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Lyrics & meaning

Meenakshi Kalyana

From Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal · 1985

Lyricist
K. P. Arivanantham
Singers
Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Meenakshi Thiruvilaiyadal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Meenatchi kalayana vaibogameThe grand wedding celebration of Goddess Meenakshi!
Soma sundresarar varugindra manakolameIt is the wedding procession of Lord Somasundareswarar coming forth.
Vedhangal kanathapaahnagal povi meethiShe who made the heavenly beings, unseen even by the Vedas, come down to earth on their own, Kameshvari!
Thaanaga varaseitha kaameshvariShe who made them come on their own, Kameshvari!
Thaanaga varaseitha kaameshvari….She who made them come on their own, Kameshvari!
Meenatchi kalayana vaibogameThe grand wedding celebration of Goddess Meenakshi!
Male
Devargal thalaivan indiranIndra, the chief of the celestial gods,
Kaalanji Konde Pneer thelithidaveSpprinkled rosewater holding the traditional pitcher.
Thee enna erikkum agni devaneLord Agni, who burns like fire,
Dhubam kaati nerungidaveApproached showing sacred incense.
Male
Thendralin sugamithuத endrida yavumWith everyone exclaiming 'This is the sweet comfort of the southern breeze',
Allavattamathai veesidaveThe fans were waved around.
Maariyai vazhangum varuna devanLord Varuna, who grants rain like a grace,
Manamalr thattai endhidaveHeld the tray of auspicious scented flowers.
Male
Aruvurvamaanavan thiru muruga dharisanamThe divine vision of Lord Murugan, who encompasses form and formlessness,
Niruthiyum kannadi kaatidaveHeld up a mirror stopping to present his gaze.
Eesanan ennum VadakizhagthibanIsana, the guardian ruler of the Northeast,
Maapillai seethanam thaagidaveBore the wedding gifts for the groom.
Male
Aandi alla ivar arasarkkuarasar enaDeclaring 'He is not a beggar, but the King of Kings',
Kuberan avan nithi veesidaveLord Kubera showered his treasures.
kaalanum kaavalanaaga asthathik kavalarEven Yama, the lord of death, served as a guard, as the guardians of the eight directions
Yaavarum pani seithaarEveryone performed their dedicated service.
Kaavalar yaavarum pani seithaar..All the guards performed their service..
Male
Meenatchi kalayana vaibogameThe grand wedding celebration of Goddess Meenakshi!
Male
Gundotharan inthe ulagathin kudaiyanGundotharan, who holds the umbrella for this entire world,
Iraivanukke indru kudai thaanginaanToday held the umbrella for the Lord himself.
Agathiyanaana thamizh Kumbarani pooranSage Agastya, the master of Tamil, filled with wisdom,
Kumbathai kaati Ethir konde paninthaanWelcomed him bowed before the sacred pot.
Female
Amizhthukku suvaithannau serpavarpolJust like adding divine taste to ambrosia,
Azhagukku azhaginaiseiya vanthaaarThey arrived to embellish beauty itself with beauty.
Thamizhukku inimaiinaitharuvathu polJust like adding divine sweetness to the Tamil language,
Devikku alangaaran seiya vanthaarThey came to adorn the Goddess.
Female
Semmalar thirumagalumGoddess Lakshmi of the red lotus,
Venmalar kalaimagalumAnd Goddess Saraswati of the white lotus,
Thammalar karam seithaFelt that this service done with their own lotus hands
Punniyam ithuvendruWas the fruit of all their past merits,
Semanju vaanathai theetinaarAnd painted the sky in auspicious shades.
Female
Kaaman mun valaiyaathaShe bent the Lord, who was never swayed before by Kamadeva,
Eesanai valaithaalShe made him yield to her,
Kai vala podaluttraalPutting on the bangles on her hands.
Nakiranudan eesan vaathaada vaithittaShe oiled the locks of hair
Koonthalil thailam mittaarThat caused the Lord to debate with poet Nakkeerar;
Devi koonthalil thailamittaarShe applied fragrant oil to Goddess's hair.
Female
Andam enaum adaithanaiUpon the divine attire of Her who encompasses
Kondavalin aadaithanilThe entire universe within herself,
Pattadaigal pootinaarThey adorned rich silk garments.
Shakthiyudan sivammindruWishing that Sakthi and Shiva should become
Ondraaga vendummendruOne entity today,
Ottiyanam maatinaarThey fastened the ceremonial waistlet.
Nathummadiyarga arul nithamum purivathaalBecause She daily bestows grace upon Her devoted followers,
Nathinai pootukindraarThey adorned Her with the auspicious nose ring.
Female
Thodudayaseviyan enAs Thirugnanasambanthar sang 'Thodudaiya Seveiyan',
Gnanasamnthar paadidaveThey fixed the sacred ear ornament.
Thodinai maatukindraarShowing that the union of red kumkum and sacred ash resides on Her forehead,
Kungum thiruneetril sanganam enpathanaiThey adorned Her crescent-shaped forehead.
Pirai netriyil kaatinaarSignifying that all nine planets operate under Her command,
Female
Nava kolagalum ivalinThey crowned Her with the nine-gemmed crown.
Aanai vazhi nirukumenaTo the Goddess who protects all living beings with Her merciful gaze,
Navarathinam magudam soodinaarThey applied the protective warding dot.
Karunai migum dhrishtiyaalTo begin the auspicious rituals, Lord Brahma
Uyir kaakum devikkuPlaced a turmeric Ganesha.
Dhrustti pottum vaikuraarSaying 'Why use turmeric when I am present myself?',
Male
Mangala sadanginai thodankida brammanumLord Vinayaka himself came and took his seat.
Mnajalil pillaiyaar vaikindraarCome, O Goddess with eyes like fish!
Naane irukayil yaen intha manjalenaCome, bringing our auspicious blessings!
Thaane vinayakar amarnthu vittarCapable of bestowing the vision of the handsome Lord of Aalavai,
Female
Angayar kanni varugaO Mother Meenakshi, welcome, welcome, please come!
Engal mangal solli varugaIn the mirror before you prior to the wedding,
Aalavaai azhagan kaanve vallaLook at your own face just once, Mother.
Annai meenatchi varuga varuga nee varugaAfter marriage, except for her husband's face,
Female
Manam puriyum munkannaadiyil neeA woman should not behold any other face, Mother.
Than mugam ormurai paarthidammaStanding as an elder brother to perform the sister's wedding—
Mananthapin kanavarin mugamandriIs that not the right tradition?
Mangaikku verethuvum theriyakoodathammaWhen the Goddess inquired thus,
Female
Thamayanar munnindru thangaiyin thirumanamThe Lord also realized this truth.
Nadathidal muraiyallavaHolding his sister's sacred hands, Lord Vishnu
Endre devi vinavugindraalCircumambulated the wedding altar.
Enbathai aiyanum unarukindraarCircumambulated the wedding altar.
Male
Thangayin Thirukaram patriye thirumaalPlacing the Maiden and the Lord together like Yoga and Bhoga,
Manavarai valam vanthaarHe seated them together.
Manavarai valam vanthaarHe seated them together.
Mangaiyum eesanum yogamum bogamum poleTo behold the majestic form of Lord Somasundara,
Sernthathen amarthi vaithaarGoddess Meenakshi yearned in her heart.
Sernthathen amarthi vaithaarThinking 'Even a single glance in this assembly would suffice, but how can I look?':
Female
Perazhagu roobammenum somasundrara vadivaiRealizing Ambika's longing, the Lord
Kaanave devi ival thavithaalGazed upon her first.
Ormurai kandalum podhume sabaithannileAs her longing grew and modesty dissolved,
Evitham kanbathena ninaithaalAmbika too looked up at Him.
Male
Ambikayin nilaiyai iyan unarntheDeclaring 'What a wonder this is!', beyond words,
Thaane mudhalil kandaarShe gazed upon the divine Lord Sundara!
Female
Aaval perukida naanam udaipada
Ambikaiyum kandaal
Arputham ithuvena sorpatham kadantha
Suntharanai kandaal…..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song vividly describes the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Somasundareswarar (Shiva) in Madurai. It details how various Vedic gods, direction guardians (Ashtadikpalakas), sages like Agastya, and goddesses like Lakshmi and Saraswati participate in preparing the divine couple and serving at the ceremony. Lord Vishnu acts as the brother of Goddess Meenakshi, performing the ritual of giving away the bride, while Lord Vinayaka bestows his divine presence. The song captures the supreme aesthetic beauty, auspiciousness, and spiritual romance of the divine union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Roobagam)

Amizhthukku suvaithannau serpavarpol

Compares the embellishment of the Goddess to adding flavor to ambrosia and sweetness to the Tamil language.

Anaphora / Emoni (Initial Rhyme)

Semmalar thirumagalum / Venmalar kalaimagalum

Use of similar initial letters/syllables across contiguous lines (e.g., Semmalar, Venmalar, Thammalar).

Mythological Allusion

Nakiranudan eesan vaathaada vaithitta

Refers to legendary incidents such as Nakkeerar's debate with Shiva over the natural fragrance of women's hair.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is set in the context of the famous Tiruvilaiyadal Puranam (the divine plays of Lord Shiva in Madurai). The lyrics beautifully weave together traditional Tamil literature references, including Thirugnanasambanthar's famous first Tevaram hymn ('Thodudaiya Seveiyan').

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