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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Shankara Shiva

From Raja Rishi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Raja Rishi1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Shankaraa siva shankaraaShankara, Lord Shiva, Shankara
Jeya jeya chandra sekaraaVictory, victory to Chandrasekhara (the moon-crested Lord)
Thirumunivan thalai mudiyilUpon the holy sage's head
Iru karamum saevadiyilBoth hands placed at your sacred feet
Thirigal yena eriya vidaTo let them burn like wicks
Udhiram enum ennai idaPouring blood as the lamp oil
Naan padaitha mei vilakku dhaevaaO God, I have created a lamp out of my true body
Nyaana dheepam yaetri vaikka vaa vaaCome, come to light the lamp of wisdom
Male
Shankaraa siva shankaraaShankara, Lord Shiva, Shankara
Jeya jeya chandra saekaraaVictory, victory to Chandrasekhara
Male
Thavamae ennaalum sivamaaga…May my penance forever become divine devotion...
Aa… aa…aa….aa…aa…aa…aa….aa…aa…aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Aa… aa…aa….aa…aa…aa…aa….aa…aa…aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Male
Thavamae ennaalum sivamaagaMay penance always become devotion to Shiva
Sivamae en vaazhvin thavamaagaMay Lord Shiva be the ultimate penance of my life
Pulan aindhum endhan vasamaagaBringing all my five senses under my control
Purindhenae yogam panivaagaI humbly performed yoga
Neelakandan kaalakandan thiruvadiSacred feet of Neelakanda, the conqueror of Time
Kaalai maalai yaetrugindra thavamuniThe holy sage who praises them morning and evening
Meendum meendum vaelvi seidhu muraiyoduPerforming ritual sacrifices repeatedly in proper order
Yaandum ingu vaendugindra varam koduGrant the boon that is requested here forever
Aindhadukkil vaazhugindra dhevaaO God who resides in five levels
Aimugathu dheepam yaetra vaa vaaCome to light the lamp of five faces
Male
Shankaraa siva shankaraaShankara, Lord Shiva, Shankara
Jeya jeya chandra sekaraaVictory, victory to Chandrasekhara
Thirumunivan thalai mudiyilUpon the holy sage's head
Iru karamum saevadiyilBoth hands placed at your sacred feet
Thirigal yena eriya vidaTo let them burn like wicks
Udhiram enum ennai idaPouring blood as the lamp oil
Naan padaitha mei vilakku dhaevaaO God, I have created a lamp out of my true body
Nyaana dheepam yaetri vaikka vaa vaaCome, come to light the lamp of wisdom
Male
Shankaraa siva shankaraaShankara, Lord Shiva, Shankara
Jeya jeya chandra saekaraaVictory, victory to Chandrasekhara
Male
Vanna chudar vara thavam iyatrumPerforming penance so that a colorful flame appears
Thanai varuthum udalAs the self-tormenting body
Mella karugida thiruvilakkil therithidattum kanalSlowly charrs, let the sparks fly into the sacred lamp
Sathiya oli ingu ezhundhidaAs the light of truth arises here
Thatthuva muni udal azhindhidaAs the body of the philosophical sage perishes
Rathamum nadhi ena perugidaAs blood overflows like a river
Sithamum sivam yena urugidaAs the mind melts becoming Shiva himself
Analaendhum perumaanae varugaWelcome, Lord who holds the sacred fire
Thiri aindhil kanal mootti tharugaKindle the flame across five wicks
Pirai yaendhum periyonae varugaWelcome, Great Lord who wears the crescent moon
Kurai theerkka vilakkaetri tharugaLight the lamp to resolve all grievances
Male
Aadiya thiruvadi saranamRefuge at your dancing divine feet
Ambalavaananae saranamRefuge in Ambalavanan, the Lord of the cosmic stage
Umaiyaval thalaivanae saranamRefuge in the Lord of Goddess Uma
Ulagathu mudhalvanae saranamRefuge in the First Lord of the universe
Thirumaeni thiriyaaga yeriyaAs my holy body burns as a wick
Iraivaa un arul aanai idugaO Lord, issue your command of grace
Thavamaana thavam ingu puriyaTo perform supreme penance here
Sivamae nin karunaigal pozhiyaO Shiva, shower your divine mercy
Harahara sivasiva sivasiva haraharaHara Hara, Shiva Shiva, Shiva Shiva, Hara Hara
Marai thozhum irai avanHe is the God praised by the sacred Vedas
Adiyavarkkiniyavan sivanaeLord Shiva who is sweet to his devotees
Azhaithadhum udan vandhuArriving immediately upon being invoked
Adaikkalam kodukkindra aranaeO Lord Shiva who bestows divine refuge
Enakkoru gadhi illaiI have no other refuge
Unaiyandri vidhi illai iraivaaO God, I have no fate other than you
Karisanam pirakkattumLet divine compassion arise in you
Dharisanam kidaikkattum thalaivaa… iraivaa…Grant me your sacred vision, O Leader... O God...
Sivanae… haranae… sivanae… haranae…O Shiva... O Hara... O Shiva... O Hara...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This intense devotional song from 'Raja Rishi' captures a sage's supreme sacrifice and total surrender (Atma-arpanam) to Lord Shiva. The devotee offers his own physical body as a temple lamp, his blood as oil, and his limbs as wicks, enduring extreme penance to invoke the divine presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Udhiram enum ennai ida / Naan padaitha mei vilakku dhaevaa

Compares blood directly to lamp oil ('Udhiram enum ennai') and body to a sacrificial lamp ('mei vilakku').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Sathiya oli ingu ezhundhida / Thatthuva muni udal azhindhida

Matching second consonants in successive lines (Sathiya, Thatthuva, Rathamum, Sithamum).

Upamai (Simile)

Rathamum nadhi ena perugida

Compares the flow of sacrificial blood to a surging river using 'ena'.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Aadiya thiruvadi saranam / Ambalavaananae saranam

Repetition of 'saranam' (refuge) at the end of consecutive lines emphasizing total submission.

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Trivia

Raja Rishi (1985) is a mythological film directed by K. Shankar starring Sivaji Ganesan as Sage Vishwamitra. The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics authored by Vaali.

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