Thiruppugazh
From Kaaviya Thalaivan · 2014
- Lyricist
- Arunagirinathar
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kaaviya Thalaivan2014
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaaaaaa….aaaa….aaaa | Aaaaaaa…aaaa…aaaa (Vocalizing / Vocal alap) |
| Aaaaaa……aaaa……aaaa….aa..aa…aa.. | Aaaaaa……aaaa……aaaa….aa..aa…aa.. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap) |
| Aaaa….aaaa….. | Aaaa….aaaa….. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap) |
| Female | |
| Evinai nervizhi | With eyes as sharp as arrows, |
| Maadharai meviya | Pursuing enticing women, |
| Yedhanai moodanai neripena | Such a foolish sinner I am, how will I ever reach the virtuous path? |
| Female | |
| Yenanai veenanai | A useless person like me, |
| Yedezhu thaamuzhu | Trapped within the fourteen realms, |
| Yezhaiyai mozhaiyai agalaneezhl | A poor, ignorant fool who has strayed far, |
| Female | |
| Maavinai moodiya | Covered in mere skin and flesh, |
| Noipini yaalanai | Plagued by diseases and afflictions, |
| Vaaimayil aadhanai igazhaadhae | Do not despise me as a fool devoid of truth! |
| Female | |
| Maamani noopura | Adorned with precious gem-studded anklets, |
| Seethala thaalthani | Your cool and divine lotus feet, |
| Vaazhvura eevadhum orunaalae | Will You grant me the supreme life of refuge beneath them, even for a single day? |
| Female | |
| Naavalar paadiya | Sung by great scholars of eloquence, |
| Noolisaiyal varu | Arising from classical musical treatises, |
| Naaradha naarpugal kuramaathai | And praised by Sage Narada; You who sought the Kurava maiden Valli, |
| Female | |
| Naadiya kaanidai | In the deep forest You desired, |
| Koodiya sevaga | Uniting with her as an obedient servant, |
| Naayaga maamayil udaiyonae | Oh Supreme Lord who rides the magnificent peacock! |
| Female | |
| Thevi manonmani | Son of Goddess Manonmani, |
| Aayipara parai | The primordial Supreme Mother Parashakti, |
| Thenmozhi yaazhtharu siriyonae | The divine child blessed with sweet speech like the music of the Veena, |
| Female | |
| Senuyar solaiyil neezhalilae thigazh | Resplendent in the shade of tall, lush groves, |
| Seeralai vaaivaru perumalae | Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur (Seeralai Vaaivai)! |
| Seeralai… vaaivaru perumalae | Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur! |
ஏவினை நேர்விழி மாதரை மேவிய
ஏதனை மூடனை ... நெறிபேணா
Aaaaaaa…aaaa…aaaa (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
Aaaaaa……aaaa……aaaa….aa..aa…aa.. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
Aaaa….aaaa….. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
ஈனனை வீணனை ஏடெழு தாமுழு
ஏழையை மோழையை ... அகலாநீள்
With eyes as sharp as arrows,
Pursuing enticing women,
Such a foolish sinner I am, how will I ever reach the virtuous path?
மாவினை மூடிய நோய்பிணி யாளனை
வாய்மையி லாதனை ... யிகழாதே
A useless person like me,
Trapped within the fourteen realms,
A poor, ignorant fool who has strayed far,
மாமணி நூபுர சீதள தாள்தனி
வாழ்வுற ஈவது ... மொருநாளே
Covered in mere skin and flesh,
Plagued by diseases and afflictions,
Do not despise me as a fool devoid of truth!
நாவலர் பாடிய நூலிசை யால்வரு
நாரத னார்புகல் .... குறமாதை
Adorned with precious gem-studded anklets,
Your cool and divine lotus feet,
Will You grant me the supreme life of refuge beneath them, even for a single day?
நாடியெ கானிடை கூடிய சேவக
நாயக மாமயி .... லுடையோனே
Sung by great scholars of eloquence,
Arising from classical musical treatises,
And praised by Sage Narada; You who sought the Kurava maiden Valli,
தேவிம நோமணி ஆயிப ராபரை
தேன்மொழி யாள்தரு ... சிறியோனே
In the deep forest You desired,
Uniting with her as an obedient servant,
Oh Supreme Lord who rides the magnificent peacock!
சேணுயர் சோலையி னீழலி லேதிகழ்
சீரலை வாய்வரு .... பெருமாளே
சீரலை வாய்வரு .... பெருமாளே
Son of Goddess Manonmani,
The primordial Supreme Mother Parashakti,
The divine child blessed with sweet speech like the music of the Veena,
Resplendent in the shade of tall, lush groves,
Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur (Seeralai Vaaivai)!
Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur!
Aaaaaaa….aaaa….aaaa
Aaaaaaa…aaaa…aaaa (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
Aaaaaa……aaaa……aaaa….aa..aa…aa..
Aaaaaa……aaaa……aaaa….aa..aa…aa.. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
Aaaa….aaaa…..
Aaaa….aaaa….. (Vocalizing / Vocal alap)
Evinai nervizhi
With eyes as sharp as arrows,
Maadharai meviya
Pursuing enticing women,
Yedhanai moodanai neripena
Such a foolish sinner I am, how will I ever reach the virtuous path?
Yenanai veenanai
A useless person like me,
Yedezhu thaamuzhu
Trapped within the fourteen realms,
Yezhaiyai mozhaiyai agalaneezhl
A poor, ignorant fool who has strayed far,
Maavinai moodiya
Covered in mere skin and flesh,
Noipini yaalanai
Plagued by diseases and afflictions,
Vaaimayil aadhanai igazhaadhae
Do not despise me as a fool devoid of truth!
Maamani noopura
Adorned with precious gem-studded anklets,
Seethala thaalthani
Your cool and divine lotus feet,
Vaazhvura eevadhum orunaalae
Will You grant me the supreme life of refuge beneath them, even for a single day?
Naavalar paadiya
Sung by great scholars of eloquence,
Noolisaiyal varu
Arising from classical musical treatises,
Naaradha naarpugal kuramaathai
And praised by Sage Narada; You who sought the Kurava maiden Valli,
Naadiya kaanidai
In the deep forest You desired,
Koodiya sevaga
Uniting with her as an obedient servant,
Naayaga maamayil udaiyonae
Oh Supreme Lord who rides the magnificent peacock!
Thevi manonmani
Son of Goddess Manonmani,
Aayipara parai
The primordial Supreme Mother Parashakti,
Thenmozhi yaazhtharu siriyonae
The divine child blessed with sweet speech like the music of the Veena,
Senuyar solaiyil neezhalilae thigazh
Resplendent in the shade of tall, lush groves,
Seeralai vaaivaru perumalae
Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur (Seeralai Vaaivai)!
Seeralai… vaaivaru perumalae
Oh Great Lord residing in the coastal shrine of Tiruchendur!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a rendition of Saint Arunagirinathar's revered 15th-century Thiruppugazh hymn 'Evinai Nervizhi', featured in the film Kaaviya Thalaivan. In the first half, the devotee humbly confesses his frailties—how he is easily distracted by earthly temptations, entrapped in worldly suffering, physical illness, and ignorance. He begs Lord Murugan not to cast him away as an unworthy liar, but to grant him the divine blessing of resting at His cool, gem-ankleted feet even if just for a single day. In the second half, the hymn praises the divine glory of Lord Murugan. He is extolled as the beloved son of Goddess Parashakti (Manonmani), praised by Sage Narada and learned scholars, the humble lover who served Valli in the forest, and the majestic peacock rider who eternally resides at the sacred seashore temple of Tiruchendur (Seeralai Vaaivai).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Evinai nervizhi
“Evinai nervizhi”
Metaphor (Uvamai): Comparing the sharp, piercing gaze of women to arrows (Evi).
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Evinai / Maadharai / Yedhanai / Yenanai”
Consonance in the second letter across consecutive lines (e.g., 'Evinai', 'Maadharai', 'Yedhanai', 'Yenanai').
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naavalar paadiya / Noolisaiyal varu / Naaradha naarpugal”
Repetition of the initial 'Na' sound across lines creating musical rhythm ('Naavalar', 'Noolisaiyal', 'Naaradha', 'Naadiya').
Did you know?
Trivia
This classic Thiruppugazh hymn by Saint Arunagirinathar was adapted for the 2014 Tamil period drama film 'Kaaviya Thalaivan', directed by Vasanthabalan. Set in the 1920s-1930s Tamil stage theater era, the film's soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman. The composition captures the authentic devotional fever and classical carnatic musical style typical of early 20th-century drama troupes.
Keep listening
More from Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan
Kaaviya Thalaivan