பால் காவடி தான் சுமந்து வந்தோம்Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom — Lyrics & Meaning
A Thaipusam Kavadi list song naming the traditional ten kavadis — milk, rosewater, flower, fish-hook, thookku, sugar, sandal, peacock, annadhana, and golden — each carried as an offering of surrender to Lord Murugan. Closes with the thundering Arohara chant for Vetrivel Muruga.
The Story Behind This Song
A devotional Kavadi-list song that names, one by one, the traditional kavadis borne by devotees to Lord Murugan: paal-kaavadi (milk), panneer (rosewater), pushpam (flower), macha-kavadi (fish-hook piercing), thookku (suspension), sakkarai (sugar), sandhanam (sandalwood), mayil (peacock), annadhaana (food offering), and porkaavadi (golden). Each one is offered with a specific prayer — accept me as a flower, wipe our tears, make our life sweet, let the mind be fragrant, give a golden life. The song closes with the thundering Muruga chant: 'Arohara! Muruga Muruga Arohara! Velava Muruga Arohara! Vetrivel Muruga Arohara!'
Lyrics in Tamil & English Transliteration with Meaning
Meaning: (Pallavi) The milk-kavadi we have borne and come, O Murugayya; seeking your feet alone, we have come, O Murugayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 1) We brought the rosewater-kavadi, O Murugayya; and you have wiped away our tears, O Velayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 2) With the flower-kavadi we came dancing, O Murugayya — accept us too as flowers at your feet, O Murugayya.
Meaning: (Pallavi returns) The milk-kavadi we have borne — O Murugayya!
Meaning: (Charanam 3) Pierced with the fish-hook-kavadi we came, O Murugayya — descending into our hearts, protect us, O Kandhayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 4) The suspension-kavadi we have borne, O Murugayya — and we have thereby attained purity of body, O Murugayya.
Meaning: (Pallavi returns) The milk-kavadi we have borne — O Murugayya!
Meaning: (Charanam 5) With the sugar-kavadi we have come, O Murugayya — and you have turned our very life into sweetness, O Velayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 6) We have brought the sandalwood-kavadi, O Lord of Tiruchendur — may every mind become fragrant like sandal.
Meaning: (Pallavi returns) The milk-kavadi we have borne — O Murugayya!
Meaning: (Charanam 7) May all the devotees who come dancing with the peacock-kavadi live free of sorrow, O Velayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 8) In the annadhana-kavadi dwells Annapoorani herself — O child who stills the hunger of devotees, O Kumarayya.
Meaning: (Charanam 9) The golden-kavadi we bore upon our heads, O Murugayya — and you have given us a golden life, O Lord of Swamimalai.
Meaning: (Arohara Finale) Arohara! Arohara! Muruga, Muruga, Arohara! O Velava Muruga, Arohara! O Victorious-Vel Muruga, Arohara!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the meaning of Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom (பால் காவடி தான் சுமந்து வந்தோம்)?
- A Thaipusam Kavadi list song naming the traditional ten kavadis — milk, rosewater, flower, fish-hook, thookku, sugar, sandal, peacock, annadhana, and golden — each carried as an offering of surrender to Lord Murugan. Closes with the thundering Arohara chant for Vetrivel Muruga.
- Who composed Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom?
- Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom (பால் காவடி தான் சுமந்து வந்தோம்) was composed and written by RG Madanagopal (இரா.கோ.மதன்கோபால்), a Tamil devotional composer. It is an original Tamil devotional song dedicated to Murugan (முருகன்).
- When should Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom be sung?
- Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom is most auspiciously sung on Tuesdays — the day traditionally associated with Murugan worship — and during thai-poosam, panguni-uthiram.
- Where can I find the lyrics of Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom in Tamil?
- The full lyrics of Paal Kaavadi Sumandhu Vandhom in Tamil script (பால் காவடி தான் சுமந்து வந்தோம்), along with the English transliteration and verse-by-verse meaning, are available on this page above.