Kuvempu's Poem "Tanuvu Ninnadu Manavu Ninnadu": Lyrics and Meaning

Poet Kuvempu

This haunting Kannada song comes from the depth of the poet's heart. It is a poignant prayer that reveals the poet's deep union with the divine spirit that pervades all things in the universe. Kuvempu realized spiritually the same truth that Albert Einstein explained as science "A human being is a part of the whole called by us as universe".

Tanuvu ninnadu manavu ninnadu
Enna jeevana ghanavu ninnadu
Nanu ninnavanemba hemmeya
Runavu matrave nannadu

My being is yours, my heart is yours
The strength of life in me is yours
The pride that I am yours
That debt alone is mine

Neenu holedare nanu holevenu
Neenu beledare nanu belevenu
Nanna haranada harana neenu
Nanna maranada maranavu

When you shine, I shine too
When you grow I grow too
You are the destruction in my destruction
You are the death in my death

Nanna manadali neene yukti
Nanna hrudayadi neene bhakthi
Neene maya mohashakthiyu
Nanna jeevana mukthiyu

You are the reason my mind works
You are the devotion in my heart
You are the eternal power of the universe
And the salvation of my life ...