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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillai Vazh Anthanartham

From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967

Lyricist
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Thillai vaazh andhanartham adiyaarkum adiyaenI am the servant of the servants of the Brahmins residing in Thillai (Chidambaram).
Thillai vaazh andhanartham adiyaarkum adiyaenI am the servant of the servants of the Brahmins residing in Thillai (Chidambaram).
Thiruneela kandathu kuyavanaar kadiyaenI am the servant of the potter Thiruneelakanthar.
Illaiyae ennadha iyarppagaikkum adiyaenI am the servant of Iyarpagaiyar, who never says no to giving.
Illaiyae ennadha iyarppagaikkum adiyaenI am the servant of Iyarpagaiyar, who never says no to giving.
Ilaiyaandren kudimaaran adiyaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar.
Ilaiyaandren kudimaaran adiyaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of Ilayankudi Mara Nayanar.
Male
Vellumaa migavalla meiporulkkadiyaenI am the servant of Meiporul Nayanar, who excels in spiritual truth.
Viripozhilsoozh kundraiyaar viranmindarkkadiyaenI am the servant of Viranmindar of Kundraiyur, surrounded by lush groves.
Allimenn mullaiyandhaar amarneedhikkadiyaenI am the servant of Amarneedhi Nayanar, who wears soft jasmine garlands.
Aaruran aaruril ammaanukkaalaeThus speaks Aaruran, the devoted servant of the Lord in Thiruvaroor.
Male
Bhaktharaai panivargal ellarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of all those who humbly bow down as devotees.
Bhaktharaai panivargal ellarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of all those who humbly bow down as devotees.
Paramanaiyae paaduvaar adiyaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of those who sing praises of the Supreme Lord alone.
Sithathai sivan paalae vaithaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of those who fixed their entire mind upon Lord Shiva.
Thiruvaaroor pirandhaargal ellarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of all those who were born in the sacred town of Thiruvaroor.
Male
Muppothum thirumaeni theenduvaarkkadiyaenI am the servant of priests who touch the sacred deity thrice daily in worship.
Muzhuneeru poosiya munivarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of sages who smear sacred ash completely over their bodies.
Appaalum adisaarndhaar adiyaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of devotees beyond these bounds who seek His holy feet.
Appaalum adisaarndhaar adiyaarkkum adiyaenI am the servant of devotees beyond these bounds who seek His holy feet.
Aaruran aaruril ammaanukkaalaeThus speaks Aaruran, the devoted servant of the Lord in Thiruvaroor.
Male
Manniyaseer marainaavan nindravoor poosalI am the servant of Maranavan of great virtue and Poosalar of Nindravoor.
Varivazhaiyaal maanikkum nesanukkum adiyaenI am the servant of Nesan and Manakkanjara Nayanar.
Thennavanaai ulagaanda senganaarkadiyaenI am the servant of Kochengat Chola, who ruled as a king.
Thennavanaai ulagaanda senganaarkadiyaenI am the servant of Kochengat Chola, who ruled as a king.
Thiruneela kandaththu paananaarkkadiyaenI am the servant of Thiruneelakantha Yazhpanar the musician.
Male
Ennavanaam aranadiyae adaindhitta sadaiyanI am the son of Sadaiyan, who attained the sacred feet of Lord Shiva.
Isai gnyaani kaadhalan thirunaavaloorkoonI am the beloved child of Isaignani, the chief of Thirunaavaloor.
Annavanaam aaruran adimaikettuveppaarThose who listen to these verses of bondage to the Lord sung by Aaruran,
Aaruril ammaanukku anbaraavaaraeWill become beloved devotees to the supreme Lord in Thiruvaroor.
Aaruril ammaanukku anbaraavaaraeWill become beloved devotees to the supreme Lord in Thiruvaroor.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This hymn is based on the sacred 'Thiruthondathogai' composed by Sundaramurthi Nayanar (Aaruran), one of the four chief Saivite saints. In this song, Sundarar demonstrates supreme humility by declaring himself not just a servant of Lord Shiva, but the 'servant of the servants' (adiyarkkum adiyen) of all the great devotees and saints (Nayanmars) of Shiva. He systematically lists various revered saints—such as Thiruneelakanthar, Iyarpagaiyar, Ilayankudi Maranar, and Kochengat Chola—as well as generic categories of devotees, such as those born in Thiruvaroor, temple priests, and holy ascetics. In the concluding verses, Sundarar identifies his lineage as the son of Sadaiyan and Isaignani from Thirunaavaloor. He provides a phala-shruti (promise of benefit), declaring that whoever listens to or recites these devotional verses celebrating Shiva's servants will themselves gain the divine grace and become beloved devotees of Lord Shiva at Thiruvaroor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Anaphora

“Thillai vaazh andhanartham adiyaarkum adiyaen”

The phrase 'adiyaarkkum adiyaen' (servant of the servants) is used repeatedly at the end of lines, reinforcing the central theme of absolute humility and devotion.

Ethukai (Second Letter Assonance/Rhyming)

“Illaiyae ennadha iyarppagaikkum adiyaen”

The Tamil poetic tradition of matching second letters across words or lines, such as 'Thillai' and 'Illaiyae' or 'Bhaktharaai' and 'Paramanaiyae'.

Monaai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

“Annavanaam aaruran adimaikettuveppaar”

Matching of initial consonant sounds across words, such as 'Annavanaam aaruran adimaikettuveppaar / Aaruril ammaanukku anbaraavaarae'.

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Trivia

This composition is adapted from the famous 'Thiruthondathogai', composed by Sundarar at the Devasiriya Mandapam inside the Thiruvaroor Thyagaraja temple. This single poem served as the primary source text that inspire Sekkizhar centuries later to write the 'Periya Puranam' (the hagiography of the 63 Nayanmars). In the 1967 film 'Sundara Murthy Nayanar', the song was powerfully rendered by the legendary carnatic vocalist Seerkazhi Govindarajan under S. M. Subbaiah Naidu's music composition.

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