Eru Mayil Eri Thirupugal

Eru mayil eri from thirupugal written, composed and sung by Arunagirinathar. The Tamil Shavaite who is known to sing songs in praise of Lord Muruga in the 15th century. Said to have composed verses about the six faced deity in 8 small verses. That is equivalent to recite the 240+ versed Kandha Shasthi Kavasam sung in many homes.

Following is a brief introduction of the eru mayil eri thirupugal composer. The song’s meaning and the significance of this beautiful carnatic music along with eru mayil eri thirupugal lyrics.

Arunagirinathar – Divine Plot Twist to Life

The composer of eru mayil eri thirupugal. But who is he and why is a renowned man in Tamil literature? Let’s find out.

Arunagirinadhar is an ordinary man who became a saint. According to legends, he decided to commit suicide from a tall cliff, hating to live his life due to poverty and many other family issues he had. However, when he fell down, he shouted Lord Muruga’s name unintentionally. Looks like HE heard the man’s plight, saved him from committing suicide and taught him his purpose to spread his praise across the globe through songs. Some say He used his Vel (spear) to write on his tongue that magically gave him the global knowledge of Muruga’s life, his parents (Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi).

Since then, he set his journey to the six abodes of Lord Muruga called the Aru Padai including Thiruparankundram, Thiruchandur, Pazhani, Swamymalai, Thiruthani, and Pazhamudhircholai. Most of his compositions are related to the beauty of Lord Muruga and his life. However there are songs about Lord Shiva and goddess Parvathi too.

Thirupugal – The Holy Praise or Divine Glory

Drafted in the 15th Century, was known to the world through oral recitals covering more than 200 destinations across India and Sri Lanka. The collection of all these carnatic music fall under Thirupugal, eru mayil is one of them.

While the mediaeval literature used a particular style and pattern. Thirupugal took the world by storm with its easy songs that are rhythmic in nature denoting the longing for Lord Muruga.

Lord Muruga – a culture beyond divinity

It is said that Lord Muruga was more than a god to many lands of Tamil Nadu. He is known as the ‘Thamizh Kadavul’ translated as Tamil god who also has shrines in other parts of the world. He is known for his beauty, compassion and his timely advice for his father, Lord Shiva. It is sometimes considered as an anthology for its virtuous and metaphysical script. He is most worshipped by the Tamil people imbibing many philosophical ideas in their culture.

Eru Mayil Eri Thirupugal Lyrics, Meaning & Significance

Eru mayil eri vilaiyaadu mukam ondre
Eesarudan nyaana mozhi pesu mukam ondre

Literal Meaning:

One face is for the going around the world falling prey to lord Shiva’s Thiruvilaiyadal without hesitation on his vehicle, Peacock

One face preached the secret of OM, the universal truth to Lord Shiva

Philosophical understanding:

The first verse of eru mayil eri lyrics explains the significance of the peacock, the divine spirit animal on which the deity is said to travel. When he was pranked to get the great fruit of knowledge he and his brother Ganesha were asked to go around the world thrice. Muruga took flight with his divine peacock that flew along with Him. The peacock (mayil) signifies manliness, sportive attitude, it’s tall height and it also happens to be the vehicle of his father, Lord Shiva – this means Lord Muruga can use both the birds as He pleases.

The second line portrays Muruga as the man who knows the secret behind the universe which is the truth and reasoning of OM. In Swamimalai, when Lord Shiva had to learn what it means, he seeked Muruga’s help who asked him to sit below like a student after which he whispered the philosophy into his father’s ear. In this context, the saint asks Muruga to be his Master who knows the secret of the universe.

Koorum adiyaargal vinai theerkku mukam ondre
Kundruruva velvaangi nindra mukam ondre

Literal Meaning:

One face is the one that removes bad deeds of devotees who sang your praise
One face that is directed to plunge through the mountain, Krouncha

Philosophical understanding:

The third line represents the lord to remove bad deeds that is caused by one’s ego and possessiveness destroyed by His grace. This is for his endless devotees and the saint himself to demolish their life’s sins.

The fourth line represents how he knocked the mountains of the demons and stands tall with his spear, Vel. It signifies him destroying one’s ego with his holy spear gifted by his mother, Parvathi.

Maarupadu soorarai vadhaithhta mukam ondre
Valliyai manam punara vandha mukam ondre

Literal Meaning:

One face that won over the demon, Soorapadman
One face that fell in love with Valli

Philosophical understanding:

The fifth verse represents how the Tamil god, Muruga, wooed Valli after he destroyed the demonous deeds of Soorapadman. He ended up marrying her too after marrying Lord Indra’s daughter, Deivanai, too. The saint asks to be affixed to Lord Muruga’s feet which means to surrender to the belief.

Aarumugam aanaporul nee arulal vendum
Aadhi arunaachalam amarndha perumaale

Literal Meaning:

I plead with the man who resides in Thiruvannamalai to explain what the 6-faced Murugan (Arumugam) is.

Philosophical understanding:

The sixth verse focuses on the 5-faced Shiva blessings for worldly wealth and the beautiful Parvathi goddess to bless them making the saint wonder what lord Muruga’s six faces represent pleading the answer to ‘the great one’ seated in Thriuvannamalai. The saint pleads to know the answer and significance of all the six magnificent faces of Lord Muruga.

There is an alternative significance of Shiva’s 5 faces and the divine face of his consort, Parvathi, makes the 6 faces of Lord Muruga, which is why He is called the Arumuga. In some texts, the song represents the six stages of Lord Muruga right from playing with his peacock as a child till he is a hermit (sanyasi).

If you read this on a normal day, you subconsciously get into a rhythm. The song signifies the six beautiful faces of Aarumugam that translates to 6 faces which is another name of the deity out of the million names he has.

Eru Mayil Eri the Carnatic Classic

The song has been there for centuries and has many avatars. The one that we would like to feature is the version set in Mohanam scale with Kanda Chapu Thalam thought as 5/4 tempo signature in Western Classical Music. Versions of Nithyasree Mahadevan and Neyveli Santhanagopalan are notable.

To today’s date, you can find devotees sincerely chanting the verses of eru mayil eri thirupugal in temples that reverberate through the walls of holy shrines in India apart from lengthy Carnatic concerts.

Raga: Mohanam

Tala: Kanda chapu

Composer: Arunagirinathar

Aro: S R2 G2 P D2 Ṡ 

Ava: Ṡ D2 P G2 R2 S

Eru Mayil Eri Thirupugal Lyrics

Eru mayil eri vilaiyaadu mukam ondre

Eesarudan nyaana mozhi pesu mukam ondre

Koorum adiyaargal vinai theerkku mukam ondre

Kundruruva velvaangi nindra mukam ondre

(Like the previous lines)

Maarupadu soorarai vadhaithhta mukam ondre

Valliyai manam punara vandha mukam ondre

Aarumugam aanaporul nee arulal vendum

Aadhi arunaachalam amarndha perumaale

Eru Mayil Eri Thirupugal Notations

G  ,    G   G   G	G  ,    G   G   G	R  ,   G  P  G	P  ,    P  ,  ,
ye    ru  ma yil	ye     ri  vi lai	ya  dum mu kam	on     dre
R  ,    G   R   G	P  ,    P   P   G	P  ,   D  Ṡ D	Ṡ ,    Ṡ ,  ,
ee     sa  ru dan	nya    na  mo zhi	pe   su mu kam	on     dre
Ġ ,    Ġ  Ġ  Ṙ	Ṡ Ṡ   Ṙ  Ṡ  D	D  ,   Ṡ  D  P	D  ,    D  ,  ,
koo  rum  a   di	yar gal vi nai	theer ku mu kam	on     dre
Ṡ ,    Ṡ  D  P	P  ,    D   P  G	G  ,   D   P  P	G  ,    P  G  R
kun    dru ru va	vel     va  n  gi	nin   dra  mu kam	on     dre
G  ,    G   G   G	G  ,    G   G   G	R  R   G  P  G	P  ,    P  ,  ,
ma     ru  pa du	soo     ra rai va	dhaiththa mu kam	on     dre
R  R    G   R   G	P  P    P   P   G	P  ,   D  Ṡ D	Ṡ ,    Ṡ ,  ,
valli  yai  ma  nam	pu na   ra	van  dha mu	on    dre
Ġ ,    Ġ  Ġ  Ṙ	Ṡ Ṡ   Ṙ  Ṡ  D	D  ,   Ṡ  D  P	D  ,    D  ,  ,
aa    ru  mu gam	aa    na  po rul	nee   a   ru la	ven    dum
Ṡ ,    Ṡ  D  P	P  ,    D   P  G	G  ,   D   P  P	G  ,    P  G  R
aa  dhi  a ru	na    cha lam	a     mar ndha pe	ru      ma    le

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