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Lava Kusa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vetri Murasu

From Lava Kusa · 1963

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Leela, V. N. Sundaram
Music director
Ghantasala
Movie name
Lava Kusa
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
28 Jan 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Valammigundha makkal vaazhvil inbam kooadvae
Chorus :Hari om hari om
Male :Thalai vanangi paapm ellam vilaghi odave
Chorus : Hari om hari om
Male :Mannan seiyum yaagathirkku aasi koorave
Chorus : Hari om hari om
Male :Vandharula vendugirom devargale
Moovagal astadhikku balargalae
Dhesam engum thanum paalum perughi odavae
Sengadhirgal kazhani engum vilaindhu aadavae
Thikku ettum sooriya vamsa pugazhai paadave
Thikku ettum sooriya vamsa pugazhai paadave
Sittrasar thirai seluthi natppai naadave
Veramangai thazhuvugindra maarbai konda neengal
Chorus : Vettriyodu thirumbhi vara vaazhthugirom naangal
Por kalathil pura mudhugu kaattidaatha neengal
Puravi thannai paadhukkaakka thilamittom naanga
May joy grow ever greater in the lives of our prosperous people,
Chorus: Hari Om, Hari Om!
Male: As we bow our heads, may all sins flee away,
Chorus: Hari Om, Hari Om!
Male: To bless the sacred ritual performed by the king,
Chorus: Hari Om, Hari Om!
Male: We pray that you come and grace us, O gods,
O guardians of the eight directions across the three worlds!
May milk and honey flow abundantly across the whole land,
May golden crops grow and sway in every field,
May all eight directions sing the glory of the Solar dynasty,
May all eight directions sing the glory of the Solar dynasty,
May lesser kings pay tribute and seek our friendship,
You whose brave chests are embraced by heroic women,
Chorus: We wish you a victorious return,
You who never turn your back in retreat on the battlefield,
We have placed the tilak on you as you set out to guard the royal horse!
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sacred ceremonial hymn performed during the grand Ashvamedha Yagna (horse sacrifice) conducted by King Rama in the epic Lava Kusa. The singers invoke celestial deities and guardians of the directions to bestow their blessings upon the king's ritual, praying for universal prosperity, bumper harvests, flowing milk, and the eradication of sins throughout the kingdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Valammigundha makkal vaazhvil inbam kooadvae

Multiple lines end with the verbal participle suffix '-ave' (kooadvae, odave, koorave, aadavae, paadave, naadave), creating a rhythmic chant-like musicality.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Valammigundha makkal vaazhvil inbam kooadvae

Repetition of the initial 'V' sound in 'Valammigundha' and 'vaazhvil' creating a harmonious opening line.

Refrain / Repetition

Chorus :Hari om hari om

The chanting of 'Hari om hari om' acts as a holy spiritual refrain reinforcing the sacred context of the Yagna.

Personification / Imagery

Veramangai thazhuvugindra maarbai konda neengal

'Veramangai thazhuvugindra maarbai' personifies Valor (Veeram) as a goddess embracing the warrior's chest.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lava Kusa (1963) was a monumental mythological film produced by Lalitha Sivajothi Films. Composed by legendary musician Ghantasala, the soundtrack remains one of the most celebrated classical/devotional scores in South Indian cinema history.

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