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Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi)

Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi) in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 1× repetitions·🕐 Morning or evening prayer; especially during Krishna Janmashtami and in Krishna worship·📜 Tamil kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, in raga Kanada, Adi tala (18th century CE)

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

'Alaipayuthe Kanna' is among the most beloved Tamil kritis of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, the great 18th-century composer-saint, set in raga Kanada. It pours out the soul's restless longing for Krishna: the mind tosses like waves at the enchanting sound of His flute, yearning for the vision of Him playing beside the gopis and coming laughing to the devotee. Drinking the nectar of His music, the devotee feels utterly complete and vows never to be parted from Him again. It is a supreme expression of madhura bhakti, loving devotion to Krishna.

Origin & Story

Tamil kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, in raga Kanada, Adi tala (18th century CE) · Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (Venkata Subbaiyer) · 18th century CE

Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, a saint and composer devoted to Lord Krishna at Oothukkadu near Thanjavur, poured his love for the Lord into hundreds of kritis. In 'Alaipayuthe Kanna' he gives voice to the soul's overwhelming longing for Krishna — the mind tossing like waves at the music of the flute — in the mood of the gopis who could not bear to be apart from Him. The song, long treasured, has become one of the most popular of all Tamil Krishna kritis.

✦ As told in scripture

It is told that Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi was so beloved of Krishna that the Lord, as the dancing Bala Krishna of Oothukkadu, would respond to his songs; devotees hold that to sing 'Alaipayuthe Kanna' with true longing draws the same enchanting nearness of Krishna that the composer himself knew.

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Complete Text with Meaning

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Verse 1

alaipāyudhē kaṇṇā en manam migavē alaipāyudhē un ānanda mōhana vēṇugānam

Meaning:My mind surges and tosses like the waves, O Kanna (Krishna) — it surges, restless, for the blissful, enchanting music of Your flute. (This is the famous Tamil kriti of Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, in raga Kanada.)

Verse 2

nilaipeyarādhu silaipōlavē ninṟu nērizhai yavaḷōḍum nī kuzhal ūdhi kalakalavenṟu siriththu vandhen mun niṟkum taruṇam idhu migavē

Meaning:I long for that moment when, standing as still as a statue without stirring, You play the flute beside the well-adorned maiden, and then come laughing merrily to stand before me — how greatly I yearn for it!

Verse 3

theḷindha nilavu paṭṭap pagalpōl eriyudhē un thigazh mugam sadhur mugam maṟaiyudhē kuḷirndha amudhaip parugi nī enakkaḷiththāy kuṟai yonṟumillai maṟai mūrthi kaṇṇā kariya mēni yuḍaiya kaṇṇā nī enakkuk kanindha mozhiyai aḷiththiḍu kaṇṇā ini yoru kaṇamum thariyēn kaṇṇā en kaṇṇā unnai ini ini piriyēnē

Meaning:The clear moonlight blazes bright as broad day; Your radiant face puts even four-faced Brahma's to shame. Having drunk deep of the cool nectar of Your music, You have given that very bliss to me — now there is nothing at all that I lack, O Kanna, embodiment of the Vedas! O dark-hued Kanna, grant me Your sweet, tender words. I cannot bear to be apart from You even for a single moment more, O my Kanna — never, never again will I be parted from You!

Word-by-Word Meaning

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alaipāyudhē🔊It surges / tosses like waves (the mind is restless with longing).

kaṇṇā🔊O Kanna (Krishna).

en manam migavē alaipāyudhē🔊My mind surges greatly like restless waves (for You).

un ānanda mōhana vēṇugānam🔊(Because of) Your blissful, enchanting music of the flute (venu-gana).

nilaipeyarādhu silaipōlavē ninṟu🔊Standing motionless, like a statue, without stirring from the spot.

nērizhaiyavaḷōḍum nī kuzhal ūdhi🔊Playing the flute beside the well-adorned maiden (Radha / the gopi).

kalakalavenṟu siriththu vandhen mun niṟkum taruṇam🔊The moment when You come laughing merrily and stand before me.

theḷindha nilavu paṭṭap pagalpōl eriyudhē🔊The clear moonlight blazes (bright) like broad daylight.

un thigazh mugam sadhur mugam maṟaiyudhē🔊Your radiant face puts even the four-faced Brahma's face to shame (eclipses it).

kuḷirndha amudhaip parugi nī enakkaḷiththāy🔊Having drunk the cool nectar (of Your music), You have given (that bliss) to me.

kuṟai yonṟumillai maṟai mūrthi kaṇṇā🔊There is no lack of anything (in me now), O Kanna, embodiment of the Vedas.

kariya mēniyuḍaiya kaṇṇā🔊O Kanna of the dark (blue) complexion.

kanindha mozhiyai aḷiththiḍu kaṇṇā🔊Grant me Your sweet, tender words, O Kanna.

ini yoru kaṇamum thariyēn kaṇṇā🔊I can no longer bear (to be apart) even for a single moment, O Kanna.

unnai ini ini piriyēnē🔊I shall never, never again be parted from You!

Benefits of Chanting Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi)

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A supreme expression of loving devotion (madhura bhakti) to Lord Krishna and the longing of the soul for Him.

✦

Sung in homes, temples and concerts in praise of Krishna, especially during Krishna Janmashtami.

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Believed to kindle intense love and yearning for the Lord and to draw the bliss of His nearness.

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Its enchanting setting in raga Kanada makes it both a devotional prayer and a treasured musical masterpiece.

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Cultivates the resolve never to be parted from God, the heart of the gopis' love for Krishna.

How to Chant Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi)

Repetitions1times

Best TimeMorning or evening prayer; especially during Krishna Janmashtami and in Krishna worship

FaceFacing the deity of Krishna / Vishnu or east

Sit before an image of Lord Krishna and sing or recite the kriti with feeling, letting the heart long for the Lord as the words describe the restless mind tossing like waves at the sound of His flute. If sung, it is set in raga Kanada and Adi tala; if recited, chant the refrain 'Alaipayuthe Kanna' tenderly, surrendering to the yearning love it expresses.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete Alaipayuthe Kanna (Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi) written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a famous Tamil kriti (devotional song) on Lord Krishna by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, set in raga Kanada. Its title means 'it surges like waves' — describing the devotee's mind tossing restlessly with longing for Krishna at the sound of His flute. It is among the most loved Krishna songs in Carnatic music.

Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (also Venkata Subbaiyer, 18th century) was a great Tamil composer-saint and devotee of Lord Krishna, from Oothukkadu near Thanjavur. He composed hundreds of kritis in Tamil and Sanskrit of remarkable musical and devotional depth, many rediscovered and popularised in modern times.

It expresses madhura bhakti — the soul's restless, loving longing for Krishna. The devotee's mind surges like waves at the enchanting music of His flute, yearning to see Him play beside the gopis and come laughing near; having tasted the nectar of His presence, the devotee feels complete and vows never to part from Him.

It is sung in devotion to Lord Krishna, especially during Krishna Janmashtami, and is a much-loved item in Carnatic music concerts and Bharatanatyam. As a heartfelt prayer of longing and love, it may be sung whenever the devotee yearns for the nearness of Krishna.