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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Malar Kannatha

From Kottai Mariamman · 2001

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Kottai Mariamman2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Velli malar kannaaththaaSilver flower Kannatha,
Veppam poo kannaaththaaNeem flower Kannatha,
Velarumbu kannaaththaaSpear-bud-like Kannatha,
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaaScythe-wielding Kannatha,
Thirisoola kannaaththaaTrident Kannatha,
Female
Thirisangu kannaaththaaTrident-conch Kannatha,
Thanganira kannaaththaaGolden-complexioned Kannatha,
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaaLotus flower Kannatha,
Minsaara kannaaththaaElectric-eyed Kannatha,
Meen pondra kannaaththaaFish-eyed Kannatha,
Aaththaa…..aa….Mother... ah...
Female
Aaththaa kannaththaaMother Kannatha,
Ennai nee paaththaaIf you look at me,
Kavalai ellaamAll worries,
Theernththu vidum aaththaaWill come to an end, Mother.
Female
Poovaa PoovaaththaaFlower Goddess, Flower Mother,
Sirichcha mazhaiyaaththaMother whose smile brings rain,
Karuvizhiyil thee eriyum paaththaaMother with fire burning in her pupils.
Female
Ettu thisaikalil nirpavalaeYou who stand guarding the eight directions,
Erigindra neruppinil kuliththavaleYou who bathed in blazing fire,
Idi minnal puyalpola sirippavaleYou who laugh like thunder, lightning, and storm,
Indhiran sabaiyinai aandavalaeYou who ruled over Lord Indra's celestial court,
Female
Vinnaaththaa mannaaththaaMother of the sky, Mother of the earth,
Nee engal kannaaththaa vaa vaaYou are our eyes, Mother, come, come.
Female
Velli malar kannaaththaaSilver flower Kannatha,
Veppam poo kannaaththaaNeem flower Kannatha,
Velarumbu kannaaththaaSpear-bud-like Kannatha,
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaaScythe-wielding Kannatha,
Thirisoola kannaaththaaTrident Kannatha,
Female
Thirisangu kannaaththaaTrident-conch Kannatha,
Thanganira kannaaththaaGolden-complexioned Kannatha,
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaaLotus flower Kannatha,
Minsaara kannaaththaaElectric-eyed Kannatha,
Meen pondra kannaaththaaFish-eyed Kannatha,
Amma…..aa….Mother... ah...
Female
Paalaiyaththu kannu rendaalWith your two eyes of Samayapuram,
Paavam pokkaththaan vaadi ammaCome to wash away our sins, Mother,
Verkkaattu kannu rendaalWith your two eyes of Verkadu,
Theerppai sollaththaan vaadi ammaCome to deliver justice, Mother,
Female
Kaanjipuram kannu rendaalWith your two eyes of Kanchipuram,
Kavalai pokkaththaan vaadi ammaCome to relieve our anxiety, Mother,
Mamadurai kannu rendaalWith your two eyes of Great Madurai,
Mayakkam theekkaththaan vaadi ammaCome to cure our illusions and distress, Mother.
Female
Vaa kalakalanu palapalannuCome with a bright and lively sound,
Velli kannu sirikkaAs your silver eyes smile,
Padapadanu thuduthudunnuFluttering and throbbing with power,
Minnal kannu therikkaAs your lightning eyes flash,
Female
Kulukulunnu silusilunnuCooling and refreshing gently,
Mega kannu pozhiyaAs your cloud-like eyes shower grace,
Thagathaganu pagapagannuGlittering and blazing brilliantly,
Neruppu kannu eriyaAs your fiery eyes burn.
Female
Kannapuram kannu rendumIf both eyes of Kannapuram Goddess,
Kobam kondaal thaangaathammaaGrow angry, no one can endure it, Mother,
Neerum theeyaa eriya ammaEven water will burn like fire, Mother!
Female
Singaththula naan yaeriRiding high upon a ferocious lion,
Seeri varuvaendaa pagaiyarukkaI will come roaring to destroy the enemy!
Soppanamaa maaththuvendaaI will turn evil deeds into mere dreams,
Pillisooniyaththa moochcharuththuChoking and eliminating black magic,
Female
Paavigalai amman naanaeI, the Goddess Mother myself,
Thaedi vanthu pazhi theerppendaaWill search out sinners and take revenge!
Kaadummedum irunduputtaaIf the forests and mountains turn dark,
Yazhu logamum thaangaathadaaEven the seven worlds cannot endure the wrath!
Female
Ada raththathula mugam kazhuvumHey, I am Bhadrakali who washes her face in blood!
Pathrakaali naanthaanI am Bhadrakali myself!
Naan paththinithaan udumbukkaariI am a chaste woman with an unyielding grip,
Paaththukadaa neethaanWatch closely and see!
Female
Naan mandaiyottu maalaiI am the enchantress who wears a necklace,
Aniyum maayakaarithaandaaMade of human skulls!
Naan veppamaram ullirukkumI am the divine native physician,
MaruththvachchithaandaaResiding inside the sacred neem tree!
Female
Mayaanamthaan en veedudaaThe cremation ground is my home!
Maruvaththoorum en veedudaaMelmaruvathur is also my home!
Mannum manasum en veedudaaThis earth and every human heart is my home!
Female
Velli malar kannaaththaaSilver flower Kannatha,
Veppam poo kannaaththaaNeem flower Kannatha,
Velarumbu kannaaththaaSpear-bud-like Kannatha,
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaaScythe-wielding Kannatha,
Thirisoola kannaaththaaTrident Kannatha,
Female
Thirisangu kannaaththaaTrident-conch Kannatha,
Thanganira kannaaththaaGolden-complexioned Kannatha,
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaaLotus flower Kannatha,
Minsaara kannaaththaaElectric-eyed Kannatha,
Meen pondra kannaaththaaFish-eyed Kannatha,
Aaththaa…..aa….Mother... ah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic Tamil devotional song celebrates Goddess Mariamman (Kannatha) in her numerous sacred manifestations across prominent shrine cities like Samayapuram, Verkadu, Kanchipuram, and Madurai. The lyrics exalt her radiant form, her motherly compassion that dispels fears, and her cosmic control over the elements of fire, rain, wind, and lightning. In the second half, the narrative shifts dramatically to the divine persona of Bhadrakali. The Goddess speaks directly, proclaiming her supreme power over dark magic, evil spirits, and sinners. She declares that she rides a lion to vanquish enemies, residing not only in famous temples and holy neem trees, but also in the cremation grounds, the physical earth, and the hearts of all devoted believers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Velli malar kannaaththaa / Veppam poo kannaaththaa

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'V' across sequential lines (Velli, Veppam, Velarumbu, Veechcharuvaa).

Erattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)

Vaa kalakalanu palapalannu

Use of paired rhythmic sound-words to describe visual and emotional intensity, such as 'kalakalanu', 'palapalannu', 'kulukulunnu', and 'thagathaganu'.

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

Minsaara kannaaththaa / Meen pondra kannaaththaa

Describing the eyes of the Goddess using striking elemental imagery like electricity ('Minsaara'), fish ('Meen'), lightning ('Minnal'), clouds ('Mega'), and fire ('Neruppu').

Anaphora (Repetitive Refrain)

Thirisoola kannaaththaa / Thirisangu kannaaththaa

The line-ending refrain 'kannaaththaa' is repeated across numerous lines to construct a hypnotic chant-like rhythm suitable for temple worship.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kottai Mariamman (2001) is a popular Tamil devotional film directed by Rama Narayanan, starring Roja in the lead role alongside Karan and Devayani. Music director Deva composed the soundtrack, and singer Swarnalatha delivered a high-pitch, thunderous vocal performance for this song, which remains a staple during Aadi festival celebrations in Tamil Nadu.

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