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Avalukendru Oru Manam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manamellam Un Kovil

From Avalukendru Oru Manam · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Avalukendru Oru Manam
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
29 May 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manamellaam un kovil mandapam allavoo
O o o o
Maadevi ullamae karunaithaan allavaoo o o
Ninaiyaadha nenjilum nirpaval allavoo
Nin kaaval illaiyael yaar kaaval ulladhoo
Nee thandha kungumam needhiyin sangamam
Nee thandha manjalo neri sollum mandhiram
Malar konda koondhaloo manavaalan mangalam
Mangalam kaakka vaa mangaiyar deivamae
Deivamae …en deivamae…….
Endhendha penmaiyil ennenna baavamoo
Paavathai mannithal devikku baaramoo
Deebathai yettruvaen paavathai maattruvaai
Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai
Maniyosai kaattinaen arulosai kaattuvaai..devi
Isn't my entire heart the hall of your temple?
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Great Goddess, isn't your heart filled with pure compassion? Oh, oh
Aren't you present even in hearts that do not think of you?
Without your protection, who else is there to guard us?
The kumkum (sacred red powder) you gave is where righteousness unites,
The sacred turmeric you gave is a chant that guides the right path,
The flowers in my hair are the blessing of my husband,
Come to protect this sacred bond, O Goddess of women!
O Goddess... my Goddess...
Whatever sins may linger in womanhood,
is forgiving those sins a burden to the Goddess?
I will light the lamp; please wash away my sins.
I rang the temple bell; let me hear the sound of your grace.
I rang the temple bell; let me hear the sound of your grace... O Goddess!
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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