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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yedu Thandhanadi

From Rajaraja Chozhan · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, S. Varalakshmi
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Details
Rajaraja Chozhan1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilaeHe gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend!
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilaeHe gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend!
Adhai paada vanthaen avan ellaiyilaeI came to sing it within His realm.
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilaeHe gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend!
Adhai paada vanthaen avan ellaiyilaeI came to sing it within His realm.
Female
Iraivanai naada innisai paadaTo seek God and to sing sweet music,
Thirumurai kooridum araneri koodaTo join the path of righteousness taught by the Thirumurai.
Female
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…yae…yae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend...
Female
Yaettilum moovarai ezhutha vaiththaanHe made the sacred trio write upon the palm leaves.
Aa….aa…aa….aa….aa….aa….aa…aa….Aa....aa...aa....aa....aa....aa....aa...aa....
Yaettilum moovarai ezhutha vaiththaanHe made the sacred trio write upon the palm leaves.
Antha paattaiyum avanae paada vaiththaanHe Himself inspired them to sing those hymns.
Yaettilum moovarai ezhutha vaiththaanHe made the sacred trio write upon the palm leaves.
Antha paattaiyum avanae paada vaiththaanHe Himself inspired them to sing those hymns.
Female
Naattaiyum tamilaiyum vaazha vaiththaanHe made the nation and the Tamil language flourish.
Naattaiyum tamilaiyum vaazha vaiththaanHe made the nation and the Tamil language flourish.
Avan namakendru ullathai vazhangivittaanHe bestowed upon us everything that was meant for us.
Namakendru ullathai vazhangivittaanHe bestowed upon us everything that was meant for us.
Female
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…yae…yae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend...
Female
Thanthaiyum thaayum pol avan irupaanHe will be like a father and a mother to us,
Oru thanthaiyum thaayum avanukkillaiYet He Himself has no father or mother.
Thanthaiyum thaayum pol avan irupaanHe will be like a father and a mother to us,
Oru thanthaiyum thaayum avanukkillaiYet He Himself has no father or mother.
Female
Annaal thodangi innaal varaiyilFrom those ancient days until this very day,
Annaal thodangi innaal varaiyilFrom those ancient days until this very day,
Avan indri edhuvumae nadappathillaiNothing happens without His divine will.
Avan indri edhuvumae nadappathillaiNothing happens without His divine will.
Female
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…yae…yae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend...
Female
Apparum sundhararum sambantharumaeAppar, Sundarar, and Sambandar,
Thiru aruludan paadiya devaaramaeThe sacred Thevaram hymns sung with divine grace,
Ippuviyil anaivarum arinthidavaeSo that everyone in this world may know them,
Adhai seppidum chozharin perungulamaePreserved and recited by the great lineage of the Cholas.
Seppidum chozharin perungulamaeRecited by the great lineage of the Cholas.
Chorus
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…yae…yae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend...
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai...
Adhai paada vanthaen avan ellaiyilaeI came to sing it within His realm.
Chorus
Iraivanai naada innaisai paadaTo seek God and to sing sweet music,
Thirumurai kooridum araneri koodaTo join the path of righteousness taught by the Thirumurai.
Female
Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae…yae…yae…He gave the palm-leaf manuscript in Thillai, O friend...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yaedu Thanthaanadi Thillaiyilae is a deeply devotional Tamil song from the historical film Rajaraja Chozhan (1973), celebrating Lord Shiva of Chidambaram (Thillai) and the grand legacy of Tamil Saivite literature. The lyrics highlight how divine grace inspired the revered triad of Nayanmars—Appar, Sundarar, and Thirugnanasambandar—to compose the sacred Thevaram hymns, thereby enriching both the Tamil language and the cultural heritage of the land. The song articulates core Saivite philosophy, depicting Shiva as the ultimate parent who is Himself uncreated and causeless. It also pays tribute to the Chola dynasty, particularly Emperor Raja Raja Chola I, who famously retrieved the forgotten Thirumurai palm-leaf manuscripts locked away in the Chidambaram temple, ensuring these eternal spiritual treasures were preserved for future generations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Muran (முரண்)

Thanthaiyum thaayum pol avan irupaan / Oru thanthaiyum thaayum avanukkillai

Contradictory statement used for philosophical depth: Shiva acts as a loving mother and father to all creation, yet as the ultimate source of existence, He has no parents of His own.

Ethukai (எதுகை - Second letter rhyming)

Iraivanai naada innisai paada / Thirumurai kooridum araneri kooda

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines ('ra' sound in Iraivanai and Thirumurai) creating rhythmic flow.

Moonaai (மோனை - Initial letter alliteration)

Iraivanai naada innisai paada

Alliteration of initial sounds ('I' in Iraivanai and Innisai) enhancing melodic harmony in devotional singing.

Anaphora / Erattai (இரட்டை - Refrain/Repetition)

Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae

Repetition of the signature refrain 'Yaedu thanthaanadi thillaiyilae' across stanzas to reinforce the central theme of divine manuscript revelation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rajaraja Chozhan (1973), starring Sivaji Ganesan, was the first full-length CinemaScope film produced in South India. The song references the historic event where Emperor Raja Raja Chola I, guided by Nambiyandar Nambi, unlocked the sealed chamber at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple to recover the lost palm-leaf manuscripts containing the divine Thevaram hymns.

Keep listening

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