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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pichandi Thannai Kandu

From Ganga Gowri · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Ganga Gowri1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands
Icchamayam ennidathil anbu vaiyungalBestow your love upon me at this very moment
Icchamayam ennidathil anbu vaiyungalBestow your love upon me at this very moment
Indha eesanukku saabam undu kandu kollungalUnderstand that this Lord Shiva suffers under a curse
Indha eesanukku saabam undu kandu kollungalUnderstand that this Lord Shiva suffers under a curse
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands
Male
Ethanai adiyaarai vaazhthiya kaigalHands that once blessed countless devotees
Ippodhu thiruvodu yendhiya kaigalAre now holding a begging bowl
Ethanai adiyaarai vaazhthiya kaigalHands that once blessed countless devotees
Ippodhu thiruvodu yendhiya kaigalAre now holding a begging bowl
Katti veitha ponnarisi kotti vidungalPour out the golden rice you have stored away
Kaiyil ottiyulla oduthanai thatti vidungalKnock off this begging skull stuck to my hand
Kaiyil ottiyulla oduthanai thatti vidungalKnock off this begging skull stuck to my hand
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands
Male
Aandavan endru silar ennai azhaippaarSome people call me the Supreme God
Aandi ivan endrae bhramman azhaithaanYet Brahma called me a mere pauper
Saathirathil vandhadhillai indha paavamThis sin did not arise from scriptures
En aathirathil vandhadhu thaan indha saabamThis curse was brought upon me by my own fury
En aathirathil vandhadhu thaan indha saabamThis curse was brought upon me by my own fury
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands
Male
Maithunan veetil ellam virundhu kolvaarPeople enjoy feasts at their brother-in-law's house
Indha maadootti pichaiyendru vandhu nirkindrenYet I, the bull-riding Lord, stand here begging
Kaithalam paarthu konjam karunai seivaaiLook at my palm and show a little mercy
Ivan kabaali endra peyar maraiya seivaaiMake this name 'Kabaali' disappear from me
Ivan kabaali endra peyar maraiya seivaaiMake this name 'Kabaali' disappear from me
Male
Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungalSeeing this beggar, give alms
Ungal periya karangalinaal alli idungalPour it generously with your large hands

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the mythological movie 'Ganga Gowri' (1973) portrays the Hindu myth of Lord Shiva in his 'Bhikshatana' (Pichandi) form—the cosmic beggar. After plucking off Lord Brahma's fifth head out of anger, Brahma's skull became stuck to Shiva's hand as a sign of Brahmahatya dosha (the sin of killing a Brahmin). Shiva is condemned to roam the earth as a mendicant, begging for alms until the skull is filled. In the lyrics penned by Kannadasan, Lord Shiva humbly pleads to the devotees for alms and compassion to rid him of the cursed skull stuck to his hand and the epithet 'Kabaali' (bearer of the skull). The song brilliantly highlights the tragic irony of the Almighty God—whose hands usually shower endless blessings—now holding a beggar's bowl due to a moment of uncontrolled anger.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Irony

Aandavan endru silar ennai azhaippaar / Aandi ivan endrae bhramman azhaithaan

Juxtaposition of Shiva's divinity ('Aandavan' / hands that bless devotees) against his fallen state as a beggar ('Aandi' / holding a begging bowl 'thiruvodu').

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pichandi thannai kandu pichai idungal

Repetition of the initial 'Pi' sound in 'Pichandi' and 'pichai'.

Edukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Saathirathil vandhadhillai indha paavam / En aathirathil vandhadhu thaan indha saabam

Matching of the second consonant sound 'th' in 'Saathirathil' and 'Aathirathil'.

Symbolism

Kaiyil ottiyulla oduthanai thatti vidungal

'Odu' (the skull bowl) symbolizes karma, ego, and the physical manifestation of a curse sticking to one's actions.

Did you know?

Trivia

In Hindu iconography, the Bhikshatana avatar represents Shiva as the supreme mendicant. The term 'Maadootti' in line 28 refers to Shiva as the rider of the sacred bull (Nandi). This song was soulfully rendered by T.M. Soundararajan and set to music by M.S. Vishwanathan, capturing both devotional reverence and emotional pathos.

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