Kettal Ketta Varam
From Durgadevi · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Durgadevi1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Thedi varum anbarukku dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out. |
| Theril varum ammanukku aadharikkum manamirukku | The Mother who arrives on a chariot possesses a compassionate heart to support all. |
| Female | |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Female | |
| Naalvagai vedhangalum oru sakthiyai kaattuthammaa | All four Vedas point towards the one divine Sakthi, O Mother. |
| Iru vinaigal oottuthammaa | She feeds us according to our two types of karmas, O Mother. |
| Thirisooliyai pottruthammaa | The world praises the one who holds the sacred trident, O Mother. |
| Female | |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out. |
| Female | |
| Aayiram peyarudaiyaal aayiram kannudaiyaal | She has a thousand names, she has a thousand eyes. |
| Aayiram kayudaiyaal aayiram vadivudaiyaal | She has a thousand hands, she takes a thousand forms. |
| Maavilakkil kudiyiruppaal manthiraththil koluviruppaal | She resides in the flour lamp offerings, she sits in majesty within sacred chants. |
| Kovilukkul iruntha vannam kaavalukku thaaniruppaal | While dwelling inside the temple, she herself stands guard over us. |
| Female | |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out. |
| Female | |
| Maasiyil therottam panguniyil theppottam | Chariot festival in the month of Maasi, float festival in Panguni. |
| Chiththiraiyil poochoriyal eththaniyo ursavangal | Flower-showering festival in Chithirai, and so many other celebrations! |
| Sevadiyai thozhutha vannam devi pugazh padiduvaar | Bowing down at her sacred feet, devotees sing the praises of the Goddess. |
| Kaavadigal soodiduvaar karagangal aadiduvaar | They carry Kaavadi offerings and perform the Karagam folk dance. |
| Female | |
| Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam | Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet. |
| Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out. |
| Dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides. |
| Dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum | Goddess Durga's grace resides. |
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்
தேடி வரும் அன்பருக்கு துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
தேரில் வரும் அம்மனுக்கு ஆதரிக்கும் மனமிருக்கு
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
The Mother who arrives on a chariot possesses a compassionate heart to support all.
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்....
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
நால்வகை வேதங்களும் ஒரு சக்தியை காட்டுதம்மா
இரு வினைகளை ஓட்டுதம்மா
திரிசூலியைப் போற்றுதம்மா
All four Vedas point towards the one divine Sakthi, O Mother.
She feeds us according to our two types of karmas, O Mother.
The world praises the one who holds the sacred trident, O Mother.
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்
தேடி வரும் அன்பருக்கு துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
ஆயிரம் பெயருடையாள் ஆயிரம் கண்ணுடையாள்
ஆயிரம் கையுடையாள் ஆயிரம் வடிவுடையாள்
மாவிளக்கில் குடியிருப்பாள் மந்திரத்தில் கொலுவிருப்பாள்
கோவிலுக்குள் இருந்த வண்ணம் காவலுக்கு தானிருப்பாள்
She has a thousand names, she has a thousand eyes.
She has a thousand hands, she takes a thousand forms.
She resides in the flour lamp offerings, she sits in majesty within sacred chants.
While dwelling inside the temple, she herself stands guard over us.
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்
தேடி வரும் அன்பருக்கு துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
மாசியில் தேரோட்டம் பங்குனியில் தெப்போட்டம்
சித்திரையில் பூச்சொரியல் எத்தனையோ உற்சவங்கள்
சேவடியைத் தொழுத வண்ணம் தேவி புகழ் பாடிடுவார்
காவடிகள் சூடிடுவார் கரகங்கள் ஆடிடுவார்......
Chariot festival in the month of Maasi, float festival in Panguni.
Flower-showering festival in Chithirai, and so many other celebrations!
Bowing down at her sacred feet, devotees sing the praises of the Goddess.
They carry Kaavadi offerings and perform the Karagam folk dance.
கேட்டால் கேட்ட வரம் தரும் தாயே உன் சரணம்
தேடி வரும் அன்பருக்கு துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
துர்க்கையம்மன் அருளிருக்கும்
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
Goddess Durga's grace resides.
Goddess Durga's grace resides.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Thedi varum anbarukku dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
Theril varum ammanukku aadharikkum manamirukku
The Mother who arrives on a chariot possesses a compassionate heart to support all.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Naalvagai vedhangalum oru sakthiyai kaattuthammaa
All four Vedas point towards the one divine Sakthi, O Mother.
Iru vinaigal oottuthammaa
She feeds us according to our two types of karmas, O Mother.
Thirisooliyai pottruthammaa
The world praises the one who holds the sacred trident, O Mother.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
Aayiram peyarudaiyaal aayiram kannudaiyaal
She has a thousand names, she has a thousand eyes.
Aayiram kayudaiyaal aayiram vadivudaiyaal
She has a thousand hands, she takes a thousand forms.
Maavilakkil kudiyiruppaal manthiraththil koluviruppaal
She resides in the flour lamp offerings, she sits in majesty within sacred chants.
Kovilukkul iruntha vannam kaavalukku thaaniruppaal
While dwelling inside the temple, she herself stands guard over us.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
Maasiyil therottam panguniyil theppottam
Chariot festival in the month of Maasi, float festival in Panguni.
Chiththiraiyil poochoriyal eththaniyo ursavangal
Flower-showering festival in Chithirai, and so many other celebrations!
Sevadiyai thozhutha vannam devi pugazh padiduvaar
Bowing down at her sacred feet, devotees sing the praises of the Goddess.
Kaavadigal soodiduvaar karagangal aadiduvaar
They carry Kaavadi offerings and perform the Karagam folk dance.
Kettaal ketta varam tharum thaayae un saranam
Oh Mother who grants whatever boon is asked, I surrender at your feet.
Thedi varum anbarukku thurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides for the devotees who seek her out.
Dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides.
Dhurkkaiyamman arilirukkum
Goddess Durga's grace resides.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic devotional song from 'Durgadevi' (1977) is an earnest prayer addressed to Goddess Durga, extolling her supreme power, boundless mercy, and infinite manifestations. Kannadasan's lyrics depict her as the ultimate cosmic energy acknowledged by the four Vedas, who balances karma and protects those who surrender to her. The song highlights her presence in simple devotional offerings like flour lamps (Maavilakku) and mantras, assuring devotees that while she resides inside the temple, her watchful eye guards them outside.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Aayiram peyarudaiyaal aayiram kannudaiyaal / Aayiram kayudaiyaal aayiram vadivudaiyaal”
The word 'Aayiram' (Thousand) is repeated across adjacent phrases to emphasize the infinite and omnipresent nature of the Goddess.
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Naalvagai vedhangalum oru sakthiyai kaattuthammaa / Iru vinaigal oottuthammaa / Thirisooliyai pottruthammaa”
The suffix '-ammaa' is used at the end of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, chant-like musical flow.
Parallelism and Rhythm
“Maasiyil therottam panguniyil theppottam / Chiththiraiyil poochoriyal eththaniyo ursavangal”
Matching sentence structures describing temple festivals across different months of the Tamil calendar.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and rendered by Vani Jairam, 'Kettaal Ketta Varam Tharum' is considered one of the iconic devotional tracks in Tamil cinema history. Even decades after its release in the 1977 movie 'Durgadevi', the song remains hugely popular and is regularly played at Amman temples across Tamil Nadu during festival seasons like Aadi and Purattasi.
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