Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Neerarum Kadaludutha)
நீராருங் கடலுடுத்த
Neerarum Kadaludutha is the invocation to Tamil Thai, Mother Tamil, written by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai in 1891. An abridged form is the state song of Tamil Nadu, sung at the start of government functions and school assemblies.
- Written by
- Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai (died 1897)
- In the video
- Sivasri Skandaprasad
- Context
- Invocation to the Tamil language from the verse play Manonmaniyam; state song of Tamil Nadu
- Year
- 1891
- Language
- Tamil
Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Neerarum Kadaludutha) lyrics with English translation
The two opening stanzas of the invocation in Manonmaniyam, as given on Tamil Wikisource (the poem continues with further couplets). The official Tamil Nadu state song uses an abridged text: the first stanza followed by the closing words of the second ('tamizhanange ... seerilamaith thiramviyanthu seyalmaranthu vaazhththuthume'), omitting the comparison with Sanskrit.
நீராருங் கடலுடுத்த நிலமடந்தைக் கெழிலொழுகும் சீராரும் வதனமெனத் திகழ்பரத கண்டமிதில் தக்கசிறு பிறைநுதலும் தரித்தநறுந் திலகமுமே தெக்கணமும் அதிற்சிறந்த திரவிடநல் திருநாடும் அத்திலக வாசனைபோல் அனைத்துலகும் இன்பமுற எத்திசையும் புகழ்மணக்க இருந்தபெருந் தமிழணங்கே.
Neeraarung kadaluduththa nilamadanthaik kezhilozhugum Seeraarum vathanamenath thigazhbaratha kandamithil Thakkasiru pirainuthalum thariththanarun thilagamume Thekkanamum athirchirantha thiravidanal thirunaadum Aththilaga vaasanaipol anaiththulagum inbamura Eththisaiyum pugazhmanakka iruntha perun thamizhanange.
Robed in the waters of the sea, the earth-maiden, flowing with beauty, has for her splendid face this land of Bharata; and like the fitting crescent brow and the fragrant tilaka she wears are the Deccan and, finest within it, the good and sacred Dravidian land; like the fragrance of that tilaka, delighting all the world, you have stood, great Goddess Tamil, your fame spreading in every direction.
பல்லுயிரும் பலவுலகும் படைத்தளித்துத் துடைக்கினுமோர் எல்லையறு பரம்பொருள்முன் இருந்தபடி இருப்பதுபோல் கன்னடமும் களிதெலுங்கும் கவின்மலையா ளமும்துளுவும் உன்னுதரத் துதித்தெழுந்தே ஒன்றுபல ஆயிடினும் ஆரியம்போல் உலகவழக் கழிந்தொழிந்து சிதையாவுன் சீரிளமைத் திறம்வியந்து செயல்மறந்து வாழ்த்துதுமே.
Palluyirum palavulagum padaiththaliththuth thudaikkinumor Ellaiyaru paramporulmun iruntha padi iruppathupol Kannadamum kalithelungum kavinmalaiya lamumthuluvum Unnutharath thuthiththezhunthe ondrupala aayidinum Aariyampol ulagavazhak kazhinthozhinthu sithaiyaavun Seerilamaith thiramviyanthu seyalmaranthu vaazhththuthume.
Like the boundless Supreme Being, who creates, sustains and dissolves countless lives and many worlds yet remains as it ever was, though Kannada, lively Telugu, lovely Malayalam and Tulu were born from your womb and grew, the one becoming many, you have not, like Sanskrit, passed out of the world's use and decayed; marvelling at your undying, youthful vigour, we forget all else and praise you.
Translation: Lyriccs (original translation). Transliteration: Lyriccs.
The story behind Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Neerarum Kadaludutha)
P. Sundaram Pillai (1855-1897), a scholar and teacher, wrote the verse play Manonmaniyam and opened it with this invocation to the Tamil language. Because of the play's fame he became known as Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai.
On 11 March 1970, at the request of the Karanthai Tamil Sangam, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced that verses of the poem would be recited as the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of state government functions; the government order followed on 23 November 1970. A musical rendition by M. S. Viswanathan became the standard tune. On 17 December 2021 the Tamil Nadu government formally declared it the state song and asked those able to stand while it is sung.
What Tamil Thai Vazhthu (Neerarum Kadaludutha) means
The first stanza draws a map as a portrait. The earth is a woman robed in the sea; India is her beautiful face; the Deccan is her brow and the Dravidian land her fragrant tilaka mark. Like the scent of that tilaka spreading through the world, the Tamil language - addressed as a goddess - has filled every direction with its fame.
The second stanza praises Tamil's age and vitality. Just as the Supreme Being creates, sustains and dissolves worlds while remaining unchanged, Tamil has given rise to Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Tulu and still remains itself. The poet contrasts it with Sanskrit, which he describes as having passed out of everyday use, and ends by marvelling at Tamil's undying youth. The official state song uses a shortened text that omits this comparison.
Quick facts
- Written by Manonmaniam Sundaram Pillai (1855-1897) as the invocation of the play Manonmaniyam (1891).
- Adopted for recitation at Tamil Nadu government functions by an order of 23 November 1970.
- Formally declared the state song of Tamil Nadu on 17 December 2021.
- The standard musical rendition is by M. S. Viswanathan.