Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview
Arunagirinathar sang several thousand songs in praise of Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya). Most of them
are highly rhythmic songs. They are generally referred to as "Thiruppugazh" (- tiruppugaḻ -
 ).
"Thiruppugazh" is a generic term meaning "Glory of the Lord". However, in modern times, this term is
primarily used to refer to the rhythmic songs sung by Arunagirinathar.
Thiruppugazh songs have several unique features. (I do not think any another language has poetry with
such features). In addition to common poetry rules conformance such as line beginning rhyming on
second letter ("edhugai" - - edugai) that is common in all South Indian languages,
Thiruppugazh songs have the following distinct features:
1. Complex rhythms - "thALam" (- tāḷam).
2. Focus on sound patterns of syllables - (thus distinguishing between two patterns even if they
otherwise may have the same rhythm - - tāḷam). (For example, , , ,
- pattu, pandu, palli, paṇṇu -    - they are treated as different
patterns).
a) Long vowels / short vowels
b) Differentiation between classes of pure consonants (without vowels) - strong / soft (nasal) /
medial.
Strong consonants: , , , , , - k, c, ṭ, t, p, ṟ - 
Soft (nasal) consonants: , , , , , - ṅ, ñ, ṇ, n, m, n - 
Medial consonants: , , , , , - y, r, l, v, ḻ, ḷ -  !
c) Soft consonants (nasals) followed by strong consonant syllables.
Such as - , !, ", , , #- ṅga, ñja, ṇḍa, nda, mba, ṇḍra - "# $% &' () *+ 
&' ,
d) etc.
3. Note:
a) In thiruppugazh poetry, syllables with these 2 vowel sounds - $& %- ai & au - -./-
are considered as 'short vowel' sounds. (This is different from Sanskrit and other languages
where they are typically considered 'long' vowels).
b) In Sanskrit and many Indian languages - the concept of "laghu" and "guru" syllables exist.
The concept of long vowel syllable in thiruppugazh is different from "guru" syllable.
4. Basic syllabic pattern components:
a) / &- ta (da) / na - 01234(- any short vowel syllable
b) / &- tā (dā) / nā - 516347- any long vowel syllable
c) - t - - any pure strong consonant
d) - n - - any pure soft (nasal) consonant
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 1
e) - y - - any pure medial consonant
f) &- tana - 0(- short vowel syllable + short vowel syllable. (For example: !'()*(
+,()-(&- siri, aḻu, koḍu, aṇai, panai - 89, :;, <=, :>? , @? )
g) &- tāna - 5(- long vowel syllable + short vowel syllable. (For example: ,(. /0(
1(2&(3"- kāḍu, vīsu, ōdu, yānai, āḍai - A=, BC, D, E@? , FG? )
h) &- tānā - 57- long vowel syllable + long vowel syllable. (For example: 4.(
."(4&(5/2- dēvā, vāḍā, tēnā, nīyā - HI, IJ, K7, LE)
i) - tatta - 00 - short vowel syllable + any pure strong consonant + short vowel syllable.
(For example: 6(+60(,((7(+.#- mikka, meccu, kaṭṭu, katti, uppu,
veṭri - MNO , PQR , NST , N , U , VWX ).
Some Sanskrit words may occasionally come in Thiruppugazh in the original Sanskrit form
(without undergoing Tamilization). Such words may contains letters that are not in Tamil -
such as: 8(9- s, ṣ - Y, Z)
1. If a strong consonant comes after them, then it is treated as "[tatta[00 3\(For
example: 9"(.8- kaṣṭa, vastu - N]T , ^C )
j) - tanda - 02- short vowel syllable + any pure soft (nasal) consonant + short vowel
strong syllable. (For example: ):()0(,(;(.(5<- aṅgu, añju,
kaṇḍu, mundu, vambu, naṇḍru - :_, :`, N=, a, ^b, (=c )
k) &- tanna - 0(d - short vowel syllable + any pure soft (nasal) consonant + short vowel
soft (nasal) syllable. (For example: &(;((6- enna, tummu, paṇṇu,
kanma - e(d , af ,  , N(f )
Note: This is infrequent. Most songs do not contain this - &- tanna - 0(d - pattern.
l) 2- tayya - 0gh - short vowel syllable + any pure medial consonant + short vowel
syllable. (Note: starting syllable with "ai" vowel sound is also considered as - tay -
0\3 (For example: $2(2(+!2(+.2(+!=(+.- aiya, paiya, seyya,
veyya, sollu, velga - -g, i? g, jgh , Vgh , kl , Vm# )
Note: This is infrequent. Most songs do not contain this - 2[tayya[0gh - pattern.
m) Similarly, other pattern components such as - , , , , etc. - tattā, tātta,
tandā, tānda, etc. - 05 50 0652, etc.
n) Note: Tamil poetry syllabic patterns do not contain the following patterns (probably
because such syllabic patterns are absent or rare in Tamil words).
&, 2, &, 2- tānna, tāyya, tānnā, tāyyā - 5(d 5gh 57d 
5Eh
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 2
o) Some Sanskrit words may occasionally come in Thiruppugazh in the original Sanskrit form
(without undergoing Tamilization). Such words may contains letters that are not in Tamil -
such as sibilants: 8(9- s, ṣ - Y, Z) - (See the song - "45:-4" - bōda
nirkkuṇa pōdā - n2oO O &p6);
1. If a strong consonant comes after them, then it is treated as "[t[3\
2. My surmise: If one were to look at some Sanskrit words with a medial consonant
coming after them, then they sibilant consonant may be ignored. (For example:
8.>?bāsvara - qrs t= &&?tānana – 5((
9?puṣpa - ] = ?tatta - 00 )
p) These basic components can be combined to form more complex patterns such as - &&,
&, &, &&, &&, &&, 2&, etc. - tanadana, tandana, tattana,
tānana, tānadana, tanadāna, tayyadana, etc. - 0(2(02(00 (5((5(2(0(6(
0gh 2(, etc.
For example:
- kaittala - u? 0 m(&- tattana - 00 ()
5#&@- niṟaigani - ov? o- (&&- tanadana - 0(2()
62&- madayānai - *2E@? - (&&- tanadāna - 0(6()
1. Basic 2 syllable patterns - &, &, &, &, , , 2, &, ,
, , , - tana, tanā, tāna, tānā, tatta, tanda, tayya, tanna, tātta, tānda,
tāttā, tāndā, - 0(075(5700 020gh 0(d 50 5255 56-
etc.
2. For 3 syllable patterns, the basic 2 syllable pattern can be extended by adding
&, &, &, &- na, nā, nat, nan - (7((- etc. For example:
&&, &&, &, &, &, &, &- tanana, tananā, tattana,
tandana, tandāna, tananda, tānanda - 0((0(700 (02(06(0(25(2-
etc.
3. For 4 syllable patterns, then 2 of the basic 2 syllable patterns are concatenated. For
example:
&&, &&, &, &, &- tanadana, tanadanā, tattadana,
tandadana, tandādana - 0(2(0(2700 2(022(062(- etc.
4. For 5 syllable patterns, then the 4 syllable pattern is extended by 1 more syllable
following the approach used for the 3 syllable pattern. For example:
&&&, &&&, &, &&, &&, &&- tanadanana,
tanadananā, tattadana, tanadattana, tanadandana, tanattadana - 0(2((0(2(7
00 2(0(20 (0(22(0(0 2(- etc.
5. Very few verses have individual patterns that are 6 syllables - such as - &&&,
&&&, - tanadanadana, tanadanadanat, - 0(2(2(0(2(2( - etc.
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 3
6. Tamil verses do not have any individual pattern that is longer than 6 syllables.
q) In most patterns, (unless medial consonant sound is explicitly specified), the medial
consonants: , , , , , - y, r, l, v, ḻ, ḷ -  ![that occur in a word /
phrase are disregarded when scanning for pattern conformance. (This is because they do not
get stressed and thus do not impact the sound effect much).
For example,
4!, ., A- sērga, vāḻga, ūrdi - wt# Ix# y9)
- All of these are treated as - &- tāna - 5(- for pattern conformance.
5. Most songs' syllabic pattern end with "tanadāna" pattern = 2 short syllables + long syllable +
any syllable. Some songs' syllabic pattern end with "tandatāna" pattern.
6. Last syllable of a song's syllabic pattern can be any syllable - short or long vowel sound - and
can optionally followed by any pure consonant(s).
7. Almost all thevaram songs and thiruppugazh songs - end with "B" - ē - z- sound in the very
last syllable of the entire song. The musical songs tradition in Tamil requires long vowel ending
for the song - and usually it is "B" - ē - z.
8. Many songs have very long lines. (50+ syllables per line are common). (There are some songs
with very short lines too).
9. The basic syllabic pattern followed for any song may repeat 2 or more times in each line.
10. The basic syllabic pattern frequently contains a repeating sub-pattern. Thus there are 2 basic
syllabic pattern styles:
a) Type-1: 3x + z
b) Type-2: x + z
c) Type-3: x + y + z
Type-1 is very frequent in thiruppugazh.
Type-2 is found in the shorter songs of thiruppugazh.
Type-3 is found in some songs of thiruppugazh.
11. Focus on beginning syllable alignment at specific places within each line. (This is usually
followed - with occasional exceptions). (46&- mōnai - A versification in which the first
letters of all or some feet of a line alliterate); (Called "yati" in some Indian languages such as
Telugu - g- A syllable alliteration to the initial syllable of a line of poetry).
12. In all thiruppugazh songs, there is beginning syllable alignment (46&- mōnai - g)
within a line when the pattern repeats - at the half line or quarter line.
In addition, for most songs, there is beginning syllable alignment (mōnai) within each half line.
a) For Type-1 songs, where the repeating sub-pattern "x" comes 3 times within the song
pattern, there is beginning syllable alignment (46&- mōnai - g) between 1st and
3rd occurrence of "x" pattern.
b) For Type-3 songs - (x + y + z pattern) - there is beginning syllable alignment (46&-
mōnai - g) between 1st letter of "x" and first letter of "y" patterns.
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 4
For example: Thiruppugazh starting with "+6'2&" - (kolaimada kariyana) -
(<{? *2N9g() - has the "x + y + z" pattern - where:
x = &&&&&&&&- (tanadana tanadana tanadana tanadana) - (0(2(
0(2(0(2(0(2()
y = - (tandat) - (02)
z = &&- (tanadāna) - (0(6()
13. Syllabic clusters:
a) In Tamil, the poetry is written separating syllabic clusters based on the meter or rhythm.
These are called !C- sīr - |. Thus, more than one word may be in a syllabic cluster.
Sometimes, a word may be split across 2 (or more) syllabic clusters.
b) For example:
&&&&&&&&&&&
tattana tanadana tattana tanadana tattana tanadana tanadāna
00 (0(2(00 (0(2(00 (0(2(0(6(
and
&&&&&&&&&&&
tatta tanadanana tatta tanadanana tatta tanadanana tanadāna
00 0(2((00 0(2((00 0(2((0(6(
are treated differently (from the thALam perspective), even though they may appear as the
same pattern, if you merge all the syllabic clusters into one long string!
The word boundaries in a song will mostly align with the syllabic clusters.
14. An example of a very long (may be the longest available) thiruppugazh song can be seen in the
following link:
https://www.kaumaram.com/thiru/nnt0444_u.html
(&&&&
&&&&
&&&&&&
&&&&&&) x 3 + &&
( tandat tanadana tandat tanadana
tandat tanadana tandat tanadana
tanatta tanadana tanatta tanadana
tanatta tanadana tanatta tanadana ) x 3 + tanadāna
( 020(2(020(2(
020(2(020(2(
0(0 0(2(0(0 0(2(
0(0 0(2(0(0 0(2() x 3 + 0(6(
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 5
Some examples:
Song-1:

-------------------------
( &&&&&&
&&&.. &&-- Syllabic pattern )
5#&@2+6".+'
.. .. D2';.. &E4-D
.. #,6E2.2D=#.
.. .. +6&.D&.. E4:
6;62;.,6>6
.. .. 6+> 2.. 62&
.. 6.2D#&76.&
.. .. 6".D6+,.. -D4.4&
;6F".D&;,'&@
.. .. ;"*2.. ;4.4&
.. ;>+6'+!)!.G#>
.. .. )!+E+!.. )/>
)2>+,0D>6-D,
.. .. )&6&@".. H6
.. ):#6I"&!<;&
.. .. )-6-6 .. +64.
kaittala niṟaigani
------------------
( tattana tanadana tattana tanadana
tattana tanadana .. tanadāna -- Syllabic pattern )
kaittala niṟaigani yappamo ḍavalpori
.. .. kappiya karimuga .. naḍipēṇik
.. kaṭriḍu maḍiyavar puttiyi luṟaibava
.. .. kaṟpaga menavinai .. kaḍidēgum
mattamu madiyamum vaittiḍu maranmagan
.. .. maṟporu tiraḷpuya .. madayānai
.. mattaḷa vayiṟanai uttami pudalvanai
.. .. maṭṭaviḻ malarkoḍu .. paṇivēnē
muttami ḻaḍaivinai muṟpaḍu giridanil
.. .. muṟpaḍa eḻudiya .. mudalvōnē
.. muppura meriseyda acciva nuṟairadam
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 6
.. .. accadu poḍiseyda .. adidīrā
attuya radukoḍu suppira maṇipaḍum
.. .. appuna madaniḍai .. ibamāgi
.. akkuṟa magaḷuḍa nacciṟu muruganai
.. .. akkaṇa maṇamaruḷ .. perumāḷē.
This is a song of "Type-1" style where the song pattern is "3x + z", where, in this instance,
x = tattana tanadana
z = tanadāna
In the syllabic pattern followed in this song:
"tattana tanadana tattana tanadana
tattana tanadana .. tanadāna"
"tattana" = short vowel syllable + pure strong consonant + short vowel syllable + short vowel
syllable.
•pure strong consonant - in Tamil - is one of , , , , , - k, c, ṭ, t, p, ṟ - 
"tanadana" = four short vowel syllables.
•No pure strong consonant can occur.
•No soft (nasal) consonant followed by strong consonant syllable can occur.
•Soft (nasal) consonant followed by medial or soft consonant syllable can occur occasionally.
•Medial consonant can occur occasionally.
"tanadāna" = 2 short syllables + long syllable + any syllable. (This is the end of this song's syllabic
pattern. So, the final syllable can be anything).
This song has 4 lines - with each line having 50 syllables. Due to the length of each poetry line, it is
usually shown across multiple printed lines in a page - with some indentation.
In this song, in each line - the mōnai is followed in syllable # 1, 15, 26, 40. (i.e. in each half line, first
syllable of 1st and 3rd 'x' part of the song syllabic pattern)
Song-2:

------------------------------
( &&&.. &&-- Syllabic pattern )
74G6-D.. !.
.. J"4#&;.. -K#
H>!4.. =
.. G2D>L.. # .42
&.&.. -4.4&
.. . .. &@424&
)6&5.. +44&
.. $>&;.. +64.
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 7
umbartarut tēnumaṇi
-------------------
( tandadanat tānadanat .. tanadāna -- Syllabic pattern )
umbartarut tēnumaṇik .. kasivāgi
.. oṇkaḍaliṭ ṭṟēnamudat .. tuṇarvūṟi
inbarasat tēparugip .. palagālum
.. eṇḍranuyirk kādaravuṭ .. ṭṟaruḷvāyē
tambitanak kāgavanat .. taṇaivōnē
.. tandaivalat tālaruḷkaik .. kaniyōnē
anbartamak kānanilaip .. poruḷōnē
.. aindugarat tānaimugap .. perumāḷē.
This is a song of "Type-2" style where the song pattern is "x + z", where, in this instance,
x = tandadanat tānadanat
z = tanadāna
In the syllabic pattern followed in this song:
"tandadanat tānadanat .. tanadāna"
"tandadanat" = short vowel syllable + pure soft (nasal) consonant + short vowel strong syllable + 2
short vowel syllables + pure strong consonant
•pure soft (nasal) consonant + short vowel strong syllable - such as - , !, ", , , #
- ṅga, ñja, ṇḍa, nda, mba, ṇḍra
•pure strong consonant - such as - , , , , , - k, c, ṭ, t, p, ṟ
"tānadanat" = long vowel syllable + 3 short vowel syllables + pure strong consonant
"tanadāna" = 2 short vowel syllables + long vowel syllable + any syllable. (This is the end of this
song's syllabic pattern. So, the final syllable can be anything).
This song has 4 lines - with each line having 24 syllables. Due to the length of each poetry line, it is
usually shown across multiple printed lines in a page - with some indentation.
In this song, in each line - the mōnai is followed in syllable # 1, 13. (i.e. in each half line, first syllable
of 'x' part of the song syllabic pattern)
Song-3:
 !"#
------------------------------
( &&&&.. &-- Syllabic pattern )
.'6M4+2*.. $4
.. 6>4.4.D2.. )&4
+>46!2.. &4
.. .D42&.D6.. 2$46
N>&/ 6+.. 4.
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 8
.. 4!4242.. 644.
O'62&6.. -6
.. O.4. .. >4&.
vārimīdēyeḻu
-------------------
( tānanā tānana .. tanda tāna -- Syllabic pattern )
vārimī dēyeḻu .. tiṅgaḷālē
.. māravē ḷēviya .. ambinālē
pārelā mēsiya .. paṇbinālē
.. pāviyē nāvima .. yaṅgalāmō
sūranīḷ mārbuto .. ḷaindavēlā
.. sōdiyē tōgaiya .. marndakōvē
mūrimāl yānaima .. ṇandamārbā
.. mūvardē vādigaḷ .. tambirānē.
This is a song of "Type-2" style where the song pattern is "x + z", where, in this instance,
x = tānanā tānana
z = tanda tāna
In the syllabic pattern followed in this song:
"tānanā tānana .. tanda tāna"
"tānanā" = long vowel syllable + short vowel syllable + long vowel syllable
"tānana" = long vowel syllable + 2 short vowel syllables
"tanda tāna" = short vowel syllable + pure soft (nasal) consonant + short vowel strong syllable +
long vowel syllable + any syllable. (This is the end of this song's syllabic pattern. So, the final syllable
can be anything).
This song has 4 lines - with each line having 20 syllables. Due to the length of each poetry line, it is
usually shown across multiple printed lines in a page - with some indentation.
In this song, in each line - the mōnai is followed in syllable # 1, 11. (i.e. in each half line, first syllable
of 'x' part of the song syllabic pattern)
====================
Thiruppugazh poetry basics - overview V. Subramanian last updated: 2023-08-08 nayanmars@gmail.com 9