Thursday, August 21, 2025

Chinnanchiru kiliye

cinnam chirukkiLiyE kaNNammA selva-kaLanjiyamE

Oh my little parrot, my dear (kannamma), my treasure trove (selva kalanjiyam)

ennaik-kali tIrttE ulagil Etram puriya vandAi 

you came (into this world) to remove all my worries and troubles

piLLaik-kaniyamudE kaNNammA pEshum por-chittiramE

my little child, my dear, my speaking masterpiece - as in artform (por chittiram)

aLLi aNaittiDavE en munnE Adi varum tEnE

You come toddling in front of me so I can take you into my arms (alli anaithidave)

Odi varugaiyilE kaNNammA uLLam kuLirudaDi

When you run to me, my dear, my heart melts/cools down

Adit-tiridal kaNDAl unnaip-pOi Avi tazhuvudaDI

When I see you roam around happily, my soul goes and embraces you. 

ucci tanai mughandAl garuvam Ongi vaLarudaDi

When I smell your head (baby's head smells amazing), my pride grows stronger

mecci unnai yAr pugazhndAl mEni shilirkkudaDI

When other people praise you, I get goosebumps

un kaNNil nIr vazhindAl ennenjil udiram koTTudaDi

When tears roll down from your eyes, my heart bleeds

en kaNNin pAvaiyenrO kaNNammA ennuyir ninradanrO

Aren't you the apple of my eye, isn't my life yours?

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Amba Shambavi

 This is a song that I have been wanting to learn for so long. Finally learnt it but unfortunately need a lot of practice for it. 


This is a condensed version of the Rajarajeswari Ashtakam with few chosen lines. 


ambā śāmbhavi chandramauḻi abalā' (a)parṇā umā pārvatī

Amba - Mother
Shambavi - Wife of Shambu (Shiva) 
Chandramauli - the one who wears the crescent(mauli) of the moon(chandra
Abala - lady Aparna - The one who penanced for shiva without even eating a leaf
Uma - Name of parvati (usually indicating splendour)
Parvati - Daughter of the mountain (parvata)


kāḻī haimavatī śivā trinayanī kātyāyanī bhairavī

Kali - The dark one
Haimavati - daughter of Himavan (the mountain king)
Shivaa - The feminine of Shiva 
trinayani - The wife of the one with three eyes
katyayani - The daughter of Rishi Katyanana
Bhairavi - wife of Bhairava (Shiva)

ambā mōhini dēvatā tribhuvanī ānandasandāyinī

Mohini - the mesmerising one
Devata tribhuvani - The goddess of the 3 worlds
Anandasandhayini - The one who gives us all happiness

vāṇī pallavapāṇi vēṇumuraḻīgānapriyā lōlinī

Vani - one with beautiful speech
pallava pani - with slender hands
Venumurali - bamboo flute
ganapriya lolini - who enjoys the music 

ambā nūpuraratnakaṅkaṇadharī kēyūrahārāvaḻī

ratna - gems
nupura - anklet
kankana - bangles
keyura - armband
haravali - wearing necklace
You wear all the ornaments studded with gems

jātīchampakavaijayantilaharī graivēyakairājitā

You are adorned with garlands (graiveya) of jasmine(jati) champa and vaijayanthi (pearl like flowers).

vīṇāvēṇuvinōdamaṇḍitakarā vīrāsanēsaṃsthitā

You play the veena and the venu(flute). You sit in virasana (a pretty difficult yoga pose putting your hips between your feet. You often see very small kids sit in this position very casually). It could also refer to her sitting on the lion which denotes bravery(veera) and lion is the vahana of her
chidrūpī paradēvatā bhagavatī śrīrājarājēśvarī 

The one who's form is of consciousness, goddess of godesses, Sri rajarajeswari (the empress of all emperors).