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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Munthum Thamizh

From Kandhan Karunai · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, K. P. Sundarambal, A. P. Komala, Jamuna Rani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kandhan Karunai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
28 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mundhum thamizh maalai…
Muzhanghum vadivelai…
Sindhai thanil vaithu…
Sirandhaarkku pughazh maalai…
Thandhaan karunai thani karunai
Andha karunai kandhan karunai ammaa…
Kandhanukku njaanavel
Muruganukku veeravel
Kumaranukku sakthivel
Velanukku vettrivel
Kandhanukku njaanavel
Muruganukku veeravel
Kumaranukku sakthivel
Velanukku vettrivel
Kandhanukku njaanavel
Muruganukku veeravel
Kumaranukku sakthivel
Velanukku vettrivel
Njaanaval veeravel sakthivel vettrivel
Murugaa… Murugaa… Murugaa…
Muruganin arulendra
Mudhalaana porul kandu
Uruginen anbu murugaa
Muruganin arulendra
Mudhalaana porul kandu
Uruginen anbu murugaa
Muthamizh cheppidum thathuva shakthiyai
Paruginen vanna murugaa
Muthamizh cheppidum thathuva shakthiyai
Paruginen vanna murugaa
Kallaadha paedhaiyarum kattravarum ondraagi
Kai thozhudhu paadum murugaa
Kallaadha paedhaiyarum kattravarum ondraagi
Kai thozhudhu paadum murugaa
Kallaagha nindraalum kaniyaaga kanigindra
Karunai vadivaana murugaa
Kallaagha nindraalum kaniyaaga kanigindra
Karunai vadivaana murugaa
Karunai vadivaana murugaa
Karunai vadivaana murugaa
Yerumayil yeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru
Eesarudan njaana mozhi pesum mugam ondru
Koorum adiyaargal vinai theertha mugam ondru
Kundruruva vel vaangi nindra mugam ondru
Aaru pada sooranai vadhaitha mugam ondru
Valliyai manam puriya vandha mugam ondru
Aarumugamaana porul neeyarula vendum
Anbargalukkinba nilai kodi thara vendum
Un anbargalukkinba nilai kodi thara vendum
Atthanae… mutthanae…
Atthanae mutthanae thathuva chitthanae
Baktharukkarul puriyum pazhani malai kandhanae
Baktharukkarul puriyum pazhani malai kandhanae…
The foremost garland of Tamil songs...
The resonant, sharp spear...
Keeping them deep within the mind...
To those who excelled, he gave a garland of fame...
He gave his grace, a matchless grace,
And that grace is Kandhan's grace, oh mother!
To Kandhan, the Spear of Wisdom!
To Murugan, the Spear of Valor!
To Kumaran, the Spear of Divine Power!
To Velan, the Spear of Victory!
To Kandhan, the Spear of Wisdom!
To Murugan, the Spear of Valor!
To Kumaran, the Spear of Divine Power!
To Velan, the Spear of Victory!
To Kandhan, the Spear of Wisdom!
To Murugan, the Spear of Valor!
To Kumaran, the Spear of Divine Power!
To Velan, the Spear of Victory!
Spear of Wisdom! Spear of Valor! Spear of Power! Spear of Victory!
Oh Muruga... Muruga... Muruga...
Realizing that Murugan's grace
Is the supreme treasure of all,
My heart melted in devotion, dear Muruga!
Realizing that Murugan's grace
Is the supreme treasure of all,
My heart melted in devotion, dear Muruga!
The divine truth taught by the three forms of Tamil (literature, music, drama),
I drank it in deeply, oh radiant Muruga!
The divine truth taught by the three forms of Tamil (literature, music, drama),
I drank it in deeply, oh radiant Muruga!
The unlettered simple folk and the learned scholars unite as one,
Folding their hands in worship to sing your praise, oh Muruga!
The unlettered simple folk and the learned scholars unite as one,
Folding their hands in worship to sing your praise, oh Muruga!
Though standing as an idol of stone, your heart softens like sweet ripe fruit,
Oh Muruga, the very form of grace!
Though standing as an idol of stone, your heart softens like sweet ripe fruit,
Oh Muruga, the very form of grace!
Oh Muruga, the very form of grace!
Oh Muruga, the very form of grace!
One face playfully rides upon the majestic peacock,
One face speaks words of supreme wisdom to Lord Shiva,
One face clears away the karmic troubles of praying devotees,
One face stands holding the spear that pierced the mountain,
One face destroyed the demon Sooran and tore him apart,
One face arrived to marry the maiden Valli,
You must reveal to us the divine meaning of your six faces,
You must grant countless states of joy to your devotees,
You must grant countless states of joy to your loving devotees!
Oh Father... Oh pure one...
Oh Father, oh pure soul, master of supreme truth,
Oh Kandhan of the Palani hill who blesses your devotees,
Oh Kandhan of the Palani hill who blesses your devotees...
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a grand devotional invocation celebrating Lord Murugan (Kandhan), detailing his divine attributes, weapons, and six distinct faces (Shanmuga). The lyrics highlight how Murugan's supreme grace brings together people of all backgrounds—the uneducated and the wise alike—uniting them in devotion and melting even the hardest of hearts into compassion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Kandhanukku njaanavel / Muruganukku veeravel...

Repeated invocation of Lord Murugan's names associated with his sacred spear (Njaanavel, Veeravel, Sakthivel, Vettrivel) to build rhythmic and spiritual intensity.

Contrast / Anthesis (Maranu)

Kallaadha paedhaiyarum kattravarum ondraagi

Contrasting 'Kallaadha paedhaiyarum' (uneducated simpletons) with 'kattravarum' (learned scholars) to signify universal equality before the divine.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kallaagha nindraalum kaniyaaga kanigindra

Comparing a hardened human heart to a stone ('Kallaagha') that is transformed into ripe fruit ('kaniyaaga') by Lord Murugan's grace.

Enumeration / Detailed Imagery (Aarumugam description)

Yerumayil yeri vilaiyaadum mugam ondru...

Listing each of the six faces (Aarumugam) and describing their respective divine activities (teaching Shiva, defeating Surapadman, marrying Valli, etc.).

Did you know?

Trivia

This composition is part of the iconic 1967 Tamil devotional film 'Kandhan Karunai', featuring music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and legendary performances by singers including K. B. Sundarambal, P. Susheela, and Sirkazhi Govindarajan.

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