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Karaikkal Ammaiyar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagamengum Nee Iruppai

From Karaikkal Ammaiyar · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name
Karaikkal Ammaiyar
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
25 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae…ae..
Sivaperumaanae
Kalaigalailae kalanthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Kalaigalailae kalanthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Kaanum kaatchiyilum nirainthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Kaanum kaatchiyilum nirainthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae…ae..
Sivaperumaanae
Karpanaiyil un vadivam kaana varaadhu
Karpanaiyil un vadivam kaana varaadhu
Verum kanavugalil un arulum kooda varaadhu
Kanavugalil un arulum kooda varaadhu
Arpudhangal seivadhilum bhakthi varaadhu
Arpudhangal seivadhilum bhakthi varaadhu
Undhan adiyavaraai iruppavarkkae thunbam varaadhu
Undhan adiyavaraai iruppavarkkae thunbam varaadhu
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae…ae…
Sivaperumaanae
Sengarumbil engirunthu sarkkarai vaithaai
Sengarumbil engirunthu sarkkarai vaithaai
Suvai serthu varum maanganiyai endru padaithaai
Suvai serthu varum maanganiyai endru padaithaai
Vaeppillai kasappatharkku enna koduthaai
Vaeppillai kasappatharkku enna koduthaai
Indha vilaiyattai kaatti emmmai mayanga vaithaai
Emmmai mayanga vaithaai
Indha vilaiyattai kaatti emmmai mayanga vaithaai
Emmmai mayanga vaithaai
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae
Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae
Nalla ullamellaam malarnthirupaai sivaperumaanae…ae…
Sivaperumaanae
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva...
O Lord Shiva!
You are woven into all the arts, Lord Shiva!
You are woven into all the arts, Lord Shiva!
You fill every sight we behold, Lord Shiva!
You fill every sight we behold, Lord Shiva!
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva...
O Lord Shiva!
Your form cannot be seen through mere imagination,
Your form cannot be seen through mere imagination,
Nor does Your grace arrive through idle dreams.
Nor does Your grace arrive through dreams.
Even performing miracles does not bring devotion,
Even performing miracles does not bring devotion,
Only those who remain Your devotees will know no sorrow.
Only those who remain Your devotees will know no sorrow.
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva...
O Lord Shiva!
From where did You put sweetness into the sugarcane?
From where did You put sweetness into the sugarcane?
When did You create the sweet and delicious mango?
When did You create the sweet and delicious mango?
What did You give the neem leaf to make it so bitter?
What did You give the neem leaf to make it so bitter?
Showing us this wondrous play, You have captivated us!
You have captivated us!
Showing us this wondrous play, You have captivated us!
You have captivated us!
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva!
You dwell across the entire world, Lord Shiva!
You blossom in every pure heart, Lord Shiva...
O Lord Shiva!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song dedicated to Lord Shiva praises His omnipresence and divine playfulness in creation. The lyrics emphasize that Shiva resides in every corner of the universe, in all art forms, and especially within pure, virtuous hearts. True divine grace cannot be achieved through mere imagination, dreams, or performing miracles; rather, genuine devotion protects a humble devotee from all worldly suffering.\n\nThe song further marvels at the wonders of nature created by God—such as the sweetness planted inside red sugarcane, the rich taste of mangoes, and the natural bitterness of neem leaves. Through these natural marvels, Lord Shiva fascinates and captivates humanity with His grand cosmic play (Thiruvilaiyadal).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Repetition

Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae

The line 'Ulagamengum nee irupaai siva perumaanae' repeats across stanzas as a central motif reinforcing Lord Shiva's omnipresence.

Rhetorical Questioning

Sengarumbil engirunthu sarkkarai vaithaai

The lyricist uses poetic inquiry about natural phenomena (sweetness in sugarcane, bitterness in neem) to express awe at divine creation.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Kaanum kaatchiyilum nirainthirupaai sivaperumaanae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ka' ('Kaanum kaatchiyilum') creating a rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1973 devotional film 'Karaikkal Ammaiyar' featured music composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan. K. B. Sundarambal portrayed the saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar and rendered several iconic classical devotional tracks for the film.

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