Parakkum Em Killaikaal
From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967
- Lyricist
- Sundara Murthy Nayanar
- Singer
- G. Vaidehi
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Parakkum em killaikaal | O my flying parrots, |
| Paadm em poovaikkaal | O my singing mynahs, |
| Arakann ennathagum | Regarding the righteous Lord, |
| Adigal aaroorarai…ee… | The venerable Lord of Tiruvarur (Aarooran), |
| Female | |
| Marakkakillamaiyum | My inability to forget Him, |
| Valaigal nillaamaiyum | My bangles slipping away from my wrists, |
| Marakkakillamaiyum | My inability to forget Him, |
| Valaigal nillaamaiyum | My bangles slipping away, |
| Urakkam illaamaiyum | And my complete loss of sleep, |
| Unardha valleergalae… | Have you birds truly understood these plights of mine? |
பறக்கும் எம் கிள்ளைகாள்
பாடும் எம் பூவைகாள்
அறக்கண் என்னத் தகும்
அடிகள் ஆரூரரை....
O my flying parrots,
O my singing mynahs,
Regarding the righteous Lord,
The venerable Lord of Tiruvarur (Aarooran),
மறக்ககில்லாமையும்
வளைகள் நில்லாமையும்
மறக்ககில்லாமையும்
வளைகள் நில்லாமையும்
உறக்கம் இல்லாமையும்
உணர்த்த வல்லீர்களே……..
My inability to forget Him,
My bangles slipping away from my wrists,
My inability to forget Him,
My bangles slipping away,
And my complete loss of sleep,
Have you birds truly understood these plights of mine?
Parakkum em killaikaal
O my flying parrots,
Paadm em poovaikkaal
O my singing mynahs,
Arakann ennathagum
Regarding the righteous Lord,
Adigal aaroorarai…ee…
The venerable Lord of Tiruvarur (Aarooran),
Marakkakillamaiyum
My inability to forget Him,
Valaigal nillaamaiyum
My bangles slipping away from my wrists,
Marakkakillamaiyum
My inability to forget Him,
Valaigal nillaamaiyum
My bangles slipping away,
Urakkam illaamaiyum
And my complete loss of sleep,
Unardha valleergalae…
Have you birds truly understood these plights of mine?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a sacred Tevaram hymn composed by Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar, expressed in the classic Bhakti tradition of Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava (where the devotee assumes the persona of a maiden longing for her beloved, Lord Shiva). In this verse, the maiden addresses her pet parrots and mynahs, asking if they comprehend the depth of her distress caused by her devotion to Lord Aarooran of Tiruvarur.\n\nShe recounts the poignant symptoms of her deep longing and separation: an absolute inability to erase Him from her thoughts, her physical body weakening in sorrow causing her bangles to slip off her arms, and her restless, sleepless nights. Through the ancient Tamil literary trope of 'Thoodhu' (sending birds as messengers), the saint conveys the supreme soul's intense yearning for divine union.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe / Thoodhu (Messenger Poem)
“Parakkum em killaikaal / Paadm em poovaikkaal”
Directly addressing non-human entities (parrots and mynahs) to express grief and send a message of love to the Lord.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Anaphora)
“Marakkakillamaiyum / Valaigal nillaamaiyum / Urakkam illaamaiyum”
The deliberate repetition of the suffix '-amaiyum' across consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, lamenting cadence.
Metaphor / Sangam Imagery (Viraha Pasuram)
“Valaigal nillaamaiyum”
The image of bangles slipping off the wrist is a traditional Tamil metaphor representing physical emaciation brought on by intense romantic/devotional separation.
Did you know?
Trivia
This verse is a famed Tevaram hymn from the 7th Thirumurai composed by Saint Sundarar at Tiruvarur. The 1967 film 'Sundara Murthy Nayanar' adapted these authentic 8th-century devotional verses into its soundtrack, set to music by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu.
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