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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sindhanai Sei Manamae

From Ambikapathy (Old) · 1957

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Ambikapathy (Old)
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
27 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aayar kalaigal aruvathunaanginaiyum
Mmm…mm…mm…
Eeya unarvikkum em annai –
Thooya urppalingu polval
En ullathin ullae
Iruppalingu vara thidar
Sindhanai sei manamae…
Sindhanai sei manamae dhinamae…ae
Sindhanai sei manamae
Seidhaal theevinai agandridumae
Sivagaami maganai shanmuganai
Sindhanai sei manamae
Seidhaal theevinai agandridumae
Sivagaami maganai shanmuganai
Sindhanai sei manamae… manamae… ae…ae
Senthamizhkkarul nyaana
Dhesiga mei nyaana dhesiganai…
Aa…aa…aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa…a.a…..aa…
Haaa….aaa….aa….aaa….aa…aa…
Senthamizhkkarul nyaana
Dhesiganai…sendhil
Kandhanai vaanavar kaavalanai guhanai
Sindhanai sei manamae
Seidhaal theevinai agandridumae
Sivagaami maganai shanmuganai
Sindhanai sei manamae… manamae… ae…ae
Santhadham moovaasai
Saghadhiyil uzhandranai…
Eee…ee…ee….ee….ee….
Santhadham moovaasai
Saghadhiyil uzhandranai
Samarasa sanmaargha
Neri thanai marandhanai
Samarasa sanmaargha
Neri thanai marandhanai
Andhagan varum podhu
Avaniyil yaar thunai
Andhagan varum podhu
Avaniyil yaar thunai
Aadhalinaal indrae
Arumarai paraviya saravana bhava guhanai
Sindhanai sei manamae
Seidhaal theevinai agandridumae
Sivagaami maganai shanmuganai
Sindhanai sei manamae… manamae… ae…ae
Vadivelum mayilum thunai
Vadivelum mayilum thunai
Sol valamaar senthamilaal
Sandhamum kandhanai paada
Vadivelum mayilum thunai
Natarajan arul baalan
Naan marai thozhum seelan
Natarajan arul baalan
Naan marai thozhum seelan
Thadam maevum pozhil soozhulum
Thanigai vaazhum parama gyaana gurubaran
Vadivelum mayilum thunai
Sol valamaar senthamilaal
Sandhamum kandhanai paada
Vadivelum mayilum thunai
Thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Kondrai thalir maalai malar maalai
Japa maalaiyudan
Sandha thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Kondrai thalir maalai malar maalai
Japa maalaiyudan
Sandha thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Thaaba migu veppu vaadhamidu
Pitha maana pini moithu udambodu
Thaaba mighu veppu vaadhamidu
Pitta maana pini moithu udambodu
Saarum uyir thunba saagaramuzhandru
Saadhanai izhandhu varundhaa mun
Saarum uyir thunba saagaramuzhandru
Saadhanai izhandhu varundhaa mun
Thaalaiyalithida venumena thudhi
Paadarunaigiri naadhanazhaithida
Dhayavudan isaindhu arul mazhai pozhindhu
Muthaitharu pathi thirunaghaiyena
Mudhaladi udaitha thazhaitha karunaiyai
Ninaindhu ninaindhu kavi malar thodutha
Thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Kondrai thalir maalai malar maalai
Japa maalaiyudan
Sandha thamizh maalai thanai chooduvaan
Sattrae sarindha kuzhalae
Thuvala tharala vadam
Thuttrae asaiya kuzhaiyoosalaada…
Aa… aa…
Sattrae sarindha kuzhalae
Thuvala tharala vadam
Thuttrae asaiya kuzhaiyoosalaada…
Aa… aa…
Thuvar kol seivaai
Nattrae nozhugha nadana singaara nadaiyazhaghin
Pottraerirukka thalai alangaaram purappattadhae
Thalai alangaaram purappattadhae
Thalai alangaaram purappattadhae
The sixty-four fine arts,
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Our Mother who bestows and teaches them—
She who is pure as crystal,
Deep inside my heart,
She dwells here, so no harm shall come.
Meditate, O mind!
Meditate, O mind, every single day!
Meditate, O mind!
If you do, your sins and troubles will leave you!
On Sivakami's son, the six-faced Lord Shanmukha,
Meditate, O mind!
If you do, your sins and troubles will leave you!
On Sivakami's son, the six-faced Lord Shanmukha,
Meditate, O mind... O mind!
Who blesses rich Tamil with divine wisdom,
The supreme teacher of true spiritual wisdom...
Aa... aa... aa...
Haa... aa... aa...
Who blesses rich Tamil with divine wisdom,
The great teacher... of Tiruchendur,
Lord Skanda, the guardian of the gods, Lord Guha,
Meditate, O mind!
If you do, your sins and troubles will leave you!
On Sivakami's son, the six-faced Lord Shanmukha,
Meditate, O mind... O mind!
Forever lost in the three worldly desires,
You struggled in the muddy swamp...
Ee... ee... ee...
Forever lost in the three worldly desires,
You struggled in the muddy swamp;
The path of harmony and universal righteousness,
You completely forgot!
The path of harmony and universal righteousness,
You completely forgot!
When the Lord of Death arrives,
Who on this earth will be your refuge?
When the Lord of Death arrives,
Who on this earth will be your refuge?
Therefore, on this very day,
On Saravanabhava, Guha, praised by the sacred Vedas,
Meditate, O mind!
If you do, your sins and troubles will leave you!
On Sivakami's son, the six-faced Lord Shanmukha,
Meditate, O mind... O mind!
The sharp spear and the peacock are our guide!
The sharp spear and the peacock are our guide!
Through rich and eloquent Tamil,
To sing rhythmically of Lord Skanda,
The sharp spear and the peacock are our guide!
The blessed son of Lord Nataraja,
The noble one worshiped by the four Vedas,
The blessed son of Lord Nataraja,
The noble one worshiped by the four Vedas,
Surrounded by lush green groves,
The supreme guru of wisdom residing on Mount Thanigai—
His sharp spear and peacock are our guide!
Through rich and eloquent Tamil,
To sing rhythmically of Lord Skanda,
The sharp spear and the peacock are our guide!
He adorns Himself with garlands of Tamil verse,
He adorns Himself with garlands of Tamil verse!
Along with garlands of tender shoots and golden shower blossoms,
And the prayer beads of chanting,
He wears rhythmic garlands of Tamil verse!
Along with garlands of tender shoots and golden shower blossoms,
And the prayer beads of chanting,
He wears rhythmic garlands of Tamil verse!
When burning fever and disorders of wind,
And bile afflict the mortal body,
When burning fever and disorders of wind,
And bile afflict the mortal body,
And the soul is tossed in an ocean of suffering,
Agonizing before losing all spiritual strength,
And the soul is tossed in an ocean of suffering,
Agonizing before losing all spiritual strength,
When Saint Arunagirinathar sang praises,
Calling out: "Grant me your lotus feet!",
Murugan graciously answered and showered a rain of grace,
Giving the opening line "Muthaitharu Pathi Thirunagai",
Bestowing that first line with blossoming compassion;
Remembering that grace over and over, weaving poetic flowers,
He adorns Himself with garlands of Tamil verse!
Along with garlands of tender shoots and golden shower blossoms,
And the prayer beads of chanting,
He wears rhythmic garlands of Tamil verse!
Her hair tilted slightly to the side,
As strands of pearls sway softly,
And her dangling earrings swing to and fro...
Aa... aa...
Her hair tilted slightly to the side,
As strands of pearls sway softly,
And her dangling earrings swing to and fro...
Aa... aa...
With her coral-red lips,
Sweet honey dripping in her graceful, elegant dance steps,
While the golden chariot stands, the adorned head proceeds in splendour!
The adorned head proceeds in splendour!
The adorned head proceeds in splendour!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic medley from 'Ambikapathy' (1957) opens with a traditional invocation to Goddess Saraswathi, praising her as the divine mother who bestows the 64 arts and resides in the human heart like pure crystal. The song then transitions into a powerful call to spiritual contemplation ('Sindhanai Sei Maname'), urging the human mind to turn away from worldly desires (the three 'aasai': land, gold, and women) and seek refuge in Lord Murugan (Shanmugan/Kandhan). It highlights the transience of mortal life and reminds the listener that when death approaches, only divine devotion serves as a true companion. The later movements shift into ecstatic devotion and praise for Lord Murugan's grace, referencing the legendary saint Arunagirinathar, to whom Murugan gifted the opening line 'Muthaitharu' for the Thiruppugazh. It concludes with vivid poetic imagery of divine beauty, grand processions, and rhythmic Tamil verses dedicated to the deity, blending classical Carnatic aesthetics with rich devotional literature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Sindhanai sei manamae / Seidhaal theevinai agandridumae / Sivagaami maganai shanmuganai

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words in lines, such as 'Sindhanai', 'Seidhaal', 'Sivagaami'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Saarum uyir thunba saagaramuzhandru

'Thunba saagaram' compares life's suffering to a vast ocean, and 'Kavi malar' compares poetic couplets to woven flowers.

Upamai (Simile)

Thooya urppalingu polval

Compares Goddess Saraswathi's pure, luminous divine form to pure crystal ('Thooya urppalingu polval').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Santhadham moovaasai / Samarasa sanmaargha

Matching second letter in consecutive lines, such as 'Santhadham' and 'Samarasa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This legendary song sequence from the 1957 Tamil film 'Ambikapathy' features virtuosic renditions by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) and music composed by G. Ramanathan. The opening lines ('Aayar kalaigal aruvathunaanginaiyum...') are taken directly from the classical Tamil poet Kambar's Saraswathi Vandanam. The track also features references to Arunagirinathar's 'Thiruppugazh', famously citing the divine first word 'Muthaitharu' handed down by Lord Murugan himself.

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