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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Veruthen Manai Vazhkkaiyai

From Sundara Murthy Nayanar · 1967

Lyricist
Sundara Murthy Nayanar
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Sundara Murthy Nayanar1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyaiI abhor domestic life,
Veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyaiI abhor domestic life,
Veruthaen naan veruthaenI abhor, yes, I abhor!
Vittozhindhen vilangum kuzhai kaadhudai vedhiyanaeI have completely relinquished it, O Vedic Lord wearing shining earrings!
Naan veruthaenI abhor,
Vittozhindhen vilangum kuzhai kaadhudai vedhiyanaeI have completely relinquished it, O Vedic Lord wearing shining earrings!
Naan veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyaiI abhor domestic life.
Male
Iruthaai ilangaikku iraiyaaiyavanaiYou crushed the ruler of Lanka,
Thalai pathodu thozh pala ittru vizhaCausing his ten heads and many shoulders to break and fall,
Iruthaai ilangaikku iraiyaaiyavanaiYou crushed the ruler of Lanka,
Thalai pathodu thozh pala ittru vizhaCausing his ten heads and many shoulders to break and fall,
Karuthaai kadal nanju amudhu unduYou showed compassion by consuming the ocean poison as nectar,
Kandam kadukupiraman thalai aindhilum ondraruthaaiStaining your throat dark, and you severed one of Brahma's five heads,
Kadalangarai mel magodhai aniyaarOn the seashore in ornate Magodhai,
Kadalangarai mel magodhai aniyaarOn the seashore in ornate Magodhai,
Pozhil anjaikalaththu appanaeO Father residing in Thiruvanchikulam surrounded by groves!
Male
Naan veruthaen …vittozhindhenI abhor... I have completely relinquished,
Vangum kuzhai kaadhudai vedhiyanaeO Vedic Lord wearing shining earrings!
Naan veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyaiI abhor domestic life,
Naan veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyaiI abhor domestic life.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This hymn is a powerful expression of spiritual renunciation (Vairagya) composed by Saint Sundaramurthi Nayanar and rendered by Seerkazhi Govindarajan. The saint expresses deep detachment from worldly and domestic bonds ('manai vaazhkai'), surrendering entirely to Lord Shiva. Shiva is addressed as the supreme Vedic Lord adorned with glowing ear ornaments. Sundarar praises Shiva's glorious cosmic acts: subjugating Ravana under Mount Kailash, drinking the ocean poison Halahala to save all beings, and severing Brahma's fifth head to dismantle divine pride. The song glorifies the Lord enshrined at Thiruvanchikulam in Magodhai (Kodungallur, Kerala).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Veruthaen manai vaazhkaiyai

The phrase 'Veruthaen' (I abhor) is repeated to powerfully emphasize complete detachment from domestic and material existence.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Iruthaai ilangaikku iraiyaaiyavanai

Prosodic second-letter harmony observed in 'Iruthaai' and 'Karuthaai'.

Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Karuthaai kadal nanju amudhu undu

Alludes to classical Shaivite lore including the drinking of Halahala poison and the humbling of Ravana and Brahma.

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Trivia

This song is based on a famous Tevaram hymn composed at Thiruvanchikulam near Kodungallur in Kerala—the only Shiva temple in Kerala among the 274 Paadal Petra Sthalams. According to Shaivite tradition, Thiruvanchikulam is the sacred site where Sundarar sang his final hymn before ascending to Kailash on a divine white elephant.

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