Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Madhura Ponnukku

From Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal · 1985

Lyricist
Tamizh Nambi
Singer
V. Kanagaraj
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
27 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan
Maalaiyum thaaliyum seekiram thara poraan
Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan
Maalaiyum thaaliyum seekiram thara poraan
Maapillaiya pathi paada poraen thaayi
Avan magimaigalai kaettukkamma neeyi
Maapillaiya pathi paada poraen thaayi
Avan magimaigalai kaettukkamma neeyi
Kalyanathu appuram
Sakkalathi sanda varuma
Gangai enum mangai thanai
Thalaiyilae vachirukaan
Kaadugalai sezhipadharkkaga
Gangai enum mangai thanai
Thalaiyilae vachirukaan
Kaadugalai sezhipadharkkaga
Kaiyilae odeduthu
Pichaiyoo pichai enbaan
Bhakthargalin anbukkaaga
Kaiyilae odeduthu
Pichaiyoo pichai enbaan
Bhakthargalin anbukkaaga
Pittukku mann sumandhu
Pirampadi pattadhellaam
Uzhaikulam pizhaikkanm enbadharkkaaga
Thandhai illai thaayum illai
Thathedukka aalum illai
Sokkanavan ulagukkellaam
Thandhai thaayamma
Sokkanavan ulagukkellaam
Thandhai thaayamma
Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan
Maalaiyum thaaliyum seekiram thara poraan
Maapillaiya pathi paada poraen thaayi
Avan magimaigalai kaettukkamma neeyi
Aanukkoru needhi yendru
Aattam poda maataanamma
Avan paadhi udal penn thaanamma
Endrum padhinaaru endru
Vaazhvalithaan siruvanukku
Anbukku avan adimai thaanamma
Nandhiyudan valam varuvaan
Endrum avan varam tharuvaan
Aadhiyandham avanukkillai
Arindhu kollamma
Koothandhu koothugalil
Athanaikkum arthamundu
Vaazhndhu paaramma
Athanaikkum arthamundu
Vaazhndhu paaramma
Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan
Maalaiyum thaaliyum seekiram thara poraan
Maapillaiya pathi paada poraen thaayi
Avan magimaigalai kaettukkamma neeyi
The bridegroom is coming for the Madurai girl,
He will soon give the garland and the sacred wedding thread.
The bridegroom is coming for the Madurai girl,
He will soon give the garland and the sacred wedding thread.
I am going to sing about the bridegroom, mother,
Listen closely to his divine greatness.
I am going to sing about the bridegroom, mother,
Listen closely to his divine greatness.
After the wedding,
Will there be fights with a co-wife?
The lady named Ganga,
He carries upon his head,
Only so the lands may flourish.
The lady named Ganga,
He carries upon his head,
Only so the lands may flourish.
Carrying a begging bowl in hand,
He calls out asking for alms,
Only for the pure love of his devotees.
Carrying a begging bowl in hand,
He calls out asking for alms,
Only for the pure love of his devotees.
Carrying mud in exchange for pittu (sweet rice cakes),
And bearing the blows of the cane,
Was all so the working people could survive.
He has no father, nor a mother,
Nor is there anyone to adopt him.
Yet Lord Chokkanathan is, to the whole world,
Both father and mother!
Yet Lord Chokkanathan is, to the whole world,
Both father and mother!
The bridegroom is coming for the Madurai girl,
He will soon give the garland and the sacred wedding thread.
I am going to sing about the bridegroom, mother,
Listen closely to his divine greatness.
He will not claim one law for men
To act arrogant and unfair,
For half of his own body is woman!
Blessing him to remain sixteen forever,
He gave back life to a young boy.
For he is truly a slave only to love!
He rides in procession on Nandi (the sacred bull),
And he will always grant blessings.
He has neither beginning nor end,
Understand this well, O mother!
In all the dances of this divine dancer,
Every single act has a deep meaning;
Live your life and see for yourself!
Every single act has a deep meaning;
Live your life and see for yourself!
The bridegroom is coming for the Madurai girl,
He will soon give the garland and the sacred wedding thread.
I am going to sing about the bridegroom, mother,
Listen closely to his divine greatness.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a celebratory folk narrative extolling Lord Sundareswarar (Shiva) as he prepares to marry Goddess Meenakshi of Madurai. The lyrics playfully address the concerns of the bride's family and people of Madurai, explaining the Lord's divine nature and cosmic plays (Thiruvilaiyadal). It reassures that although Ganga rests in his hair, it is to bestow prosperity upon the Earth, and though he wanders as a beggar, it is to receive the devotion of his followers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan / Maalaiyum thaaliyum seekiram thara poraan”

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Gangai' and 'Thalaiyilae' or 'Madhura' and 'Maalaiyum'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Madhura ponnukkku maappilla varapporaan”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a line, such as 'Madhura' and 'maappilla'.

Mythological Allusions (Thiruvilaiyadal references)

“Avan paadhi udal penn thaanamma / Pittukku mann sumandhu”

References to Shiva's divine sports like Ardhanarishvara (half-woman form), carrying mud for Pittu (Pittu ku mann sumandhu), and granting immortality to Markandeya (Endrum padhinaaru).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song highlights key episodes from the 64 sacred sports of Lord Shiva recorded in the Tamil text 'Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam', specifically setting the scene for the divine wedding of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar in Madurai.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Valliamma2011
SeedanDevotionCelebratory
Azhagana Nam Paandi1994
Pudhupatti PonnuthaayeeDevotionCelebratory
Kanna Mani Vanna1982
Vaa Kanna VaaDevotionCelebratory
Unnai Nenaicha Inikkuthu1976
Janaki SabathamDevotionNature
Madura Kulunga Kulunga2008
SubramaniyapuramCelebratoryCelebration
Illavattam Kai Thattum1990
My Dear MarthandanCelebratoryCelebration

From the same album

More songs from Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal

View album
Meenakshi Kalyana1985
Meenakshi ThiruvilaiyadalCelebratory
Angayarkanni Meenakshi1985
Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal
Deiveega Malar1985
Meenakshi ThiruvilaiyadalDevotional

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.