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Lyrics & meaning

Ponnar Meniyane Pulitholai

From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967

Lyricist
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ponnaar meniyanaeO Lord with the golden physique!
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithuO Lord with a golden body, wearing a tiger skin around Your waist!
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithuO Lord with a golden body, wearing a tiger skin around Your waist!
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanaeO Lord adorned with shining Cassia flowers atop Your glowing reddish matted hair!
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanaeO Lord adorned with shining Cassia flowers atop Your glowing reddish matted hair!
Ponnaar meniyanaeO Lord with the golden physique!
Male
Mannae maamaniyae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamaeO King, O priceless gem, O Ruby residing in Tirumazhapadi!
Mannae maamaniyae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamaeO King, O priceless gem, O Ruby residing in Tirumazhapadi!
Annai unnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenaeOther than You, who is like a mother to me, I shall think of no one else!
Annai unnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenaeOther than You, who is like a mother to me, I shall think of no one else!
Male
Ponnaar meniyanaeO Lord with the golden physique!
Male
Neriyae ninmalanae nedumaalayan pottri seiyumO righteous Path, O pure One praised by Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma!
Kuriyae neermaiyanae kodiyeri idaiyaazh thalaivaaO ultimate Goal, O virtuous One, O Lord of Goddess Parvati with a slender waist!
Neriyae ninmalanae nedumaalayan pottri seiyumO righteous Path, O pure One praised by Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma!
Kuriyae neermaiyanae kodiyeri idaiyaazh thalaivaaO ultimate Goal, O virtuous One, O Lord of Goddess Parvati with a slender waist!
Mariser angaiyanae …aaa….O Lord holding a deer in Your beautiful palm!
Mariser angaiyanae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamaeO Lord holding a deer in Your palm, O Ruby residing in Tirumazhapadi!
Mariser angaiyanae mazhapaadiyul maanikkamaeO Lord holding a deer in Your palm, O Ruby residing in Tirumazhapadi!
Arivae ninnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenaeO pure Wisdom, other than You, I shall think of no one else!
Arivae ninnaiyallaal iniyaarai ninaikkaenaeO pure Wisdom, other than You, I shall think of no one else!
Male
Ponnaar meniyanaeO Lord with the golden physique!
Male
Yeraar muppuramum yeriya silai thottavanaiThe One who aimed His bow to burn the three grand cities!
Vaaraar kongaiyudan mazhapaadiyul meyavanaiThe One who resides in Tirumazhapadi with His divine consort!
Yeraar muppuramum yeriya silai thottavanaiThe One who aimed His bow to burn the three grand cities!
Vaaraar kongaiyudan mazhapaadiyul meyavanaiThe One who resides in Tirumazhapadi with His divine consort!
Seeraar navalarkoon aaruran uraitha thamizhThis Tamil hymn composed by Aruran, the chief of Thirunavalur,
Seeraar navalarkoon aaruran uraitha thamizhThis Tamil hymn composed by Aruran, the chief of Thirunavalur,
Paaroor yethavallaar paraloga thiruppaaraeThose in this world who praise Lord Shiva through this hymn will reach the heavenly realm.
Paaroor yethavallaar paraloga thiruppaaraeThose in this world who praise Lord Shiva through this hymn will reach the heavenly realm.
Male
Ponnaar meniyanae pulitholai araikasaithuO Lord with a golden body, wearing a tiger skin around Your waist!
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanaeO Lord adorned with shining Cassia flowers atop Your glowing reddish matted hair!
Minaar senjadaimel milir kondrai anindhavanaeO Lord adorned with shining Cassia flowers atop Your glowing reddish matted hair!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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