- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Thiruvarutchelvar
- Movie release year
- 1967
- Lyrics added on
- 5 Nov 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic verse serves as a profound invocation to Lord Shiva, acknowledging His infinite and incomprehensible nature across the universe. It portrays His iconic form adorned with the crescent moon and the river Ganga trapped in His divine matted hair. As the infinite light of consciousness, Lord Shiva performs the cosmic dance in the sacred assembly of Chidambaram. The verse concludes with a devotional call for all souls to praise and bow down to His flower-soft feet embellished with divine anklets.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Malar silambadi vaazhthi vananunguvom…..”
Compares Lord Shiva's feet to soft flowers ('Malar silambadi') highlighting their tender and divine grace.
Imagery
“Nilavu ulaaviya neermali vaeniyan”
Paints a vivid visual image of Lord Shiva's matted hair housing both the wandering crescent moon and the flowing river Ganga.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Nilavu ulaaviya neermali vaeniyan”
The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'N' ('Nilavu', 'neermali') adds a rhythmic musicality to the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
This verse is the legendary opening stanza of the 12th-century Saivite epic 'Periya Puranam' composed by Sekkizhar. According to devotional tradition, the opening word 'Ulagellaam' was divinely voiced by Lord Shiva Himself as an oracle at the Chidambaram temple to initiate the composition. In the 1967 film 'Thiruvarutchelvar', the music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.
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