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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panniner Mozhiyaal

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Master Maharajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thiruvarutchelvar1967

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Panninaer mozhiyaalOh Lord with a voice sweet as music,
Umai pangaro…oo ooOh Lord who shares half His body with Goddess Uma...
Manninaar balam sei marai kaadaro…Oh Lord of Thirumaraikadu who gives strength to the people of the earth...
Kanninaal umai kaana kadhavinai…To see You with my eyes, the doors...
Thinnamaaga thirandharul seiminaen…Please grant grace and firmly open them...
Female
Aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa..aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aaa...)
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa….haa…aaa…aa…haa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aaa...)
Male
Thaazh thiravaai…Unlatch and open...
Mani kadhavae thaazh thiravaaiOh jeweled doors, unlatch and open
Aalaya mani kadhavae thaazh thiravaaiOh temple jeweled doors, unlatch and open
Marai naayagan mugam kaana thaazh thiravaaiUnlatch and open to behold the face of the Hero of Scriptures
Marai naayagan mugam kaana thaazh thiravaaiUnlatch and open to behold the face of the Hero of Scriptures
Aalaya mani kadhavae thaazh thiravaaiOh temple jeweled doors, unlatch and open
Female
Aaa….aaa….haaa…aaa…haaa…aa…aa..aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aaa...)
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa….haa…aaa…aa…..aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aaa...)
Male
Mana kadhavum thirandha param porulaeOh Supreme Being who opened the doors of my mind
Thiru kadhavum thirakka varam arulaeGrant the boon to open the holy temple doors
Mana kadhavum thirandha param porulaeOh Supreme Being who opened the doors of my mind
Thiru kadhavum thirakka varam arulaeGrant the boon to open the holy temple doors
Female
Aa… aaa… aa…aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aa...)
Male
Iru karam kooppi unnai valam varavaeTo fold both hands and circumambulate You
Female
Aa… aaa…h aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…Vocalizing (Aa...)
Male
Iru karam kooppi unnai valam varavaeTo fold both hands and circumambulate You
Engum sivamayamaai malara thaazh thiravaaiUnlatch and open so that everywhere blossoms into the essence of Shiva
Iru karam kooppi unnai valam varavaeTo fold both hands and circumambulate You
Engum sivamayamaai malara thaazh thiravaaiUnlatch and open so that everywhere blossoms into the essence of Shiva
Male
Aalaya mani kadhavae thaazh thiravaaiOh temple jeweled doors, unlatch and open
Male
Aadum thiruvadi kolam arindhidaTo witness the form of Your dancing holy feet
Aranae thaazh thiravaaiOh Lord Hara, unlatch and open
Annaiyin maarbinil ponmani kandidaTo behold the golden gem upon the Mother's chest
Sivanae thaazh thiravaaiOh Lord Shiva, unlatch and open
Arul neri thelivura thirumarai pugazh peraFor the path of grace to become clear and the holy Vedas to gain glory
Anbae thaazh thiravaaiOh Embodiment of Love, unlatch and open
Oru murai iru murai pala murai kettenI asked once, twice, and many times
Oliyae thaazh thiravaaiOh Light, unlatch and open
Iraivaa thaazh thiravaaiOh Lord, unlatch and open
En thalaivaa thaazh thiravaaiOh my Leader, unlatch and open
Kadhavae thaazh thiravaai thaazh thiravaai…Oh doors, unlatch and open, unlatch and open...
Male
Thiruchittrambalam… thiruchittrambalam…Thiruchittrambalam... Thiruchittrambalam...
Female
Sivamayamae engum sivamayamaeEverything is filled with Shiva, everywhere is Shiva's presence
Male
Ini bhava bhayam illai endrum sivamayamaeThere is no fear of rebirth anymore, forever it is Shiva's presence
Female
Sivamayamae engum sivamayamaeEverything is filled with Shiva, everywhere is Shiva's presence
Male
Ini bhava bhayam illai endrum sivamayamaeThere is no fear of rebirth anymore, forever it is Shiva's presence
Female
Sivamayamae engum sivamayamaeEverything is filled with Shiva, everywhere is Shiva's presence
Male
Ini bhava bhayam illai yendrum sivamayamaeThere is no fear of rebirth anymore, forever it is Shiva's presence

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic devotional song from Thiruvarutchelvar (1967) recreates the sacred miracle at the Vedaranyam (Thirumaraikadu) Shiva temple. According to Shaivite lore, Saint Appar (Thirunavukkarasar) sang hymns pleading for the heavy temple doors—which had remained shut after the Vedas worshipped the Lord—to open so devotees could offer worship.\n\nThe lyricist Kannadasan draws upon classic Tevaram imagery, equating the physical unlatching of temple doors (thiru kadhavu) with the spiritual opening of the seeker's mind (mana kadhavu). Upon the doors opening, the song culminates in triumphant praise, proclaiming that the universe is suffused with Lord Shiva's presence (sivamayam) and all fear of the cycle of rebirth (bhava bhayam) is eradicated.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Second-letter Rhyming (Edgai)

“Panninaer mozhiyaal / Manninaar balam sei”

Matching of the second consonant in consecutive lines, such as 'nn' in Panninaer, Manninaar, Kanninaar, and Thinnamaaga.

Epistrophe (Anaphora Refrain)

“Aalaya mani kadhavae thaazh thiravaai”

Rhythmic repetition of 'thaazh thiravaai' at the end of multiple stanzas, amplifying the urgency of the devotional plea.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Mana kadhavum thirandha param porulae / Thiru kadhavum thirakka varam arulae”

Parallel alignment between the physical opening of temple doors and the divine opening of the human mind/heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song depicts the miracle where Thirunavukkarasar sang 'Pannin ner mozhiyaal' to open the locked doors of the Vedaranyam temple, after Thirugnanasambandar had earlier sung to close them. Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung magnificently by T. M. Soundararajan, it remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous devotional compositions.

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