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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaayaai Irukkum

From Mahasakthi Mariamman · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Dr. Balamuralikrishna
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Mahasakthi Mariamman1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaayaai irukkum anivarukkum thaayaeO Mother to everyone who is a mother!
Gyaana sambantham thamizh vaaithathumbhaAs the sweet Tamil of child Thirugnana Sambandar overflowed in his mouth,
Paal kodutha kanamaeThe very instant you fed him divine milk,
Karunai thadangadalae karunai thadangadalaeO vast ocean of mercy! O vast ocean of mercy!
Male
Seyaai engal gurubaran thanWhen our Gurubaran (Lord Murugan) was a young child,
Sezhikkum pillai thamizh kettuListening to his prosperous Pillai-Tamil hymns,
Siru thaal sivakka thavazhndhu vandha thiruvaeO Goddess who crawled until your tender red feet blushed, coming near!
Siru thaal sivakka thavazhndhu vandha thiruvaeO Goddess who crawled until your tender red feet blushed, coming near!
Male
Andha paarkadalae paayaai urangumThe sister of Lord Vishnu (Parandhaman) who reposes,
Parandhaman paasa pirappaeUsing that vast Milky Ocean as his mattress!
Paadhaiyil or panneer nadhiyaeYou are a soothing river of rosewater along life's path,
Bairaviyae bairaviyaeO Bhairavi! O Bhairavi!
Male
Paadum enadhu vizhi munnaeRising before the eyes of me who sings your praise,
theeyaai elundhuLike a radiant flame,
Pazham vinaiyaam theeyai anaikkumYou extinguish the blazing fire of my past karma!
Maari enum sivanin vizhiyaeO Mari, the very eye of Lord Shiva!
Karumaari enum sivanin vizhiyaeO Karumaari, the divine eye of Lord Shiva!
Vizhikamaindha imaiyae umaiyaeO Uma, who protects like an eyelid guarding the eye,
EmadhammaiyaeO our divine Mother!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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