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Mahasakthi Mariamman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayaai Irukkum

From Mahasakthi Mariamman · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Dr. Balamuralikrishna
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Mahasakthi Mariamman
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
11 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaayaai irukkum anivarukkum thaayae
Gyaana sambantham thamizh vaaithathumbha
Paal kodutha kanamae
Karunai thadangadalae karunai thadangadalae
Seyaai engal gurubaran than
Sezhikkum pillai thamizh kettu
Siru thaal sivakka thavazhndhu vandha thiruvae
Siru thaal sivakka thavazhndhu vandha thiruvae
Andha paarkadalae paayaai urangum
Parandhaman paasa pirappae
Paadhaiyil or panneer nadhiyae
Bairaviyae bairaviyae
Paadum enadhu vizhi munnae
theeyaai elundhu
Pazham vinaiyaam theeyai anaikkum
Maari enum sivanin vizhiyae
Karumaari enum sivanin vizhiyae
Vizhikamaindha imaiyae umaiyae
Emadhammaiyae
Mother to all who are mothers,
When Jnanasambandar overflowed with Tamil wisdom,
From the moment you fed him your divine milk,
O vast ocean of compassion! O vast ocean of compassion!
Hearing our saint Guruparan's
rich Pillai Tamil (verses praising the divine child),
O Goddess who crawled to him as a child on tiny red feet!
O Goddess who crawled to him as a child on tiny red feet!
As he rests upon the Ocean of Milk,
O loving sister of that supreme Lord Vishnu,
A river of rosewater along my path,
O Bhairavi! O Bhairavi!
Before the eyes of me who sings your praise,
Rising like a bright flame,
To put out the burning fire of past karma,
O eye of Lord Shiva, known as Mari,
O eye of Lord Shiva, known as Karumari,
O Uma, the eyelid that protects his eyes,
O our Mother!
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring devotional song from 'Mahasakthi Mariamman' pays homage to Goddess Karumaari Amman, praising her ultimate motherhood and boundless mercy. The lyricist Pulamaipithan draws upon rich Tamil Saivite and Vaishnavite mythological references, noting how the Goddess bestowed divine wisdom upon Thirugnana Sambandar by feeding him milk, and how she fondly listened to Lord Murugan's child poetry. She is revered both as the loving sister of Lord Vishnu and the protective eye/consort of Lord Shiva.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Karunai thadangadalae karunai thadangadalae”

Describing the Goddess's boundless compassion as 'Karunai thadangadalae' (a vast ocean of mercy) and her protective nature as 'Vizhikamaindha imaiyae' (an eyelid safeguarding the eye).

Imagery and Contrast

“theeyaai elundhu / Pazham vinaiyaam theeyai anaikkum”

Contrasting 'theeyaai elundhu' (rising as a divine flame) with 'theeyai anaikkum' (extinguishing the burning fire of karma).

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Andha paarkadalae paayaai urangum”

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Pa' in 'Paarkadalae paayaai urangum / Parandhaman paasa pirappae / Paadhaiyil or panneer'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rendered by the legendary Carnatic music maestro Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, this song highlights K. V. Mahadevan's mastery in blending classical ragas with cinema devotional music. The song explicitly blends Saivite lore (Gnanasambandar, Shiva) and Vaishnavite lore (Vishnu as her brother, Narayani), illustrating the unifying nature of Goddess worship in Tamil culture.

Keep listening

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