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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maasil Veenaiyum

From Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar · 1960

Lyricist
Thirunavukkarasar
Singers
S. Janaki, A. S. Mahadevan
Music director
M. B. Sreenivas
Details
Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Maasil veenaiyum maalai madhiyamumLike the flawless Veena's music and the soothing evening moon,
Veesu thendralum veengila venilumLike the gentle blowing breeze and the pleasant early summer,
Moosu vandarai poigaiyum pondrathaeLike a lotus pond buzzing with swarming bees,
Eesan enthai inaiyadi neezhalaeSuch is the comforting shade of the twin feet of my Lord Shiva.
Female
Maasil veenaiyum maalai madhiyamumLike the flawless Veena's music and the soothing evening moon,
Female
Namasivaayavae gnyaanamum kalviyumThe chant 'Namasivaya' is true wisdom and higher education,
Namasivaayavae naanari vichaiyumThe chant 'Namasivaya' is the holy knowledge I possess,
Namasivaayavae nanavindraethumaeThe chant 'Namasivaya' is the supreme truth that I meditate upon,
Om namashivaaya…..(4)Om Namah Shivaya (chanted four times),
Namasivaayavae nanneri kattumaeThe chant 'Namasivaya' shows us the righteous path,
Female
Maasil veenaiyum maalai madhiyamumLike the flawless Veena's music and the soothing evening moon,
Female
Viragil theeyinan paalil padu nei polJust like fire latent inside firewood and ghee hidden in milk,
Maraiya nindrulan maamani sodhiyaanThe radiant Great Gem stands hidden within the soul,
Male :AhaaMale vocalist: Ah!
Maraiya nindrulan maamani sodhiyaanThe radiant Great Gem stands hidden within the soul,
Male
Maraiya nindrulan maamani sodhiyaanThe radiant Great Gem stands hidden within the soul,
Female
Uravukol nattu unarvu kayittrinaalIf you plant the churning rod of devoyion and bind it with the rope of intense awareness,
Muruga vaangi kadaiya mun nirkkumaeAnd churn firmly with love, the Lord will manifest right before you.
Female
Maasil veenaiyum maalai madhiyamumLike the flawless Veena's music and the soothing evening moon.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional composition by the 7th-century Saivite saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) glorifies the supreme comfort and divine grace found at the feet of Lord Shiva. The saint compares the sanctuary of the Lord's feet to five delightful sensory experiences: sweet veena music, the cool evening moon, a soft breeze, pleasant summer weather, and a lotus pond buzzing with bees. The verse emphasizes that the sacred 'Namasivaya' mantra serves as true learning, wisdom, and moral guidance. Through the metaphor of milk containing hidden ghee and wood concealing fire, the song illustrates how the divine presence lives invisibly within every soul, waiting to be revealed through earnest devotion and meditative awareness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Maasil veenaiyum maalai madhiyamum ... Eesan enthai inaiyadi neezhalae

Comparing the cool comfort of Shiva's divine feet to soothing natural elements such as the evening moon, breeze, and a lotus pond.

Uvamanai (Analogy / Metaphor)

Viragil theeyinan paalil padu nei pol / Maraiya nindrulan maamani sodhiyaan

Comparing God's unseen presence in human consciousness to fire unmanifested inside firewood and ghee suspended in milk.

Anaphora (Mona / Repetition)

Namasivaayavae gnyaanamum kalviyum

Repetition of the holy word 'Namasivaayavae' at the beginning of consecutive lines to emphasize spiritual devotion.

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Trivia

This hymn is one of the most celebrated Tevaram verses in Tamil Saivite literature, composed by Saint Appar (Thirunavukkarasar). It was adapted into the 1960 Tamil film 'Paadhai Theriyudhu Paar', which featured music composed by M. B. Sreenivasan and was produced by the Marxist-oriented Leftist film collective Nimai Ghosh.

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