Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Manaivi Oru Manickam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kunguma Nayagi

From Manaivi Oru Manickam · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Manaivi Oru Manickam
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
4 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kunguma naayagi mangala sundhari
Madhurai meenatchi
Pallava naatinil nallarul kaatidum
Kaanji kaamatchi
Paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
Paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
……………………..
Eppavum sokkar konjidum paandiyan
Mann magalae
Engal veetinil endrum veesidum thendral neeyae
Pachai paingili pattu kaigalil yendhiya poonthalirae
Endhan vaazhkaiyum undhan kaigalil thanjam thaayae
Vaa vaa varalakshmi arul selvam neeyae
Chorus :Vaa vaa varalakshmi arul selvam neeyae
Female :Ingu paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
Kunguma naayagi mangala sundhari
Madhurai meenatchi
Pallava naatinil nallarul kaatidum
Kaanji kaamatchi
Undhan mandhiram ingae thangidum
Anniyar oodhugiaar
Endha kaalamum endha dhesamum unnai pottrum
Thangal mariyum annai maariyum
Ondrena vazhugiraar
Ellar baashaiyum ellar poojaiyum unnai saerum
Vendum varam yaavum tharum deivam neeyae
Chorus :Vendum varam yaavum tharum deivam neeyae
Female :Ingu paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
Kunguma naayagi mangala sundhari
Madhurai meenatchi
Pallava naatinil nallarul kaatidum
Kaanji kaamatchi
Paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
Paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari
O goddess of vermilion, auspicious beautiful one,
Madurai Meenakshi,
Who bestows good grace upon the Pallava land,
Kanchi Kamakshi!
We sing your Soundarya Lahari,
We sing your Soundarya Lahari.
……………………..
Ever cherished by Lord Sokkar, O Pandyan's
daughter of the soil!
You are the gentle breeze that forever blows in our home.
O tender floral shoot held in the silky hands like a green parrot,
My life too finds refuge in your hands, O Mother!
Come, come, Varalakshmi, you are the divine treasure of grace!
Chorus: Come, come, Varalakshmi, you are the divine treasure of grace!
Female: Here we sing your Soundarya Lahari.
O goddess of vermilion, auspicious beautiful one,
Madurai Meenakshi,
Who bestows good grace upon the Pallava land,
Kanchi Kamakshi!
Your hymn lingers here,
Even strangers recite it!
Every era and every nation praises you!
Their Mother Mary and Mother Mariamman
Live as one divine presence!
Everyone's language and everyone's prayers reach you!
You are the deity who grants every requested boon!
Chorus: You are the deity who grants every requested boon!
Female: Here we sing your Soundarya Lahari.
O goddess of vermilion, auspicious beautiful one,
Madurai Meenakshi,
Who bestows good grace upon the Pallava land,
Kanchi Kamakshi!
We sing your Soundarya Lahari,
We sing your Soundarya Lahari.
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional track from the movie 'Manaivi Oru Manickam' (1990) is a sacred hymn extolling the supreme divine mother in her various manifestations, particularly Madurai Meenakshi, Kanchi Kamakshi, and Varalakshmi. The lyrics invoke her presence into the household as a source of peace, fortune, and grace, comparing her presence to a refreshing breeze bringing prosperity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Alliterative Rhyme (Monai)

Kunguma naayagi mangala sundhari / Madhurai meenatchi

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels across lines, such as 'Kunguma' and 'Kaanji' or 'Madhurai' and 'Mann'.

Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Paadugindrom undhan soundharya lahari

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, seen in 'Paadugindrom' and 'Paadugindrom'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Engal veetinil endrum veesidum thendral neeyae

Describing the divine mother as 'thendral' (breeze) that eternally blows in the household.

Secular Synergism / Syncretism

Thangal mariyum annai maariyum Ondrena vazhugiraar

Bridging regional and religious identities by equating Thangal Mari (Mother Mary) and Annai Mari (Mariamman).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited to lyricist Vaali, this song seamlessly integrates traditional Sanskrit devotional terminology like 'Soundarya Lahari' (referencing Adi Shankara's hymn) with local Tamil deity folklore like Meenakshi of Madurai and Kamakshi of Kanchipuram.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Manaivi Oru Manickam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.