Vaasi Vaasi
From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvilaiyadal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaasi vaasi endru | Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'), |
| Vasiththa thamizh indru…uuu | The Tamil that was recited today... |
| Vaasi vaasi endru | Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'), |
| Vasiththa thamizh indru…uuu…uu.. | The Tamil that was recited today... |
| Shivaa shivaaa ena | Resonating as 'Shiva, Shiva', |
| Sindhai thanil nindru…uuu…..uu… | It stands firmly within the mind and consciousness... |
| Avaavinaal indha avvai tamizh kondu…uuu | Driven by deep devotion, employing this venerable Tamil of Avvai... |
| Kavi paaaa…dinaal unnai | When a poem is sung praising you, |
| Kankuliraaa..kandu | Beholding you brings soothing bliss to the eyes. |
வாசி வாசி
என்று வாசித்த தமிழ்
இன்று....வாசி வாசி என்று
வாசித்த தமிழ் இன்று....
சிவா சிவா என சிந்தை
தன்னில் நின்று ....அவாவினால்
இந்த அவ்வை தமிழ் கொண்டு .....
கவி பா....டினால் உன்னை
கண்குளிர கண்டு
Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'),
The Tamil that was recited today...
Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'),
The Tamil that was recited today...
Resonating as 'Shiva, Shiva',
It stands firmly within the mind and consciousness...
Driven by deep devotion, employing this venerable Tamil of Avvai...
When a poem is sung praising you,
Beholding you brings soothing bliss to the eyes.
Vaasi vaasi endru
Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'),
Vasiththa thamizh indru…uuu
The Tamil that was recited today...
Vaasi vaasi endru
Saying 'read, recite' (or 'play the music'),
Vasiththa thamizh indru…uuu…uu..
The Tamil that was recited today...
Shivaa shivaaa ena
Resonating as 'Shiva, Shiva',
Sindhai thanil nindru…uuu…..uu…
It stands firmly within the mind and consciousness...
Avaavinaal indha avvai tamizh kondu…uuu
Driven by deep devotion, employing this venerable Tamil of Avvai...
Kavi paaaa…dinaal unnai
When a poem is sung praising you,
Kankuliraaa..kandu
Beholding you brings soothing bliss to the eyes.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poetic excerpt highlights the profound divine connection between the Tamil language and Lord Shiva. The lines feature a clever linguistic wordplay on the word 'Vaasi' (meaning to recite or play music), which when continuously chanted or inverted seamlessly morphs into the holy name 'Shivaa'. By reciting pure classical Tamil with intense longing and devotion, the poet experiences the divine presence within their consciousness, fulfilling the soul's yearning and bringing visual bliss upon beholding the Lord.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anagram / Phonetic Wordplay
“Vaasi vaasi endru ... Shivaa shivaaa ena”
The Tamil word 'Vaasi' (வாசி - to recite/read) when chanted repeatedly or phonetically inverted transforms into 'Shivaa' (சிவா), linking the act of reading Tamil directly to chanting Shiva's name.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Shivaa shivaaa ena / Sindhai thanil nindru”
Matching initial consonants/sounds in words across lines, such as 'Shivaa' and 'Sindhai', or 'Kavi' and 'Kankulira'.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Avaavinaal indha avvai tamizh kondu”
Rhyming of the second character across adjacent lines, seen in 'Avaavinaal' and 'Avvai' ('v' sound).
Did you know?
Trivia
The word 'Vaasi' (வாசி) means to read, recite, or play a musical instrument in Tamil. Kannadasan expertly exploited the phonetic palindrome where repeating 'Vaasi Vaasi' rapidly sounds like 'Shiva Shiva', illustrating the belief that Tamil and Lord Shiva are inseparable.
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