Varnapradarshana Shalayil - Varadakshina

Varnapradarshana Shalayil – Varadakshina

Composition – G Devarajan

Lyrics – Sree Kumaran Thampi

Singer – KJ Yesudas

Prelude – The song “ Varna Pradakshna Shalayil “ takes us to a dreamy world with its mellowed tune . The song captures our attention due to the lyrical wordplay by lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi and its lilting melody . I came across this song when I was listening to old Malayalam hits of the 1970s and was beguiled by the song . The song has a mystic charm to it, celebrating the essence of womanhood . 

Varnapradarshana shalayil

In the gallery of hues. 

Moha pushpa pradarshana shalayil

In the gallery of flowers causing desire.

Oru pon thamara ithalil ninn adunna

Vara varnini ninakku abhivadanam

Oh splendidly beautiful lady ,  moving in the golden lotus petal with elegance .

Ayiram pournami orumichu vannu nin angam alakarichu

A thousand full moons came together and adorned your body with their luminosity.

Aa pada choodma maleya marutan ardra gandham nirachu

The moist air with the fragrance of the sandalwood paste touched your feet.

Anubhooti anganarupam arnavale

Abhivadanam ninakku abhivadanam

Salutations to you ! The one who gives intoxicating and joyous feelings with your beautiful form. 

Anjana chola tanna atmavu vannu ninn

Ara kettil ilaki adi

The mind,  which endows a bower like the magical collyrium to the eyes, moves and dances in the bells of the  waist chain .

Annapoorneshwari pada chilankakal

Aa kalil thalameki

The tinkling anklets, like that of Goddess Annapoorneshwari, who is the bestower of food and nourishment , beat out a rhythm as she dances. 

Anuragam mridu manda smitham akuvole

Abhivadanam ninakku abhivadanam

Salutations to you ! The love in your heart manifests itself in the form of a gentle smile on your lips .

Postlude – The whole song is about the multitude of roles played by women on this earth and how it is necessary to celebrate their being and existence in this material realm, which is a gift to mankind from God . The woman is an embodiment of beauty with her skin as soft as petals of a flower and face as radiant as a thousand moons . Her body is anointed with the redolence of sandalwood paste, and she is to be venerated on earth as being the creator and nurturer of humankind . No amount of obeisance is sufficient to glorify her divine existence and her strength , beauty , elegance , charm and resilience . The lyricist has used the word Annapoorneshwari which is an epithet and form of Goddess Parvati,  who is the nature and source of divine energy . She is the bestower of food and nutrition to human beings and at the same time imparts knowledge to attain enlightenment and salvation . She is a deity who is beyond illusion and fills the whole earth with grains , vegetables , fruits and flowers in the vagaries of seasons during the twelve months of the year . The whole world would be barren and still without her benediction . The love and compassion in the heart of a woman appears as a bower in the form of her gentle smile . This is a song which is an ode to women who manage multiple roles in life as a daughter , wife , mother , sister and friend and offers solace to anyone who is associated with her .