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Vaazhkai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yaavum Neeyappaa

From Vaazhkai · 1984

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vaazhkai
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
19 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaavum neeyappaa
Un saranam aiyappaa
Muzhu mudhalaanavan
Karu porulaanavan
Manam kanivaayappaa
Thuyar kalaivaayappaa
Yaavum neeyappaa
Un saranam aiyappaa
Aiyappaa hariharasudhanae aiyappaa
Saranam saranam
Saranam saranam aiyappaa
Annai thandhai
Yena aadharippaai
Ennum nenjil dhinam
Nee iruppaai
Aiyan unnai nambi
Saranadaindhom
Anjum bayam vilaga
Unai thozhudhom
Karunaa un thirumaeni
Kandaalum podhum
Karam kooppi panindhaal
En kavalaigal theerum
Anbae arulae vaa…
Yaavum neeyappaa
Un saranam aiyappaa
Dheepam enghum
Sudar oliyaanaai
Naadham onga
Mani oliyaanaai
Engum engal thuyar
Theerppaayae
Engal selvam thanai
Kaappaayae
Uyirukkul uyiraagi
Vilaiyaadum jothi
Ulagathu asaivukku
Nee thaanae aadhi
Anbae arulae vaa…
Yaavum neeyappaa
Un saranam aiyappaa
Muzhu mudhalaanavan
Karu porulaanavan
Manam kanivaayappaa
Thuyar kalaivaayappaa
Yaavum neeyappaa
Un saranam aiyappaa
Saranam saranam
Saranam saranam aiyappaa
Chorus :Aiyappaa aiyappaa
Male :Saranam saranam
Saranam saranam aiyappaa
Chorus :Aiyappaa aiyappaa
Male :Saranam saranam
Chorus :Aiyappaa
Male :Swaamiyae saranam
Chorus :Aiyappaa
Male :Saranam saranam
Chorus :Aiyappaa
Male :Swaamiyae saranam
Chorus :Aiyappaa
Male :Harihara sudhanae
Thiruvadi saranam aiyappaa
Chorus :Aiyappaa aiyappaa
Male :Pandhala raajan maganae
Swaami aiyappaa
Chorus :Aiyappaa aiyappaa
Saranam saranam
Swaamiyae saranam
Saranam saranam
Swaamiyae saranam
Saranam saranam
Swaamiyae saranam
Male :Aiyappaa aiyappaa aiyappaa aiyappaa…
You are everything, O Lord!
In you I take refuge, Lord Ayyappa!
You are the supreme source of all,
the very essence of creation.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and take away our sorrow.
You are everything, O Lord!
In you I take refuge, Lord Ayyappa!
O Ayyappa, son of Hari and Hara (Vishnu and Shiva), Ayyappa!
I surrender, I surrender,
I surrender to you, Lord Ayyappa!
Like a mother and a father,
you will protect and care for us.
In the hearts that remember you each day,
you will always dwell.
Trusting in you, our Lord,
we have surrendered at your feet.
So that all our fears may leave us,
we have bowed and prayed to you.
O merciful one, just a glimpse
of your sacred form is enough.
When we bow with folded hands,
all my worries will fade away.
O embodiment of love and grace, come...
You are everything, O Lord!
In you I take refuge, Lord Ayyappa!
In every lamp,
you became the radiant flame.
As the holy sound rises,
you became the chime of the sacred bell.
Everywhere, our sorrow
you will take away.
All the wealth we have,
you will safeguard.
Becoming the life within every life,
you are the divine light at play.
For every movement in this world,
you alone are the primal cause.
O embodiment of love and grace, come...
You are everything, O Lord!
In you I take refuge, Lord Ayyappa!
You are the supreme source of all,
the very essence of creation.
Have mercy on us, Lord,
and take away our sorrow.
You are everything, O Lord!
In you I take refuge, Lord Ayyappa!
I surrender, I surrender,
I surrender to you, Lord Ayyappa!
Chorus: Ayyappa, Ayyappa!
Male: I surrender, I surrender,
I surrender to you, Lord Ayyappa!
Chorus: Ayyappa, Ayyappa!
Male: I surrender, I surrender,
Chorus: Ayyappa!
Male: To you, my Lord, I surrender!
Chorus: Ayyappa!
Male: I surrender, I surrender,
Chorus: Ayyappa!
Male: To you, my Lord, I surrender!
Chorus: Ayyappa!
Male: O son of Hari and Hara,
I surrender to your sacred feet, Ayyappa!
Chorus: Ayyappa, Ayyappa!
Male: O son of the King of Pandalam,
Lord Ayyappa!
Chorus: Ayyappa, Ayyappa!
I surrender, I surrender,
to you, my Lord, I surrender!
I surrender, I surrender,
to you, my Lord, I surrender!
I surrender, I surrender,
to you, my Lord, I surrender!
Male: Ayyappa, Ayyappa, Ayyappa, Ayyappa...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Yaavum Neeyappaa is a deeply devotional prayer dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, expressing absolute faith, total surrender, and pure reverence. The devotee addresses Lord Ayyappa as the supreme creator, the essence of all life, and a protective guide who cares for believers with the love and guardianship of both mother and father. The song highlights how seeking his divine feet removes all fear, clears away life's anxieties, and protects one's prosperity. Using vivid spiritual imagery—such as the light of a temple lamp, the resonant chime of sacred bells, and the inner life-force of every living creature—the lyrics portray Lord Ayyappa (Hariharasudhan, Pandhala Raajan Magan) as the origin of all universe movements. The song climaxes into a rhythmic, traditional call-and-response chant of 'Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa', recreating the devotional atmosphere of the Sabarimala pilgrimage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Muzhu mudhalaanavan / Karu porulaanavan”

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix '-aanavan', creating a melodious rhythm.

Ethugai (Second Letter Harmony)

“Annai thandhai / Ennum nenjil dhinam”

The second consonant 'nn' matches in both 'Annai' and 'Ennum'.

Repetition / Chant (Saranam)

“Saranam saranam / Saranam saranam aiyappaa”

Repeated use of 'Saranam' mirrors traditional Ayyappa devotional chants, reinforcing total surrender.

Metaphor

“Uyirukkul uyiraagi / Vilaiyaadum jothi”

Lord Ayyappa is metaphorically depicted as the divine flame residing as the inner soul inside every life form.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by veteran lyricist Panchu Arunachalam for the 1984 Tamil drama film Vaazhkai (directed by C.V. Rajendran and starring Sivaji Ganesan), this song incorporates the authentic call-and-response chanting style ('Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa') practiced by pilgrims heading to the Sabarimala shrine.

Keep listening

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