Manamellam Un Kovil
From Avalukendru Oru Manam · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Avalukendru Oru Manam1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Manamellaam un kovil mandapam allavoo | Is not my entire mind the sacred hall of your temple? |
| O o o o | O o o o |
| Maadevi ullamae karunaithaan allavaoo o o | Great Goddess, isn't your heart filled with pure mercy? |
| Ninaiyaadha nenjilum nirpaval allavoo | Aren't you the one who dwells even in hearts that do not remember you? |
| Nin kaaval illaiyael yaar kaaval ulladhoo | Without your protection, whose protection is there? |
| Female | |
| Nee thandha kungumam needhiyin sangamam | The vermilion you bestowed is the confluence of justice. |
| Nee thandha manjalo neri sollum mandhiram | The turmeric you bestowed is the sacred chant that teaches righteousness. |
| Malar konda koondhaloo manavaalan mangalam | The flower-adorned hair represents the sacred welfare of the husband. |
| Mangalam kaakka vaa mangaiyar deivamae | Come to safeguard this auspiciousness, O Goddess of women! |
| Deivamae …en deivamae……. | O Goddess... my Goddess... |
| Female | |
| Endhendha penmaiyil ennenna baavamoo | Whatever emotions or traits exist across womanhood, |
| Paavathai mannithal devikku baaramoo | Is forgiving a fault or sin a burden for the divine Goddess? |
| Deebathai yettruvaen paavathai maattruvaai | I shall light the sacred lamp; please alter and redeem my sins. |
| Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai | I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace. |
| Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai..devi | I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace... O Goddess. |
மனமெல்லாம் உன் கோவில் மண்டபம் அல்லவோ
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ
மாதேவி உள்ளமே கருணைதான் அல்லவோ ஓ ஓ
நினையாத நெஞ்சிலும் நிற்பவள் அல்லவோ
நின் காவல் இல்லையேல் யார் காவல் உள்ளதோ
Is not my entire mind the sacred hall of your temple?
O o o o
Great Goddess, isn't your heart filled with pure mercy?
Aren't you the one who dwells even in hearts that do not remember you?
Without your protection, whose protection is there?
நீ தந்த குங்குமம் நீதியின் சங்கமம்
நீ தந்த மஞ்சளோ நெறி சொல்லும் மந்திரம்
மலர் கொண்ட கூந்தலோ மணவாளன் மங்கலம்
மங்கலம் காக்க வா மங்கையர் தெய்வமே....
தெய்வமே.... என் தெய்வமே....
The vermilion you bestowed is the confluence of justice.
The turmeric you bestowed is the sacred chant that teaches righteousness.
The flower-adorned hair represents the sacred welfare of the husband.
Come to safeguard this auspiciousness, O Goddess of women!
O Goddess... my Goddess...
எந்தெந்தப் பெண்மையில் என்னென்ன பாவமோ
பாவத்தை மன்னித்தல் தேவிக்குப் பாரமோ
தீபத்தை ஏற்றுவேன் பாவத்தை மாற்றுவாய்
மணியோசை காட்டினேன் அருளோசை காட்டுவாய்
மணியோசை காட்டினேன் அருளோசை காட்டுவாய்...தேவி
Whatever emotions or traits exist across womanhood,
Is forgiving a fault or sin a burden for the divine Goddess?
I shall light the sacred lamp; please alter and redeem my sins.
I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace.
I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace... O Goddess.
Manamellaam un kovil mandapam allavoo
Is not my entire mind the sacred hall of your temple?
O o o o
O o o o
Maadevi ullamae karunaithaan allavaoo o o
Great Goddess, isn't your heart filled with pure mercy?
Ninaiyaadha nenjilum nirpaval allavoo
Aren't you the one who dwells even in hearts that do not remember you?
Nin kaaval illaiyael yaar kaaval ulladhoo
Without your protection, whose protection is there?
Nee thandha kungumam needhiyin sangamam
The vermilion you bestowed is the confluence of justice.
Nee thandha manjalo neri sollum mandhiram
The turmeric you bestowed is the sacred chant that teaches righteousness.
Malar konda koondhaloo manavaalan mangalam
The flower-adorned hair represents the sacred welfare of the husband.
Mangalam kaakka vaa mangaiyar deivamae
Come to safeguard this auspiciousness, O Goddess of women!
Deivamae …en deivamae…….
O Goddess... my Goddess...
Endhendha penmaiyil ennenna baavamoo
Whatever emotions or traits exist across womanhood,
Paavathai mannithal devikku baaramoo
Is forgiving a fault or sin a burden for the divine Goddess?
Deebathai yettruvaen paavathai maattruvaai
I shall light the sacred lamp; please alter and redeem my sins.
Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai
I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace.
Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai..devi
I rang the temple bell; please show me the divine voice of your grace... O Goddess.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soul-stirring song is a poignant prayer offered to the Divine Mother by a woman seeking protection, grace, and spiritual redemption. She surrenders her mind completely, viewing it as the shrine of the Goddess, and reminds the deity of Her infinite mercy that pardons human faults. The lyrics invoke sacred symbols of Tamil womanhood and matrimony—such as vermilion (kungumam), turmeric (manjal), and flowers—as emblems of justice and righteousness, pleading with the Goddess to safeguard her family's well-being.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Manamellaam un kovil mandapam allavoo”
Comparing the devotee's mind directly to a temple's sacred hall (kovil mandapam).
Anaphora / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nee thandha kungumam needhiyin sangamam / Nee thandha manjalo neri sollum mandhiram”
Repetition of initial words 'Nee thandha' across consecutive lines to build rhythmic harmony.
Emonai / Rhyming Antithesis
“Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai”
Paralleling the sound and idea of ringing the temple bell ('Maniyosai') with seeking the voice of grace ('Arulosai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1971 Tamil film 'Avalukendru Oru Manam', directed by C. V. Sridhar, this song remains one of singer S. Janaki's most revered classical devotional renderations, set to music by the legendary composer M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan.
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