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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Komatha Engal Kulamatha

From Saraswathi Sabatham · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Saraswathi Sabatham
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
11 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalai vaazhga malar vaazhga
Kalaimagalin thiruvaazhga
Pulavar thirunaavir porundhum
Thamizh vaazhga
Kanni thamizhodu kalandha
Narkavi vaazhga
Annai kalaivaani
Vanna peyar vaazhga vaazhgavae
Komaadhaa engal kulamaadhaa
Kulamaadhar nalam kaakum gunamaadhaa
Aaaaa…..aaa…..aaaa……aaaaa…….
{Komaadhaa engal kulamaadhaa
Komaadhaa engal kulamaadhaa
Kulamaadhar nalam kaakum gunamaadhaa
Puvi vaazhvil arul pongum thirumadhaa
Vanna komaadhaa….} (2)
Komaadhaa
Chorus :Komaadhaa
Female :Engal kulamaadhaa
Chorus :Kulamaadhaa
Paalootum anbilae annai neeyae
Pazhagum uravilae pillai neeyae
Paalootum anbilae annai neeyae
Pazhagum uravilae pillai neeyae
Karunai manadhilae gangai neeyae
Karunai manadhilae gangai neeyae
Kallaarkkum katravarkkum deivam neeyae
Kallaarkkum katravarkkum deivam neeyae
Komaadhaa engal kulamaadhaa
Kulamaadhar nalam kaakum gunamaadhaa
Puvi vaazhvil arul pongum thirumadhaa
Vanna komaadhaa….
Komaadhaa
Chorus :Komaadhaa
Female :Engal kulamaadhaa
Chorus :Kulamaadhaa
Inangaadhor manam kooda inangum
Nee edhir vandhaal edhir kaalam thulangum
Inangaadhor manam kooda inangum
Nee edhir vandhaal edhir kaalam thulangum
Vanangaadhaaa….aaaa
Vanangaadhor siram unnai vanangum
Vanangaadhor siram unnai vanangum
Unnai valam vandhaal nalamelaam vilangum
Vanna komaadhaa…aaaa….
Komaadhaa engal kulamaadhaa
Kulamaadhar nalam kaakum gunamaadhaa
Puvi vaazhvil arul pongum thirumadhaa
Vanna komaadhaa….
Komaadhaa
Chorus :Komaadhaa
Female :Engal kulamaadhaa
Chorus :Kulamaadhaa
Nalam neeyae
Female :Balam neeyae
Chorus :Nadhi neeyae
Female :Kadal neeyae
Arul neeyae
Chorus :Arul neeyae
Female :Porul neeyae
Chorus :Porul neeyae
Oli neeyae
Chorus :Oli neeyae
Female :Uyir neeyae
Chorus :Uyir neeyae
Ulagam yaavum karunaiyodu
Perugi vaazha arulvaayae
Long live art, long live the flower,
long live the grace of Saraswathi (Goddess of Learning)!
Residing on the sacred tongues of poets,
long live Tamil!
Blended with timeless Tamil,
long live noble poetry!
Mother Kalaivani (Goddess Saraswathi),
may your glorious name live long and forever!
Holy Mother Cow, mother of our family,
virtuous mother who protects the well-being of women,
Aaa... aa... aaaa... aaaa...
{Holy Mother Cow, mother of our family,
Holy Mother Cow, mother of our family,
virtuous mother who protects the well-being of women,
divine mother whose grace overflows in earthly life,
beautiful Mother Cow...} (2)
Mother Cow!
Chorus: Mother Cow!
Female: Mother of our family!
Chorus: Mother of our family!
In your milk-giving love, you are a mother,
in our familiar bond, you are a child.
In your milk-giving love, you are a mother,
in our familiar bond, you are a child.
In your merciful heart, you are the holy river Ganga,
in your merciful heart, you are the holy river Ganga!
To the unlettered and the learned alike, you are God,
to the unlettered and the learned alike, you are God!
Holy Mother Cow, mother of our family,
virtuous mother who protects the well-being of women,
divine mother whose grace overflows in earthly life,
beautiful Mother Cow...
Mother Cow!
Chorus: Mother Cow!
Female: Mother of our family!
Chorus: Mother of our family!
Even unyielding hearts soften and agree,
if you appear before us, our future shines bright!
Even unyielding hearts soften and agree,
if you appear before us, our future shines bright!
Those who never bow... ah...
heads that bow to none will bow before you,
heads that bow to none will bow before you!
If we circle around you in worship, all good things will flourish,
beautiful Mother Cow... ah...
Holy Mother Cow, mother of our family,
virtuous mother who protects the well-being of women,
divine mother whose grace overflows in earthly life,
beautiful Mother Cow...
Mother Cow!
Chorus: Mother Cow!
Female: Mother of our family!
Chorus: Mother of our family!
You are goodness,
Female: you are strength!
Chorus: You are the river,
Female: you are the ocean!
You are grace,
Chorus: you are grace!
Female: You are true wealth,
Chorus: you are true wealth!
You are light,
Chorus: you are light!
Female: You are life itself,
Chorus: you are life itself!
With boundless compassion across the world,
bless us all to thrive and live in abundance!
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deep invocation and hymn of praise, beginning with salutations to Goddess Saraswathi (Kalaivaani) and the rich Tamil language, before transitioning into a reverent homage to 'Komaadhaa' (the sacred Mother Cow). The verses portray the cow not merely as a domestic animal, but as a divine maternal force that nurtures humanity with milk, embodies purity like the Ganges, and serves as a universal deity for both the unlettered and the learned alike.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paalootum anbilae annai neeyae / Pazhagum uravilae pillai neeyae

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Paalootum' / 'Pazhagum' and 'Kallaarkkum' / 'Katravarkkum'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Nalam neeyae / Balam neeyae / Nadhi neeyae / Kadal neeyae

Repeated line endings with 'neeyae' to emphasize the deity's omnipresence and divine qualities.

Metaphor

Karunai manadhilae gangai neeyae

Directly equating the holy cow to the river Ganges ('Gangai neeyae') and to universal life force ('Uyir neeyae').

Did you know?

Trivia

From the classical Tamil mythological film Saraswathi Sabatham (1966), directed by A. P. Nagarajan starring Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and K. R. Vijaya. The music was composed by KV Mahadevan and sung by P. Susheela.

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