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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Palabishegam

From Pistha – 1997 Film · 1997

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Chorus
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Pistha – 1997 Film1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pal abishegamMilk anointing ritual
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Nei abishegamGhee anointing ritual
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Malar abishegamFlower anointing ritual
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Thaen abishegamHoney anointing ritual
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Sandhana abishegamSandalwood paste anointing ritual
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Avulum malarumFlattened rice and flowers
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Muthina thaengaMatured coconut
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Karpoora deepamCamphor flame light
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Kaani ponnumPure gold offering
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male :Ellaam ellaamEverything, everything
Chorus :SaamikkuFor the Lord
Male
{Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam (rhythmic chant)
Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam (rhythmic chant)
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Chorus :Saranam ayyappaa} (2)Refuge in Ayyappan
Male
Vizhiyaavum oliyaanaMy guru, my Lord, who is the light of all vision
Guruve en swamiMy Lord who is my Guru
Unai paadum uyir nadhamThe vital soul melody that sings of you
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Male
Vazhiyaavum thuniayaagaLord Sastha who comes as a companion along the path
Varugindra saashthaanThe Lord Sastha who accompanies us
Manamae un malar peedamMy heart is your floral altar
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Male
Sutha sudar maniyaePure radiant gemstone
Chorus :AyyappaaAyyappa
Male :Bakthi pasunganiyaeSweet fruit of devotion
Chorus :AyyappaaAyyappa
Male :Nitha pournamiyaeEver eternal full moon
Chorus :AyyappaaAyyappa
Male :Sithak kulirpaniyaeCool morning dew of the mind
Chorus :AyyappaaAyyappa
{Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan, Lord Ayyappan
Swami ayyappaa} (2)Refuge in Ayyappan, Lord Ayyappan
Male
{Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Chorus :Saranam ayyappaa} (2)Refuge in Ayyappan
Male
Aayiram kodiThousands of crores
Sooriyan koodiSuns coming together
Sergindra thaethiThe sacred day when they join
Magarama jothiThe Makara Jyothi light
Male
Deepathai thaangumLike a wick
Thiriyinai polaHolding the lamp's light
Ayyanai sumanthenI carried my Lord Ayyan
Anbu nenjaalaeWith a loving heart
Male
Moolamum enna naanariyenI do not know where I originated from
Chorus :Swami ayyappaaLord Ayyappa
Male :Mudivugal enna naanariyenI do not know how my end will be
Chorus :Swami ayyappaaLord Ayyappa
Male
Vazhkindra vazhvuThe life that I live now
Ondru mattumThat one thing alone
Ayyappan arulena nangarivenI know well that it is Ayyappan's grace
Arulvizhi malarmugamFloral face with eyes of grace
Adhu endhan manasugamThat gives happiness to my heart
Isai enum ezhu swaramThe seven musical notes
Enakadhu pugal tharumGive me refuge and glory
Manikanda mandhiramThe Manikanda chant
Ulagil nirandharamIs eternal in this world
Chorus
{Swami ayyappaaLord Ayyappa, refuge in Ayyappan
Saranam ayyappaa} (2)Lord Ayyappa, refuge in Ayyappan
Male
{Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Chorus :Saranam ayyappaa} (2)Refuge in Ayyappan
Male
Harihara sudhanaeSon of Hari and Hara
Arulmigu thavamaePenance filled with divine grace
Nanthanan avane aavaanHe himself became the beloved son
Chorus
Swami pon ayyappaLord golden Ayyappa
Saranam pon ayyappaRefuge in golden Ayyappa
Male
Kaniyuru mugamaeFace sweet as a fruit
Piniyoru karamaeHands that heal ailments
Kaliyuga varamae vaa vaaCome, oh boon of the Kali Yuga
Chorus
Swami pon ayyappaLord golden Ayyappa
Saranam pon ayyappaRefuge in golden Ayyappa
Male
Bakthi thamaraiLotus of devotion
Muthi thaenthuliHoney drop of liberation
ThiththippagiyadhaeBecame so sweet
Siththathaal athanDue to the mind's intent
Piththathaal dhinamDue to its intense madness of love, daily
Kaththi kooviyathaeIt cried out loud in joy
Chorus
{Saami dhindhakathomRhythmic praise to the Lord
Ayyappa dhindhakathom} (2)Rhythmic praise to Ayyappa
Male
Vinil illaadhaUnmatched in the heavens
Vinai aruthiruvaeSacred form that severs karmic bonds
Mannil unnaadaanaWalking upon this earth
Manikanda guruvaeManikanda the divine master
Chorus
Swamiyae …Oh Lord...
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Male
Sndai kottavudanAs the drums beat loud
Singi thattaAnd the cymbals clash
Adhu andham thottuReaching up to the horizon
Bagirandhaa mutta undhanTouching the cosmos, when your
Anbu mottuvidaLove begins to blossom
Thunbam vittuvidaSorrows leave us completely
Innum kattupadaTo become bound in devotion further
Inban vattamidaFor bliss to swirl around us
Siva siva saivamumShiva Shiva's Shaivism
Hari hari vainavamHari Hari's Vaishnavism
Ivai ini valamvarumThese will now circumambulate together
Azhagiya thiruthalamAt this beautiful holy shrine
Oru malaiyaeA single sacred mountain
Guru malaiyae arivaaiKnow it as the Guru's mountain
Adhai adainthaal thuyarillayaeReaching it leaves no sorrow at all
PodhuvaaiFor everyone in common
Sivan maganaeSon of Lord Shiva
Thiru oliyaai varuvaaiCome as the divine light
Pari sudhanaePure and holy one
AnuthinamumEvery single day
Arul tharuvaai…Grant us your grace...
Chorus
Swamiye …Oh Lord...
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Swamiyappa ayyappaLord Ayyappa, Ayyappa
Saranam appa ayyappaaRefuge in father Ayyappa
Pandhala raja ayyappaaKing of Pandalam, Ayyappa
Pambha vaasaa ayyyappaaResider at River Pamba, Ayyappa
Swamiye ayyappoOh Lord Ayyappa
Ayyappo swamiyeAyyappa, oh Lord
Swamiye …Oh Lord...
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Male
Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Thannan naadhinamThannan naadhinam
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan
Saranam ayyappaaRefuge in Ayyappan

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Pal abishegam' from the 1997 Tamil film 'Pistha' is a grand devotional hymn dedicated to Lord Ayyappan. It enumerates traditional ritualistic offerings (abishegam) such as milk, ghee, honey, flowers, sandalwood, and camphor light, establishing a atmosphere of complete spiritual surrender (saranam). The lyrics portray Lord Ayyappan as the ultimate guru, the embodiment of the sacred Makara Jyothi light, and the compassionate deity who cures spiritual and worldly ailments. Furthermore, the song highlights Ayyappan's unique role as 'Harihara sudhan' (the son of Vishnu and Shiva), symbolizing the harmonious synthesis of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. The devotee expresses complete faith that their life and happiness are governed solely by Ayyappan's divine grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetitive Chorus Call

Chorus :Saamikku

The word 'Saamikku' is systematically repeated after each offering in the opening verse, reinforcing the act of surrender and offering to the deity.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Manamae un malar peedam

'Manamae un malar peedam' compares the devotee's mind/heart directly to a floral altar where the Lord resides.

Simile (Uwamai)

Deepathai thaangum thiriyinai pola

'Deepathai thaangum thiriyinai pola Ayyanai sumanthen' compares carrying Lord Ayyappan in one's heart to a cotton wick supporting a lamp's flame.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Siva siva saivamum

'Siva siva saivamum Hari hari vainavam' uses euphonic repetition and alliteration to highlight the unity of Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. A. Rajkumar for the Karthik-starrer 'Pistha' (1997), this song transcended its film context to become an authentic and widely played devotional chant during the annual Sabarimala pilgrimage season across Tamil Nadu.

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