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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirunelveli Seemaiyile

From Thirunelveli · 2000

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thirunelveli2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aayimagamaayi aadhi sivan paadhiyaeOh Ayimagamayi, the half part of Lord Shiva,
Aayiram kann konda annai thirisooliyaeMother with a thousand eyes, holding the trident!
Gandhimadhi gowri endrum kaali karumaari endrumRenowned as Gandhimathi, Gowri, Kaali, and Karumaari,
Pereduththa periyavalae Haeh mukkoodaathi muththu maariOh great Goddess, Oh Muthu Maari of Mukkoodu!
Mukkann konda mundakkanniOh Goddess Mundakanni with three eyes,
Mun irunthu kaappavalaeThe one who stands in front and protects us!
Male
Thirunelveli seemaiyilaeIn the land of Thirunelveli,
Koluvirukkum ambigaiyaeOh Goddess who is seated in majesty!
Arula vendi vaaromammaa aayimagamaayiWe come seeking your blessings, oh Mother Ayimagamayi!
Chorus :Amma aayimagamaayiChorus: Oh Mother Ayimagamayi!
Male
Theech sattiya pooch sattiyaa maaththugindra thaayiMother who turns a pot of fire into a pot of flowers!
Chorus :Ammaa kaaththarulvaai neeyaeChorus: Oh Mother, please protect and bless us!
Male :Naanga nenachchathellaam nadakka venumMale: Everything we wished for must come true,
Naanga nenachchathellaam nadakka venumEverything we wished for must come true,
Arul purivaayaePlease grant us your divine grace,
Male
Yae thirunelveliOh Thirunelveli!
Chorus :ThirunelveliChorus: Thirunelveli!
Male :SeemaiyilaeMale: In the land of,
Chorus :SeemaiyilaeChorus: In the land of,
Male :Aang….koluvirukkumMale: Aang... seated,
Chorus :Aang….koluvirukkumChorus: Aang... seated,
Male :AmbigaiyaeMale: Oh Goddess!
Chorus :AmbigaiyaeChorus: Oh Goddess!
Chorus
………………..................
Male
Kannaana saththiyaththa kaaththu nikkum aiyyaaHe stands protecting the truth that is precious as life, oh sir!
Chorus :Kanneera thodaikkirathu unga kai thaanyaaChorus: It is your hand that wipes away our tears, sir!
Male :Aiyyaa un paadham pattaa velanjidumae bhoomiMale: Sir, if your feet touch it, the soil yields rich harvest!
Chorus :Ellaarkkum padi alakkum engaloda saamiChorus: Our deity who provides food for everyone!
Male
Kai veesi nee nadanthaa veedhi ellaam nadungumWhen you walk swinging your arms, the whole street trembles,
Magaraasan unnai kandu ooru sanam vanangumSeeing you, noble king, the village people bow in respect!
Ennaalum ungalukku kula dheivam maarithaanForever, Goddess Maari is the family deity for you,
Engaloda kula dheivam eppothumae neengathaanAnd our family deity is always you!
Male
Mullu vaeli ulla oorilIn a village surrounded by thorn hedges,
Chorus :Nellu vaeli thantha saamiChorus: You are the lord who gave us a protective hedge of paddy!
Male :Nallathellaam nadaththi vechchuMale: Making all good things happen,
Chorus :Niyaayam kaakkum enga saamiChorus: Our lord who upholds justice!
Unga manam pola ooru sezhuikkanumAs your heart desires, the village should prosper,
Naadu sezhikkanum aiyyaavaeThe country should prosper, oh sir!
Male
Yae thirunelveliOh Thirunelveli,
Chorus :ThirunelveliChorus: Thirunelveli,
Male :SeemaiyilaeMale: In the land of,
Chorus :SeemaiyilaeChorus: In the land of,
Male :Aang koluvirukkumMale: Aang... seated,
Chorus :Aang koluvirukkumChorus: Aang... seated,
Male :AmbigaiyaeMale: Oh Goddess!
Chorus :AmbigaiyaeChorus: Oh Goddess!
Male
Unnoda kaaladiya nambugirom thaayaeWe trust in your feet, oh Mother!
Ododi vanthu enga kurai theerppaayaeCome running to alleviate our grievances!
Aaaa……unnoda sannathikku vanthuvittu ponaaAaaa... if one visits your holy sanctum,
Kannoda kaanbathellaam kayil vanthu saerumWhatever the eyes behold will reach their hands!
Male
Maavilakku yaeththi vechchu manasaara vendikittuLighting the rice-flour lamp and praying wholeheartedly,
Kovilukku munnae vanthu kondaadi paaduCome before the temple, celebrate, and sing!
Neereduththu neththiyilae niththam niththam poosikittuTaking holy water, applying sacred ash daily on the forehead,
Nenuruga vendikittu nimmathiya theduPraying with a melting heart, seek peace of mind!
Male
Engaeyum neranjava neeYou who are omnipresent everywhere,
Chorus :Engaeyum neranjava neeChorus: You who are omnipresent everywhere,
Male :Ellaamum therinjava neeYou who know everything,
Chorus :Ellaamum therinjava neeChorus: You who know everything,
Chorus
Saathi madham enum pedham illaamalaeWithout any discrimination of caste or religion,
Saththiyam meetkka seithidammaa…Oh Mother, make truth prevail and be rescued...
Male
ThirunelveliThirunelveli,
Chorus :ThirunelveliChorus: Thirunelveli,
Male :SeemaiyilaeMale: In the land of,
Chorus :SeemaiyilaeChorus: In the land of,
Male :KoluvirukkumMale: Seated,
Chorus :KoluvirukkumChorus: Seated,
Male :AmbigaiyaeMale: Oh Goddess!
Chorus :AmbigaiyaeChorus: Oh Goddess!
Male
Thirunelveli seemaiyilaeIn the land of Thirunelveli,
Koluvirukkum ambigaiyaeOh Goddess who is seated in majesty,
Arula vendi vaaromammaa aayimagamaayiWe come seeking your blessings, oh Mother Ayimagamayi!
Chorus :Amma aayimagamaayiChorus: Oh Mother Ayimagamayi!
Male
Theech sattiya pooch sattiyaa maaththugindra thaayiMother who turns a pot of fire into a pot of flowers!
Chorus :Ammaa kaaththarulvaai neeyaeChorus: Oh Mother, please protect and bless us!
Male :Naanga nenachchathellaam nadakka venumMale: Everything we wished for must come true,
Nenachchathellaam nadakka venum arul purivaayaeEverything we wished for must come true, please grant us grace,
Male
Yae thirunelveliOh Thirunelveli,
Chorus :ThirunelveliChorus: Thirunelveli,
Male :SeemaiyilaeMale: In the land of,
Chorus :SeemaiyilaeChorus: In the land of,
Male :KoluvirukkumMale: Seated,
Chorus :KoluvirukkumChorus: Seated,
Male :AmbigaiyaeMale: Oh Goddess!
Chorus :AmbigaiyaeChorus: Oh Goddess!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a devotional and celebratory hymn from the movie 'Thirunelveli' (2000), written by Pulamaipithan. It fuses reverent devotion to Goddess Ambigai (Gandhimathi/Muthu Maari) of the Thirunelveli region with praise for a benevolent, noble village leader. The singer and chorus offer prayers to the Mother Goddess who turns fiery trials into peaceful blossoms ('Theech sattiya pooch sattiyaa maaththugindra thaayi'), asking her to grant prosperity, peace, and justice to the entire land.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Theech sattiya pooch sattiyaa maaththugindra thaayi

Matching second consonants across lines ('Theech' and 'Pooch' / 'Thirunelveli' and 'Koluvirukkum').

Metaphor / Contrast

Theech sattiya pooch sattiyaa maaththugindra thaayi

'Theech satti' (fire pot) turned into 'pooch satti' (flower pot) serves as a metaphor for turning suffering into joy and peace.

Wordplay (Pun / Sledai)

Mullu vaeli ulla ooril / Nellu vaeli thantha saami

Play on the word 'Nellu vaeli' (hedge of paddy crop) connecting to the name 'Thirunelveli' (city bounded by paddy hedges).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates authentic folk temple ritual imagery common to South Tamil Nadu, specifically the worship of Goddess Gandhimathi Amman of Thirunelveli and local village protector deities. Pulamaipithan cleverly weaves local cultural folklore and the geographical identity of Nelveli (paddy fields) into the devotional lyrics.

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