Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Karaikkal Ammaiyar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vazhuvathu Or Pozhuthum

From Karaikkal Ammaiyar · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. B. Sundarambal
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
Movie name
Karaikkal Ammaiyar
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vazhuvaadhu or pozhuthum
Maravaadhu endrum
Unai vanangidum adiyavarkku
Pazhudhaedhum vaaradhu
Kaapadhae sivam endrum
Palagaalum sonnanvan nee
Mazhuvaendhi ulagaalum
Maharaajanae ingu
Mattrum orr sivabhakthanin
Thozhu noiyai neekki
Arul purivaai endrenniyae
Thozhugiren kai koopiyae
Without failing even for a moment,
And never forgetting,
To the devotees who worship you,
Without letting any harm come to them,
Protecting them is the way of Shiva—
You are the one who said this time and again...
Holding the axe and ruling the world,
O Great King, here,
Of yet another devotee of Shiva,
Curing the leprosy,
Believing that you will shower your grace,
I pray to you with folded hands...
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song from the 1973 Tamil film Karaikkal Ammaiyar is a powerful prayer addressed to Lord Shiva. The speaker reminds Shiva of His timeless promise: that no harm shall ever touch devotees who worship Him steadfastly without missing a single moment or forgetting Him. Praising Him as the supreme sovereign who wields the sacred axe (Mazhu) to rule the universe, the speaker intercedes on behalf of another Shiva devotee suffering from leprosy. Bowing with folded hands in complete surrender and faith, the speaker implores the Lord to cure the devotee's ailment and bestow His divine grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Mazhuvaendhi ulagaalum / Maharaajanae ingu balconies offset string context match line 7 & 8: 'Mazhuvaendhi' and 'Maharaajanae'. both start with 'Ma'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Vazhuvaadhu / Maravaadhu (Lines 1 & 2 - 'zhu' / 'ra' rhythm pattern) and Pazhudhaedhum / Kaapadhae (Lines 4 & 5 - 'zhu' / 'pa' structural alignment).

Yamakam / Polyptoton (Wordplay)

Thozhu noiyai neekki / Thozhugiren kai koopiyae

Did you know?

Trivia

Karaikkal Ammaiyar (1973) is a iconic Tamil biographical devotional film starring K. B. Sundarambal and Lakshmi. The music was composed by Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, and the lyrics were penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Karaikkal Ammaiyar

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.