Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirupathi Malaivaazhum

From Thirumalai Thenkumari · 1970

Lyricist
Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Details
Thirumalai Thenkumari1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Male
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Thirumagal manam naadum sreenivaasaaOh Srinivasa sought by the heart of Goddess Lakshmi!
Ezhu malai vaasaaOh dweller of the seven hills!
Male
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Thirumagal manam naadum sreenivaasaaOh Srinivasa sought by the heart of Goddess Lakshmi!
Ezhu malai vaasaaOh dweller of the seven hills!
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Male
Anbenum agal vilakkai yaetri vaithaen adhilI lit the oil lamp of love, and inside it,
Aasai ennum neiyai ootri vaithaenI poured the ghee of deep desire.
Anbenum agal vilakkai yaetri vaithaen adhilI lit the oil lamp of love, and inside it,
Aasai ennum neiyai ootri vaithaenI poured the ghee of deep desire.
Male
En manam urugidavae paadi vandhaenI came singing as my heart melted in devotion,
En manam urugidavae paadi vandhaenI came singing as my heart melted in devotion,
Un ezhu malai yaeri odi vandhaenI came running up your seven hills,
Ezhu malai yaeri odi vandhaenI came running up the seven hills.
Male
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Thirumagal manam naadum sreenivaasaaOh Srinivasa sought by the heart of Goddess Lakshmi!
Ezhu malai vaasaaOh dweller of the seven hills!
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Male
Ninaithadhai nadathi vaippaai vaigundhaaOh Lord of Vaikundha, you fulfill whatever one wishes for,
Maraithadhai parithiduvaai govindhaaOh Govinda, you take away all that is hidden,
Ninaithadhai nadathi vaippaai vaigundhaaOh Lord of Vaikundha, you fulfill whatever one wishes for,
Maraithadhai parithiduvaai govindhaaOh Govinda, you take away all that is hidden,
Male
Uraithadhu geedhai ennum thathuvamaeThe divine philosophy you uttered is the Bhagavad Gita,
Uraithadhu geedhai ennum thathuvamaeThe divine philosophy you uttered is the Bhagavad Gita,
Adhai unarndhavar vaazhndhiduvaar sathiyamaeThose who truly realize it will flourish in life, this is the truth,
Unarndhavar vaazhndhiduvaar sathiyamaeThose who realize it will flourish in life, this is the truth.
Male
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!
Thirumagal manam naadum sreenivaasaaOh Srinivasa sought by the heart of Goddess Lakshmi!
Ezhu malai vaasaaOh dweller of the seven hills!
Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaaOh Venkatesa who resides on the Tirupati hill!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional song is a passionate prayer addressed to Lord Venkateswara, the deity residing atop the seven hills of Tirupati. The devotee describes their spiritual journey as climbing the sacred hills with a heart melted in complete surrender. Using beautiful imagery, devotion is compared to lighting a clay lamp where love serves as the lamp and deep spiritual longing acts as the ghee fueling the flame. The song praises the Lord as the ultimate granter of wishes and reliever of hidden burdens. It pays homage to Lord Krishna's divine discourse, the Bhagavad Gita, affirming that those who understand and live by its eternal philosophical truths will attain true fulfillment and righteousness in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamu)

Anbenum agal vilakkai yaetri vaithaen adhil / Aasai ennum neiyai ootri vaithaen

The lyrics metaphorically compare love to a clay lamp ('Anbenum agal vilakku') and intense desire/longing to ghee ('Aasai ennum nei') poured into the lamp.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Ninaithadhai nadathi vaippaai vaigundhaa / Maraithadhai parithiduvaai govindhaa

Consonance of the second letter across consecutive lines creates rhythmic flow ('Ninaithadhai' / 'Maraithadhai').

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaa

The repeated invocation 'Thiruppathi malai vaazhum venkataesaa' acts as the primary devotional anchor and refrain throughout the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and sung by the legendary devotional singer Sirkazhi Govindarajan, this song from the 1970 travelogue-style film Thirumalai Thenkumari remains one of the most popular Tamil devotional tracks dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. Written by Ulunthurpettai Shanmugam, its famous opening lines are widely played across Tirupati pilgrimage trips.

Keep listening

More from Thirumalai Thenkumari