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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sithamellaam Enakku Sivamayame

From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thiruvarutchelvar1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pithaa pirai soodi perumaanaeO Father, crescent-moon-adorned Lord,
Arulaalaa…O Merciful One...
Ethaal maravaadhae ninaikkindraenHow can I ever forget You, when my mind
Manathu unnai…Always thinks of You...
Vaithaai pennai then paalYou who kept the Goddess on Your left side,
Vennai nalloor arul thuraiyulIn the sacred grace-filled realm of Thiruvennainallur,
Athaa unakku aalaai ini allaen yenalaamae…O Father, having become Your servant, can I now say I am not Yours?
Male
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Unnai saevitha karangalukkuFor the hands that serve You,
Illai bayamaeThere is no fear.
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Unnai saevitha karangalukkuFor the hands that serve You,
Illai bayamaeThere is no fear.
Male
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Male
Athanillaamal oru ammai illaiWithout that Father, there is no Mother,
Athanillaamal oru ammai illaiWithout that Father, there is no Mother,
Andha ammaiyillaamal indha pillai illai…And without that Mother, this child does not exist...
Male
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Male
Bakthi perukkil endhan oon urugaIn the flood of devotion, my flesh melts,
Andha paravasathil ullae uyir urugaIn that divine ecstasy, my inner soul melts,
Male
Bakthi perukkil endhan oon urugaIn the flood of devotion, my flesh melts,
Andha paravasathil ullae uyir urugaIn that divine ecstasy, my inner soul melts,
Sakthi ellaam thirandu sivam perugaMay all cosmic energy unite and Shiva's grace swell,
Sakthi ellaam thirandu sivam perugaMay all cosmic energy unite and Shiva's grace swell,
Endhan sandhadhiyae undhanukkuMay my entire lineage to You
Adi paniya iraivaaBow down at Your feet, O Lord!
Male
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Male
{Kannai thirandhu vaithaO Primordial Source who opened my spiritual eyes,
Karu porulaeO Divine Grace who opened the temple doors and called me in,
Kovil kadhavai thirandhu alaithaO Primordial Source who opened my spiritual eyes,
Thiruvarulae} (2)O Divine Grace who opened the temple doors and called me in,
Male
Vennai nalloor uraiyum arut kadalaeO ocean of mercy residing in Thiruvennainallur,
Vennai nalloor uraiyum arut kadalaeO ocean of mercy residing in Thiruvennainallur,
Vandhu ennai endrum aalugindraYou who come to rule over me forever,
Param porulae iraivaaO Supreme Being, my Lord!
Male
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae iraivaaIs filled with Lord Shiva, O Almighty!
Unnai saevitha karangalukkuFor the hands that serve You,
Illai bayamaeThere is no fear.
Sithamellaam enakkuMy entire consciousness
Siva mayamae… iraivaa…Is filled with Lord Shiva... O Lord...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This hymn expresses profound spiritual devotion and absolute surrender to Lord Shiva. It opens with the famous historic verse composed by Saint Sundarar at Thiruvennainallur, where Shiva intervened in his life to claim him as a divine servant. The singer proclaims that their heart and mind are completely submerged in Shiva-consciousness (Siva Mayam), dispelling all earthly fear. The song further elaborates on the cosmic duality and unity of Shiva and Shakti (Father and Mother), explaining how devotion melts the physical and spiritual self into sheer bliss. It ends with a prayer for generations to remain devoted to the Supreme Lord who opens both the eyes of wisdom and the doors of grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Purana/History Reference)

Pithaa pirai soodi perumaanae... Vennai nalloor arul thuraiyul

The opening lines directly quote the first verse sung by Saint Sundaramoorthy Nayanar when Lord Shiva claimed him at Thiruvennainallur Arulturai temple.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Bakthi perukkil endhan oon uruga / Sakthi ellaam thirandu sivam peruga

Rhyming of second consonant sound in adjacent lines ('oon' and 'uyir' context with 'Bakthi' and 'Sakthi').

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Sithamellaam enakku Siva mayamae iraivaa

The refrain 'Sithamellaam enakku Siva mayamae iraivaa' is repeated continuously to emphasize unwavering focus and total immersion in Shiva.

Imagery / Metaphor

Bakthi perukkil endhan oon uruga / Andha paravasathil ullae uyir uruga

Uses physical melting ('oon uruga', 'uyir uruga') as a metaphor for deep emotional and spiritual ecstasy.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening stanza 'Pithaa pirai soodi' is considered the first hymn composed by Saint Sundarar (one of the 63 Nayanmars) in the 8th century AD. According to legend, Shiva appeared as an old man and called Sundarar 'Pitha' (madman), which Sundarar turned into the first word of his divine song. In the movie 'Thiruvarutchelvar' (1967), KV Mahadevan set these traditional and extended verses to music, rendered powerfully by T.M. Soundararajan and K. Sarangapani.

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