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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sabari Malaiyil Vanna Chandrodhayam

From Swami Ayyappan · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Devarajan
Details
Swami Ayyappan1975

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Dharma saasthaavin sannidhiyil abishaegamHoly ablution in the presence of Lord Dharma Sastha
Kodi kan thaedi varum aiyappanaeOh Ayyappa, whom crore eyes search for and seek
Naamum kumbittu paadugindromWe too fold our hands and sing in devotion
En appanaiTo my father Lord Ayyappa
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Dharma saasthaavin sannidhiyil abishaegamHoly ablution in the presence of Lord Dharma Sastha
Kodi kan thaedi varum aiyappanaeOh Ayyappa, whom crore eyes search for and seek
Naamum kumbittu paadugindromWe too fold our hands and sing in devotion
En appanaiTo my father Lord Ayyappa
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Male
Paalena cholluvadhu udalaagumWhat is called milk is this physical body
Adhil thayirena kandadhengal manamaagumWhat turned into curd within it is our mind
Vennai thirandadhundhan arulaagumThe churned butter that emerges is your divine grace
Indha neiyabishaegam engal anbaagumThis ghee ablution is our pure love
Male
Ezhu kadal unadhaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaAll seven seas fall under your reign, Lord Ayyappa
Indha ezhulagam undhan kaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaThese seven worlds come into your divine sight, Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Male
Vaasamudaiya panneer abishaegamAblution with fragrant rose water
Engal manadhil ezhundha anbaal abishaegamAblution born out of the love arising in our hearts
Iniya panjaamrudhathil abishaegamAblution with sweet Panchamritam
Adhil inbathai koottudhaiyaa un dhaegamYour divine body adds joy to that sweetness
Male
Ezhu kadal unadhaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaAll seven seas fall under your reign, Lord Ayyappa
Indha ezhulagam undhan kaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaThese seven worlds come into your divine sight, Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Male
Ullathil vennai thannai kaiyil eduthuTaking the butter of our heart into our hands
Adhil un peyarai kuzhaithu nettriyil ittuMixing your divine name in it and applying it to the forehead
Urugum viboodhiyinaal abishaegamAblution with melting sacred ash
Hari om endru sandhanathil abishaegamAblution with sandalwood paste chanting Hari Om
Male
Ezhu kadal unadhaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaAll seven seas fall under your reign, Lord Ayyappa
Indha ezhulagam undhan kaatchiyilae varum aiyappaaThese seven worlds come into your divine sight, Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Male
Sabari malaiyil vanna chandrodhayamColorful moonrise over Sabarimala hill
Dharma saasthaavin sannidhiyil abishaegamHoly ablution in the presence of Lord Dharma Sastha
Kodi kan thaedi varum aiyappanaeOh Ayyappa, whom crore eyes search for and seek
Naamum kumbittu paadugindromWe too fold our hands and sing in devotion
En appanaiTo my father Lord Ayyappa
Male
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaaOh Ayyappa, you are the true father
Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaa…Oh Ayyappa, you are the true father...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Sabari Malaiyil Vanna Chandrodhayam' is an iconic Tamil devotional hymn written by Kannadasan for the film Swami Ayyappan (1975). The song expresses deep reverence toward Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala. Lyricist Kannadasan employs profound philosophical allegories, comparing milk to the human body, curd to the evolving mind, butter to divine grace, and the ritual ghee offering (Neyyabhishekam) to pure love and devotion. The song describes various ritualistic holy baths (abhishekam) performed for the deity using rose water, panchamritam, sacred ash, and sandalwood, symbolizing the purification of the devotee's heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Paalena cholluvadhu udalaagum... Indha neiyabishaegam engal anbaagum”

Equating physical and spiritual aspects of devotion to dairy products: the body as milk, the mind as curd, grace as butter, and devotion as ghee.

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

“Ezhu kadal unadhaatchiyilae varum aiyappaa / Indha ezhulagam undhan kaatchiyilae varum aiyappaa”

Rhyming of second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ezhu kadal' and 'Indha ezhulagam', as well as 'aatchiyilae' and 'kaatchiyilae'.

Wordplay / Pun (Irettura Mozhidhal)

“Aiyappaa nee thaan meiyappaa”

Playing with the sound and meaning of 'Aiyappaa' (the name of the deity) and 'Meiyappaa' (True Lord / Embodiment of Truth).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Devarajan and sung soulfully by K. J. Yesudas, this song remains one of the most immortal and universally played Tamil Ayyappa devotional tracks during the annual Mandala-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season.

Keep listening

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