- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- T. K. Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Sakthi Leelai
- Movie release year
- 1972
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Feb 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic devotional song from 'Sakthi Leelai' (1972), sung powerfully by K. B. Sundarambal, honors Goddess Kanya Kumari stationed at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula. Lyricist Kannadasan vividly captures the divine geographical significance of Kanyakumari, where both sunrise and sunset can be viewed over the meeting oceans, linking the Goddess to Tamil heritage, Pandyan pearls, and spiritual guidance. The lyrics highlight the popular temple legend regarding the Goddess's brilliant diamond nose-ring, which shines brightly across the ocean and guides seafaring ships safely. Kannadasan also creates a spiritual bridge spanning the geography of India, connecting Goddess Kumari in the south with her consort Lord Shiva residing in the northern Himalayas.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Aathvan udhayamum asthamana samayamum / Amaikkindra kadalin arugae”
Repetition of the initial 'A' sound across consecutive lines ('Aathvan', 'Amaikkindra', 'Azhagaana', 'Anbaana').
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Nadaatha pergalum naaduvaar paaduvaar”
Repetition of 'da' sound as the second letter in consecutive words/lines ('Nadaatha', 'Naaduvaar').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kudikonda thangamayilae / Anbaana kumari malarae”
Addressing the Goddess as a 'Golden Peacock' (Thangamayil) and 'Virgin Flower' (Kumari Malar) to signify purity, beauty, and grace.
Cultural & Mythological Allusion
“Kothaiyin mookuthi kulir kadalil varugindra padagaiyum kaakum amma”
Reference to the famous legend where the brilliant ray from Goddess Kanyakumari's nose-ring serves as a beacon light for ships in the ocean.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Kothaiyin mookuthi kulir kadalil varugindra padagaiyum kaakum' references a famous temple legend: the diamond nose-ring of Goddess Kanya Kumari shines so brilliantly that ancient mariners mistook it for a lighthouse beacon. According to myth, after ships repeatedly wrecked by navigating toward the light, the eastern door facing the ocean was permanently closed and is opened only on specific festive days.
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