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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Swami Charanam Charanam Pon Ayyappa

From Swami Ayyappan · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Chorus
Music director
G. Devarajan
Details
Swami Ayyappan1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva), bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Male
Irumudi thaangiyae thalaiyoru kodiCarrying the sacred dual-bundle (Irumudi) on their heads, ten million people
Kodiyumae unnai thaediCrores of devotees seeking you
Arulpera thirutthalam vanthom naadiWe arrived seeking your holy shrine to obtain grace
Chorus
Irumudi thaangiyae thalaiyoru kodiCarrying the sacred dual-bundle on their heads, ten million people
Kodiyumae unnai thaediCrores of devotees seeking you
Arulpera thirutthalam vanthom naadiWe arrived seeking your holy shrine to obtain grace
Male
Yerumaeli thannil oru pettai thulliDancing the traditional Pettai Thullal rhythm in Erumely
Oru makkal pol vandhom aiyyappaWe have arrived like children of one family, Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Yerumaeli thannil oru pettai thulliDancing the traditional Pettai Thullal rhythm in Erumely
Oru makkal pol vandhom aiyyappaWe have arrived like children of one family, Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
{Aiyappa thindhagathom thaiyathom{Ayyappa rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom Thaiyathom
Swaami thindhagathomLord rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom
Swaami thindhagathom thaiyathomLord rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom Thaiyathom
Aiyappa thindhagathom } (7)Ayyappa rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom} (Repeated 7 times)
Aiyappa thindhagathom thaiyathomAyyappa rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom Thaiyathom
Swaami thindhagathomLord rhythmic chant - Thindhagathom
Swamiyae saranam aiyappa..saranam aiyappaOh Lord, refuge in Ayyappa.. refuge in Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Male
Azhudhai enum nadhithanilDipping completely in the sacred river named Azhudha
Thalai moozhgiTaking a bath
Angirundhirandu kal eduthu adhai andhaPicking up two stones from there and casting them onto
Kallidum kundrinil viduthuThe hill where stones are dropped (Kallidum Kundru)
Chorus
Azhudhai enum nadhithanilDipping completely in the sacred river named Azhudha
Thalai moozhgiTaking a bath
Angirundhirandu kal eduthu adhai andhaPicking up two stones from there and casting them onto
Kallidum kundrinil viduthuThe hill where stones are dropped (Kallidum Kundru)
Male
Karimalai yaeri hari hara paadiClimbing the steep Karimalai hill chanting Hari Hara
Vandhom aanandham thoduthuWe came weaving bliss along the journey
Chorus
Karimalai yaeri hari hara paadiClimbing the steep Karimalai hill chanting Hari Hara
Vandhom aanandham thoduthuWe came weaving bliss along the journey
Chorus
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Male
Pambaiyil kudilittu bajanaigal paadiPitching huts on the banks of river Pamba and singing bhajans
Bhakthiyudan unavarundhi angoruPartaking food with devotion and there
Pambaa vilakkinai nagarthiFloating the sacred Pamba lamps on the river
Chorus
Pambaiyil kudilittu bajanaigal paadiPitching huts on the banks of river Pamba and singing bhajans
Bhakthiyudan unavarundhi angoruPartaking food with devotion and there
Pambaa vilakkinai nagarthiFloating the sacred Pamba lamps on the river
Male
Sabari peedam kandu saranguthi aadidaBeholding Sabari Peedam and dancing at Saranguthi
Oru thaayin maindhargal vandhomWe came like children born to a single mother
Chorus
Sabari peedam kandu saranguthi aadidaBeholding Sabari Peedam and dancing at Saranguthi
Oru thaayin maindhargal vandhomWe came like children born to a single mother
Chorus
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Male
Thai mudhal thaedhi thiru pongal naalilOn the holy day of Pongal, the first day of the Tamil month Thai
Swaami nin vaasalai thaedi unadhoruSeeking your doorway, Oh Lord, in your
Perumaiyil maandhargal aadiGlory, people dance in ecstasy
Chorus
Thai mudhal thaedhi thiru pongal naalilOn the holy day of Pongal, the first day of the Tamil month Thai
Swaami nin vaasalai thaedi unadhoruSeeking your doorway, Oh Lord, in your
Perumaiyil maandhargal aadiGlory, people dance in ecstasy
Male
Padhinettu padi kandu kovilil sendruBeholding the eighteen sacred steps and entering the temple
Paravasamaanavar kodiCrores of devotees became ecstatic
Chorus
Padhinettu padi kandu kovilil sendruBeholding the eighteen sacred steps and entering the temple
Paravasamaanavar kodiCrores of devotees became ecstatic
Chorus
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Aiyappaa swaami aiyappaaAyyappa Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Swaami illaathoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Harihara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Male
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaaLord, you are my refuge, refuge, my Lord Ayyappa
Male
Swaami illaadhoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Chorus
Swaami illaadhoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Male
Hari hara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Chorus
Hari hara sudhanae arulga en aiyappaaSon of Hari and Hara, bless us, my Ayyappa
Male
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Chorus
Adaikkalam neeyindri vaerumillaiyappaaThere is no other sanctuary besides you, my Lord
Swaami saranam saranam pon aiyappaaLord, refuge, refuge, golden Ayyappa
Male
SwaamiyaeiOh Lord!
Chorus
Swaami illaadhoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Male
Saranam aiyyappaaRefuge Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam pon aiyappaaLord, refuge, refuge, golden Ayyappa
Male
Harihara sudhan aiyan aiyappa swaamiyaeSon of Hari and Hara, Lord Ayyappa Swami
Chorus
Swaami illaadhoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord
Male
Saranam aiyyappaaRefuge Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami saranam saranam pon aiyappaaLord, refuge, refuge, golden Ayyappa
Male
Saranam aiyappaa saranam aiyappaaRefuge Ayyappa, refuge Ayyappa
Chorus
Swaami illaadhoru saranam illaiyappaaExcept for the Lord, there is no refuge, my Lord

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This devotional song vividly describes the holy pilgrimage (Yatra) undertaken by Ayyappa devotees to Sabarimala. It encapsulates the core spiritual tenets and rituals performed by pilgrims, including carrying the sacred 'Irumudi' bundle, participating in the ritualistic dance 'Pettai Thullal' at Erumely, bathing in the sacred Azhudha river, dropping pebbles at Kallidum Kundru, conquering the arduous Karimalai ascent, floating lamps at Pamba river, and visiting Saranguthi. The song emphasizes unity, fraternity, and equality, portraying all pilgrims as children of a single mother coming together to seek Lord Ayyappa's divine grace. The pilgrimage culminates on Makara Sankranti (Thai Pongal day) when millions of ecstasy-filled devotees climb the holy Eighteen Steps (Pathinettu Padi) to witness the divine presence. Kannadasan's lyrics serve as a complete guide and ecstatic chant reflecting absolute surrender (Saranagathi) to Lord Ayyappa, who is invoked as the son of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetitive Refrain

Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaa

The phrase 'Swaami saranam saranam en aiyappaa' is repeatedly used at the beginning and end of stanzas to build devotional fervor and emphasize complete surrender.

Emoni / Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Azhudhai enum nadhithanil

In lines 'Azhudhai enum nadhithanil' and 'Kallidum kundrinil viduthu', the second consonant sound 'zh/ll' provides rhythmic alliteration typical of classical Tamil prosody.

Metaphor

Oru thaayin maindhargal vandhom

The line 'Oru thaayin maindhargal vandhom' uses the metaphor of pilgrims being children of one single mother to depict universal brotherhood among devotees.

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