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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paadugindren Unnai

From Karaikkal Ammaiyar · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. B. Sundarambal
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Details
Karaikkal Ammaiyar1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Ennaal paada mudinthavaraiAs long as I am able to sing
Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindrenI sing the divine glory of the Supreme Lord
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Ennaal paada mudinthavaraiAs long as I am able to sing
Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindrenI sing the divine glory of the Supreme Lord
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Female
Vaazhugindren mannil vaazhugindrenI live on this earth, I live
Un vadivathai or poluthuUntil for a moment
Kaanum varai vazhugindrenI behold your form, I continue to live
Vaazhugindren mannil vaazhugindrenI live on this earth, I live
Un vadivathai or poluthuUntil for a moment
Kaanum varai vazhugindrenI behold your form, I continue to live
Female
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Female
Naadugindren unnai naadugindrenI seek you, I seek you
Naadugindren unnai naadugindrenI seek you, I seek you
Ennaal nadakka mudindha varaiAs long as I am able to walk
Naayagan thiruvadiyai naadugindrenI seek the holy feet of the Lord
Ennaal nadakka mudindha varaiAs long as I am able to walk
Naayagan thiruvadiyai naadugindrenI seek the holy feet of the Lord
Female
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Female
Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindrenI see you, I see you
Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindrenI see you, I see you
Kaalai mudhal iravu varaiFrom morning until night
Varum vaelaigal yaavilum unnuruvaiIn all the times that come, your form
Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindrenI see you, I see you
Kaalai mudhal iravu varaiFrom morning until night
Varum vaelaigal yaavilum unnuruvaiIn all the times that come, your form
Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindrenI see you, I see you
Female
Kaalai veiyililae un thirumaeniyaiIn the morning sunlight, your holy body
KaanugindrenI see
Kaalai veiyililae un thirumaeniyaiIn the morning sunlight, your holy body
KaanugindrenI see
Pagal kaattum veyililae un thiruneeraiIn the bright daytime heat, your sacred ash
KaanugindrenI see
Pagal kaattum veyililae un thiruneeraiIn the bright daytime heat, your sacred ash
KaanugindrenI see
Maalai veyililae undhan senjadaiIn the evening sunlight, your matted red hair
KaanugindrenI see
Andhi maalai veyililae undhan senjadaiIn the twilight evening sunlight, your matted red hair
KaanugindrenI see
Valarum iravinilae neelakandam kaanugindrenIn the growing dark night, I see your blue throat
Valarum iravinilae neelakandam kaanugindrenIn the growing dark night, I see your blue throat
Female
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you
Ennaal paada mudinthavaraiAs long as I am able to sing
Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindrenI sing the divine glory of the Supreme Lord
Paadugindren unnai paadugindrenI sing of you, I sing of you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful devotional song captures the complete surrender and unyielding devotion of Karaikkal Ammaiyar toward Lord Shiva. The singer pledges to sing His praise as long as voice permits, live on Earth solely to glimpse His form, and walk as long as legs allow to reach His holy feet. The second half of the song beautifully connects the passage of a day to Lord Shiva's divine appearance: the morning sun reflects His golden body, the noon heat represents His white sacred ash (Vibhuti), the dusk sunset mirrors His reddish matted locks (Senjadai), and the dark night symbolizes His blue throat (Neelakantha).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

The rhythmic repetition of words like 'Paadugindren', 'Naadugindren', and 'Kaanugindren' creates a chant-like cadence, reinforcing relentless devotion.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

Andhi maalai veyililae undhan senjadai kaanugindren

The lyrics metaphorically map natural phenomena across the day to physical attributes of Lord Shiva (morning sun to golden body, dusk sun to red matted hair, dark night to blue throat).

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindren

End rhymes using the continuous present verb ending '-gindren' create a unified devotional flow throughout the stanza.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Karaikkal Ammaiyar (1973) was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, and this iconic devotional song was sung by the legendary K. B. Sundarambal, who also starred as the protagonist in the biographical film about the 6th-century Shaivite saint.

Keep listening

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