"In the Malayalam language, there is a rich collection of traditional lullabies, known as 'tharaattu Pattu'. One of the most famous is 'Omanathinkal Kidavo', written and composed by poet lyricist Irayimman Thampi. This lullaby was written for the queen of Travancore to sing to her son young prince Swathi Thirunal, who later became the king and a famous musician…

His birth was a long-awaited event for the royal family since it faced the threat of being annexed into British India under the Doctrine of Lapse for the want of a male heir. The lyrics of the poem reflect this sense of relief when it refers to the baby as a 'treasure from God' and 'the fruit of the tree of fortune'.

An interesting feature of this lullaby is that it doesn't mention the word sleep in it even once." – Wikipedia

The Pronunciation can be found in the Song Notes below.

Notes

(1) Isvari is a name that means "goddess".
(2) Kalpa Tree - the tree of life, a sacred tree that's believed to be a wishing tree.
(3) Vedas – (veda is Sanskrit for "knowledge") A collection of hymns and ancient sacred Hindu texts written in India most likely between 1500 – 1200 BCE.
(4) Vina (or "veena") an Indian stringed musical instrument.
(5) Pichaka – A flower in the jasmine family (Royal jasmine jasminum grandiflorum)
(6) Mallika Flower – A flower in the jasmine family.
(7) The Goddess Lakshmi - the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and prosperity.
(8) Padmanabha - a manifestation of the Hindu god Vishnu with a lotus issuing from his navel.
(9) An avatar is the incarnation of a Hindu deity.

Pronunciation

Omanathinkal Kidavo,
Nalla Komala Thamara Poovo,
Poovil Niranja Madhuvo,
Pari poornendu thande nilavo,

Puthan Pavizha kodiyo,
cheru thathakal konjum mozhiyo,
Chanjadiyadum Mayilo,
mridhu panjamam padum kuyilo,

Thullumilaman kidavo,
sobha kollunnorannakodiyo,
Eswaran Thanna Nidhiyo,
Parameshwariyenthum kiliyo,

Parijathathin Thaliro,
ente bhagya drumathin phalamo,
Vatsalya ratnathe veppan,
ma ma vachoru kanchana cheppo,

Drishtikku vechoramrutho,
kooriruttathu vecha vilakko,
Keerthi lathakkulla vitho,
ennum kedu varathulla mutho,

Arthi thimiram kalavan
ulla marthanda deva prabhayo,
Sookthiyil kanda porulo,
athi sookshamam veenaravamo,

Vambicha Sandoshavalli,
thande kombathu pootha poovalli,
Pichakathin Malar chendo,
navinnischa nalkunna kalkando,

Kasthuri thande manamo,
perthum sathukkalkulla gunamo,
Poomanametoru katto,
ettam ponnil kalarnnoru matto,

Kachkkurukkiya Palo,
nalla gandhamezhum panineero,
Nanma Vilayum nilamo,
bahu dharmangal vazhum grahamo,

Daham kalayum jalamo,
marga khetham kalayum thanalo,
Vadatha mallikappovo,
jnanum thedi vachulla dhanamo,

Kanninu Nalla Kaniyo,
ma ma kai vanna chinthamaniyo,
Lavanya Punya Nadhiyo,
Unni karvarnnan thande kaliyo,

Lakshmi bhagavathi thande thirunetti melitta kuriyo,
Ennunnikrishnan Janicho, Parilingane Vesham Dharicho,
Padmanabhan Than Kripayo, Muttum bhagyam varunna vazhiyo.

Comments

Based on a post on a Facebook page called "Heart Beats", it seems that even though this lullaby is well-known, not many people know the full lyrics: "From the date it published it is the most popular lullabies among us, but NO-ONE knows the full lyrics..."

According to Wikipedia, "The song lends itself well to the expressions of the navarasas [Indian art evolved with an emphasis on inducing special spiritual or philosophical states in the audience] and is therefore often set to dance." If you go onto YouTube and type in the name of the song, "Omanathinkal Kidavo", some videos will show women dancing to it.

Download MIDI Tune

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Translation by A. H. Fox Strangways from "The Music of Hindoostan" (1914).

Image of Kalpa Tree: Kalpavriksha with Flowers in Ranchi, Jharkhand by Gurpreet Singh Ranchi, cc.