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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Paadugindren Unnai

From Karaikkal Ammaiyar · 1973

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singer: K. B. Sundarambal
Music director: Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name: Karaikkal Ammaiyar
Movie release year: 1973
Lyrics added on: 20 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Ennaal paada mudinthavarai

Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Ennaal paada mudinthavarai

Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Vaazhugindren mannil vaazhugindren

Un vadivathai or poluthu

Kaanum varai vazhugindren

Vaazhugindren mannil vaazhugindren

Un vadivathai or poluthu

Kaanum varai vazhugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Naadugindren unnai naadugindren

Naadugindren unnai naadugindren

Ennaal nadakka mudindha varai

Naayagan thiruvadiyai naadugindren

Ennaal nadakka mudindha varai

Naayagan thiruvadiyai naadugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindren

Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindren

Kaalai mudhal iravu varai

Varum vaelaigal yaavilum unnuruvai

Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindren

Kaalai mudhal iravu varai

Varum vaelaigal yaavilum unnuruvai

Kaanugindren unnai kaanugindren

Kaalai veiyililae un thirumaeniyai

Kaanugindren

Kaalai veiyililae un thirumaeniyai

Kaanugindren

Pagal kaattum veyililae un thiruneerai

Kaanugindren

Pagal kaattum veyililae un thiruneerai

Kaanugindren

Maalai veyililae undhan senjadai

Kaanugindren

Andhi maalai veyililae undhan senjadai

Kaanugindren

Valarum iravinilae neelakandam kaanugindren

Valarum iravinilae neelakandam kaanugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

Ennaal paada mudinthavarai

Paraman thirupugazhai paadugindren

Paadugindren unnai paadugindren

I sing of you, I sing of you.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

For as long as I am able to sing,

I sing the praises of the Supreme Lord.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

For as long as I am able to sing,

I sing the praises of the Supreme Lord.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

I live on this earth, I live on,

until I can see your divine form

at least once, I live on.

I live on this earth, I live on,

until I can see your divine form

at least once, I live on.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

I seek you, I seek you.

I seek you, I seek you.

For as long as I am able to walk,

I seek my Lord's holy feet.

For as long as I am able to walk,

I seek my Lord's holy feet.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

I see you, I see you.

I see you, I see you.

From morning until night,

through every passing hour, your form

I see, I see you...

From morning until night,

through every passing hour, your form

I see, I see you...

In the morning sunshine,

I see your sacred form.

In the morning sunshine,

I see your sacred form.

In the bright midday sun,

I see your holy ash.

In the bright midday sun,

I see your holy ash.

In the evening sunlight,

I see your reddish matted locks.

In the twilight of dusk,

I see your reddish matted locks.

In the deepening night, I see your blue throat.

In the deepening night, I see your blue throat.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

For as long as I am able to sing,

I sing the praises of the Supreme Lord.

I sing of you, I sing of you.

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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