Ayyappa Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata

Ayyappa 18 steps song Lyrics (Onnam Thiruppadi)

Om Svaamiye Sharanamayyappaa |
Satyamaaya Padinettaam Padigale Sharanamayyappaa |
Om Sadgurunaathane Sharanamayyappaa |

Onnaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 1

Rendaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 2

Moonaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 3

Naangaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 4

Aindaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 5

Aaraam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 6

Elaa*m Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 7

Ettaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 8

Onpadaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 9

Pattaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 10

Padinonnaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 11

Panirendaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 12

Padimoonraam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 13

Padinaalaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 14

Padinanjaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 15

Padinaaraam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 16

Padinelaa*m Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 17

Padinettaam Tiruppadi Sharanam Pon Ayyappaa |
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa || 18

Ayyappaa Sharanam Sharanam Pon Ayyaappaa
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa ||

Padi Padinettum Sharanam Pon Ayyaappaa
Svaami Pon Ayyappaa En Ayyane Pon Ayyappaa
Svaamiyellaadoru Sharanamillaiyyappaa ||

Om Svaamiye Sharanamayyappaa ||

Meaning

About the song

The Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata, the song of the eighteen steps, salutes the Pathinettam Padi, the eighteen sacred steps that lead to Ayyappa's shrine at Sabarimala, one step at a time. The words are Malayalam, set down in Telugu script for Telugu-speaking devotees. It is a bhajan from living devotional practice, not an ancient scripture, and the text does not name who wrote it.

The opening

It begins with the call Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa. The next line, Satyamaya Pathinettam Padigale Saranam Ayyappa, addresses the true eighteen steps themselves as worthy of refuge, and Om Sadgurunathane Saranam Ayyappa honours Ayyappa as the true guru.

Eighteen verses, one refrain

Onnam Thiruppadi Saranam Pon Ayyappa salutes the first step. Each following verse changes only the ordinal, Randam, Moonam, Nalam, until Pathinettam Thiruppadi, the eighteenth. Every verse ends with the refrain Swami Pon Ayyappa, En Ayyane Pon Ayyappa, Swamiyallathoru Saranamillayyappa: golden Ayyappa, my lord, there is no refuge but you. Because the refrain repeats eighteen times, a whole group can join in after one hearing.

The close

Two closing verses follow, Ayyappa Saranam Saranam and Padi Pathinettum Saranam, the second offering refuge to all eighteen steps together, before the song ends again on Om Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.

When it is sung

It is heard most in the mandala season and up to Makaravilakku, at Ayyappa bhajans and at padi poojas, where a lamp is lit on each step as its verse is sung.

Frequently asked questions

What language is the Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata sung in?

Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata is Telugu for song of the eighteen steps, but the lyrics are Malayalam, written here in Telugu script. Onnam Thiruppadi means the first holy step, Randam the second, and so on up to Pathinettam, the eighteenth.

What does the refrain of the Ayyappa eighteen steps song mean?

After every verse comes Swami Pon Ayyappa, En Ayyane Pon Ayyappa, Swamiyallathoru Saranamillayyappa. It means golden Ayyappa, my lord, there is no refuge other than you.

Who climbs the eighteen steps praised in the Onnam Thiruppadi song?

At Sabarimala only pilgrims carrying the irumudi, the bundle of offerings borne on the head, climb the Pathinettam Padi to the sanctum. Most of them have kept the mandala vratam, and the song names each step in the order they climb.

How is the Onnam Thiruppadi song used in Ayyappa padi pooja?

For a padi pooja, devotees set up a small eighteen-step stand, light a lamp on each step and sing one verse per step, from Onnam Thiruppadi up to Pathinettam Thiruppadi. In Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka this is a familiar part of home bhajans in the mandala season.

When is the Ayyappa Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata usually sung?

Mostly in the mandala season, which begins on the first of the Malayalam month Vrischikam in mid-November, and on through Makaravilakku in January. It is a bhajan from popular devotion rather than a scriptural text, and the lyrics do not name a composer.

Ayyappa Paddhenimidhi Metla Paata (Onnam Thiruppadi)

Meaning

About the song

The opening

Eighteen verses, one refrain

The close

When it is sung

Frequently asked questions

Related stotras

Sri Maha Shasta Anugraha Kavacham

Sri Dharmashastra Sahasranamavali

Sri Harihara Putra Ashtottara Shata Nama Stotram

Sri Ayyappa Pancharatna Stotram

Sri Ayyappa Swamy Stotram

Sri Ayyappa Sharanu Gosha

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