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Lyrics & meaning

Kathirvel Nayagane

From Nangooram · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Nangooram1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kadhirvel naayaganaeOh Lord with the radiant spear,
Unnaiyae vendugirenI pray only to you.
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaaiYou will bestow goodness upon us,
Naalellam kaathiruppenI will wait for you all day long.
Female
Kadhirvel naayaganaeOh Lord with the radiant spear,
Unnaiyae vendugirenI pray only to you.
Female
Gopuram naangu veithaaiYou placed four temple towers,
Koyilo ondru veithaaiYou built only one temple,
Ondrilae kalasam veithaaiOn one, you placed the sacred golden finial,
Moondrilae mayakkam veithaaiIn three, you placed illusion and confusion,
Ennaiyae serthu veithaaiYou joined me along with them,
Endrum nee thunai irupaaiMay you always remain my eternal companion.
Female
Kadhirvel naayaganaeOh Lord with the radiant spear,
Unnaiyae vendugirenI pray only to you.
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaaiYou will bestow goodness upon us,
Naalellam kaathiruppenI will wait for you all day long.
Female
Or pillai kulavilakkuOne son is the light of the family lineage,
Or magal thiruvilakkuOne daughter is the auspicious holy lamp,
Thangaiyoo theru vilakkuThe younger sister is like a street light,
Thambhiyo thani vilakkuThe younger brother is a solitary lamp,
Naangumae saran unakkuAll four surrender unto you,
Nalguvaai pudhu kanakkuGrant us a fresh, new lease on life.
Female
Kadhirvel naayaganaeOh Lord with the radiant spear,
Unnaiyae vendugirenI pray only to you.
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaaiYou will bestow goodness upon us,
Naalellam kaathiruppenI will wait for you all day long.
Female
Enna thaan nee nadathuWhatever fate you decree and conduct,
Endrum naan unai maravenI will never forget you at any time.
Naalaikku thunai varuvaaiCome as my guardian for tomorrow,
Nambhithaan vaazhgirenI live my life solely trusting in you.
Thunbikkai thambhi aiyaaOh Lord, the brother of elephant-trunked Ganesha,
Nambikkai vaiyum aiyaaBestow your grace and faith upon us, Lord!
Female
Vaasamalarai kaaval purindhu nillaiyaaStand guard and protect these fragrant blossoms!
Pogum vazhiyil nalla vazhigal sollaiyaaGuide us along good paths on the journey ahead!
Naalu malarum vaazhndhu nalla gunangal serthuMay all four flowers flourish and gather good virtues,
Thaayin perumai kaathu nirkkumAnd stand tall, preserving their mother's pride.
Velaiyya kandhaiyaa kadhirkaama velaiyaaOh Velan! Oh Skanda! Oh spear-bearer of Kathirgama!
Female
Kadhirvel naayaganaeOh Lord with the radiant spear,
Unnaiyae vendugirenI pray only to you.
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaaiYou will bestow goodness upon us,
Naalellam kaathiruppenI will wait for you all day long.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful devotional song from 'Nangooram' (1979) is a mother's earnest prayer to Lord Murugan (Kadhirvelan). She places her entire family and life at the feet of the deity, trusting His divine will completely. Through poignant allegories, she compares her four children to different lamps and fragrant blossoms, seeking Lord Murugan's protection and guidance so that her children grow with noble values and uphold her dignity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Or pillai kulavilakku / Or magal thiruvilakku / Thangaiyoo theru vilakku / Thambhiyo thani vilakku

Repetition of ending sounds across consecutive lines creating a rhythmic pattern.

Uruvagamb (Metaphor)

Or pillai kulavilakku ... Naalu malarum vaazhndhu

Comparing children directly to different types of lamps and blossoms.

Edugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Thunbikkai thambhi aiyaa / Nambikkai vaiyum aiyaa

Matching second consonants across lines.

Alliteration (Moonae)

Velaiyya kandhaiyaa kadhirkaama velaiyaa

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in a line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by legendary poet Kannadasan, this song stands out for using everyday Tamil household metaphors (different types of lamps like Kulavilakku, Thiruvilakku, Theruvilakku) to represent family structure and dynamics in a devotional context.

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