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Baahubali : The Beginning album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Siva Sivaya Potri

From Baahubali : The Beginning · 2015

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
M. M. Keeravani, Vaikom Vijayalakshmi
Music director
M. M. Keeravani
Movie name
Baahubali : The Beginning
Movie release year
2015
Lyrics added on
17 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sivaa sivaaya potriyae
Namachchivaaya potriyae
Pirapparukkum aeganae
Porutharul aneganae
Paramporul un naamathai
Karangguvithu paadinom
Irappili un kaalkalai
Sirangguvithu thedinom
Yaaru ivan…yaaru ivan
Kallathookki poraanae
Pulla pola tholu mela
Unna thookki poraanae
Kannu rendu podhala
Kaiyu kaalu odala
Gangaiyathaan thedikittu
Thanna thaanae sumandhukittu
Lingam nadandhu pogudhae
Yellaiyillaadha aadhiyae
Ellaamunarndha jodhiyae
Malaimagal un paadhiyae
Kalaimagal un kaidhiyae
Arulvallaan em arpudhan
Arumporul em archchidhan
Umai virumbum uthaman
Uruvilaa em uruthiran
Olirvidum em thesanae
Kulirmalai than vaasanae
Ezhilmigu em nesanae
Azhithozhikkum eesanae
Nillaamal aadum pandhamae
Kallaagi nirkum undhamae
Kallaa engatku sondhamae
Ellaa uyirkkum andhamae
Praise be to Shiva, praise to Him!
Praise be to Namashivaya!
O One who breaks the cycle of rebirth,
Forgive us, O Lord of countless forms!
Supreme Being, we chant your holy name
with our hands joined in prayer.
Deathless Lord, we bow our heads
and seek your sacred feet.
Who is he? Who on earth is he?
He lifts the heavy stone and walks!
Like a little child upon his shoulder,
he carries you away!
Two eyes are not enough to watch this,
my hands and feet stand still in wonder!
Searching for the holy river Ganga,
carrying its very own self,
the Shiva Lingam itself is walking!
Endless beginning of all creation,
all-knowing flame of light!
The daughter of the mountains is your other half,
the goddess of arts is captive to your grace!
Our miracle-worker filled with grace,
our precious Lord whom we worship,
the noble one beloved by Uma,
our formless Lord Rudra!
Our shining Lord glowing with light,
dweller of the cool, snowy mountains,
our beautiful and beloved one,
the mighty Lord who destroys all!
The ceaselessly dancing flame,
your mighty power standing still as stone,
you belong to us simple, unlettered folk,
the final end of every living soul!
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This track from Baahubali: The Beginning is a grand devotional hymn celebrating Lord Shiva, accompanying the iconic scene where Shivudu lifts and transports a heavy stone Shiva Lingam to fulfill his mother's wish. The lyrics seamlessly combine classical Saivite devotional praise with the rustic, amazed commentary of the villagers witnessing this extraordinary act of devotion and physical strength.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Pirapparukkum aeganae / Porutharul aneganae

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'r' across consecutive lines (Pirapparukkum / Porutharul), adhering to classical Tamil prosody.

Simile (Uwamai)

Pulla pola tholu mela

Compares the massive stone Shiva Lingam to a light blade of grass ('pulla pola') to highlight Shivudu's unbelievable strength.

Metaphor & Personification

Lingam nadandhu pogudhae

By declaring that the Lingam itself is walking to find the Ganges, the lyricist poetically equates Shivudu carrying the idol with the deity moving on His own accord.

Iyaibu (End Rhyming)

Yellaiyillaadha aadhiyae / Ellaamunarndha jodhiyae

Consistent end-rhyming with the sound '-iyae' creates an elevated chant-like rhythm suitable for a devotional hymn.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Madhan Karky drew inspiration from classical Tamil Saivite devotional literature such as the Thiruvasagam and Tevaram to give the song an ancient, solemn tone. Composed by M. M. Keeravani, the sequence became one of the most memorable visual and musical moments in Indian cinema history.

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