Vellaik Kamalathile Aval
From Gowri Kalyanam · 1966
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Gowri Kalyanam1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal | She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise. |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal | She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise. |
| Kollai kaniyisaithaan | With immensely sweet, fruit-like music, |
| Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal | She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody. |
| Kollai kaniyisaithaan | With immensely sweet, fruit-like music, |
| Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal | She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody. |
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Female | |
| Kalla kadal amudhai | Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean, |
| Nigar kada thoor poonthamil kavi sollavae | To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar, |
| Kalla kadal amudhai | Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean, |
| Nigar kada thoor poonthamil kavi sollavae | To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar, |
| Pillai paruvathilae enai | When I was just a child, |
| Pa vena vandhaalarul poona vandhaal | She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace. |
| Pillai paruvathilae enai | When I was just a child, |
| Pa vena vandhaalarul poona vandhaal | She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace. |
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Female | |
| Sorpa paru naya marivaar | They know the subtleties and nuances of words, |
| Isai thoindhida thogupathin suvai arivaar | They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music, |
| Sorpa paru naya marivaar | They know the subtleties and nuances of words, |
| Isai thoindhida thogupathin suvai arivaar | They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music, |
| Virpana thamizh pulavoor andha melavar | Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds, |
| Naavena malar padha thaal | Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars. |
| Virpana thamizh pulavoor andha melavar | Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds, |
| Naavena malar padha thaal | Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars. |
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Female | |
| Vaaniyai saran pugundhen | I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati), |
| Arul vaakkalippaal ena thidam irundhen | I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words. |
| Vaaniyai saran pugundhen | I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati), |
| Arul vaakkalippaal ena thidam irundhen | I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words. |
| Paeniya perunthavathaal | Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured, |
| Nilam peyar alavum peyar peyaraa aaal | Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade. |
| Paeniya perunthavathaal | Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured, |
| Nilam peyar alavum peyar peyaraa aaal | Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade. |
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal | She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise. |
| Kollai kaniyisaithaan | With immensely sweet, fruit-like music, |
| Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal | She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody. |
| Female | |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower, |
| Vellai kamathilae | On a white lotus flower. |
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே
அவள் வீற்றிருப்பாள் புகழேற்றிருப்பாள்
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே
அவள் வீற்றிருப்பாள் புகழேற்றிருப்பாள்
கொள்ளைக் கனியிசைதான்
நன்கு கொட்டுதல் யாழினைக் கொண்டிருப்பாள்
கொள்ளைக் கனியிசைதான்
நன்கு கொட்டுதல் யாழினைக் கொண்டிருப்பாள்
On a white lotus flower,
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
On a white lotus flower,
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே ..(2)
On a white lotus flower,
On a white lotus flower,
கள்ளக் கடலமுதை நிகர்
கண்டதோர் பூந்தமிழ் கவி சொல்லவே
கள்ளக் கடலமுதை நிகர்
கண்டதோர் பூந்தமிழ் கவி சொல்லவே
பிள்ளைப் பருவத்திலே
எனைப் பேண வந்தாளருள் பூண வந்தாள்
பிள்ளைப் பருவத்திலே
எனைப் பேண வந்தாளருள் பூண வந்தாள்
Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean,
To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar,
Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean,
To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar,
When I was just a child,
She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace.
When I was just a child,
She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace.
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே ...(2)
On a white lotus flower,
On a white lotus flower,
சொற்பரு நயமறியாக
இசை தோய்ந்திடத் தொகுப்பதின் சுவையறிவார்
சொற்பரு நயமறியாக
இசை தோய்ந்திடத் தொகுப்பதின் சுவையறிவார்
விற்பனத் தமிழ்ப் புலவோர்
அந்த மேலவர் நாவெனப் மலர்ப்பதத்தாள்
விற்பனத் தமிழ்ப் புலவோர்
அந்த மேலவர் நாவெனப் மலர்ப்பதத்தாள்
They know the subtleties and nuances of words,
They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music,
They know the subtleties and nuances of words,
They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music,
Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds,
Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars.
Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds,
Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars.
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே ...(2)
On a white lotus flower,
On a white lotus flower,
வாணியைச் சரண் புகுந்தேன்
அருள் வாக்களிப்பாள் எனத் திடமிருந்தேன்
வாணியைச் சரண் புகுந்தேன்
அருள் வாக்களிப்பாள் எனத் திடமிருந்தேன்
பேணிய பெருந்தவத்தாள் நிலம்
பெயரளவும் பெயர் பெயராதாள்
பேணிய பெருந்தவத்தாள் நிலம்
பெயரளவும் பெயர் பெயராதாள்
I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati),
I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words.
I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati),
I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words.
Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured,
Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade.
Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured,
Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade.
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே
அவள் வீற்றிருப்பாள் புகழேற்றிருப்பாள்
கொள்ளைக் கனியிசைதான்
நன்கு கொட்டுதல் யாழினைக் கொண்டிருப்பாள்
On a white lotus flower,
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
வெள்ளைக் கமலத்திலே ..(2)
On a white lotus flower,
On a white lotus flower.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
Kollai kaniyisaithaan
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
Kollai kaniyisaithaan
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Kalla kadal amudhai
Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean,
Nigar kada thoor poonthamil kavi sollavae
To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar,
Kalla kadal amudhai
Pure, divine sweet nectar of the churning ocean,
Nigar kada thoor poonthamil kavi sollavae
To recite sweet flower-like Tamil poetry that surpasses even that nectar,
Pillai paruvathilae enai
When I was just a child,
Pa vena vandhaalarul poona vandhaal
She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace.
Pillai paruvathilae enai
When I was just a child,
Pa vena vandhaalarul poona vandhaal
She came blessing me to compose poetry, bestowing her divine grace.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Sorpa paru naya marivaar
They know the subtleties and nuances of words,
Isai thoindhida thogupathin suvai arivaar
They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music,
Sorpa paru naya marivaar
They know the subtleties and nuances of words,
Isai thoindhida thogupathin suvai arivaar
They savor the true taste of poetic compositions steeped in music,
Virpana thamizh pulavoor andha melavar
Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds,
Naavena malar padha thaal
Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars.
Virpana thamizh pulavoor andha melavar
Those eminent and expert Tamil scholars and great minds,
Naavena malar padha thaal
Her lotus feet serve as the tongue for those exalted scholars.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Vaaniyai saran pugundhen
I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati),
Arul vaakkalippaal ena thidam irundhen
I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words.
Vaaniyai saran pugundhen
I took refuge in Goddess Vaani (Saraswati),
Arul vaakkalippaal ena thidam irundhen
I stood firm in confidence that she would grant me blessed words.
Paeniya perunthavathaal
Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured,
Nilam peyar alavum peyar peyaraa aaal
Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade.
Paeniya perunthavathaal
Through grand penance steadfastly nurtured,
Nilam peyar alavum peyar peyaraa aaal
Until the earth itself shifts, her name and fame shall never fade.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Aval veetriiruppaal pugazh yaetriirupaal
She is seated regally, magnifying glory and praise.
Kollai kaniyisaithaan
With immensely sweet, fruit-like music,
Nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal
She holds the fine stringed lute (yaazh) that beautifully pours melody.
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower,
Vellai kamathilae
On a white lotus flower.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar is a glorious hymn dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Vaani), the deity of knowledge, art, and music. Bharathiyar paints a vivid image of Goddess Saraswati seated on a pure white lotus, playing her yaazh (veena) to create melodies sweeter than nectar. He reverently recalls how she blessed him in his childhood to write divine poetry, crowning her as the true voice and inspiration of great Tamil scholars and poets.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhai (Monai / Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vellai kamathilae / Kollai kaniyisaithaan”
The repetition of the 'll' sound in 'Vellai' and 'Kollai' serves as an essential Tamil prosodic rhyme mechanism (Edhugai).
Metaphor (Uvamaai)
“Kalla kadal amudhai nigar kada thoor poonthamil kavi sollavae”
Tamil language and poetry ('poonthamil kavi') are metaphorically compared to nectar ('amudhu') and sweet fruits ('kaniyisai').
Imagery
“Vellai kamathilae aval veetriiruppaal ... nangu kottudhal yaazhinai kondrirupaal”
Paints a vivid visual and auditory picture of Goddess Saraswati playing the yaazh seated on a white lotus.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic Tamil poem 'Vellai Kamalathile' was composed by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar as a devotional song to Goddess Saraswati. It remains one of the most famous classic Tamil poems praising education, poetry, and divine music, widely recited in schools and classic concerts across Tamil Nadu.
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