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Isaimozhi
Mayakkari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sagalamum Guruve

From Mayakkari · 1951

Lyricist
Narasimman
Singer
K. R. Chellamuthu
Music director
P. Aadhinarayana Rao
Movie name
Mayakkari
Movie release year
1951
Lyrics added on
3 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sagalamum guruvae endrothanirae
Guruvae guruvae
Guruvae annaiyum thandhaiyum
Guruvae en pathiyum kathiyum
Guru om namaha
Ellam ellam evvidhamae nam
Jeevidham pala varna kambalamae
Ellam ellam evvidhamae
Nam jeevidham pala varna kambalamae
Kaarigai kanagamae logamada ivai
Guruvugal karpitha thaalamada
Kaarigai kanagamae logamada ivai
Guruvugal karpitha thaalamada
Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Chorus :Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Nam korikkaiyae niraivera endraalae
Nam korikkaiyae niraivera endraalae
Kana kaariyangalae seidhidanum
Bogi yogiyaai maarnumae
Thayagi rogiyaai nadakanumae
Bogi yogiyaai maarnumae
Thayagi rogiyaai nadakanumae
Bogi yogiyaai maarnumae
Thayagi rogiyaai nadakanumae
Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Chorus :Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Veshamae palavae podanumae
Kaashaayam thaan katta venum
Kallena kanavena therindidanum
Kokku jabam thaan sedhidanum
Kallena kanavena therindidanum
Kokku jabam thaan sedhidanum
Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Chorus :Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Maaya jegamena nadathidanum
Maakaararaai mayakidanum
Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Chorus :Guru maharaj guru maharaj
Guru maharaj sath guru maharaj
Tharaga mandhiramum korina kidaithathu
Tharaga mandhiramum korina kidaithathu
Thanyanae aanenanae oo annaa
Meerina kaalanin dhoodhargal paalinil
Meerina kaalanin dhoodhargal paalinil
Meerina kaalanin dhoodhargal paalinil
Mirudhuvaai en manamum miga konden
Tharaga mandhiramum korina kidaithathu
Chorus :Korina kidaithathu korina kidaithathu
Korina kidaithathuChorus :Korina kidaithathu…(3)
All :Korina kidaithathu korina kidaithathu…(3)
Chant that the guru is everything!
O Guru, O Guru!
The Guru is mother and father,
The Guru is my master and refuge,
Om, salutations to the Guru!
No matter what, in every way,
Our life is a carpet of many colours!
No matter what, in every way,
Our life is a carpet of many colours!
Women and wealth make up this world, my friend,
This is the rhythm taught by our gurus!
Women and wealth make up this world, my friend,
This is the rhythm taught by our gurus!
Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
Chorus: Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
If our wishes are to be fulfilled,
If our wishes are to be fulfilled,
We must carry out grand schemes!
A pleasure-seeker must pose as a monk,
A renouncer must act like an ailing man!
A pleasure-seeker must pose as a monk,
A renouncer must act like an ailing man!
A pleasure-seeker must pose as a monk,
A renouncer must act like an ailing man!
Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
Chorus: Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
We must put on many disguises,
We must wrap ourselves in saffron robes!
We must seem still as stone, unreal as a dream,
We must feign prayer like a watchful crane!
We must seem still as stone, unreal as a dream,
We must feign prayer like a watchful crane!
Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
Chorus: Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
We must treat this world as an illusion,
And bewitch everyone with clever tricks!
Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
Chorus: Guru Maharaj, Guru Maharaj!
Guru Maharaj, true Guru Maharaj!
When I sought the saving mantra, I received it,
When I sought the saving mantra, I received it,
I have become truly blessed, oh brother!
Even before the fierce messengers of Death,
Even before the fierce messengers of Death,
Even before the fierce messengers of Death,
I kept my heart calm and gentle!
When I sought the saving mantra, I received it!
Chorus: I asked and received it! I asked and received it!
I asked and received it! Chorus: I asked and received it… (3)
All: I asked and received it! I asked and received it… (3)
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Mayakkari' offers a witty and philosophical commentary on the role of gurus, human deceit, and the illusory nature of worldly existence. It begins with traditional veneration of the spiritual teacher as mother, father, and ultimate sanctuary, but transitions into a satirical reflection on how people adopt various disguises, wear saffron robes, and engage in hypocritical rituals ('crane-like prayers') to fulfill worldly ambitions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Jeevidham pala varna kambalamae

Life is directly compared to a multi-colored carpet, symbolizing its varied experiences and illusions.

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

Bogi yogiyaai maarnumae / Thayagi rogiyaai nadakanumae

Contrasts 'Bogi' (pleasure seeker) becoming a 'Yogi' (ascetic) and a 'Thayagi' (renunciate) acting like a 'Rogi' (sick person).

Idiomatic Metaphor (Kokku Jabam)

Kokku jabam thaan sedhidanum

The term 'Kokku Jabam' (crane's meditation) is a classic Tamil metaphor for deceitful or hypocritical devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mayakkari' (1951) was a prominent early Tamil dub/adaptation of a fantasy folklore film soundtrack scored by P. Adinarayana Rao, showcasing K. R. Chellamuthu's distinct theatrical singing style.

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