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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maayi Maayi Magamaayi

From Punniyavathi · 1997

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Sujatha, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Punniyavathi1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hoo oo oooHoo oo ooo
Hoo oo oo..Hoo oo oo..
Hoo oo oooHoo oo ooo
Hoo oo oo.. hoooHoo oo oo.. hooo
Aaa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa…aa…Aaa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aa..aa…aa…
Female
Maayi maayi magamaayiMother, mother, great Mother Goddess!
Ava thirunaalaam idhu thirunaalaamIt is Her holy day, this is a sacred day!
Chorus :Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaaChorus : It's a festival, this is a grand festival!
Female
Paari paari mola paariSprouted seedlings pot, sprouted seedlings pot!
Idha valathaa nalladha tharuvaalaamIf we nurture this, She will grant us auspicious blessings!
Chorus :Oru vizhaa idhu peruvizhaaChorus : A festival indeed, this grand festival!
Female
Manja mogathukkaariO woman with a face radiant with turmeric!
Iva mangalam thandhidum maariShe is Goddess Maari who bestows auspiciousness!
Chorus :Manja mogathukkaariChorus : O woman with a face radiant with turmeric!
Iva mangalam thandhidum maariShe is Goddess Maari who bestows auspiciousness!
Female
PoovalangaariAdorned beautifully with flowers!
Iva ponnu kodukkum singaariShe is the charming deity who bestows blessings!
Chorus
Maayi maayi magamaayiMother, mother, great Mother Goddess!
Ava thirunaalaam idhu thirunaalaamIt is Her holy day, this is a sacred day!
Female :Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaaFemale : It's a festival, this is a grand festival!
Chorus
Paari paari mola paariSprouted seedlings pot, sprouted seedlings pot!
Idha valathaa nalladha tharuvaalaamIf we nurture this, She will grant us auspicious blessings!
Female :Oru vizhaa idhu peruvizhaaFemale : A festival indeed, this grand festival!
Chorus
Hmm mm mm mmmHmm mm mm mmm
Hmm hmm mmmm mmmm…Hmm hmm mmmm mmmm…
Hmm mm mm mm mmmHmm mm mm mm mmm
Female
Muthu padhithinaEmbedded with shimmering pearls,
Rathina thaeruA chariot carved of ruby,
Suthudhu veedhiyilaeCircumambulates through the village streets!
Chorus
Andha vaanathu melaeHigh up in that sky,
Varum paurnami polaeLike the full moon rising!
Female
Bakthi kodukkuraGranting pure devotion,
Uthamiyae ivaShe is the virtuous mother!
Vandhadhu aadhiyilaeShe originated since ancient times,
Chorus
Andha sooriyan polaeLike the radiant sun,
Andha chandhiran polaeLike the soothing moon!
Female
Sukki mugam paathaaLooking at Her luminous face,
Sokki vizha venumOne ought to be captivated in awe!
Thappu vazhi ponaaIf anyone treads an evil path,
Sikki kolla venumThey must get caught and punished!
Theruvil nam maa kolamIn our streets, traditional rice flour kolams,
Poo kolamAnd vibrant flower kolam patterns!
Oru maavilakku eduthuTaking a sacred sweet flour lamp,
PadaikkalaamLet us offer it as worship,
Amman koyililaeInside Goddess Amman's temple!
Female
Maayi maayi magamaayiMother, mother, great Mother Goddess!
Ava thirunaalaam idhu thirunaalaamIt is Her holy day, this is a sacred day!
Chorus :Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaaChorus : It's a festival, this is a grand festival!
Female
Kuthu vilakkulaOn the traditional brass oil lamp,
Muthu mani chudarThe pearl-like glowing flame,
Minnura saadaiyilaeIn the subtle hint of its shimmer,
Chorus
Andha maappila kannuThe prospective groom's eyes,
Kandu mayangudhu ponnuLook and get mesmerized by the girl!
Female
Chithira vandhadhumOnce the month of Chithirai arrives,
Nichayam pannanumWe must finalize the marriage engagement!
Rathinamae radhiyaeO precious jewel, O beauty comparable to Rathi!
Chorus
Nee rendula onnuChoose between the two options,
Adha manasula ennuKeep that resolved firmly in your heart!
Female
Theppa kola oramBy the bank of the temple lotus pond,
Thaeduradhu yaaraWho is she searching for?
Nidham nidham paadumSinging every single day,
Maaman avan peraHer maternal uncle's name!
Female
Siru ponnu manasellaamThis young girl's entire heart,
Om melaIs fixated on you!
Naan aasa vechenI have set my fond desire,
Kanakkaa nadakkumaeIt will turn out perfectly as destined,
Ammanin koyililaeIn Goddess Amman's sacred temple!
Chorus
Maayi maayi magamaayiMother, mother, great Mother Goddess!
Ava thirunaalaam idhu thirunaalaamIt is Her holy day, this is a sacred day!
Female :Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaaFemale : It's a festival, this is a grand festival!
Chorus
Paari paari mola paariSprouted seedlings pot, sprouted seedlings pot!
Idha valathaa nalladha tharuvaalaamIf we nurture this, She will grant us auspicious blessings!
Female :Oru vizhaa idhu peruvizhaaFemale : A festival indeed, this grand festival!
Chorus
Manja mogathukkaariO woman with a face radiant with turmeric!
Iva mangalam thandhidum maariShe is Goddess Maari who bestows auspiciousness!
Female :Manja mogathukkaariFemale : O woman with a face radiant with turmeric!
Iva mangalam thandhidum maariShe is Goddess Maari who bestows auspiciousness!
Chorus
PoovalangaariAdorned beautifully with flowers!
Iva ponnu kodukkum singaariShe is the charming deity who bestows blessings!
Female
Maayi maayi magamaayiMother, mother, great Mother Goddess!
Ava thirunaalaam idhu thirunaalaamIt is Her holy day, this is a sacred day!
Chorus :Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaaChorus : It's a festival, this is a grand festival!
Female
Paari paari mola paariSprouted seedlings pot, sprouted seedlings pot!
Idha valathaa nalladha tharuvaalaamIf we nurture this, She will grant us auspicious blessings!
Chorus :Oru vizhaa idhu peruvizhaaChorus : A festival indeed, this grand festival!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Maayi Maayi Magamaayi' from the 1997 movie 'Punniyavathi' is a vibrant Tamil village folk celebration song centered around Goddess Mariamman during a grand temple festival (Thiruvizhaa). The lyrics, penned by Gangai Amaran, vividly depict rural South Indian festival customs, including carrying 'Mulaipaari' (sprouted grain pots), lighting 'Maavilakku' (flour lamps), drawing rice flour kolams, and carrying out the temple chariot procession (Rathina Thaeru). Alongside divine worship, the song weaves in themes of youth, springtime love, and match-making during the festive month of Chithirai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis / Rhythm)

Maayi maayi magamaayi

Repeating words like 'Maayi maayi', 'Thiruvizhaa idhu thiruvizhaa', and 'Paari paari' establishes a catchy, energetic rhythm typical of Tamil folk temple music.

Upamai (Simile)

Varum paurnami polae

Comparing the radiant arrival of the deity/chariot to the full moon rising in the sky ('Andha vaanathu melae varum paurnami polae') and to the sun and moon.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Sukki mugam paathaa / Sokki vizha venum

The second letter consonant rhyming across lines ('Sukki' and 'Sokki', 'Thappu' and 'Sikki') creates phonetic harmony.

Imagery and Cultural Metaphor

Manja mogathukkaari / Iva mangalam thandhidum maari

Visual imagery of rural rituals like 'Manja mogathukkaari' (turmeric-covered face), 'Mola paari' (sprouted grains), and 'Maavilakku' (flour lamp) creates a vivid picture of village worship.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song portrays authentic rural Tamil Nadu traditions of Mariamman Thiruvizhaa. Practices mentioned like growing 'Mulaipaari' (sprouted seedling pots) and offering 'Maavilakku' (sweet rice-flour lamps) are sacred rituals performed predominantly by women to pray for rain, fertility, and prosperity in farming communities.

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