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Lyrics & meaning

Muthaitharu Pathithirunagai

From Arunagirinathar · 1964

Lyricist
Arunagirinathar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Arunagirinathar1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Muthaitharu pathith thirunagaiO Lord with divine smiling teeth resembling lustrous pearls,
Aththikkirai saththi saravanaThe husband of Devayanai, holding the Sakhti spear, born in Saravana lake,
Muththikkoru viththu gurubara..enavodhumThe seed of liberation, the supreme Guru—thus praise those who chant your name.
Muthaitharu pathith thirunagaiO Lord with divine smiling teeth resembling lustrous pearls,
Aththikkirai saththi saravanaThe husband of Devayanai, holding the Sakhti spear, born in Saravana lake,
Muththikkoru viththu gurubara..enavodhumThe seed of liberation, the supreme Guru—thus praise those who chant your name.
Male
Mukkatpara marku suruthiyinTo the three-eyed Lord Shiva, the ancient wisdom of the Vedas,
Murpattathu karpith thiruvarumYou imparted the primal meaning of Pranava (Om) as a divine grace,
Muppaththumu varkkath thamararum adipaenaWhile the thirty-three crore celestial gods worship your divine feet.
Mukkatpara marku suruthiyinTo the three-eyed Lord Shiva, the ancient wisdom of the Vedas,
Murpattathu karpith thiruvarumYou imparted the primal meaning of Pranava (Om) as a divine grace,
Muppaththumu varkkath thamararum adipaenaWhile the thirty-three crore celestial gods worship your divine feet.
Male
Paththu thalai thaththa kanaithoduHe who shot an arrow to sever the ten heads of Ravana,
Otraikkiri maththai poruthoruHe who used the single mountain Mandara as a churning rod,
Pattappagal vatta thigiriyil iravaagaHe who turned broad daylight into darkness using his circular discus,
Paththu thalai thaththa kanaithoduHe who shot an arrow to sever the ten heads of Ravana,
Otraikkiri maththai poruthoruHe who used the single mountain Mandara as a churning rod,
Pattappagal vatta thigiriyil iravaagaHe who turned broad daylight into darkness using his circular discus,
Male
Paththarkira thaththai kadaviyaHe who drove the chariot for his devotee Arjuna,
Pachchaippuyal mechcha thaguporulLord Vishnu, dark as a cloud, who praises you as the ultimate Reality,
Patchaththodu ratchith arulvadhum orunalaeWill you grant me your protective grace out of affection one day?
Paththarkira thaththai kadaviyaHe who drove the chariot for his devotee Arjuna,
Pachchaippuyal mechcha thaguporulLord Vishnu, dark as a cloud, who praises you as the ultimate Reality,
Patchaththodu ratchith arulvadhum orunalaeWill you grant me your protective grace out of affection one day?
Male
Thiththiththeya otha paripuraTo the rhythmic beat 'Thith-thi-theya', anklets jingling,
Nirththappadham vaithu payiraviGoddess Bhairavi dances with cosmic rhythmic steps,
Thikkotka nadikka kazhukodu kazhuthaadaAs she dances across directions, eagles and ghouls dance along in the battlefield,
Thiththiththeya otha paripuraTo the rhythmic beat 'Thith-thi-theya', anklets jingling,
Nirththappadham vaithu payiraviGoddess Bhairavi dances with cosmic rhythmic steps,
Thikkotka nadikka kazhukodu kazhuthaadaAs she dances across directions, eagles and ghouls dance along in the battlefield,
Male
Thikkuppari atta payiravarThe eight Bhairavas guarding the eight directions dance,
Thokkuththogu thokkuth thoguthoguTo the rhythmic drum beats 'Thokku-thogu thokku-thoguthogu',
Chithrappavurikku thrikadaka enavodhaChanting rhythmic syllables for the wondrous cosmic dance,
Thikkuppari atta payiravarThe eight Bhairavas guarding the eight directions dance,
Thokkuththogu thokkuth thoguthoguTo the rhythmic drum beats 'Thokku-thogu thokku-thoguthogu',
Chithrappavurikku thrikadaka enavodhaChanting rhythmic syllables for the wondrous cosmic dance,
Male
Koththupparai kotta kalamisaiAs clusters of battle drums reverberate on the battlefield,
Kukkukkuku kukkuk kukukukuOwls cry out 'Kuk-ku-kuku kuk-kuk ku-ku-ku-ku',
Kuththipputhai pukku pidiyena muthukogaiShouting 'Stab, bury, enter, catch!' the old owls call out,
Koththupparai kotta kalamisaiAs clusters of battle drums reverberate on the battlefield,
Kukkukkuku kukkuk kukukukuOwls cry out 'Kuk-ku-kuku kuk-kuk ku-ku-ku-ku',
Kuththipputhai pukku pidiyena muthukogaiShouting 'Stab, bury, enter, catch!' the old owls call out,
Male
Kotputrezha natputtravunaraiWhen anger arose, destroying the demons who feigned friendship,
Vettippali yittu kulakiriSlashing and sacrificing them, breaking Krauncha mountain,
Kuththuppada voththu poravala perumalae….O mighty Great Lord who waged war and emerged victorious!
Kotputrezha natputtravunaraiWhen anger arose, destroying the demons who feigned friendship,
Vettippali yittu kulakiriSlashing and sacrificing them, breaking Krauncha mountain,
Kuththuppada voththu poravala perumalae…O mighty Great Lord who waged war and emerged victorious!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Muthai Tharu' is the celebrated opening hymn of Thiruppugazh composed by saint-poet Arunagirinathar. In this hymn, Lord Murugan is revered as the supreme guru who explained the sacred meaning of the Pranava mantra 'Om' to Lord Shiva. The lyrics weave together praise for Murugan's radiance, his cosmic lineage connecting him to Lord Vishnu (his maternal uncle who performed great deeds in the Ramayana and Mahabharata), and a vivid depiction of his victorious war against demon Surapadman. The poem concludes with a personal plea for divine protection and spiritual liberation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Chantham (Rhythmic Meter & Onomatopoeia)

Thokkuththogu thokkuth thoguthogu

The song uses complex rhythmic meter (Thalam/Santham) featuring onomatopoeic sounds to mimic drumbeats and battlefield cries.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Muthaitharu / Muththikkoru

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'th' across consecutive lines creates structural harmony.

Monaik-Thodai (Alliteration)

Paththu thalai thaththa kanaithodu

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in the same line enhances phonetic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Legend holds that when Arunagirinathar attempted to end his life by jumping off the Vallala Maharaja gopuram at Tiruvannamalai, Lord Murugan caught him and inscribed the Pranava mantra on his tongue, giving him the first words 'Muthai Tharu' to begin his legendary composition of Thiruppugazh.

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