Om Namah Shivaya
From Salangai Oli · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Salangai Oli1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Om …..ooooommmmm | Om... Oom... |
| Oommm… | Oom... |
| Om namachchivaayaa… | Om Namah Shivaya... |
| Oooom namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa | Oh Lord who wears the golden moon! |
| Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa | Oh Lord who wears the golden moon! |
| Aadugiren poornodhaiya | I dance, Oh supreme divine light! |
| Arulillaiyaa | Do I not have Your grace? |
| Female | |
| Oooom | Om |
| Ooommmm namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Oooommm namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Female | |
| Panja boodhangalum | The five natural elements |
| Mugavadivaagum | Become the shapes of Your faces |
| Aaru kaalangalum aadaigalaagum | The six seasons become Your garments |
| Panja boodhangalum | The five natural elements |
| Mugavadivaagum | Become the shapes of Your faces |
| Aaru kaalangalum aadaigalaagum | The six seasons become Your garments |
| Female | |
| Malaimagal paarvathi | Parvathi, the daughter of the mountain |
| Unnudan nadakka | Walks along with You |
| Ezhu adigalum surangal padikka | While the seven musical notes chant Your seven steps |
| Female | |
| Sa dha ma ga ni sa ga | Sa dha ma ga ni sa ga |
| Ga ma tha ni sa ga | Ga ma tha ni sa ga |
| Ga ga ga | Ga ga ga |
| Sa sa sa | Sa sa sa |
| Ni tha | Ni tha |
| Maga sa nitha ma ga sa | Ma ga sa ni tha ma ga sa |
| Female | |
| Un paarvaiyae ettu dhisaigalae | Your gaze encompasses all eight directions |
| Un sorkalae navarasangalae | Your words embody the nine artistic emotions |
| Gangaiyin manavazhaaa | Oh bridegroom of the holy Ganges! |
| Aaaa….aaaa…..aaa…aaa…. | Aaaa... aaaa... aaa... aaa... |
| Un mounamae | Does Your silence |
| Subha nirathangal tharavillaiyaa | Not grant auspicious colors to life? |
| Female | |
| Oooom | Om |
| Ooommmm namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Oooommm namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Female | |
| Moondru kaalangalum | The three realms of time |
| Undhan vizhigal | Are Your eyes |
| Chathur vedhangalum | The four sacred Vedas |
| Undhan vazhigal | Are Your direct paths |
| Female | |
| Moondru kaalangalum | The three realms of time |
| Undhan vizhigal | Are Your eyes |
| Chathur vedhangalum | The four sacred Vedas |
| Undhan vazhigal | Are Your direct paths |
| Female | |
| Ganapathi muruganum | Lord Ganesha and Murugan |
| Pirabanjam muzhudhum | Along with the entire universe |
| Iraivaa unnadi thodavae thudhikkum | Oh God, yearn to touch Your divine feet in devotion |
| Female | |
| Athvaithamum nee | You are Non-Duality (Advaita) |
| Adhianthamum nee | You are both the Beginning and the End |
| Neeyengu illai | Where are You absent? |
| Bhuvanam muzhudhum nee | You pervade the whole universe |
| Kailaasa malai vaasa kalaiyavum nee | Oh dweller of Mount Kailash, You are art itself! |
| Puvi vazhvu peravae arul puri nee | Bestow Your grace so that earthly life prospers |
| Female | |
| Oommm… | Om... |
| Oooom …. | Om... |
| Oooom namachchivaayaa | Om Namah Shivaya |
| Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa | Oh Lord who wears the golden moon! |
| Aadugiren poornodhaiya | I dance, Oh supreme divine light! |
| Arulillaiyaa | Do I not have Your grace? |
ஓம்….ஓஓஓம்ம்ம்ம் …
ஓஓம்ம்ம்..
ஓம் நமசிவாயா
ஓஓம்ம்ம்.. நமசிவாயா
தங்க நிலாவினை அணிந்தவா
தங்க நிலாவினை அணிந்தவா
ஆடுகிறேன் பூர்நோதையா
அருளில்லையா
Om... Oom...
Oom...
Om Namah Shivaya...
Om Namah Shivaya
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
I dance, Oh supreme divine light!
Do I not have Your grace?
ஓஓஓம்......
ஓம் நமசிவாயா
ஓஓம்ம்ம்.. நமசிவாயா
Om
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya
ப
ஞ்ச பூதங்களும் முகவடிவாகும்
ஆறு காலங்களும் ஆடைகளாகும்
பஞ்ச பூதங்களும் முகவடிவாகும்
ஆறு காலங்களும் ஆடைகளாகும்
The five natural elements
Become the shapes of Your faces
The six seasons become Your garments
The five natural elements
Become the shapes of Your faces
The six seasons become Your garments
மலைமகள் பார்வதி
உன்னுடன் நடக்க
ஏழு அடிகளும் ஸ்வரங்கள் படிக்க
Parvathi, the daughter of the mountain
Walks along with You
While the seven musical notes chant Your seven steps
சா தா மா க நி சா க
க ம தா நி சா க
ககக ச ச ச
நி தா
ம கச நி தா ம கச
Sa dha ma ga ni sa ga
Ga ma tha ni sa ga
Ga ga ga
Sa sa sa
Ni tha
Ma ga sa ni tha ma ga sa
உன்பார்வையே எட்டு திசைகளே
உன்சொற்களே நவரசங்களே
கங்கையின் மணவாளா
ஆ ..ஆ ..ஆ …ஆ
உன் மௌனமே….
சுப நிரதங்கள் தரவில்லையா
Your gaze encompasses all eight directions
Your words embody the nine artistic emotions
Oh bridegroom of the holy Ganges!
Aaaa... aaaa... aaa... aaa...
Does Your silence
Not grant auspicious colors to life?
ஓஓஓம்......
ஓம் நமசிவாயா
ஓஓம்ம்ம்.. நமசிவாயா
Om
Om Namah Shivaya
Om Namah Shivaya
மூன்று காலங்களும்
உந்தன் விழிகள்
சதுர் வேதங்களும் உந்தன் வழிகள்
மூன்று காலங்களும் உந்தன் விழிகள்
சதுர் வேதங்களும் உந்தன் வழிகள்
The three realms of time
Are Your eyes
The four sacred Vedas
Are Your direct paths
கணபதி முருகனும்
ப்ரபஞ்சம் முழுதும்
இறைவா உன்னடி தொடவே துதிக்கும்
The three realms of time
Are Your eyes
The four sacred Vedas
Are Your direct paths
அத்வைத்தமும் நீ
ஆதி அந்தமும் நீ
நீயெங்கு இல்லை
புவனம் முழுதும் நீ
கைலாச மலை வாசா கலையாவும் நீ
புவி வாழ்வு பெறவே அருள் புரி நீ
Lord Ganesha and Murugan
Along with the entire universe
Oh God, yearn to touch Your divine feet in devotion
ஓம்….ஓஓஓம்ம்ம்ம் …
ஓஓம்ம்ம்.. நமசிவாயா
தங்க நிலாவினை அணிந்தவா
ஆடுகிறேன் பூர்நோதையா
அருளில்லையா
You are Non-Duality (Advaita)
You are both the Beginning and the End
Where are You absent?
You pervade the whole universe
Oh dweller of Mount Kailash, You are art itself!
Bestow Your grace so that earthly life prospers
Om...
Om...
Om Namah Shivaya
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
I dance, Oh supreme divine light!
Do I not have Your grace?
Om …..ooooommmmm
Om... Oom...
Oommm…
Oom...
Om namachchivaayaa…
Om Namah Shivaya...
Oooom namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
Aadugiren poornodhaiya
I dance, Oh supreme divine light!
Arulillaiyaa
Do I not have Your grace?
Oooom
Om
Ooommmm namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Oooommm namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Panja boodhangalum
The five natural elements
Mugavadivaagum
Become the shapes of Your faces
Aaru kaalangalum aadaigalaagum
The six seasons become Your garments
Panja boodhangalum
The five natural elements
Mugavadivaagum
Become the shapes of Your faces
Aaru kaalangalum aadaigalaagum
The six seasons become Your garments
Malaimagal paarvathi
Parvathi, the daughter of the mountain
Unnudan nadakka
Walks along with You
Ezhu adigalum surangal padikka
While the seven musical notes chant Your seven steps
Sa dha ma ga ni sa ga
Sa dha ma ga ni sa ga
Ga ma tha ni sa ga
Ga ma tha ni sa ga
Ga ga ga
Ga ga ga
Sa sa sa
Sa sa sa
Ni tha
Ni tha
Maga sa nitha ma ga sa
Ma ga sa ni tha ma ga sa
Un paarvaiyae ettu dhisaigalae
Your gaze encompasses all eight directions
Un sorkalae navarasangalae
Your words embody the nine artistic emotions
Gangaiyin manavazhaaa
Oh bridegroom of the holy Ganges!
Aaaa….aaaa…..aaa…aaa….
Aaaa... aaaa... aaa... aaa...
Un mounamae
Does Your silence
Subha nirathangal tharavillaiyaa
Not grant auspicious colors to life?
Oooom
Om
Ooommmm namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Oooommm namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Moondru kaalangalum
The three realms of time
Undhan vizhigal
Are Your eyes
Chathur vedhangalum
The four sacred Vedas
Undhan vazhigal
Are Your direct paths
Moondru kaalangalum
The three realms of time
Undhan vizhigal
Are Your eyes
Chathur vedhangalum
The four sacred Vedas
Undhan vazhigal
Are Your direct paths
Ganapathi muruganum
Lord Ganesha and Murugan
Pirabanjam muzhudhum
Along with the entire universe
Iraivaa unnadi thodavae thudhikkum
Oh God, yearn to touch Your divine feet in devotion
Athvaithamum nee
You are Non-Duality (Advaita)
Adhianthamum nee
You are both the Beginning and the End
Neeyengu illai
Where are You absent?
Bhuvanam muzhudhum nee
You pervade the whole universe
Kailaasa malai vaasa kalaiyavum nee
Oh dweller of Mount Kailash, You are art itself!
Puvi vazhvu peravae arul puri nee
Bestow Your grace so that earthly life prospers
Oommm…
Om...
Oooom ….
Om...
Oooom namachchivaayaa
Om Namah Shivaya
Thanga nilaavinai anindhavaa
Oh Lord who wears the golden moon!
Aadugiren poornodhaiya
I dance, Oh supreme divine light!
Arulillaiyaa
Do I not have Your grace?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a sublime classical devotional piece dedicated to Lord Shiva (Nataraja), the lord of dance. The lyricist metaphorically frames the entire universe, nature, and art as manifestations of Shiva himself. The five elements form his faces, the six seasons are his garments, the three periods of time are his eyes, and the four Vedas are the path to reach him. Through classical Bharatanatyam dance movements and swara patterns, the dancer surrenders completely to the cosmic dancer, seeking his divine grace and enlightenment. The emotional arc transitions from solemn reverent invocation into philosophical awe—attributing concepts of Advaita (non-duality), omnipresence, and eternal cosmic order to Shiva. The dancer repeatedly begs for Shiva's grace ('Arulillaiyaa'), expressing that without the Lord's blessing, earthly life lacks color and meaning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagamm (Metaphor)
“Panja boodhangalum Mugavadivaagum”
Compares the five cosmic elements (Pancha Bhootas) directly to the divine faces of Lord Shiva.
Metaphor
“Moondru kaalangalum Undhan vizhigal”
Equates the three tenses of time (past, present, future) to Shiva's three eyes.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Un paarvaiyae ettu dhisaigalae / Un sorkalae navarasangalae”
The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('dhisaigalae' / 'navarasangalae') to create lyrical rhythm suited for classical dance.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Adhianthamum nee”
Combines 'Aadi' (Beginning) and 'Antham' (End) to denote the paradoxical omnipresence of the Supreme Being.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is from the iconic film 'Salangai Oli' (1983), which is the Tamil dubbed version of K. Viswanath's Telugu masterpiece 'Sagara Sangamam'. The musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned in Tamil by Vairamuthu. The song was rendered passionately by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Kamal Haasan's portrayal of Balakrishna, an uncompromising classical dancer performing Natya Puja in this sequence, is considered one of the greatest performances in Indian cinematic history.
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