Varanam Aayiram
From Keladi Kanmani · 1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vaaranam aayiram | A thousand elephants |
| Soozha valam seidhu | Surrounding in a grand procession |
| Naarana nambi nadakkindraan | Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully |
| Vaaranam aayiram | A thousand elephants |
| Soozha valam seidhu | Surrounding in a grand procession |
| Naarana nambi nadakkindraan | Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully |
| Female | |
| Endru ethir poorana porkudam | Welcoming him with golden pots brimming with water |
| Vaiththu puram engum | Placed all around the town |
| Thoranam naatta kanaakkanden | And decorated with festoons, I saw a dream |
| Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden… | Oh friend, I saw a dream! |
| Female | |
| Indhiran ullita | Indra and the rest |
| Devar kulaam ellam | Of the celestial gods |
| Indhiran ullita | Indra and the rest |
| Devar kulaam ellam | Of the celestial gods |
| Vanthirunthennai magat pesi | Came and initiated my wedding proposal |
| Mandhirithu | Chanting sacred mantras |
| Female | |
| Indhiran ullita | Indra and the rest |
| Devar kulaam ellam | Of the celestial gods |
| Vanthirunthennai magat pesi | Came and initiated my wedding proposal |
| Mandhirithu | Chanting sacred mantras |
| Female | |
| Mandhira kodi uduthi | Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree |
| Mana maalai | Wearing the wedding garland |
| Mandhira kodi uduthi | Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree |
| Mana maalai | Wearing the wedding garland |
| Andhari soota kanaakkanden | Adorned by the divine goddess, I saw a dream |
| Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden… | Oh friend, I saw a dream! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………… | |
| Female | |
| Vaai nallaar nalla | Pious scholars with righteous speech |
| Maraiyothi manthiraththaal | Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants |
| Vaai nallaar nalla | Pious scholars with righteous speech |
| Maraiyothi manthiraththaal | Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants |
| Female | |
| Paasilai naanal paduththu | Spreading fresh green grass |
| Prithi vaiththu | Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire |
| Paasilai naanal paduththu | Spreading fresh green grass |
| Prithi vaiththu | Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire |
| Kaaysina maakaliru annaan en kaippatri | He, who is majestic like a mighty elephant, held my hand |
| Nee valam seiya kanaakkanden | And circumambulated the holy fire, I saw a dream |
| Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden… | Oh friend, I saw a dream! |
வாரணம் ஆயிரம்
சூழ வலம் செய்து
நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான்
வாரணம் ஆயிரம்
சூழ வலம் செய்து
நாரண நம்பி நடக்கின்றான்
A thousand elephants
Surrounding in a grand procession
Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully
A thousand elephants
Surrounding in a grand procession
Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully
என்று எதிர் பூரண பொற்குடம்
வைத்துப் புறமெங்கும்
தோரணம் நாட்டக் கனாக்கண்டேன்
தோழீ... நான்க் கனாக்கண்டேன்
Welcoming him with golden pots brimming with water
Placed all around the town
And decorated with festoons, I saw a dream
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
இந்திரன் உள்ளிட்ட
தேவர்-குழாம் எல்லாம்
இந்திரன் உள்ளிட்ட
தேவர்-குழாம் எல்லாம்
வந்திருந்த என்னை
மகட் பேசி மந்திரித்து
Indra and the rest
Of the celestial gods
Indra and the rest
Of the celestial gods
Came and initiated my wedding proposal
Chanting sacred mantras
இந்திரன் உள்ளிட்ட
தேவர்-குழாம் எல்லாம்
வந்திருந்த என்னை
மகட் பேசி மந்திரித்து
Indra and the rest
Of the celestial gods
Came and initiated my wedding proposal
Chanting sacred mantras
மந்திரக்கோடி உடுத்தி
மணமாலை
மந்திரக்கோடி உடுத்தி
மணமாலை
அந்தரி சூட்டக் கனாக் கண்டேன்
தோழீ .....நான்க் கனாக்கண்டேன்
Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree
Wearing the wedding garland
Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree
Wearing the wedding garland
Adorned by the divine goddess, I saw a dream
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
...........................................
வாய்நல்லார் நல்ல
மறை ஓதி மந்திரத்தால்
வாய்நல்லார் நல்ல
மறை ஓதி மந்திரத்தால்
Pious scholars with righteous speech
Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants
Pious scholars with righteous speech
Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants
பாசிலை நாணல் படுத்துப்
பரிதி வைத்து
பாசிலை நாணல் படுத்துப்
பரிதி வைத்து
Spreading fresh green grass
Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire
Spreading fresh green grass
Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire
He, who is majestic like a mighty elephant, held my hand
And circumambulated the holy fire, I saw a dream
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
காய் சின மா களிறு
அன்னான் என் கைபற்றி
நீ வலஞ் செய்யக் கனாக் கண்டேன்
தோழீ ....நான்க் கனாக் கண்டேன்.....
Vaaranam aayiram
A thousand elephants
Soozha valam seidhu
Surrounding in a grand procession
Naarana nambi nadakkindraan
Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully
Vaaranam aayiram
A thousand elephants
Soozha valam seidhu
Surrounding in a grand procession
Naarana nambi nadakkindraan
Lord Narayana comes walking gracefully
Endru ethir poorana porkudam
Welcoming him with golden pots brimming with water
Vaiththu puram engum
Placed all around the town
Thoranam naatta kanaakkanden
And decorated with festoons, I saw a dream
Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden…
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
Indhiran ullita
Indra and the rest
Devar kulaam ellam
Of the celestial gods
Indhiran ullita
Indra and the rest
Devar kulaam ellam
Of the celestial gods
Vanthirunthennai magat pesi
Came and initiated my wedding proposal
Mandhirithu
Chanting sacred mantras
Indhiran ullita
Indra and the rest
Devar kulaam ellam
Of the celestial gods
Vanthirunthennai magat pesi
Came and initiated my wedding proposal
Mandhirithu
Chanting sacred mantras
Mandhira kodi uduthi
Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree
Mana maalai
Wearing the wedding garland
Mandhira kodi uduthi
Draped in a sacred bridal silk saree
Mana maalai
Wearing the wedding garland
Andhari soota kanaakkanden
Adorned by the divine goddess, I saw a dream
Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden…
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
…………………………
Vaai nallaar nalla
Pious scholars with righteous speech
Maraiyothi manthiraththaal
Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants
Vaai nallaar nalla
Pious scholars with righteous speech
Maraiyothi manthiraththaal
Reciting the holy Vedas and sacred chants
Paasilai naanal paduththu
Spreading fresh green grass
Prithi vaiththu
Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire
Paasilai naanal paduththu
Spreading fresh green grass
Prithi vaiththu
Establishing the sacred sacrificial fire
Kaaysina maakaliru annaan en kaippatri
He, who is majestic like a mighty elephant, held my hand
Nee valam seiya kanaakkanden
And circumambulated the holy fire, I saw a dream
Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden…
Oh friend, I saw a dream!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poem is a famous section from 'Nachiyar Thirumozhi' composed by the female Alvar saint Andal. She vividly describes to her female friend (Thozhi) a grand, mystical dream in which she marries her beloved deity, Lord Narayana (Vishnu). The song depicts the majestic arrival of the Lord escorted by a thousand elephants, greeted by auspicious golden vessels and festive decorations. As the divine wedding unfolds, celestial beings led by Indra arrive to formalize the union. Andal is adorned in bridal attire and sacred garlands, and Vedic priests light the holy sacrificial fire. The Lord, majestic as a powerful elephant, holds her hand to perform the circumambulation around the sacred fire (Saptapadi). The verse beautifully encapsulates Madhura Bhakti (divine devotion through the emotion of bridal love) and remains a prominent fixture in traditional Tamil weddings.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Indhiran ullita / Devar kulaam ellam”
Phrases like 'Indhiran ullita Devar kulaam ellam' and refrain lines like 'Thozhi.. naan …kanaakkanden…' are repeated to reinforce the dreamlike narrative rhythm and emphasis.
Visual Imagery
“Endru ethir poorana porkudam / Vaiththu puram engum / Thoranam naatta kanaakkanden”
Rich visual descriptions such as a thousand elephants, golden pots brimming with water, green dharba grass, and decorative festoons create a vivid picture of a grand cosmic wedding.
Metaphor / Simile
“Kaaysina maakaliru annaan en kaippatri”
The groom Lord Vishnu is compared to a powerful, noble elephant ('Kaaysina maakaliru annaan'), conveying majesty, strength, and divine poise.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mandhira kodi uduthi / Mana maalai”
Matching initial sounds across lines or words (e.g., 'Mandhira' and 'Mana') enhances the musicality of the verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Andal in the 8th–9th century AD as part of 'Nachiyar Thirumozhi' (specifically the 'Vaaranam Aayiram' decade), these verses are universally recited at traditional Tamil Brahmin weddings today during the wedding rituals. In modern cinema, Ilaiyaraaja integrated this classic devotional hymn into the soundtrack of 'Keladi Kanmani' (1990).
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