Original Script

தொண்டர் நாங்களே

பல்லவி
தொண்டர் நாங்களே சிவ
தொண்டர் நாங்களே

அநுபல்லவி
அண்டத்திற் பிண்டத்தில்
ஆண்டவனைக் காணும்

சரணம்
மண்டு பிணியால் வருந்த மாட்டோம்
மாதாக் கருப்பையின் மீண்டு வாராத்

பண்டுசெய் வினையெல்லாம் பறந்து போச்சு
பாரி லனைத்தும் உறவே யாச்சு

கொண்டுங் கொடுத்துங் குடிகுடி யீசற்கு
என்று மாளாகி எப்போதும் வாழும்

வேதாந்த சித்தாந்தம் வேறாகக் காணோம்
வீட்டு நெறியினில் நாட்டம் மிகவுள்ள

சிவசிவ வென்றெந்த வேளையுஞ் சொல்லிச்
சீவன் சிவனென்று சித்தத்திற் கொள்ளும்

இருந்த இடத்தினில் எல்லாம் பார்ப்போம்
பொருந்திய வண்ணம் பூமியில் வாழும்

Transliteration

Thondar Naangaley

pallavi
thondar naangaley siva
thondar naangaley

anupallavi
andatthil pindatthil
aandavanai kaannum

saranam
mandu piniyaal varuntha maattohm
maathaa karuppaiyil meendu vaaraa

pandu sei vinai ellaam paranthu pohcchu
paaril anaitthum uravey yaacchu

kondum kodutthum kudikudi eesarku
endrum aalaagi eppohthum vaalum

veythaantha sitthaantham veyraaga kaanohm
veettu neriyinil naattam miga ulla

sivasiva endrentha veylaiyum solli
seevan sivan endru sitthatthil kollum

iruntha idatthinil ellaam paarppohm
porunthiya vannam boomiyil vaal.um

Translation

Servitors of Siva Are We!

refrain
servitors - we are indeed - Siva's
servitors - we are indeed

short refrain
in the macrocosm - in the microcosm
God - seeing

Verses
affliction - with disease - suffer - (we) will not
mother - in the womb of - again - not come

past - done - actions - all - flown - (and) gone
in the world - everything - related - became

getting - giving - many generations - to God
forever - became servant - always - living

vedanta and - siddhanta - as separate - we do not see
mukthi(1) - on the path - interest - very much - having

siva siva - thus - all - time - saying
soul - is Siva - thus - in the mind - holding

where we are - in the place - everything - we will see
befitting - manner - on Earth - living

Footnote:
(1) "veettu" -- literally "of the home" -- refers to the soul's final destination, its home -- mukthi, liberation.

* Model for Study: A major impediment to the spread of Natchintanai has been the diversity of melodies used for any given song. Hindu music is very creative and professionally trained Carnatic singers have a great deal of freedom for improvisation, much like modern western jazz musicians. But this leaves the average lay person with a big problem as well as teachers of groups or children when they come to learn the song. "How should we sing it? What is the tune?" To facilitate the dissemination of Yogaswami's songs the Swamis at Kauai Aadheenam have selected standardized tunes. Wherever possible we have tried to source these melodies from the Sri Lankan Jaffna community itself. Sometimes a complicated carnatic melody by a professional Jaffna Tamil singer has been simplified. (Gamakams are reduced for children) In cases where melodies are not known or are "boring" from a modern youth angle, we have adopted a more rhythmic, upbeat melody. We have to give credit to the Tiruvadi Niliyam (Jaffna Sai Baba devotees) who have sponsored some recordings by the All Ceylon Radio Singers for leading the way in this regard. These are good examples of Yogaswami's songs sung in a pleasing style. It is well known that Yogaswami himself did on occasion tell his devotees to sing such-and-such a Natchintanai song according to the melody of a song sung by one of the current popular devotional singers of his day. The melodies for many Natchintanai have yet to be selected for groups and children. If you would care to suggest some tunes we would very much appreciate your suggestions. Please email studyhall@hindu.org