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Karagattakaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mariyamma Mariyamma

From Karagattakaran · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Karagattakaran
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
3 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Thalai mela mani magudam
En thaayi thandha poong karagam
Nilaiyaaga nilaikka vaikkum
Ninachchadhellaam palikka vaikkum
Unna nenachchapadi
Unmai jeyikkumbadi
Vendum varam thaa maariyammaa
Female :Kaaval needhaan kaaliyamma
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Mannukkul nee nalla
Neerammaa
Kaaththum kanalum neeyamma
Vaanathapol ninnu paaramma
Vandhen thedi naanamma
Indha manam muzhudhum
Needhaanae
Vandha vazhi thunaiyum needhaanae
Thanga thiruvadiya thozhudhomae
Ingu manam uruga azhudhomae
Seeraeswari kaameswari
Veraaru needhaanae kaappu
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Karu maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Vaanellaam vazhthathaan
Ketkattum
Vaazhvae valamae paakkattum
Nee enga thaai endru
Kaanattum
Nizhalum nijamaa maarattum
Sakthi muzhudhum thandhu
Kaappaayae
Mukthi nilaiyai thandhu serppaayae
Bakthi manam virumbum
En thaaiyae
Niththam parithavikkum un seiyae
Saatchi sollum thaaiyae thunai
Theeyellaam poovaaga maarattum
Maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Karu maariyammaa maariyamma
Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma
Thalai mela mani magudam
En thaayi thandha poong karagam
Nilaiyaaga nilaikka vaikkum
Ninachchadhellaam palikka vaikkum
Unna nenachchapadi
Unmai jeyikkumbadi
Vendum varam thaa maariyammaa
Male :Kaaval needhaan kaaliyamma
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
Like a jeweled crown upon the head,
The flower-decked karagam (sacred pot) given by my mother,
It will stand firm and steady,
It will make all our wishes come true.
Just as we prayed to you,
So that the truth will win,
Grant us the boon we seek, Mother Mariamma!
Female: You are our protector, Mother Kali!
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
Beneath the earth, you are the pure
water, Mother!
You are the wind and the fire, Mother!
Stand vast like the sky and look upon us, Mother!
I have come seeking you, Mother.
Inside this entire heart of mine,
it is only you!
You are the companion on the path we have walked!
We bowed before your golden holy feet,
We wept here with melting hearts.
O glorious Goddess, O Kameshwari,
Who else is there? You alone are our shelter!
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
O Mother Karumariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
Let blessings and praise echo
across the whole sky!
May our lives witness only prosperity!
That you are our mother,
let everyone see!
Let even shadows turn into reality!
Giving us all your divine strength,
you will protect us!
Granting us supreme peace, you will guide us to you!
O my Mother, whom a devoted
heart yearns for,
Every day, your child cries out for you.
O Mother who stands as witness, you are our guide!
May all blazing fires turn into flowers!
O Mother Mariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
O Mother Karumariamma, Mother Mariamma,
O trident-bearing Mother, O dark Goddess,
Like a jeweled crown upon the head,
The flower-decked karagam (sacred pot) given by my mother,
It will stand firm and steady,
It will make all our wishes come true.
Just as we prayed to you,
So that the truth will win,
Grant us the boon we seek, Mother Mariamma!
Male: You are our protector, Mother Kali!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Maariyammaa Maariyamma is a soul-stirring Tamil devotional folk song from the iconic 1989 film Karagattakaran. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Gangai Amaran, the song serves as a central hymn sung during Karagattam, a traditional Tamil folk dance where performative ritual pots are balanced on the dancers' heads in honor of Goddess Mariyamma. The lyrics glorify the deity as the supreme mother and embodiment of the five natural elements, praying for protection, divine justice, and the transformation of hardship into joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Mannukkul nee nalla Neerammaa Kaaththum kanalum neeyamma”

The deity is directly equated to the core elements of life—underground water, wind, fire, and sky.

Visual Contrast / Symbolism

“Theeyellaam poovaaga maarattum”

The transformation of fire into flowers symbolizes how divine intervention converts unbearable hardship into soft blessings.

Edhugai and Monai (Rhyme and Rhythm)

“Maariyammaa maariyamma Thiri sooliyamma neeliyamma”

Uses repetitive end-rhymes ('-yamma') and rhythmic meter, typical of traditional South Indian Amman devotional folk ballads.

Did you know?

Trivia

Karagattakaran (1989) is one of the highest-grossing blockbuster Tamil movies of all time, running for over 1 year in theaters. It revitalized public interest in Tamil folk dance forms like Karagattam, and Ilaiyaraaja's soundtrack remains a milestone in Tamil film music history.

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