Ulagelaam
From Thiruvarutchelvar · 1967
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvarutchelvar1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ulagellaam unarndhu adharkku ariyavan | He who is beyond the comprehension of all the worlds, |
| Nilavu ulaaviya neermali vaeniyan | The one with the moon wandering in His river-laden matted locks, |
| Alagil sodhiyan ambalaththu aaduvaaan | The boundless divine light who dances in the cosmic hall, |
| Malar silambadi vaazhthi vananunguvom….. | Let us praise and bow to His lotus-like, anklet-adorned feet. |
உலகெல்லாம் உணர்ந்து அதற்க்கு அரியவன்
நிலவு உலாவிய நீர்மலை வேணியன்
அழகில் சோதியன் அம்பலத்து ஆடுவான்
மலர் சிலம்படி வாழ்த்தி வணங்குவோம்
He who is beyond the comprehension of all the worlds,
The one with the moon wandering in His river-laden matted locks,
The boundless divine light who dances in the cosmic hall,
Let us praise and bow to His lotus-like, anklet-adorned feet.
Ulagellaam unarndhu adharkku ariyavan
He who is beyond the comprehension of all the worlds,
Nilavu ulaaviya neermali vaeniyan
The one with the moon wandering in His river-laden matted locks,
Alagil sodhiyan ambalaththu aaduvaaan
The boundless divine light who dances in the cosmic hall,
Malar silambadi vaazhthi vananunguvom…..
Let us praise and bow to His lotus-like, anklet-adorned feet.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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