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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirukoil Thedi

From Mittai Mummy · 1976

Lyricist
‘Avinasi’ Mani
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Mittai Mummy
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
22 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Silai pondra maaran thunai kaana vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Aivagai malarum anantha karumbum
Kayil kondu vanthaal
Anthiyil saernthu manthiram paada
Arangam naadi vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Poorana porkudam yaendhiya maathu
Punnagai sumanthu vanthaal
Male : Poojaikku pogum vegathilae
Aval bhoomiyai maranthu vanthaal
Poorana porkudam yaendhiya maathu
Punnagai sumanthu vanthaal
Male :Poojaikku pogum vegathilae
Aval bhoomiyai maranthu vanthaal
Aalilai araasilai megalai maakalai
Orr kalai koora vanthaal
Male :Aanandha poovil thaen sinthum neram
Aadhikkam selutha vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Silai pondra maaran thunai kaana vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Pani mugil sinthum paalabhishegam
Thanakkena odi vanthaal
Male :Palliyil poosum santhana kaappu
Pagalilum thedi vanthaal
Azhagiya idhazhgalil kanigalai eduththu
Archanai seiyya vanthaal
Male :Aaraththi eduthu orathilanaithu
Saaraththai koora vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Silai pondra maaran thunai kaana vanthaal
Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal
Rathidevi vanthaal
Rathi Devi (goddess of love) came searching for the sacred temple
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
She came to see her partner, Manmadhan (god of love), handsome as a statue
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
With the five floral arrows and the sweet sugarcane bow
She came carrying them in her hands
To unite at dusk and whisper sweet mantras
She came seeking the sacred stage
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
The young woman holding a full golden pot
Came wearing a gentle smile
Male: In her eager rush to offer worship
She came, completely forgetting the ground beneath her feet
The young woman holding a full golden pot
Came wearing a gentle smile
Male: In her eager rush to offer worship
She came, completely forgetting the ground beneath her feet
With a waist curved like tender leaves and adorned in fine jewels
She came to share the art of love
Male: At the sweet hour when honey drips from the flower of joy
She came to establish her gentle rule
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
She came to see her partner, Manmadhan, handsome as a statue
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
For the sacred milk offering showered by the misty clouds
She came running to claim it for herself
Male: The fragrant sandalwood paste meant for the bedchamber
She came seeking it even in broad daylight
Offering the sweet nectar of her lovely lips
She came to perform her loving worship
Male: Offering the holy lamp and embracing him close to her side
She came to reveal the true essence of love
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
She came to see her partner, Manmadhan, handsome as a statue
Rathi Devi came searching for the sacred temple
Rathi Devi has arrived
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal' from the 1976 movie Mittai Mummy uses sacred temple imagery to depict intense romantic passion and intimacy. The heroine is allegorized as Goddess Rathi seeking her beloved Maaran (Cupid). Sacred temple rituals such as pooja (worship), paalabhishegam (milk offering), santhana kaappu (sandalwood adornment), and archanai (ritual prayers) are poetically transposed into expressions of sensual love and romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

“Silai pondra maaran thunai kaana vanthaal”

Compares the hero's handsome posture to a statue (Silai pondra maaran).

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Thirukoyil thedi rathidevi vanthaal”

Metaphorically equates the romantic beloved to Goddess Rathi and her realm of romance to a holy temple (Thirukoyil).

Edhugai / Monai (Assonance & Alliteration)

“Aalilai araasilai megalai maakalai”

Repetition of initial and second consonant sounds creates rhythmic musicality (Poorana / Punnagai, Aalilai / Araasilai).

Sringara Metaphor

“Azhagiya idhazhgalil kanigalai eduththu Archanai seiyya vanthaal”

Employs sacred worship elements (pooja, archanai, aaraththi) to symbolically represent sensual intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by 'Avinasi' Mani, this song is a notable example of 1970s Tamil cinema songcraft where sacred temple vocabulary (Bhakti terminology) is ingeniously used as a poetic veneer for erotic passion (Sringara Rasa).

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