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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mazhai Koonthal Mudhal

From Deviyin Thiruvilayadal · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Deviyin Thiruvilayadal1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa….aa….aa…..aa….aah….aah….Aa….aa….aa…..aa….aah….aah….
Aa….aa….aah….aa….aah….aah….Aa….aa….aah….aa….aah….aah….
Male
Mazhai koondhal mudhal malarpaatham varaiFrom rain-like dark tresses to flower-like feet,
Dheiva kaatchi therigindrathuA divine vision presents itself.
Mazhai koondhal mudhal malarpaatham varaiFrom rain-like dark tresses to flower-like feet,
Dheiva kaatchi therigindrathuA divine vision presents itself.
Male
Ezhil kolangalum indhira jaalangalumBeautiful patterns and magical wonders,
Adhil aatchi puringindrathu arulaatchi purigindrathuReign within it, a reign of divine grace reigns.
Ezhil kolangalum indhira jaalangalumBeautiful patterns and magical wonders,
Adhil aatchi puringindrathu arulaatchi purigindrathuReign within it, a reign of divine grace reigns.
Male
Mazhai koondhal mudhal malarpaatham varaiFrom rain-like dark tresses to flower-like feet,
Dheiva kaatchi therigindrathuA divine vision presents itself.
Male
Ilampirai nudhal meedhuUpon her crescent moon-like forehead,
Ezhuthiya vil kandaenI saw a drawn bow (eyebrows).
Imaigalin nizhaloramAlong the shadows of her eyelashes,
Erikazhal vizhi kandaenI saw glowing, radiant eyes.
Male
Kulam valar kamalam pol….kamalam pol….Like a lotus growing in a pond... like a lotus...
Kulam valar kamalam polLike a lotus growing in a pond,
Kuviyithal madal kandaen nudhal kandaenI saw closed petals, I saw forehead,
Vizhi kandaen idhazh kandaenI saw eyes, I saw lips,
Kaniyithazh kandaenI saw fruit-like soft lips.
Male
Kulam valar kamalam polLike a lotus growing in a pond,
Kuviyithal madal kandaenI saw folded petal-like forms,
Kuviyithazh nagaiyoramBeside the smile of folded lips,
Korkkaiyin paral kandaenI saw the pearls of Korkkai.
Male
Mazhai kondhal mudhal malarpaatham varaiFrom rain-like dark tresses to flower-like feet,
Dheiva kaatchi therigindrathuA divine vision presents itself.
Male
Valampuri sangaaga vanjiyin kazhuththaadaLike a right-whorled conch shell, the slender woman's neck sways,
Aa….aa….aa…aa….aah….aahaa…..Aa….aa….aa…aa….aah….aahaa…..
Valampuri sangaaga vanjiyin kazhuththaadaLike a right-whorled conch shell, the slender woman's neck sways,
Oru kani kuraivaaga mukkani ezhunthaadaShort of one fruit, three fruits rise and dance,
Oru kani kuraivaaga mukkani ezhunthaadaShort of one fruit, three fruits rise and dance,
Male
Megalai nagaiyaada melliya idaiyaadaThe waist ornament shines and dances, the slender waist sways,
Vaazhaiyin madal kettu vaangiya thodaiyaadaThighs shaped like stem-cut plantain trees sway,
Megalai nagaiyaada melliya idaiyaadaThe waist ornament shines and dances, the slender waist sways,
Vaazhaiyin madal kettu vaangiya thodaiyaadaThighs shaped like stem-cut plantain trees sway,
Male
Meniyil edhai sollaWhat shall I say of her divine body?
Naan adhil edhai thallaWhat part of it can I set aside?
Naan padaiththa nyaanamellaamAll the wisdom and knowledge I created,
Vaai pudhaiththu nindrathennaStands in silent awe covering its mouth!
Aa….aa….aa…aa….aah….aahaa…..Aa….aa….aa…aa….aah….aahaa…..
Aah….aahaa….Aah….aahaa….
Male
Poovalanthu ponnalanthu meviyaMeasured with flowers and gold,
Devi unthan paadha thaamaraiO Goddess, your lotus feet are worshipped,
Dhevarenna moovarennaWhat of celestials, what of the Holy Trinity,
Yaavarum thedi nirkkum vedha thamaraiEveryone seeks these lotus feet of the Vedas.
Male
Kulungidum salangaigal om ena oliththidaAs the tinkling anklets ring with the sound of 'Om',
Komaaala vadhanaththil kungumam palichchidaAs vermilion shines bright on her tender face,
Iyal isai naadaga kooththukkal nadiththidaAs literature, music, and drama performances unfold,
Yaezhu kadal enndhisai idipada podipadaMay the seven seas and eight directions tremble and crumble,
Male
Thagida thagida thagida thomenaWith rhythmic beats of 'Thagida thagida thagida thome',
Jadhiyosaiyil tharani adhirnthidaMay the earth quake to the beat of dance syllables,
Magasakasa nisanipamakamaMa-ga-sa-ka-sa ni-sa-ni-pa-ma-ka-ma,
Swararaaga geedham isaiththidaSinging melodic swara-raaga songs,
Male
Tuttutuvena pambai thaalamWith the 'Tuttutu' sound of the pambai drum,
Dumdumvena jandai melamWith the 'Dumdum' sound of the chenda drum,
Amma un aranginil aattridaO Mother, as these perform in your sacred hall,
Pumpumvena bhoombin saththamWith the 'Pumpum' sound of wind instruments,
Damdamdamena kottum paraigalWith the 'Damdamdam' sound of beating parai drums,
Kondaadum abinaya naayagiO Heroine of expressive dance praised by all,
Male
Thaththum kalai viththai ilamAs if this young parrot-like maiden taking refuge in art,
Thaththai ival thanjam enaHas surrendered entirely to your grace,
Pazhagu nadanam azhagu nalinamHer practiced dance and elegant grace,
Puvanam ariyaavaeLet the whole universe behold and acknowledge!
Alaimagalum adipaniyaAs the Goddess of Wealth bows at her feet,
Kalaimagalum kavi pozhiyaAs the Goddess of Knowledge showers poetry,
Malaimagalin thirunadanam vaazhga….Long live the divine dance of the Daughter of the Mountain!
Male
Vaanamodu bhoomiyaada ulavidumRoaming between the heavens and the earth,
Jeevaraasi yaavum aada nadamidumDancing so that all living beings dance along,
Azhagellam vizhiyellaam parugidaDrink all this beauty with your eyes,
Arulae nerungi vaa…..O embodiment of Grace, come closer!
Male
Mazhai kondhal mudhal malarpaatham varaiFrom rain-like dark tresses to flower-like feet,
Dheiva kaatchi therigindrathu….aa…..aa…aa…A divine vision presents itself….aa…..aa…aa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand devotional hymn and classical dance panegyric praising Goddess Parvati (or the Divine Mother). The narrator beholds her glorious form from head to toe (Keshadhi Padham), describing her dark hair, crescent moon forehead, lotus-like features, shell-like neck, and graceful waist. Even Lord Shiva (the Creator/Lord of wisdom) stands mute in awe before her unmatched divine beauty and majesty. The second part of the song celebrates her ecstatic divine dance (Thirunadanam). Accompanied by traditional percussion instruments like pambai, chenda, and parai, as well as classical musical swaras, her anklets reverberate with the sacred sound of 'Om'. As Goddess Lakshmi bows and Saraswati offers poetry, the entire cosmos quakes and dances in harmony with her cosmic rhythm, inviting divine grace to draw near.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Mazhai koondhal mudhal malarpaatham varai

Compares dark tresses to rain clouds ('Mazhai koondhal') and feet to delicate flowers ('malarpaatham').

Uruvagamb (Metaphor / Traditional Imagery)

Valampuri sangaaga vanjiyin kazhuththaada

Compares the neck to a right-whorled conch ('Valampuri sangaaga') and thighs to plantain trunks ('Vaazhaiyin madal').

Onomatopoeia (Oli Kurippu)

Tuttutuvena pambai thaalam

Use of rhythmic phonetic words replicating musical and percussion sounds like 'Thagida thagida', 'Tuttutu', 'Dumdum', 'Pumpum', and 'Damdamdam'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Alaimagalum adipaniya / Kalaimagalum kavi pozhiya

Rhyming second consonants across lines ('Aazh' in Alaimagalum / Kalaimagalum / Malaimagalin).

Did you know?

Trivia

This composition is a classic example of a classical dance drum-beat song (Jathi / Mallari / Nritya song) written by the legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1982 devotional film 'Deviyin Thiruvilayadal', capturing the grand tradition of Tamil devotional literature and Bharatanatyam aesthetics.

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