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Lyrics & meaning

Un Siva Leelai

From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Details
Thiru Neelakandar1972

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Un sivaleelai en veettilaaIs your divine play taking place in my house?
Sivaleelai en veettilaaIs divine play happening in my house?
Adhu un adiyaarin thiruvottilaa aiyyaaOr is it in your devotee's sacred begging bowl, Oh Lord?
Male
Sivaleelai en veettilaaIs divine play happening in my house?
Adhu un adiyaarin thiruvottilaa aiyyaaOr is it in your devotee's sacred begging bowl, Oh Lord?
Male
Sivaleelai en veettilaaIs divine play happening in my house?
Male
Sevagan kulam paarththu naayagan vilaiyaadaFor the Supreme Master to play games seeing the servant's status,
Sevagan kulam paarththu naayagan vilaiyaadaFor the Supreme Master to play games seeing the servant's status,
Kaaranam ariyaenaiyaaI do not know the reason, Oh Lord.
Kaaranam ariyaenaiyaa….I do not know the reason, Oh Lord....
Male
Sivaleelai en veettilaaIs divine play happening in my house?
Adhu un adiyaarin thiruvottilaa aiyyaaOr is it in your devotee's sacred begging bowl, Oh Lord?
Male
Thaayattra pillaikku thaayaanavanHe became a mother to the motherless child,
Thondan thazhuvi magizha oru saeyaanavanHe became a child for the devotee to embrace and rejoice.
Thaayattra pillaikku thaayaanavanHe became a mother to the motherless child,
Thondan thazhuvi magizha oru saeyaanavanHe became a child for the devotee to embrace and rejoice.
Male
Kalaiyaanavan engum nilaiyaanavanHe became the art, he became eternal everywhere.
Kalaiyaanavan engum nilaiyaanavanHe became the art, he became eternal everywhere.
En kanneerai ariyaatha silaiyaanavanHe became a statue unaware of my tears.
En kanneerai ariyaatha silaiyaanavanHe became a statue unaware of my tears.
Male
Sivaleelai en veettilaaIs divine play happening in my house?
Adhu un adiyaarin thiruvottilaa aiyyaaOr is it in your devotee's sacred begging bowl, Oh Lord?
Male
Sivaleelai en veettilaa…Is divine play happening in my house...
Male
Marainthathu thiruvodu un maayamoDid the sacred begging bowl vanish due to your divine illusion?
Unnai manathil ninaiththarkku idhu laabamoIs this the reward for contemplating you in my heart?
Marainthathu thiruvodu un maayamoDid the sacred begging bowl vanish due to your divine illusion?
Unnai manathil ninaiththarkku idhu laabamoIs this the reward for contemplating you in my heart?
Male
Vidhi vegamo seitha vinai vegamoIs this the force of fate, or the speed of my past karma?
Intha sabhaiyaeri saatchi solla varalaagumoCan you step into this court of assembly to give witness?
Intha sabhaiyaeri saatchi solla varalaagumoCan you step into this court of assembly to give witness?
Nee…..varalaagumo…..Will you... come...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional devotional song expresses the sorrow and bewilderment of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar when the sacred begging bowl (thiruvodu) left in his trust by Lord Shiva (in the guise of an ascetic) magically disappears. Devastated, he wonders why the Almighty tests a humble devotee with such divine illusions (Sivaleelai). He recalls the boundless mercy of Lord Shiva, who acts as a comforting mother to the helpless, yet despairs that the Lord now remains unmoved like a stone statue while he suffers. In the climax of his agony, Thiruneelakantar questions whether his predicament is caused by ruthless fate or past karma, and desperately pleads with Lord Shiva to personally appear before the town assembly (sabhai) as a witness to prove his innocence and purity of devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Kalaiyaanavan engum nilaiyaanavan / En kanneerai ariyaatha silaiyaanavan”

The repetition of the suffix 'aanavan' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, musical flow reflecting grief and devotion.

Rhetorical Question

“Unnai manathil ninaiththarkku idhu laabamo”

The singer asks Lord Shiva whether this divine trial is the profit/reward earned for always keeping God in mind.

Contrast / Oxymoron

“Thaayattra pillaikku thaayaanavan ... En kanneerai ariyaatha silaiyaanavan”

Contrasting God's caring nature as a mother/child with his current aloofness as an unfeeling stone statue.

Did you know?

Trivia

T. R. Mahalingam, a legendary vocalist of Tamil cinema and carnatic music, both starred as Thiruneelakantar and sang this track. The film was a retelling of the life of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars of Tamil Shaivism.

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