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Subrabatham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thirukoil Katta Enni

From Subrabatham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Vani Jairam, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Subrabatham
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
9 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thirukoyil katta enni
Porupposu vantha ennai
Veruppodu paarththaayae perumaalae
Palar mithiththaalum vidamaattaen thirumaalae
Thirukoyil katta enni
Porupposu vantha ennai
Veruppodu paarththaayae perumaalae
Palar mithiththaalum vidamaattaen thirumaalae
Kanjinagar varatharaja
Un karunai perumai enna lesa
Kanjinagar varatharaja
Un karunai perumai enna lesa
Vaanjaiyudan enakku arula
Kanji varathaa virainthodi varuga
Thiruppani seivatharkku udanthai
Nee thirukoyilil kondirukkum kuzhanthai
Thiruppani seivatharkku udanthai
Nee thirukoyilil kondirukkum kuzhanthai
Thinanthorum sevai seiya varava
Ranga srivilli puththoorin thalaivaa
Thinanthorum sevai seiya varava
Ranga srivilli puththoorin thalaivaa
Bhoologa vaigunthavaasaa pugazhaagum
Sri ranga naatha sri ranga naatha
Sri ranga naatha sri ranga naatha
Thiruvarangaththu ranganaathaa
En sevaikku thunai puriya vaa vaa
Anantha pathmanaaba anantha vishvaroopaa
Thiruvananthai pathmanaaba
Unakku singaara koyil katta vaa
Thiruvananthai pathmanaaba
Unakku singaara koyil katta vaa
Naarayana naarayana naaraayana naarayana
Naarayana naarayana naaraayana naarayana
Naarayana naarayana naaraayana naarayana
Guruvayur thanniloru kuzhanthai
Nadakka konjuthammaa irandu salangai
Guruvayur thanniloru kuzhanthai
Nadakka konjuthammaa irandu salangai
Vara vendum srikrishna bala
Niraintha varathodu anantha laalaa
Vara vendum srikrishna bala
Niraintha varathodu anantha laalaa
Pazhamai niraintha thirupathiyae
Engal azhagar malai karunai nithiyae
Solingar aalugindra mugamae
Paavam tholaivatharkku neeraadum kulame
Solingar aalugindra mugamae
Paavam tholaivatharkku neeraadum kulame
Thondu seiyum adiyaargal thamakku
Un sodhanai bodhumadaa
Sodhanai theernthu un paathmalar thannil
Engalai saernthidadaa
Thondu seiyum adiyaargal thamakku
Un sodhanai bodhumadaa
Sodhanai theernthu un paathmalar thannil
Engalai saernthidadaa
Kondathu kolgai endrathil nindravar
Kumuruthal kelumadaa
Kondathu kolgai endrathil nindravar
Kumuruthal kelumadaa
Koyil piranthida vilaiyenil
Vaigundathaththil saerththidaa
Vaigundathaththil saerththidaa
Vaigundathaththil saerththidaa
Narasimma narasimma narasimma
Vaigundaa vaigundaa vaigundaa
Sriranga sriranga sriranga
Mai vanna maeni konda nerinatha
Thirumagal thannai marbil vaiththa malar marba
Mai vanna maeni konda nerinatha
Thirumagal thannai marbil vaiththa malar marba
Nei koondhal vedhavalli thalaimagalae
Manam nirainthirukkum alamelu manathavanae
Eththanaiyo ulagil vadiveduththaai
Angu ellaa vadivilum penneduththaai
Pithu pidiththa pennai ariyaayo
Indru piththam thelinthathendru arulvaayp
Paandurangaa pandarinaatha
Pannagasayanaa manivannaa
Patmanabanae veeraraagavaa
Aadhikeshava srikrishna
Rishikesha rishikesha sriranga sriranga
Thirumaalae thirumaalae narasimmaa narasimmaa
Narasimmaa narasimmaa rishikesha rishikesha
Sriranga sriranga thirumaalae thirumaalae
Thinking of building a sacred temple,
When I came carrying this duty,
You looked at me with displeasure, O Perumal (Lord Vishnu)!
Even if many trample upon me, I will not let go, O Thirumal!
Thinking of building a sacred temple,
When I came carrying this duty,
You looked at me with displeasure, O Perumal!
Even if many trample upon me, I will not let go, O Thirumal!
O Varadaraja of Kanchipuram city,
Is the greatness of Your grace a small thing?
O Varadaraja of Kanchipuram city,
Is the greatness of Your grace a small thing?
To shower me with loving grace,
O Kanchi Varada, come running quickly!
Supporting the sacred work of this temple,
You are the divine child resting within it!
Supporting the sacred work of this temple,
You are the divine child resting within it!
Shall I come every day to serve You,
O Ranga, Lord of Srivilliputhur?
Shall I come every day to serve You,
O Ranga, Lord of Srivilliputhur?
Dweller of the earthly Vaikuntham (heavenly abode), renowned
Sri Ranganatha, Sri Ranganatha,
Sri Ranganatha, Sri Ranganatha...
O Ranganatha of Thiruvarangam,
Come, come to support my sacred service!
O Anantha Padmanabha of blissful cosmic form,
O Padmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram,
Come, so I may build a beautiful temple for You!
O Padmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram,
Come, so I may build a beautiful temple for You!
Narayana, Narayana, Narayana, Narayana,
Narayana, Narayana, Narayana, Narayana,
Narayana, Narayana, Narayana, Krishna!
There is a sweet child in Guruvayur,
As He walks, His two anklets chime sweetly!
There is a sweet child in Guruvayur,
As He walks, His two anklets chime sweetly!
Please come, O child Sri Krishna,
With abundant blessings, O joyful one!
Please come, O child Sri Krishna,
With abundant blessings, O joyful one!
O ancient Lord of Tirupati,
O treasure of mercy on our Azhagar Hills!
O divine face who rules Sholinghur,
O holy pool where we bathe to wash away our sins!
O divine face who rules Sholinghur,
O holy pool where we bathe to wash away our sins!
For the devotees who serve You tirelessly,
Enough of Your testing trials, O Lord!
End our trials, and at Your flower-like feet,
Take us unto Yourself!
For the devotees who serve You tirelessly,
Enough of Your testing trials, O Lord!
End our trials, and at Your flower-like feet,
Take us unto Yourself!
To those who stood firm in their sacred resolve,
Listen to their anguished cry, O Lord!
To those who stood firm in their sacred resolve,
Listen to their anguished cry, O Lord!
If this temple cannot come to life,
Take us away to Vaikuntham (heavenly abode)!
Take us away to Vaikuntham!
Take us away to Vaikuntham!
Narasimha, Narasimha, Narasimha!
Vaikuntha, Vaikuntha, Vaikuntha!
Sri Ranga, Sri Ranga, Sri Ranga!
O Sri Natha with a dark, kohl-hued form,
O Lord with a flower-soft chest where Goddess Lakshmi rests!
O Sri Natha with a dark, kohl-hued form,
O Lord with a flower-soft chest where Goddess Lakshmi rests!
O Goddess Vedavalli with glossy oiled hair,
O Lord who wedded Alamelu who fills our hearts!
You took so many incarnations across the worlds,
And in every form, You took a consort beside You!
Do You not know this woman who is mad with love for You?
Will You bless me today, declaring my madness is cured?
O Panduranga, Lord of Pandharpur!
O Lord reclining on the serpent, jewel-hued One!
O Padmanabha, O Veeraraghava!
O Adi Keshava, Sri Krishna...
Hrishikesha, Hrishikesha, Sri Ranga, Sri Ranga!
Thirumale, Thirumale, Narasimha, Narasimha!
Narasimha, Narasimha, Hrishikesha, Hrishikesha!
Sri Ranga, Sri Ranga, Thirumale, Thirumale...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring devotional hymn from the 1977 movie Subrabatham is an ardent plea and pilgrimage across prominent Vaishnavite holy abodes (Divya Desams). The lyricist Kannadasan expresses deep devotion (Bhakti), depicting a devotee who encounters obstacles and hardship while striving to build a temple for Lord Vishnu. The song moves through invocations to Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram, Ranganatha of Srirangam, Padmanabha of Thiruvananthapuram, Guruvayurappan, Venkateswara of Tirupati, Azhagar of Azhagar Kovil, and Narasimha of Sholinghur. The lyrics capture the raw emotional turmoil of a devotee enduring divine trials, pleading with the Lord to ease the hardships, grant salvation, or admit the suffering soul into Vaikuntha. Towards the climax, it transitions into a ecstatic chanting of various holy names and forms of Vishnu, highlighting total surrender (Saranagati).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thirukoyil katta enni / Porupposu vantha ennai

The second consonant sound 'r' aligns between 'Thirukoyil' and 'Porupposu', producing traditional Tamil prosodic harmony.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Naarayana naarayana naaraayana naarayana

Chanting the sacred name 'Naarayana' and 'Sriranga' repeatedly builds devotional fervor and rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Engal azhagar malai karunai nithiyae

Describing the divine feet as 'paathmalar' (lotus feet) and Azhagar Malai as 'karunai nidhi' (treasure chest of mercy).

Imagery (Visual & Auditory)

Nadakka konjuthammaa irandu salangai

Evokes vivid auditory imagery of child Krishna's anklets chiming sweet sounds in Guruvayur.

Did you know?

Trivia

Subrabatham (1977) featured a rich classical soundtrack scored by M. S. Viswanathan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this track serve as a grand tour of Vaishnava Divya Desams, combining elements of traditional Pasurams (Prabandham poetry) with cinematic devotional storytelling. The song showcases a brilliant vocal duet performance by Vani Jairam and Seerkazhi Govindarajan.

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