Poetic ballad reimagining the legendary loyalty of Goddess Pathini.
Song Lyrics
පුරාතණිකම කතාවල
පඬි රට ගිණිබත් කරන
එතැන් සිට දිග හැරි දනනුනි
පතිනි ස්නේහ වරුණ
කොතෙක් උත්සහ කළත්
සිහිවටන නොවෙයි පරණ
කම්කටොළු දුක් ගැහැට
තිබුනේ බන්දනේමයි සරණ
ශපථ කරගත් කතා
ඇතිමුත් බින්ද දා හිමි මෙවුන්
ශෝකාන්තය ගැබ්ගනී සිත
හුදෙකලා නොව නිවුන්
අවඤ්ඤාවෙන් සිනා සෙද්දි
ඇස ගැටෙන්නා එවුන්
මෙහෙවු ගින්දර උහුලාන
සිත වඩනු කෙලෙසද බවුන්
කටින් කට ආ යවුල්මෙන්
බස් බොහෝ උදවිය පැවසූ
හුඟක් මල් සිප ගෙට වඩින
හිමිසඳුනි ප්රේමය කෙලසූ
ඇස් බොරවෙනු නොදී ඇසිපිය
හිසෙහි අතැඟිලි ගැවසූ
තවත් සත් පත්තිනිලා ඇති
ළොව ස්වාමි භක්තිය ඉවසූ
Song Information
Song Title: පතිනි (Pathini)
Artist: Shashi Gunarathne ft. Tharindu Damsara
Lyrics: Ruhunuketha Dhammadewa Thero
Genre: Classical Fusion / Folk Ballad
Language: Sinhala
Release Year: 2020
Combined Analysis Block (Summary, Meaning, FAQ)
Song Summary
“Pathini” is a 2020 classical fusion track that draws inspiration from the ancient Tamil epic Silappathikaram and the Sri Lankan folk tradition of Goddess Pathini (Kannagi). The mood is solemn, dramatic, and deeply empathetic, portraying the agony of a devoted wife whose loyalty is met with betrayal. It depicts a narrative of immense suffering and eventual wrath, referencing the legendary burning of the Pandyan kingdom, while simultaneously honoring the silent resilience of modern women who continue to endure similar hardships in the name of “Swami Bhakthiya” (devotion to a husband).
Song Meaning
The song functions as a metaphorical bridge between ancient myth and contemporary social reality. The lyrics analyze the transformation of a woman’s “sneha” (affection) into “gindara” (fire) when her sacred marital bonds are broken by a husband’s unfaithfulness. Themes of karma and emotional endurance are central; the reference to the husband “kissing many flowers” before returning home highlights the desecration of exclusive love. By invoking the image of “Sath Paththini” (Seven Pathinis), Ruhunuketha Dhammadewa Thero highlights a universal feminine strength that suffers in silence despite the “jeers and insults” of society. The track captures the essence of a soul caught between the fire of vengeance and the discipline of meditative patience (Bawun).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What historical story does “Pathini” reference?
The song references the story of Kannagi (Pathini), who burned the city of Madurai in the Pandyan kingdom after her husband Kovalan was unjustly executed.
How does the song describe the husband’s betrayal?
The lyrics use the metaphor of a bee visiting many flowers (hungak mal sipa), representing the husband’s infidelity and the subsequent destruction of pure love.
What is the significance of the “Seven Pathinis” (Sath Paththini)?
In Sri Lankan folklore, Pathini is believed to have seven incarnations, symbolizing various facets of her power and her ultimate status as a deity of purity and justice.
Who wrote the lyrics for this track?
The profound and classically styled lyrics were written by Ruhunuketha Dhammadewa Thero, a Buddhist monk known for his deep understanding of literature and spiritual themes.