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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panjali Oruthikku

From Mahasakthi Mariamman · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mahasakthi Mariamman1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paanjaali oruthikkuFor one Draupadi,
Thugil koduthaan vaikundhanVaikundhan (Lord Vishnu) gave clothing.
Paaril ullor anaivarukkumFor all people in this world,
Thugil koduthaan sengundhanThe Sengundhar (weaver) gave clothing.
Male
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sirandhavan yaar ingu uyarndhavan yaarWho is superior here, who is elevated?
Bairavi thaayae solladi neeyaeOh Mother Bhairavi, you tell us!
Male
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sirandhavan yaar ingu uyarndhavan yaarWho is superior here, who is elevated?
Bairavi thaayae solladi neeyaeOh Mother Bhairavi, you tell us!
Bairavi thaayae solladi neeyaeOh Mother Bhairavi, you tell us!
Male
Paarkadalil naalum avan thuyilvaanHe sleeps daily in the ocean of milk,
Naam pallieluchi sonnaal pinnar ezhuvaanHe wakes up only after we sing the morning wake-up hymn.
Paarkadalil naalum avan thuyilvaanHe sleeps daily in the ocean of milk,
Naam pallieluchi sonnaal pinnar ezhuvaanHe wakes up only after we sing the morning wake-up hymn.
Male
Paavadiyil noolai padhaniduvaanHe prepares the thread on the loom frame,
Paavadiyil noolai padhaniduvaanHe prepares the thread on the loom frame,
Than pasiyilum noolukivan kanjiduvaanEven when hungry, he feeds starch to the thread,
Than pasiyilum noolukivan kanjiduvaanEven when hungry, he feeds starch to the thread,
Male
Andha malavan ariya malavanThat Lord Vishnu is hard to comprehend,
Indha noolavan endrum thooyavan engalWhile this man of threads is ever pure, our
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Male
Aadaiyila manidhan arai manidhanA man without clothes is half a man,
Aadai anindhavan than muzhu manidhanThe one wearing clothes is a complete man.
Aadaiyila manidhan arai manidhanA man without clothes is half a man,
Aadai anindhavan than muzhu manidhanThe one wearing clothes is a complete man.
Male
Arai manidhan thannai muzhu manidhan endruMaking a half-man into a complete man,
Aakkiya ivan androo perum punidhanIsn't he a truly great holy soul?
Arai manidhan thannai muzhu manidhan endruMaking a half-man into a complete man,
Aakkiya ivan androo perum punidhanIsn't he a truly great holy soul?
Male
Noolilum sikkal vaazhvilum sikkal aayinumThough there are tangles in thread and tangles in life,
Dhinamum ayaradhu uzhaikkumWorking tirelessly every single day,
Sengundhana illai vaigundhanaIs it the Sengundhar or Vaikundhan?
Sirandhavan yaar ingu uyarndhavan yaarWho is superior here, who is elevated?
Bairavi thaayae solladi neeyaeOh Mother Bhairavi, you tell us!
Bairavi thaayae solladi neeyaeOh Mother Bhairavi, you tell us!
Male
Angaiyarkanni ennum meenatchiyae indhaOh Meenakshi, the fish-eyed goddess,
Avaniyengum unadhu arulaatchiyaeYour divine rule spans across this entire world.
Angaiyarkanni ennum meenatchiyae indhaOh Meenakshi, the fish-eyed goddess,
Avaniyengum unadhu arulaatchiyaeYour divine rule spans across this entire world.
Male
Niraivaana arul sindhum vizhi kattammaShow your gaze shedding abundant grace, Mother!
Niraivaana arul sindhum vizhi kattammaShow your gaze shedding abundant grace, Mother!
Engal nesavaalar kulam vaazha vazhi kattammaShow the path for our weavers' community to flourish, Mother!
Niraivaana arul sindhum vizhi kattammaShow your gaze shedding abundant grace, Mother!
Engal nesavaalar kulam vaazha vazhi kattammaShow the path for our weavers' community to flourish, Mother!
Vazhi kattamma vazhi kattamma vazhi kattammaShow us the way, show us the way, show us the way!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song composed by K. V. Mahadevan and written by Vairamuthu presents a poetically bold comparison between Lord Vishnu (Vaikundhan) and the weaver (Sengundhar). While Vishnu came to the rescue of a single woman, Panchali, by providing endless robes, the weaver tirelessly clothes the entire world. The lyrics detail the dedication of weavers, who feed starch to threads even while remaining hungry themselves, thereby granting dignity and completeness to human society through clothing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Eturolikku)

Paanjaali oruthikku / Thugil koduthaan vaikundhan / Paaril ullor anaivarukkum / Thugil koduthaan sengundhan

Compares Lord Vishnu giving clothes to one person (Paanjaali) versus the weaver giving clothing to all humans in the world (Paaril ullor anaivarukkum).

Rhyme / Monai & Ethirukai

Sengundhana illai vaigundhana

Phonetic harmony and internal rhyming between 'Sengundhana' and 'Vaigundhana' as well as 'Noolilum' and 'Vaazhvilum'.

Aphorism / Maxims

Aadaiyila manidhan arai manidhan / Aadai anindhavan than muzhu manidhan

Uses popular folk wisdom that clothing gives dignity and makes a person complete.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song celebrates the traditional Sengundhar weaving community of Tamil Nadu, using devotional and philosophical imagery to exalt physical labor above divinity, framed as a passionate appeal to Goddess Bhairavi and Meenakshi.

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