Tamizhthaye Engum Nilaithaye
From Naan Nanethan · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Naan Nanethan1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanagamani silampanintha kaaliyamma | Oh Kali-mother adorned with gem-filled golden anklets, |
| Kaaviri poompattinaththu kannagiyammaa | Oh mother Kannagi of the ancient city Kaveripoompattinam, |
| Female | |
| Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae | Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere! |
| Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu | Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion, |
| Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu | Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead, |
| Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu | Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet, |
| Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa | Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity! |
| Female | |
| Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae | Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere! |
| Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu | Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion, |
| Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu | Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead, |
| Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu | Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet, |
| Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa | Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity! |
| Female | |
| Than kanvan nizhalandri veru nizhal kaanaatha | Who saw no other shadow beside her own husband's shadow, |
| Thaaimaiyil menmai neeyae | You are the epitome of delicacy in motherhood! |
| Pon magalae poomagalae pugazh padaiththa thirumagalae | Oh golden daughter, flower-like daughter, glorious goddess of fortune, |
| Nallavarkku ilakkanam neeyae | You are the ideal grammar of behavior for virtuous people! |
| Female | |
| Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae | Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere! |
| Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu | Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion, |
| Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu | Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead, |
| Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu | Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet, |
| Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa | Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity! |
| Female | |
| Poojaikku uriyavalae kanigaiyidam | Oh worshipful one, when your husband returned back |
| Irunthu meenda kanavarai yaettraai neeyae | From the house of the courtesan, you graciously accepted him! |
| Kaalangal pesuvathu un dharamam | The passing ages continually speak of your moral righteousness, |
| Un menmai un arumai karpe thaayae | Your gentleness, your preciousness, oh mother of chastity! |
| Female | |
| Paththinigal anaivarukkum ilakkiyam neeyae | You are the living literary exemplar for all chaste women, |
| Paraththaiyar paal sendravanai meettaval neeyae | You rescued and redeemed the man who went astray to courtesans, |
| Aththanai per nenjinilum nindrarulvaayae | May you reside in everyone's heart and grant your blessings, |
| Arivudanae vaazhumpadi arul purivaayae | Grant us grace so that humanity lives with wisdom and righteousness! |
| Female | |
| Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae | Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere! |
| Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu | Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion, |
| Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu | Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead, |
| Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu | Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet, |
| Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa | Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity! |
கனகமணிச் சிலம்பணிந்த காளியம்மா
காவிரிப்பூம் பட்டினத்து கண்ணகியம்மா
Oh Kali-mother adorned with gem-filled golden anklets,
Oh mother Kannagi of the ancient city Kaveripoompattinam,
தமிழ்த்தாயே எங்கும் நிலைத்தாயே
தலை நிறைய பூ முடித்து குங்குமமிட்டு
சந்தனத்தில் கோடிழுத்து மங்கலமிட்டு
கலையழகுக் கால் பார்த்து மெல்ல நடந்து
கண்ணியமாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்த குலமகளம்மா
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
தமிழ்த்தாயே எங்கும் நிலைத்தாயே
தலை நிறைய பூ முடித்து குங்குமமிட்டு
சந்தனத்தில் கோடிழுத்து மங்கலமிட்டு
கலையழகுக் கால் பார்த்து மெல்ல நடந்து
கண்ணியமாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்த குலமகளம்மா
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
தன் கணவன் நிழலன்றி வேறு நிழல் காணாத
தாய்மையில் மேன்மை நீயே
பொன் மகளே பூமகளே புகழ் படைத்த திருமகளே
நல்லவர்க்கு இலக்கணம் நீயே
Who saw no other shadow beside her own husband's shadow,
You are the epitome of delicacy in motherhood!
Oh golden daughter, flower-like daughter, glorious goddess of fortune,
You are the ideal grammar of behavior for virtuous people!
தமிழ்த்தாயே எங்கும் நிலைத்தாயே
தலை நிறைய பூ முடித்து குங்குமமிட்டு
சந்தனத்தில் கோடிழுத்து மங்கலமிட்டு
கலையழகுக் கால் பார்த்து மெல்ல நடந்து
கண்ணியமாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்த குலமகளம்மா
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
பூஜைக்கு உரியவளே கணிகையிடம்
இருந்து மீண்ட கணவரை ஏற்றாய் நீயே
காலங்கள் பேசுவது உன் தர்மம்
உன் மென்மை உன் அருமை கற்பே தாயே
Oh worshipful one, when your husband returned back
From the house of the courtesan, you graciously accepted him!
The passing ages continually speak of your moral righteousness,
Your gentleness, your preciousness, oh mother of chastity!
பத்தினிகள் அனைவருக்கும் இலக்கியம் நீயே
பரத்தையர் பால் சென்றவனை மீட்டவள் நீயே
அத்தனை பேர் நெஞ்சினிலும் நின்றருள்வாயே
அறிவுடனே வாழும்படி அருள் புரிவாயே....
You are the living literary exemplar for all chaste women,
You rescued and redeemed the man who went astray to courtesans,
May you reside in everyone's heart and grant your blessings,
Grant us grace so that humanity lives with wisdom and righteousness!
தமிழ்த்தாயே எங்கும் நிலைத்தாயே
தலை நிறைய பூ முடித்து குங்குமமிட்டு
சந்தனத்தில் கோடிழுத்து மங்கலமிட்டு
கலையழகுக் கால் பார்த்து மெல்ல நடந்து
கண்ணியமாய் வாழ்ந்து வந்த குலமகளம்மா
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
Kanagamani silampanintha kaaliyamma
Oh Kali-mother adorned with gem-filled golden anklets,
Kaaviri poompattinaththu kannagiyammaa
Oh mother Kannagi of the ancient city Kaveripoompattinam,
Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
Than kanvan nizhalandri veru nizhal kaanaatha
Who saw no other shadow beside her own husband's shadow,
Thaaimaiyil menmai neeyae
You are the epitome of delicacy in motherhood!
Pon magalae poomagalae pugazh padaiththa thirumagalae
Oh golden daughter, flower-like daughter, glorious goddess of fortune,
Nallavarkku ilakkanam neeyae
You are the ideal grammar of behavior for virtuous people!
Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
Poojaikku uriyavalae kanigaiyidam
Oh worshipful one, when your husband returned back
Irunthu meenda kanavarai yaettraai neeyae
From the house of the courtesan, you graciously accepted him!
Kaalangal pesuvathu un dharamam
The passing ages continually speak of your moral righteousness,
Un menmai un arumai karpe thaayae
Your gentleness, your preciousness, oh mother of chastity!
Paththinigal anaivarukkum ilakkiyam neeyae
You are the living literary exemplar for all chaste women,
Paraththaiyar paal sendravanai meettaval neeyae
You rescued and redeemed the man who went astray to courtesans,
Aththanai per nenjinilum nindrarulvaayae
May you reside in everyone's heart and grant your blessings,
Arivudanae vaazhumpadi arul purivaayae
Grant us grace so that humanity lives with wisdom and righteousness!
Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae
Oh Tamil Mother, who remains immortal everywhere!
Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu
Adorned with hair full of flowers and wearing divine red vermilion,
Santhanaththil kodizhuththu mangalamittu
Smeared with sandalwood lines and auspicious tilak on the forehead,
Kalaiyazhagu kaal parththu mella nadanthu
Walking gently while looking down at your artfully beautiful feet,
Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa
Oh noble lady of the family who lived with utmost dignity!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This devotional and tribute song praises the epic heroine Kannagi from Silappatikaram, elevating her to the stature of Thamizh Thai (Tamil Mother) and Goddess Kali. Written by Kannadasan, the song celebrates her ideal virtues of marital devotion, chastity, modesty, forgiving nature, and graceful demeanor. It highlights her acceptance of her husband Kovalan upon his return from the courtesan Madhavi, hailing her as the ultimate paragon and literary ideal for women across ages. The composition asks for her divine guidance and wisdom for humanity to walk in the paths of righteousness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kanagamani silampanintha kaaliyamma / Thamizhthaayae engum nilaiththaauae”
Equating Kannagi to Goddess Kali and Thamizh Thai (Tamil Mother), merging epic heroism with divine maternal veneration.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Thalai niraiya poo mudiththu kungumamittu... Kanniyamaai vaazhnthu vantha kulamagalammaa”
Repetition of the refrain praising the grace, attire, and modest gait of the noble woman at regular intervals.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme in Tamil prosody)
“Paththinigal anaivarukkum ilakkiyam neeyae / Paraththaiyar paal sendravanai meettaval neeyae”
Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines, such as 'Paththinigal' and 'Paraththaiyar'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song invokes the central theme of the ancient Tamil epic 'Silappatikaram', composed by Ilango Adigal. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends traditional Tamil classical imagery—such as 'Silambu' (anklet), 'Kaaviri poompattinam', and 'Karpu' (chastity)—with devotional hymn cadence set to music by maestro K. V. Mahadevan.
Keep listening
More from Naan Nanethan
Naan Nanethan
Naan Nanethan
Naan Nanethan