Isai means music. The isai kolams are designs drawn around six dots forming the basic seven musical notes. There is one design for each note. The six dots represents Lord Muruga, the source of the Tamil language. Lord Muruga is the second son of Isvira, Lord Shiva, the younger brother of Lord Ganesha. He has six dots because he’s called ar-Muruga he has six temples, six faces, ar-Muruga means six faces.
