Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Om Namasivaya

From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Sirkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thiruvilaiyadal1965

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Chorus
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya (Salutations to Lord Shiva)
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya (Salutations to Lord Shiva)
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya (Salutations to Lord Shiva)
Male
Deva aaah…Oh Supreme Lord, Ah...
Aaaa….aaaa….aaaa….aaa…..aaa…[Vocalizing]
Mahaadeva aaah…aaaa….aaa…Oh Great Lord Mahadeva, Ah...
Sambo mahaadevaShambo Mahadeva (O auspicious Great God)
Sambo mahaadevaShambo Mahadeva (O auspicious Great God)
Sambo mahaadevaShambo Mahadeva (O auspicious Great God)
Sambo mahaadevaShambo Mahadeva (O auspicious Great God)
Male
Aaaah….aaaa…aaa…aaaa…[Vocalizing]
Haaa….aaaa….aaa…[Vocalizing]
Aaaah….aaaa…aaa…aaaa…[Vocalizing]
Haaa….aaaa….aaa…[Vocalizing]
Aaaah….aaaa…aaa…[Vocalizing]
Aaaah….aaaa…aaa…aaaa…[Vocalizing]
Haaa….aaaa….aaa…[Vocalizing]
Female
Nama sivaaya vaazhgaLong live Namah Shivaya!
Naathan thaal vaazhgaLong live the feet of the Lord!
Imai pozhuthum en nenjilHe who does not depart from my heart
Neengaathaan thaal vaazhgaEven for the blink of an eye, long live His feet!
Chorus
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya
Om namasivvaayaOm Namah Shivaya
Female
Eesan adi pottriPraise be to the feet of the Supreme Lord!
Endhai adi pottriPraise be to the feet of my Father!
Dhesan adi pottriPraise be to the feet of the Radiant One!
Sivan sevadi pottriPraise be to the holy red feet of Lord Shiva!
Female
Neyaththae nindraHe who stands in true devotion and love,
Nimalanadi pottriPraise be to the feet of the Pure One!
Maaya pirapparukkumHe who severs the illusory cycle of rebirth,
Mannanadi pottriPraise be to the feet of the King!
Seeraar perunthuraiOf the glorious Thiruperunturai,
Nam dhevanadi pottriPraise be to the feet of our God!
Aaraatha inbam arulumHe who bestows insatiable, everlasting bliss,
Malai pottriPraise be to that Mountain of Grace!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song incorporates verses from Saint Manikkavasagar's sacred 9th-century text 'Sivapuranam' (part of Thiruvasagam) as adapted into the classic 1965 film Thiruvilaiyadal. It begins with the profound chant of the Panchakshara Mantra ('Om Namah Shivaya') and classical vocal improvisations praising Lord Shiva as Mahadeva and Shambo.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Epistrophe)

“Eesan adi pottri ... Malai pottri”

Multiple consecutive lines end with the word 'pottri' (Praise be to), creating a rhythmic, litany-like devotional cadence.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Neyaththae nindra / Nimalanadi pottri”

Repetition of the initial letter 'N' across 'Neyaththae', 'Nindra', and 'Nimalanadi'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Aaraatha inbam arulum Malai pottri”

Lord Shiva is metaphorically praised as a 'Mountain' (Malai) that bestows endless, insatiable bliss.

Did you know?

Trivia

While the soundtrack of the film Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan, these specific lines are drawn directly from Saint Manikkavasagar's 'Sivapuranam', the opening chapter of the ancient Shaivite hymn 'Thiruvasagam'.

Keep listening

More from Thiruvilaiyadal