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Lyrics & meaning

Valarmathi Kanniyinaanai

From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967

Lyricist
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, G. Vaidehi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maadhar pirai kanniyaanaiSinging of Him who wears the beautiful crescent moon as a garland,
Malaiyaan magalodum paadiAlong with the daughter of the mountain king (Parvati),
Maadhar pirai kanniyaanaiSinging of Him who wears the beautiful crescent moon as a garland,
Malaiyaan magalodum paadiAlong with the daughter of the mountain king,
Female
Pothodu neer sumandhendhiCarrying fresh flowers and holy water,
Puguvaar avar pin puguvenI will enter following behind those who enter His temple.
Both :Pothodu neer sumandhendhiBoth: Carrying fresh flowers and holy water,
Puguvaar avar pin puguvenI will enter following behind those who enter His temple.
Maadhar pirai kanniyaanaiSinging of Him who wears the beautiful crescent moon as a garland,
Malaiyaan magalodum paadiAlong with the daughter of the mountain king,
Male
Yaadhum suvadu padaamalWithout leaving any trace of fatigue or footstep on the journey,
Aiyaaru adaikkindra pothuAs I reach the holy town of Thiruvaiyaru,
Yaadhum suvadu padaamalWithout leaving any trace of fatigue or footstep on the journey,
Aiyaaru adaikkindra pothuAs I reach the holy town of Thiruvaiyaru,
Kaadhal mada pidiyodumAlong with its loving gentle female elephant,
Kaliru varuvana kandenI saw the male elephant coming gracefully.
Kaadhal mada pidiyodumAlong with its loving gentle female elephant,
Kaliru varuvana kandenI saw the male elephant coming gracefully.
Both :Avar thirupaadhamBoth: I saw His holy feet,
Kandariyaadhena kandenSeeing sights that I have never witnessed before!
Avar thirupaadhamI saw His holy feet,
Kandariyaadhena kandenSeeing sights that I have never witnessed before!
Male
Valarmathi kanniyinanaiSinging of the Lord who wears the growing crescent moon,
Vaar kuzhalaalodum paadiAlong with Goddess Parvati of long, lovely tresses,
Valarmathi kanniyinanaiSinging of the Lord who wears the growing crescent moon,
Vaar kuzhalaalodum paadiAlong with Goddess Parvati of long, lovely tresses,
Female
Kalavu padaadhadhoor kaalamTo behold a timeless era free from deceit and falsehood,
Kaanbaan kadaikann nikkindraenI stand at the threshold, waiting for His merciful side-glance.
Kalavu padaadhadhoor kaalamTo behold a timeless era free from deceit and falsehood,
Kaanbaan kadaikann nikkindraenI stand at the threshold, waiting for His merciful side-glance.
Both :Valarmathi kanniyinanaiBoth: Singing of the Lord who wears the growing crescent moon,
Vaar kuzhalaalodum paadiAlong with Goddess Parvati of long, lovely tresses,
Male
Alavu padaathathoor anboduWith boundless, immeasurable love in my heart,
Aiyaaru adaikindrapothuAs I reach the holy town of Thiruvaiyaru,
Alavu padaathathoor anboduWith boundless, immeasurable love in my heart,
Aiyaaru adaikindrapothuAs I reach the holy town of Thiruvaiyaru,
Female :Ilamana naaguthazhuviFemale: Embracing the young heifer lovingly,
Yeruvaruvana kandenI saw the majestic bull walking alongside.
Ilamana naaguthazhuviEmbracing the young heifer lovingly,
Yeruvaruvana kandenI saw the majestic bull walking alongside.
Both :Avar thirupaadhamBoth: I saw His holy feet,
Kandariyaadhena kandenSeeing sights that I have never witnessed before!
Avar thirupaadhamI saw His holy feet,
Kandariyaadhena kandenSeeing sights that I have never witnessed before!
Male
Maadhar pirai kanniyaanaiSinging of Him who wears the beautiful crescent moon as a garland,
Malaiyaan magalodum paadiAlong with the daughter of the mountain king!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional song originates from the holy Tevaram hymns of Saiva Siddhanta. It describes the divine ecstasy of a devotee traveling to the sacred town of Thiruvaiyaru. Carrying flowers and holy water, the seeker journeys with deep devotion to offer worship to Lord Shiva and Parvati. Upon reaching Thiruvaiyaru, the saint experiences a profound spiritual epiphany: every male and female creature in nature—such as elephants walking together or a bull with a heifer—is perceived as a manifestation of the divine couple, Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti. The refrain 'Kandariyaadhena kanden' ('I saw sights I had never seen before') highlights the cosmic revelation that the entire creation is filled with Shiva-Shakti.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Alliteration

Maadhar pirai kanniyaanai / Malaiyaan magalodum paadi

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines or words, such as 'Maadhar' and 'Malaiyaan'.

Imagery & Allegory

Kaadhal mada pidiyodum / Kaliru varuvana kanden

Use of natural animal pairings (bull and heifer, male and female elephants) as allegorical representations of the cosmic union of Shiva and Shakti.

Refrain / Repetition for Devotional Emphasis

Avar thirupaadham / Kandariyaadhena kanden

The phrase 'Kandariyaadhena kanden' is repeated as a refrain to express ecstatic wonder and divine realization.

Ezhukai / Second-letter Rhyme

Kalavu padaadhadhoor kaalam / Alavu padaathathoor anbodu

Harmonious rhyme of the second letter 'la' across distinct stanzas ('Kalavu padaadhadhoor' and 'Alavu padaathathoor').

Did you know?

Trivia

This hymn is famously attributed to Saint Appar (Thirunavukkarasar) in the Tevaram canon, capturing his legendary vision at Thiruvaiyaru where Lord Shiva revealed that all living pairs in the cosmos reflect Shiva and Parvati. In the 1967 movie Sundara Murthy Nayanar, S. M. Subbaiah Naidu composed the music, featuring the magnificent vocals of Seerkazhi Govindarajan.

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