Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnar Meniyane Pulitholai

From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967

Lyricist
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
4 Jul 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ponnaar meniyanae
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithu
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithu
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanae
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanae
Ponnaar meniyanae
Mannae maamaniyae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamae
Mannae maamaniyae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamae
Annai unnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenae
Annai unnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenae
Ponnaar meniyanae
Neriyae ninmalanae nedumaalayan pottri seiyum
Kuriyae neermaiyanae kodiyeri idaiyaazh thalaivaa
Neriyae ninmalanae nedumaalayan pottri seiyum
Kuriyae neermaiyanae kodiyeri idaiyaazh thalaivaa
Mariser angaiyanae …aaa….
Mariser angaiyanae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamae
Mariser angaiyanae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamae
Arivae ninnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenae
Arivae ninnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenae
Ponnaar meniyanae
Yeraar muppuramum yeriya silai thottavanai
Vaaraar kongaiyudan mazhapaadiyul meyavanai
Yeraar muppuramum yeriya silai thottavanai
Vaaraar kongaiyudan mazhapaadiyul meyavanai
Seeraar navalarkoon aaruran uraitha thamizh
Seeraar navalarkoon aaruran uraitha thamizh
Paaroor yethavallaar paraloga thiruppaarae
Paaroor yethavallaar paraloga thiruppaarae
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithu
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanae
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanae
O Lord with a golden form!
O Lord with a golden form, who tied a tiger skin around your waist,
O Lord with a golden form, who tied a tiger skin around your waist,
And wore shining kondrai flowers upon your radiant red matted hair!
And wore shining kondrai flowers upon your radiant red matted hair!
O Lord with a golden form!
O King, O priceless Gem, O Ruby dwelling in Mazhapadi!
O King, O priceless Gem, O Ruby dwelling in Mazhapadi!
O my Lord, whom else could I ever think of besides you?
O my Lord, whom else could I ever think of besides you?
O Lord with a golden form!
O True Path, O Flawless One praised by Vishnu and Brahma,
O Ultimate Goal, O Gracious One, Lord of the Goddess with a slender waist,
O True Path, O Flawless One praised by Vishnu and Brahma,
O Ultimate Goal, O Gracious One, Lord of the Goddess with a slender waist,
O One holding a young deer in your palm! ...Ah... Ah...
O One holding a young deer in your palm, O Ruby of Mazhapadi!
O One holding a young deer in your palm, O Ruby of Mazhapadi!
O Wisdom itself, whom else could I ever think of besides you?
O Wisdom itself, whom else could I ever think of besides you?
O Lord with a golden form!
On the Lord who drew His bow to set the three mighty cities ablaze,
Who dwells in Mazhapadi with the Goddess,
On the Lord who drew His bow to set the three mighty cities ablaze,
Who dwells in Mazhapadi with the Goddess,
These Tamil verses sung by Aruran, the noble master of Navalur—
These Tamil verses sung by Aruran, the noble master of Navalur—
Those on earth who praise the Lord with them shall abide in heaven!
Those on earth who praise the Lord with them shall abide in heaven!
O Lord with a golden form, who tied a tiger skin around your waist,
And wore shining kondrai flowers upon your radiant red matted hair!
And wore shining kondrai flowers upon your radiant red matted hair!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ponnaar Meniyane is one of the most revered devotional hymns from the Tevaram canon (Seventh Tirumurai), composed by Saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar in praise of Lord Shiva at Tirumazhapadi. Sundarar glorifies Shiva's divine appearance—His golden complexion, the tiger skin around His waist, reddish matted locks adorned with golden Cassia flowers, and the young deer held in His hand. He surrenders completely, proclaiming Shiva as his mother, ruler, wisdom, and supreme path. The hymn concludes with a promise of liberation (Phalastuti) for devotees who sing these verses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)

“Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithu”

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound creates a rhythmic, melodic start across the line.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Neriyae ninmalanae / Kuriyae neermaiyanae”

Rhyming of the second consonant 'ri' in consecutive feet (Neriyae / Kuriyae) follows classical Tamil prosody.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Mannae maamaniyae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamae”

Lord Shiva is metaphorically addressed directly as 'Maanikkam' (Ruby) of Tirumazhapadi.

Refrain / Repetition

“Ponnaar meniyanae”

The phrase 'Ponnaar Meniyane' serves as an emotionally charged recurring motif praising Shiva's golden form.

Did you know?

Trivia

According to Shaiva lore, Saint Sundarar accidentally passed by Tirumazhapadi without stopping to sing hymns. Lord Shiva summoned him with a drum sound, asking 'Have you forgotten Me?' Sundarar realized his oversight and spontaneously sang 'Ponnaar Meniyane', addressing Shiva as 'Mother'. It remains one of the most famous and emotionally resonant Tevaram compositions.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Sri Ranganatharukku (Bit Version)2001
Kottai MariammanDevotionSpirituality
Valarmathi Kanniyinaanai1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotionSpirituality
Sakthi Bhagavati1992
Villu PattukaranDevotionSpirituality
Thillai Vazh Anthanartham1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotionSpirituality
Thannai Arindhu1954
Ratha KanneerSpiritualityDevotion
Maa Manakkuthu1959
PanchaliNatureSpirituality

From the same album

More songs from Sundara Murthy Nayanar

View album
Veruthen Manai Vazhkkaiyai1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional
Valarmathi Kanniyinaanai1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional
Meela Adimai Umakke1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional
Parakkum Em Killaikaal1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional
Thillai Vazh Anthanartham1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional
Thalaiye Nee Vanangaai1967
Sundara Murthy NayanarDevotional

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.