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Kottai Mariamman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Malar Kannatha

From Kottai Mariamman · 2001

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Kottai Mariamman
Movie release year
2001
Lyrics added on
18 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Velli malar kannaaththaa
Veppam poo kannaaththaa
Velarumbu kannaaththaa
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaa
Thirisoola kannaaththaa
Thirisangu kannaaththaa
Thanganira kannaaththaa
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaa
Minsaara kannaaththaa
Meen pondra kannaaththaa
Aaththaa…..aa….
Aaththaa kannaththaa
Ennai nee paaththaa
Kavalai ellaam
Theernththu vidum aaththaa
Poovaa Poovaaththaa
Sirichcha mazhaiyaaththa
Karuvizhiyil thee eriyum paaththaa
Ettu thisaikalil nirpavalae
Erigindra neruppinil kuliththavale
Idi minnal puyalpola sirippavale
Indhiran sabaiyinai aandavalae
Vinnaaththaa mannaaththaa
Nee engal kannaaththaa vaa vaa
Velli malar kannaaththaa
Veppam poo kannaaththaa
Velarumbu kannaaththaa
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaa
Thirisoola kannaaththaa
Thirisangu kannaaththaa
Thanganira kannaaththaa
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaa
Minsaara kannaaththaa
Meen pondra kannaaththaa
Amma…..aa….
Paalaiyaththu kannu rendaal
Paavam pokkaththaan vaadi amma
Verkkaattu kannu rendaal
Theerppai sollaththaan vaadi amma
Kaanjipuram kannu rendaal
Kavalai pokkaththaan vaadi amma
Mamadurai kannu rendaal
Mayakkam theekkaththaan vaadi amma
Vaa kalakalanu palapalannu
Velli kannu sirikka
Padapadanu thuduthudunnu
Minnal kannu therikka
Kulukulunnu silusilunnu
Mega kannu pozhiya
Thagathaganu pagapagannu
Neruppu kannu eriya
Kannapuram kannu rendum
Kobam kondaal thaangaathammaa
Neerum theeyaa eriya amma
Singaththula naan yaeri
Seeri varuvaendaa pagaiyarukka
Soppanamaa maaththuvendaa
Pillisooniyaththa moochcharuththu
Paavigalai amman naanae
Thaedi vanthu pazhi theerppendaa
Kaadummedum irunduputtaa
Yazhu logamum thaangaathadaa
Ada raththathula mugam kazhuvum
Pathrakaali naanthaan
Naan paththinithaan udumbukkaari
Paaththukadaa neethaan
Naan mandaiyottu maalai
Aniyum maayakaarithaandaa
Naan veppamaram ullirukkum
Maruththvachchithaandaa
Mayaanamthaan en veedudaa
Maruvaththoorum en veedudaa
Mannum manasum en veedudaa
Velli malar kannaaththaa
Veppam poo kannaaththaa
Velarumbu kannaaththaa
Veechcharuvaa kannaaththaa
Thirisoola kannaaththaa
Thirisangu kannaaththaa
Thanganira kannaaththaa
Thaamarai poo kannaaththaa
Minsaara kannaaththaa
Meen pondra kannaaththaa
Aaththaa…..aa….
Silver-flower Kannatha,
Neem-blossom Kannatha,
Tender-sprout Kannatha,
Sickle-wielding Kannatha,
Trident-bearing Kannatha,
Sacred-conch Kannatha,
Golden-complexioned Kannatha,
Lotus-flower Kannatha,
Electric-bright Kannatha,
Fish-eyed Kannatha,
O Mother... ah...
O Mother Kannatha,
if you just look at me,
all my worries
will disappear, Mother!
Gentle Mother of flowers,
if you smile, rain will fall, Mother,
yet a fire blazes when your dark eyes gaze!
You who stand watch across all eight directions,
you who have bathed in blazing fire,
you whose laughter is like thunder, lightning, and storms,
you who ruled over the court of Indra!
Mother of the skies, Mother of the earth,
you are our Kannatha, come to us, come!
Silver-flower Kannatha,
Neem-blossom Kannatha,
Tender-sprout Kannatha,
Sickle-wielding Kannatha,
Trident-bearing Kannatha,
Sacred-conch Kannatha,
Golden-complexioned Kannatha,
Lotus-flower Kannatha,
Electric-bright Kannatha,
Fish-eyed Kannatha,
O Mother... ah...
With the two eyes of Palayam,
come, Mother, to wash away our sins!
With the two eyes of Thiruverkadu,
come, Mother, to deliver your judgment!
With the two eyes of Kanchipuram,
come, Mother, to take away our worries!
With the two eyes of great Madurai,
come, Mother, to clear away our delusions!
Come, with sparkling radiance,
as your silver eyes smile!
With restless, crackling fury,
as your lightning eyes flash sparks!
With soothing, gentle coolness,
as your raincloud eyes shower grace!
With blazing, radiant brilliance,
as your fire eyes burn bright!
If the two eyes of Kannapuram
burn with anger, the world cannot bear it, Mother!
Even water will burn like fire, Mother!
Riding atop a lion,
I will charge in roaring to destroy the enemy!
I will make them vanish like a dream,
choking the breath out of witchcraft and evil spells!
As the Mother Goddess, I myself
will hunt down the wicked and take vengeance!
If the forests and hills plunge into darkness,
the seven worlds will not be able to bear it!
Behold, the one who washes her face in blood—
I am Badrakali!
I am a chaste woman with an unbreakable grip,
you better beware!
I am the mystical enchantress
who wears a garland of skulls!
I am the divine healer
dwelling inside the neem tree!
The cremation ground is my home,
and Maruvathur is my home too!
This earth and human hearts are my home!
Silver-flower Kannatha,
Neem-blossom Kannatha,
Tender-sprout Kannatha,
Sickle-wielding Kannatha,
Trident-bearing Kannatha,
Sacred-conch Kannatha,
Golden-complexioned Kannatha,
Lotus-flower Kannatha,
Electric-bright Kannatha,
Fish-eyed Kannatha,
O Mother... ah...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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