- Lyricist
- Ramalinga Swamigal
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Konjum Salangai
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 21 Jun 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song is a deeply revered devotional prayer originally composed by the 19th-century Tamil saint-poet Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar) as part of his 'Deiva Mani Maalai' in the 'Thiru Arutpa'. The hymn is a sincere plea to Lord Shanmuga (Murugan) for ethical, spiritual, and physical well-being. The seeker prays for single-minded devotion and the company of righteous individuals who sincerely contemplate the Lord's lotus feet, while fervently asking to be saved from hypocrites who harbor malice inside while speaking sweetly outside. Furthermore, the song outlines a complete spiritual and moral code: avoiding lies, walking the path of dharma, staying free from the demonic influence of pride and ego, acquiring true wisdom, and obtaining the treasure of divine grace. Ultimately, it seeks a healthy, disease-free life lived in harmony and devotion, addressing Lord Shanmuga as the purest divine gem of enlightenment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Antithesis / Contrast)
“Ullondru vaithu / Puram ondru pesuvaar”
Contrasts inner thoughts ('Ullondru' - one inside) with outward speech ('Puram ondru' - another outside) to highlight two-faced hypocrisy.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thiru malaradi ninaikindra”
The Lord's sacred feet ('adi') are directly metaphorized as a divine flower ('malar').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Madhamaana pei pidiyaadhirukka vendum”
Arrogance or ego ('Madham') is metaphorically characterized as a evil spirit/demon ('pei') possessing a person.
Iyaipu (Refrain / Anaphora)
“Uthamar than uravu vendum ... Uravu kalavaamai vendum ... Pesa vendum”
The repetitive ending of lines with the word 'vendum' (meaning 'is desired' or 'must be') creates a rhythmic, prayerful plea throughout the poem.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nin karunai nidhi vendum”
The Lord's divine compassion and grace ('karunai') is compared to a boundless treasure ('nidhi').
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is an excerpt from Vallalar's (Ramalinga Swamigal) immortal work 'Deiva Mani Maalai', which forms part of the 'Thiru Arutpa'. In the movie 'Konjum Salangai' (1962), this divine hymn was set to music by composer S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and famously rendered by singer Sulamangalam Rajalakshmi. 'Konjum Salangai' is historically significant as one of Tamil cinema's early Technicolor films and notable for being the first Tamil film dubbed into Polish for release in Poland.
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