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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nanendra Aganthaiyinal

From Agathiyar · 1972

Lyricist
Nellai Arulmani
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Details
Agathiyar1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naanendra aganthaiyinaal thalai nimirndhenI held my head high out of the ego of 'I'.
Naan sellum vazhi thaduthaanHe blocked the path that I was traveling upon.
Vaanullor nagaithidavumCausing the celestial beings in heaven to laugh,
Mannullor pazhithidavum vasiyae thaangiAnd the mortals of the earth to mock, while enduring the humiliation.
Male
Veenaanam vindhiyum serukazhinthuThe vain Vindhya mountain, stripped of its arrogance,
Urukulainthu nila mel veezhaLost its grand structure and bowed down to the ground.
Gnyaana senthamizh alitha naayaganaeO Lord who bestowed the divine, wisdom-filled Senthamizh!
Enakkum unn arul nalguvaayaeWill you please grant your divine grace to me as well?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This verse reflects on the legend of Mount Vindhya's arrogance and its ultimate humbling by Sage Agathiyar. The narrator compares human ego to the Vindhya mountain, which grew excessively proud and blocked the sun, only to be humiliated before both heavenly beings and mortals when Agathiyar subdued it to bow to the earth. Addressing the great master who blessed humanity with divine, pure Tamil (Senthamizh), the devotee pleads for spiritual redemption. Acknowledging their own past vanity and mistakes, the seeker humbly asks the master to bestow the same divine mercy and grace upon them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mythological Allusion (புராணக் குறிப்பு)

Veenaanam vindhiyum serukazhinthu

Refers to the puranic legend where Sage Agathiyar humbled the arrogant Vindhya mountain range that grew tall to block the sun.

Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Ethugai)

Naanendra aganthaiyinaal thalai nimirndhen

The second consonant sound 'na' rhymes between 'Naanendra' and 'Naan sellum'.

Antithesis / Structural Parallelism

Vaanullor nagaithidavum / Mannullor pazhithidavum

Contrasts the heavenly beings (Vaanullor) with the earth-bound humans (Mannullor) using parallel phrasing.

Epithet (சிறப்புப் பெயர்)

Gnyaana senthamizh alitha naayaganae

Refers to Agathiyar with the exalted title of the supreme lord who gave the wisdom of pure Tamil to the world.

Did you know?

Trivia

According to Hindu mythology, the Vindhya mountain range was filled with pride and grew so tall that it obstructed the path of the sun. Sage Agathiyar journeyed from the north to the south and asked Vindhya to bow down so he could cross, instructing it to stay lowered until he returned. Agathiyar settled in the south permanently, keeping Vindhya's arrogance subdued forever.

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