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Aayiram Kannudayaal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Madharin Kungumam

From Aayiram Kannudayaal · 1986

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Aayiram Kannudayaal
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
4 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maadharin kungumam kaaththidum
Devi naan naageshwari
Naadhanaam eesanin maeniyil
Aadidum naanae eshwari….
Maadharin kungumam kaaththidum
Devi naan naageshwari
Naadhanaam eesanin maeniyil
Aadidum naanae eshwari….
Kobam konda naagam
Indru kaalam kandu kaaththirunthu
Seeri varum vanjam theerkkumae
Theeya nanju konda pothum
Thooimaiyaaga vaazhpavarkku
Vanthu serum maanikkamae
Aasaigalai sattaiyendrae
En polavae nee neekkidalaam
Parameshwari thirisoolamae
En maeniyil nee paarththidalaam
Maadharin kungumam kaaththidum
Devi naan naageshwari
Naadhanaam eesanin maeniyil
Aadidum naanae eshwari….
Manitha vadivil naagam palavum
Veliyil ulavuthae
Kodiya naagam endru emmai
Ulagam igazhuthae….
Manitha vadivil naagam palavum
Veliyil ulavuthae
Kodiya naagam endru emmai
Ulagam igazhuthae….
Puttrukkul maranthathaal
Samainthaval ena sollum
Samayapura maariyum naanae
Kumabaththil naagamaai kurumunivan yaenthidum
Karumaari annaiyum naanae
Paramanin aabaranam paranthaamanin manam
Paarvathiyin ganganamum naanae
Urumaariyae devi avadharamaai vantha
Naageshwari endrum naanae
Naageshwari endrum naanae
Naageshwari endrum naanae……
I protect the kumkum of women,
I am the Goddess Nageswari.
Upon the body of Lord Shiva,
Dancing as Goddess Ishwari myself...
I protect the kumkum of women,
I am the Goddess Nageswari.
Upon the body of Lord Shiva,
Dancing as Goddess Ishwari myself...
An angered serpent,
Waiting patiently for the right time,
Will hiss and take its revenge!
Though it carries deadly poison,
For those who live a pure life,
A rare and precious gem will reach them.
Treating desires like an old skin,
You too can shed them just like me.
The holy trident of the Supreme Goddess,
You can see it marked upon my body.
I protect the kumkum of women,
I am the Goddess Nageswari.
Upon the body of Lord Shiva,
Dancing as Goddess Ishwari myself...
Many snakes in human form
Wander freely in the open world,
Yet this world insults us
Calling us cruel serpents...
Many snakes in human form
Wander freely in the open world,
Yet this world insults us
Calling us cruel serpents...
Hidden inside the anthill,
Known as the one who took form there,
I am Samayapuram Mariamman myself!
Carried as a serpent in the pot by Sage Agastya,
I am Mother Karumari myself!
The ornament of Lord Shiva, the delight of Lord Vishnu,
And the sacred bangle of Parvati am I!
Taking this divine form as Goddess,
I am forever Nageswari!
I am forever Nageswari!
I am forever Nageswari!...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song is a devotional and dramatic praise of Goddess Nageshwari (the Serpent Goddess), highlighting her role as the protector of married women's sacred vermilion (kungumam) and marital sanctity. She asserts her divine identity as the serpent ornamenting Lord Shiva, as well as being synonymous with divine mother forms like Samayapuram Mariamman and Karumariamman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Alliteration)

Maadharin kungumam kaaththidum / Naadhanaam eesanin maeniyil

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'm' in 'Maadharin' and 'maeniyil'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Aasaigalai sattaiyendrae En polavae nee neekkidalaam

Comparing human desires to shed snake skin ('Aasaigalai sattaiyendrae').

Irony / Contrast

Manitha vadivil naagam palavum Veliyil ulavuthae

Contrasting literal serpents with deceptive humans ('serpents in human form').

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Trivia

The song comes from the 1986 Tamil devotional film 'Aayiram Kannudayaal', featuring lyrics written by popular Tamil poet and lyricist Muthulingam, who was renowned for writing devotional and classical-oriented film songs.

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