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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanjai Periya Koil

From Rajaraja Chozhan · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. R. Mahalingam, Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. Varalakshmi
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Details
Rajaraja Chozhan1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nanjai kazhanigalin naayaganae nee vaazhgaLong live the master of fertile agricultural fields!
Male
Nadanamidum kaveri kaavalanae nee vaazhgaLong live the protector of the dancing Kaveri river!
Female
Thanjamena varuvorkku thanjam vazhangukindraGranting refuge to those who come seeking sanctuary,
Thanjai peruvudaiya thalaivanae nee vaazhgaLong live the leader who possesses Great Thanjavur!
Chorus
Venjamaril vettri kanduAchieving victory in fierce battles,
Anjalikkum makkalukkorFor the people who offer their respects,
Vinnuyar periya koyil thanthaWho bestowed the sky-high Great Temple,
Veera raja raja chozhanae nee vaazhgaLong live the brave King Raja Raja Chola!
Chorus
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!
Thaaraniyil tamil pola nilai nindru vaazhgavaeMay it stand eternally in the world like the Tamil language!
Thaaraniyil tamil pola nilai nindru vaazhgavaeMay it stand eternally in the world like the Tamil language!
Chorus
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!
Male
Moondru nilangalukkum mudi soottinaanHe crowned himself king over the three realms.
Puvanam muzhuthum puli poriththa kodi naattinaanHe hoisted the flag featuring the tiger emblem across the world.
Moondru nilangalukkum mudi soottinaanHe crowned himself king over the three realms.
Puvanam muzhuthum puli poriththa kodi naattinaanHe hoisted the flag featuring the tiger emblem across the world.
Male
Thondrum idangalil than pugazh naattinaanHe established his renown everywhere he went.
Thondrum idangalil than pugazh naattinaanHe established his renown everywhere he went.
Endrum chozhar paramparaikkae vazhi kaattinaanHe forever guided the path for the Chola dynasty.
Chozhar paramparaikkae vazhi kaattinaanHe guided the path for the Chola dynasty.
Chozhan vazhi kaattinaan…..The Chola showed the way...
Female
Aayakalaigal pala nilai naattinaanHe firmly established various fine arts.
Tamil aalum aringyargalukku sabhai koottinaanHe convened assemblies for scholars who ruled over Tamil.
Kanni tamil aallum aringyargalukku sabhai koottinaanHe convened assemblies for scholars who ruled over pristine Tamil.
Thooyavarthamar vaazhvil thunai koottinaanHe added divine companionship to the lives of holy souls.
Chozhan thottathaiyellaam ponnaakkinaanThe Chola turned everything he touched into gold.
Thottathaiyellaam ponnaakkinaanHe turned everything he touched into gold.
Chozhan ponnaakkinaanThe Chola turned it into gold.
Male
Aram kaakka arasaalai uruvaakkinaanHe created administrative courts to protect righteousness.
Aa….aa…aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa….aa….aa…aa…Ah... ah... ah... (vocalizing melody)
Aram kaakka arasaalai uruvaakkinaanHe created administrative courts to protect righteousness.
Maram kaakka padaichaalai uruvaakkinaanHe established military camps to protect strength and valor.
Uyar kalvi koodangal uruvaakkinaanHe created centers for higher learning.
Bakthi valarnthida aalayam uruvaakkinaanHe created temples so that devotion would flourish.
Chozhan uruvaakkinaan…..The Chola created all these...
Chorus
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!
Thaaraniyil tamil pola nilai nindru vaazhgavaeMay it stand eternally in the world like the Tamil language!
Thaaraniyil tamil pola nilai nindru vaazhgavaeMay it stand eternally in the world like the Tamil language!
Chorus
Thanjai periya koyil pallaandu vaazhgavaeMay the Tanjore Big Temple live for many long years!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This grand hymn is a panegyric dedicated to the legendary Chola emperor, Raja Raja Chola I, and his architectural masterpiece, the Brihadisvara Temple (Tanjore Big Temple). It lauds the monarch as a brave warrior, a benevolent patron of arts, education, and righteousness, and the protector of the fertile Chola realm along the Kaveri river. The lyrics wish eternal life and renown to the majestic temple, drawing a direct parallel between the temple's timeless magnificence and the eternal vitality of the Tamil language itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Monorhyme / Second Letter Rhyming)

Nanjai kazhanigalin naayaganae / Nadanamidum kaveri kaavalanae / Thanjamena varuvorkku / Thanjai peruvudaiya

In Tamil poetry, Ethukai is the agreement of the second letter in consecutive lines. Here 'Nan-jai', 'Na-danamidum', 'Than-jamena', and 'Than-jai' show second-letter consonantal harmony.

Simile (Upamai)

Thaaraniyil tamil pola nilai nindru vaazhgavae

Comparing the endurance and permanence of the Tanjore Big Temple to the timeless existence of the Tamil language.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aram kaakka arasaalai uruvaakkinaan / Maram kaakka padaichaalai uruvaakkinaan / Uyar kalvi koodangal uruvaakkinaan

Repetition of identical verb suffixes at the end of consecutive lines to create a rhythmic chant effect.

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Trivia

This iconic song belongs to the 1972 historical drama 'Rajaraja Chozhan', which was the first CinemaScope film released in Tamil. Starring Sivaji Ganesan in the title role, the song highlights legendary vocalists T. R. Mahalingam and Seerkazhi Govindarajan in a grand musical praise composed by Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan.

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