Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thangam Perithendru

From Thiruvarul · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Details
Thiruvarul1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaruvayal kaadu angamellaam thanga nagaiFields of six fertile lands, gold jewelry all over the body,
Saerum uravinangal selvamellam irunthaalumRelatives who gather around, all forms of wealth—even if all these exist,
Vaazhugindra vaazhkai valamaamoo thirumurugaaIs the life one lives truly prosperous, O Lord Thirumuruga?
Seeraar kanavanai pol sirapaamoo vel murugaa vel murugaaCan it compare to the glory of an illustrious husband, O Lord Vel Muruga, Vel Muruga?
Female
Thangam peridhendru ninainthaen murugaI thought gold was great and paramount, O Muruga,
Thangidum thunaivanai pirinthaen murugaAnd got separated from my lifelong companion, O Muruga.
Thangam peridhendru ninainthaen murugaI thought gold was great and paramount, O Muruga,
Thangidum thunaivanai pirinthaen murugaAnd got separated from my lifelong companion, O Muruga.
Mannavan perumaiyai maranthaen murugaaI forgot the greatness of my king (husband), O Muruga.
Mannavan perumaiyai maranthaen murugaaI forgot the greatness of my king (husband), O Muruga.
Unnillum uyarvendru unarnthaen murugaaI realized he is even higher than you, O Muruga,
En mannavan unnilum uyarvae murugaaMy husband is indeed higher than even you, O Muruga!
Female
Thangam peridhendru ninainthaen murugaI thought gold was great and paramount, O Muruga,
Thangidum thunaivanai pirinthaen murugaAnd got separated from my lifelong companion, O Muruga.
Female
Valli irunthenna nee illai endraalWhat use is Valli being there if you are not there?
Aaa….aaa….aa…Aaa....aaa....aa...
Valli irunthenna nee illai endraalWhat use is Valli being there if you are not there?
Indha vanji irundhenna avan illai endraalWhat use is this woman living if he is not there?
Valli irunthenna nee illai endraalWhat use is Valli being there if you are not there?
Indha vanji irundhenna avan illai endraalWhat use is this woman living if he is not there?
Saarathilum saaram nirainthathu samsaaramFamily life (samsaaram) is filled with the essence of all essence,
Saarathilum saaram nirainthathu samsaaramFamily life (samsaaram) is filled with the essence of all essence.
Thaarathirkkae kanavan thaanae aadhaaramThe husband alone is the sole support for a wife,
Thaarathirkkae kanavan thaanae aadhaaramThe husband alone is the sole support for a wife.
Female
Thangam peridhendru ninainthaen murugaI thought gold was great and paramount, O Muruga,
Thangidum thunaivanai pirinthaen murugaAnd got separated from my lifelong companion, O Muruga.
Female
Aarupadai veedum arugarugae vandhaalumEven if all six of your holy abodes come close to me,
Mangai en padai veedu manathavan thaan thirumurugaaFor this woman, her sanctuary is only the man she wed, O Thirumuruga.
Ethanai thaan kungumam un sannithiyil irundhaalumNo matter how much vermilion (kumkum) is present in your divine presence,
Ethanai thaan kungumam un sannithiyil irundhaalumNo matter how much vermilion (kumkum) is present in your divine presence,
Aththaanin kungumam pol aavathundoo vel murugaCan it ever equal the sacred vermilion given by my beloved husband, O Vel Muruga?
En aththaanin kungumam pol aavathundoo vel muruga vel murugaCan it ever equal the sacred vermilion given by my beloved husband, O Vel Muruga, Vel Muruga?
Female
Ponnnagaiyai ninainthu punnnagai izhanthaenaeThinking of golden ornaments (ponnagai), I lost my smile (punnagai).
Poocharangal serthu poovinai maranthaenaeGathering flower garlands, I forgot the core flower itself.
Kannagaiyaal pirantha mannil piranthaenaeI was born in the land where Kannagi was born,
Kann avan endru sollum kanavanai pirinthaenaeYet I separated from the husband who is like my own eye.
Female
Aalayathu silai enakku asaiyaadho thirumurugaaWon't the temple idol move for my sake, O Lord Thirumuruga?
Female
Oolamidum manioosai udhavaadho vel murugaaWon't the echoing sound of the temple bell come to my aid, O Vel Muruga?
Female
Thaalikku vaeli nee thaaruvaiyoo thani murugaaWill you not provide a protective shield for my sacred thali, O Solitary Muruga?
Female
Vel vandhu ennai kaavaadho thamizh murugaaWon't your divine Spear come to protect me, O Tamil Muruga?
Female
Muruga varuga mayilae varugaCome, O Muruga! Come, O Peacock mount!
Female
Velae varuga varuga varuga varugaCome, O Divine Spear! Come, come, come, come!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional devotional composition from the film 'Thiruvarul' (1975) depicts a grief-stricken wife pleading before Lord Muruga after realizing her foolish mistake of prioritizing material gold over her husband's love. She laments how greed led to their separation and argues that for a married woman, the husband is the supreme deity and ultimate refuge, even above temple rituals and divine idols. Through poetic analogies, she invokes the righteousness of Kannagi and the sacredness of the marital bond (samsaaram). Pleading directly to Thirumuruga, she begs for His divine grace and spear (Vel) to protect her thali (mangalsutra) and reunite her with her husband.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thangam peridhendru ninainthaen muruga / Thangidum thunaivanai pirinthaen muruga

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic symmetry, such as 'Thangam' and 'Thangidum'.

Yamakam / Wordplay (Pun)

Ponnnagaiyai ninainthu punnnagai izhanthaenae

Contrasting 'Ponnagai' (gold jewelry) with 'Punnagai' (smile) to highlight how material greed destroyed her inner joy.

Allusion (Cultural and Historical Reference)

Kannagaiyaal pirantha mannil piranthaenae

Invoking Kannagi, the legendary epic heroine of Silappatikaram renowned for her unwavering fidelity and devotion to her husband.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thiruvarul' (1975), directed by R. Thyagarajan and produced by Devar Films, features music composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. The song showcases Kannadasan's mastery in blending profound philosophical truths about marital devotion with melodious Tamil wordplay.

Keep listening

More from Thiruvarul