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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Thaan Paarthen

From Sakthi Leelai · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Sakthi Leelai
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jagadheeswri arul konduvaa
Malar koonthalil mangkonduva
Maganuku irandu kann konduvaa ahh
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Unnaithane ninaithen naan ullathile amma
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Unnaithane ninaithen naan ullathile amma
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Karthigai piraipole poomugam kanden
Kaalvarai vilaiyadum koonthalai kanden
Saathiya maalai unakillaiyo amma
Saathiya maalai unakillaiyo amma
Thaye sambavam ninaivilaiyo
Thaye sambavam ninaivilaiyo
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Ambigai vanthathenna poiya meiya
Anbudan azhaithathenna poiya meiya
Kangalil kandathenna poiya meiya
Kaalgalil vizhunthathenna poiya meiya
Kodu vittu keelirangum
Megamentra koonthaluku
Maalaiyittu parthathenna poiya meiya
Maalai konda devi unthan
Vasamulla konthal ondru
Maalaiyudan vanthathenna
Poiya meiya
Poiya…. meiya
Poiya…. meiya
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Unnaithane ninaithen naan ullathile amma
Unnai thaan parthen kangalile
Goddess of the universe, bring me your grace,
Bring the fragrance in your flower-decked hair,
Bring sight to your son's eyes, ah!
It was you alone I saw with my eyes,
It was you alone I saw with my eyes,
It was you alone I held in my heart, Mother!
It was you alone I saw with my eyes,
It was you alone I held in my heart, Mother!
It was you alone I saw with my eyes.
I saw your flower-like face, like the Karthigai crescent moon,
I saw your hair flowing down and playing at your feet,
Do you not wear the garland offered to you, Mother?
Do you not wear the garland offered to you, Mother?
Mother, do you not remember what happened?
Mother, do you not remember what happened?
It was you alone I saw with my eyes.
The Goddess appearing before me—was it false or real?
Her calling out to me with love—was it false or real?
Seeing her with my own eyes—was it false or real?
Falling at her feet—was it false or real?
Parted and flowing all the way down,
for that cloud-like hair,
adorning it with a garland—was it false or real?
O Goddess who received the garland,
a single strand of your fragrant hair,
coming back with the garland—
was it false or real?
Was it false... or real?
Was it false... or real?
It was you alone I saw with my eyes,
It was you alone I held in my heart, Mother!
It was you alone I saw with my eyes.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic devotional song from 'Sakthi Leelai' (1972) expresses intense devotion and spiritual wonder towards Goddess Sakthi (Ambigai). The devotee recalls a miraculous vision of the divine mother, describing her radiant appearance—a crescent moon face and long flowing locks descending like dark clouds. He desperately seeks her grace to restore sight (or spiritual vision) to her son. Throughout the latter half of the song, the lyricist delves into a philosophical interrogation of spiritual illusion versus reality ('Poiya Meiya'). The devotee ponders whether his experience of witnessing the Goddess, offering her a garland, and finding a strand of her fragrant hair entwined in it was a divine reality or a mystical dream.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Karthigai piraipole poomugam kanden”

Compares the radiant divine face of the Goddess to the bright crescent moon of the Karthigai month.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Megamentra koonthaluku”

Metaphorically describes the thick, long, black hair of the Goddess as dark rain-bearing clouds descending down.

Anaphora & Refrain

“Poiya meiya”

The rhythmic repetition of 'Poiya meiya' (Lie or Truth?) builds dramatic tension and philosophical reflection on divine maya (illusion) vs reality.

Monal / Etukai (Rhyming / Alliteration)

“Ambigai vanthathenna poiya meiya / Anbudan azhaithathenna poiya meiya”

Tamil poetic rhyming across lines using matching second consonant sounds ('Ambigai', 'Anbudan', 'Kangalil', 'Kaalgalil').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sakthi Leelai' (1972) is a mythological film produced by Ramkumar Films. The soundtrack was composed by T. K. Ramamoorthy after his separation from the iconic Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo. Kannadasan's lyrics in 'Poiya Meiya' draw inspiration from traditional Tamil temple legends where devotional miracles involving divine hair strands in temple garlands (such as the legend of Thirukannapuram or Thiruvannamalai) are questioned and validated.

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