Rediscovering the Richness of Malayalam Hymns

Songs and Hymns have historically expressed the devotion, gratitude and worship that floods the heart of Christ followers. I enjoy hymns and songs of devotion that are rich in Scriptural truths and sound in doctrine. True worship is always God-centered and is often a response to the revelation of the character and power of God. I was meditating on an attribute of salvation today and burst into worship singing this popular Malayalam song ‘Ennodulla nin sarva nanmakkal’ in my car. The lyrics grabbed my heart and caused me to pay closer attention to it. As many of my friends from the Indian community may not follow Malayalam, the deep meaning of the lyrics of this beautiful hymn can be easily missed. 

For the benefit of those friends, I am attempting to translate and break the lyrics of this song down that you may meditate on the goodness of Christ as you sing this song in your gatherings next time. I have included a small excerpt which is the meaning of the verse as I understand it.

Ennodulla ninsarva nanmakkalkaye njan enthu cheyendu ninakeshu para ippol enthucheyendu ninakeshu para.

Translation: ‘What can I repay you my Lord Jesus for all the goodness that you have bestowed upon me 

Explanation: The chorus is a rhetoric question that declares the indebtedness of the writer to the goodness of God as experienced in Christ

Nannikondentae ullam nannae nirayune Sannaahamodae sthuthi paadidunen – deva

Translation: ‘My heart overflows with thankfulness as I intentionally [with preparation/in community] sing praises to you.

Explanation: The writer seems to understand that worship is not always a spur of the moment thing but there is a conscious meditation, preparation involved. He seems to allude to worshiping God in community in response to His goodness. This revelation of the goodness of God that he walks in daily overflows into thankfulness and gratitude as he sings this line.

Papathilninnu enne korieduppanai Shapa sikshakaletta devathmaja- maha

Translation: ‘My Lord the redeemer of my soul who has borne much wrath and punishment to reach out and snatch me from the depth of my sin’

Explanation: The writer goes on to meditate on the Gospel as he sings about the atonement of Christ on the cross on his behalf.  I love how the writer sings about a personal faith in Christ’s death as a substitution for his sin. The imagery used here is a man sinking in the depth of sin and Christ coming to literally snatch/scoop him from the sin that he is bound in [Notice how the writer lays emphasis in God’s work that has reached out to him]. He not only talks about forgiveness but sings about how Christ was crushed on the cross as a penalty for his sin.  In essence, this rich line points to 2 Cor 5:21.

Ennae anpodudhinam thorum nadathunna Ponnidayan anandam vandhaname – ente ponnidayananthamvandhanamae

Translation: ‘I bow before the shepherd of my soul who lovingly leads me daily.’

Explanation: The willful submission of a heart that daily walks in the awareness that Christ is indeed the shepherd of his soul. I can’t help but think of Jesus saying in the gospel of John ‘My sheep hear my voice.’ Notice how the writer sings about Christ’s presence in his daily walk. Not just the days that he may feel spiritually high rather a constant/consistent shepherd.

Andhyamvaraeyum enne kaaval cheyitheeduvan Andhikayulla mahal shakthi neeye – nadha

Translation: ‘You are the source of power who can keep me/guard me till my end’

Explanation: The writer places the security of his salvation not on his ability to hold on to God but rather boasts in God’s power to see him through the end. The writer seem to be resting in the security of his salvation trusting in God’s ultimate power to keep him.

Thaathan sannidhiyil en perku sada paksha Vadam cheyumna mama jeevanatha – paksha

Translation: ‘You are the Lord of my life who speaks daily/constantly on my behalf in the Father’s presence’

Explanation: The writer’s deep understanding of the biblical teaching of salvation/Gospel is seen in him saying that Christ is his permanent priest who constantly speaks on behalf of him before the Father. Two realities are declared here: his trust in Jesus’ righteousness that covers him and declares him justified daily and secondly, his Adamic nature that needs that daily constant reminder that he is indeed declared guiltless daily before the Father.

Kuttamkoodathe ennae thejasin munpakae Muttum niruthaan kazhivullavane – enne

Translation: ‘You [Jesus] are the One who can take me and present me guiltless before the one who lives in unapproachable light/glory’

Explanation: The writer seems to again appeal to the character and power of Christ who can present him before the otherwise unapproachable light [The word ‘thejus’ is not a colloquial Malayalam word and can translate into divine, extremely bright, glorious light.]. He seems to sing about justification in Christ before the Father.

Theology matters, true doctrine is a lens through which we see the glorious gospel and enjoy the person and work of Jesus Christ which in turn creates worship. May we by the grace of Christ feel the weight of what we sing in worship in our congregation.