Ooratha

From Deviyin Thiruvilayadal · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Deviyin Thiruvilayadal1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaalam kanakkariyaa karpagamae aaththaalaeO Mother, who is like the divine wish-fulfilling tree beyond the count of time!
Aalam amuthaagum amma nee paarththaalaeO Mother, if you just glance at it, deadly poison turns into sweet nectar!
Ingae amutham vishamaachchu aavin paal kallaachchuHere, nectar has turned into poison, and cow's milk has turned into liquor!
Amutham vishamaachchu aavin paal kallaachchuNectar has turned into poison, and cow's milk has turned into liquor!
Female
Kannapura ooraaththaaO Mother deity of Kannapuram town!
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaaOpen your eyes and look at us, Mother!
Unnaivida yaaraaththaaWho else is there besides you, Mother?
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaaTell us what the truth is, Mother!
Female
Kannapura ooraaththaaO Mother deity of Kannapuram town!
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaaOpen your eyes and look at us, Mother!
Unnaivida yaaraaththaaWho else is there besides you, Mother?
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaaTell us what the truth is, Mother!
Female
Un thegam kothippaanaal oorellaam vegumadiIf your body boils with anger, the entire town will burn!
Un thegam kothippaanaal oorellaam vegumadiIf your body boils with anger, the entire town will burn!
Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadiDoubt has turned into fire, and my body is burning!
Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadiDoubt has turned into fire, and my body is burning!
Female
Makkalellaam kuttram seithaalIf common people commit a crime,
Mannavarae kettiduvaarThe ruler will question and punish them.
Mannavarae kuttram seithaalIf the ruler himself commits a crime,
Magamaayi keladiyoO Goddess Magamaayi, who else can question him?
Mannavarae kuttram seithaalIf the ruler himself commits a crime,
Magamaayi keladiyoO Goddess Magamaayi, who else can question him?
Female
Kannapura ooraaththaaO Mother deity of Kannapuram town!
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaaOpen your eyes and look at us, Mother!
Unnaivida yaaraaththaaWho else is there besides you, Mother?
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaaTell us what the truth is, Mother!
Female
Thaayariyaa soodhumillaiThere is no deceit unknown to a mother,
Vaayariyaa sorumillaiJust as there is no food unknown to the mouth.
Neeyariyaa sethiyillaiThere is no truth or news unknown to you,
Unnai meeri yaedhumillaiNothing exists beyond your supreme power.
Female
Punniyaththai kurudaakkiMaking righteousness blind,
Paakkurathu niyaayamillaiIt is not fair to just watch quietly.
Punniyaththai kurudaakkiMaking righteousness blind,
Paakkurathu niyaayamillaiIt is not fair to just watch quietly.
Female
Aayirangan maariyammaaO Mariyamma, goddess with a thousand eyes!
Attaiyindri vaadiyammaaYou are wilting away without care!
Saei izhantha kannoliyaiThe light of the eyes lost by your child,
Seekkiramae thaadiyammaaGrant it back quickly, Mother!
Female
Karpudaiya pengalukkuFor women of pure character and chastity,
Kaaval nirkkum kaaliyammaaO Goddess Kaali who stands as a guardian!
Korikkaiyai ketta pinnumEven after hearing our fervent prayer,
Veru enna joliyammaWhat other duty do you have, Mother?
Korikkaiyai ketta pinnumEven after hearing our fervent prayer,
Veru enna joliyammaWhat other duty do you have, Mother?
Female
Kannapura ooraaththaaO Mother deity of Kannapuram town!
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaaOpen your eyes and look at us, Mother!
Unnaivida yaaraaththaaWho else is there besides you, Mother?
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaa…Tell us what the truth is, Mother...
Female
Kannapura ooraaththaaO Mother deity of Kannapuram town!
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaaOpen your eyes and look at us, Mother!
Unnaivida yaaraaththaaWho else is there besides you, Mother?
Unmaiyenna kooraaththa…..Tell us what the truth is, Mother...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This devotional song from 'Deviyin Thiruvilayadal' (1982) is an impassioned appeal to Goddess Mariyamman of Kannapuram. The devotee laments how moral order in the world has flipped—where goodness and purity have turned into evil and harm. The lyricist raises a powerful social and philosophical question: while ordinary citizens are punished by kings when they err, who will question the king when he commits a crime? Only the supreme Divine Mother can intervene and deliver divine justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kannapura ooraaththaa / Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa

The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming endings like 'ooraaththaa', 'paaraaththaa', 'yaaraaththaa', and 'kooraaththaa' to create a hypnotic, folk-devotional rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagakani)

Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadi

Doubt is conceptualized as fire burning the devotee's body, emphasizing intense mental anguish.

Contrast / Antithesis

Aalam amuthaagum amma nee paarththaalae / Ingae amutham vishamaachchu

Juxtaposes divine power (turning poison to nectar) with human moral degeneration (nectar turning to poison).

Proverbial Analogy (Uwamai)

Thaayariyaa soodhumillai / Vaayariyaa sorumillai

Uses universal maternal intuition and sensory familiarity to illustrate the Goddess's omniscience.

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Trivia

This song belongs to the classic Tamil folk devotional genre ('Amman Paattu'). Lyricist Vaali expertly blends deep spiritual fervor with subtle political and philosophical commentary on justice, authority, and divine duty.

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